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Ok so we haven't had enough time/money recently to include song lyrics in our blogs, so I'll include two in this entry to make up for it. Suits me fine since I couldn't really choose which one to use anyway.
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had
- 'Africa' by Toto
What's your favorite dish?
I'm not gonna cook it
But I'll order it from Zanzibar!
- 'FHG' by Tenacious D
First up, Laura I apologise if you find this blog entry less entertaining as Craig is busy sorting through our photos, and so you'll have to put up with my point of view this time.
Um, I'm not entirely sure what Craig has been writing since I haven't really had a chance to read any of them.I trust he's been filling you in on what we've been up to, so I'll attempt to start from where I think he left off.I think we were still at Kande beach in Malawi for our last entry.Things get a little weird from here actually.A highlight for me at Kande was a strange kinda hippy-like session we spent on the beach one night. We were in front of a bonfire with fire twirling supplied by Guro and Michelle and the music supplied by the rest of us by banging anything we could get our hands on.I was playing the grater with a wooden spoon and a pot lid.Something a little different.Was actually quite entertaining.
Had one more night in Malawi after traveling a few hundred kilometers to Chitimba.We stopped on the way at a rubber plantation and a wooden roadside market.We couldn't resist buying a wee rubber ball made of strings of rubber to use at the beach.Chitimba was another amazing campsite on the shores of lake Malawi. The lake sure is beautiful for something so full of nasty creatures.Our photos don't really do it justice.Anyways, we met some local boys on the beach who were celebrating passing their exams and thus gaining entrance to university.They taught us that whenever something is so super fantastic you can't express it enough, you say it's "cocacolastic".They do LOVE their coke here.Haven't seen any sign of pepsi.They invited us to celebrate with them, but we had a crazy dress up party to attend.We drew names out of a hat and had to buy something ugly for them at a market for about US$1-2.Somehow Craig and I both ended up in a stunning leopard print number.
Had two super long drive days to get to Zanzibar where we are now.We were on that damn truck for about 13 hours each day.Thankfully dinner was arranged for us at the campsites.The first night was awesome.Was a traditional meal of maize porridge, meatballs, beans, spinach and baby potatoes, with an entrée of carrot and cardamom soup.The second was also good as it was a seafood buffet.But unfortunately it was overcooked.Most likely because we were so late getting there.FYIDar es Salaam is not a very nice city - dirty, run down and just plain ugly.Oh and they just drive on any side of the road they feel like.If one way is congested with traffic, they'll just hop the median and start driving down the wrong way!So glad I wasn't driving!!Once we finally made it to Mikadi Beach Camp we decided to upgrade since it was only $10 Australian for a nice wee Banda on the beach, besides, we were tired and grumpy.Thank goodness the showers were amazing there.Nice and hot! Slept through two alarms to luckily wake up on the third!Didn't want to miss the ferry to Zanzibar!
The ferry ride to Zanzibar was uneventful.Not even the slightest swell to make things interesting.But I could moan for hours about the events leading to getting onto the ferry.Had to have our bags searched for weapons, and then wait for ages in line whilst other people pushed passed us to get on the ferry.Blah blah blah, I won't ruin a lovely day with complaining.
Stone town, stop number one in Zanzibar.Had a cocacolasitc feast at the fish markets for dinner.Before that we just roamed the windy rabbit warren streets looking at the local fare. I bought some sandals from a shoemaker man who fitted them to me perfectly for US$10.Bargain.They are super duper comfortable!Craig bought some laundry powder.We stayed in our first hotel for quite some time.I think I preferred the mattress in the tent to that bed.It squeaked and rocked for like 5 minutes every time you moved your arm, and it was so short that even i hit the foot posts.
Went on a spice tour on our way from Stone town to the northern beaches where we are now.Definitely worth doing if you ever make it to Zanzibar.Very informative, good food, yummy fruit and teas.And they make you cute little necklaces (mine was a frog) and stuff out of the leaves.Wish I was that talented.The kids also make you little baskets with flowers in them and rings and things.All the locals are so friendly.Our tour guide was hilarious too!His name wasAli T, he was an African version of Ali G.He loved using his Ali G-isms.
The northern beaches are laden with tourist lodges and restaurants and tour groups offering snorkeling and sunset cruises and the like.We're going snorkeling tomorrow.Fingers crossed it's as amazing as the Great Barrier Reef.Just did loads and loads of washing this morning for it to rain for most of the day.Hence, my choice of song above. Ah well, it's stopped raining now so maybe we can spend the rest of the afternoon on the beach.
Right well, that's about it from me.Hope I haven't bored you lot too much, and that I have made sense. Unfortunately my sentence structure isn't as good as Craig's.
Miss you all
Marisa
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