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Hey everyone,
Well, today has been a day of firsts and a avery scary day indeed! We decided a couple of days ago that it would be good to go swimming with dolphins this weekend and as you may know I am terrified of the sea so this wasn't my ideal weekend trip! Anyway, we paid for it yesterday then left very early this morning. We were picked up at 6.45 for a 2 hour bus journey to Shimoni where we got a dhow (a very rickety, scary boat) out to Wassini Island. On the way out we were joined by three very playful dolphins who posed for some good photos. After that, we snorkelled for about an hour. My first experience with flippers and a snorkel was good I'm pleased to say! We didn't actually get to swim with the dolphins which we were a bit confused and upset about but we did see some amazing coral and some beautiful fish. I saw Zebra fish which were amazing and so many different colours under the water. After this we were taken to the island where we were shown around. The island is Muslim so there is no alcohol and we were asked to cover our tops up as a mark of respect. The island was discovered about 800 years ago as it was an underwater island before that. The man who found the island is buried on it as is the King of the island in a beautiful stone cemetary. There is no water so the locals rely on the rain or they have to travel across to the mainland. There is also no electricity. Me and Lauren had a good toilet experience when we entered one of the local's personal toilets!!! hmm, that was an experience-terrifying! After our toilet terror we paid to walk around the coral and mangrove gardens. These were amazing. Huge, natural coral structures just stood in a garden. They were huge and it was amazing to imagine that they used to be underwater. The grass is actually seagrass and there are crabs everywhere. It really was beautiful. A few of us took a detour and went the very long way round so got to see everything. We were told that when the tide is high, the bridge that we walked along was almost under water and during a full moon, the water came right up. After our mangrove tour we had the most amazing seafood meal ever!!! It was the best meal I've ever had in my life. We started with bhajias which are like small oniaon bhajis then coconut pieces. Next we had crab fresh from the sea, they bashed it apart for us and we ate a claw and body each (I don't know how that maths worked!) It was beautiful, it tasted so fresh it was unbelieveable. I was then given the shell as a souvenier-lovely! Finally we were given coconut rice ( a new favourite of mine), coconut sauce, irish potatoes and whole fish which was also excellent! It was so exciting-possibly my favourite part of the day! I did get a little burnt but I couldn't exactly wear suncream in the water! It was all worth it though. And it only cost about 27 pounds! Another first-wilderness weeing sober (but we shan't talk about that experience!)
The week has been a good one, the children have written some lovely letters to England and I will send them next week. Yesterday we went to the Nakumat for lunch-I had a nice meal and then bought some writing stuff for the kids, it was just a chilled out day, not as exciting as today!!! Tomorrow it's back to work and back to trying to save money!!
I'm really missing everyone now, I can't believe it's been over 3 weeks already, I love it here, I don't want to leave but I can't wait to see everyone again and I can't wait for my bed and a warm shower and some good English food!!!
Will be back soon with some more news hopefully, I might also write up one of the kids letters on here so stay tuned!
I love you and miss you all
xxxxxxxxxxx
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