Wednesday 7 January 2009

Home again!

We awoke for the last time in Africa to the heat of a Dar es Saalam morning and a full English breakfast.

Rob had managed to check-in online last night and got the hotel to print our boarding cards for us, so that we could just drop our bags at check in. The minibus that collected us from the Blue Post Hotel was the nicest we had been in all holiday. For the first time, there was enough room for us AND our bags!

Some of us did some last miute shopping for (yet more) tat, or "curios" as the Africans refer to it before boarding our long flight home.

The wine flowed freely for some, while others took advantage of the film library, while others just slept. We even got offered two upgrade seats, but decided it was more fun travelling as one big group.

We are writing this on the National Express coach from Heathrow to Woking, having already said goodbye to the Scotts and the Heartleys at the airport. The troop is disbanding, but the memories will remain strong for many years.

Thank you all for following us on our travels. We've had an amazing time and hope you've enjoyed reading about it, too.

Rob, Deb, Katie, Greg, Paula, Sam, David, Doug, Ed, Ben, Luke, Amy, Fern, Daniel and Gergia.

Farewell to Zanzibar

After the previous night's lobster and seafood (served without the lobster that never arrived) dawn broke in the usual spectacular style with a lone fisherman the only person visible on the beach.

By now we were all really fed up with eggs for breakfast, however the mango was still delicious. Unfortunately Rob was still under the weather, although not as bad, from his diving allergy that was still unidentified although he did stick his head in a few underwater caverns that may have been the culprit.

Anyway we packed and jumped into a couple of minibuses, one for us and another for luggage, both of which delivered us to the airport rather than the ferry port continuing the hakuna matata African way that there is no worries and nothing is as it seems. We duly had a missing bag of Deb and Rob's that was promised to be delivered in a third van that didn't exist, although the bag magically materialised just before boarding the ferry.

Interestingly, we had inadvertently booked return tickets with the wrong dates that nobody spotted so we walked straight on, much to the relief of all. The ferry crossing back to Dar was first class and very comfortable, taking two hours with the wind behind us. We also managed to eat more samosas and coke and also with Debs managing to survive the journey without the fish feeding fountain we had from the previous days diving trip!

We arrived back at Dar around three, to a mahem of pushy taxi drivers in everyone's face, particularly Paula who gave a guy a dose of northern sharp tongue along with Rob who was still dazed but still mustered a set of clear instructions to another guy that nobody tells him what to do - although we did agree later the exception being Debs.

We all jumped into a van buried in luggage in stiffling heat to arrive half an hour later at our final location: Palm Beach Hotel. What a little oasis with running hot water and showers along with a tv. Of course like most of this journey we didn't mess about and raced to the garden bar for the usual G&T and vodka and along with Kilimanjaro beers by the handful. We then indulged in nibbles of chicken wings and spring rolls followed later by a delicious dinner including some local fish for some that they seem to overcook regularly.

We have not been great at staying up late and this was no exception with an 8:45 bedtime for all.

A sad moment, as this was our last night in Tanzania and leaving the fab weather and kind smiling people that we won't forget.

By Greg.

Wonders of the ocean

is 6.00 in the morning and all the families, the Donaldson's, Andrews's and Heartly's are up, getting organised to go and swim in the sea with wild dolphins.

We're all up and organised and in a van driving to a snorkeling place to get a boat. We got our boat and set out to sea. We got to the dolphins and we leapt out of the boat to some incredible, once in a lifetime scenes, then had to keep jumping on and off the boat to catch up with them. In our last two snorkels we got so close. Literally in touching distance!! After dolphins we had brekfast.

we were looking forward to a dive.......

We arrived at the diving centre but it was too choppy. We would have to dive tomorrow. We couldn't get a cab, so we walked the 2km home. it was so hot walking home, that we all enjoyed a fantastic dip in the pool. The best part of the day was getting so close to the dolphins it was a great experience and we all enjoyed it.

The next day we all woke up at 6 to go on a boat to go scuba diving and Fern, Doug, Rob, Luke and Katie were going diving whilst everyone else was snorkeling. After we got our wetsuits, fins and snorkels on at Sau Inn Dive Centre, we set off and arrived at the place we were diving in the middle of the ocean.

First, the two instructors, Doug, Rob and Katie went in and went down for 30 minutes. When they came up, they said it was like being in a tropical fish tank. Debs was ill on the boat as she gets travel sick. She fed the fish!!!! Next it was Fern, Luke, Katie and Rob's go for diving and we went in again for 30minutes. We saw lobsters, a massive fish, amazing coral, sea snakes, angel fish, harent fish, Nemo fish clown fish. It was like being in Finding Nemo. When we were heading back we all took our wet suits off and Rob had a big rash and it could be a jelly fish then went back to coral rock. He had to go for an injection because it was itchy and his eyes were swollen.

By Doug, Ben, Luke, Fern, Eddie and Amy

Monday 5 January 2009

Coral Rock aka Fawlty Towers

Well, what can we say? We have spent the last two days bemused and confused but with plenty of giggles. The question is: do you want the story of three hour wait for 10 portion of chips, Katie and the red wine, The fruit salad saga or how many hours can you spend waiting for food?

Our accommodation is basic, hot water is... variable. Anyway, we are here to immerse ourselves in the turquoise tropical fish tank spanning the horizon.

We did a deal with Captain Chicken for a snorkelling trip. Of course, like most things in Africa, things are not as they seem. We walked straight out from our resort now known as Zanzibar Towers (part of the Fawlty Towers hotel group). We hopped on a traditional local tri maran. We tacked our way up to the snorkelling site. Wow, it was awsome. Starfish, sea anenomies and tropical fish galore, including some weird sea snails that squirmed into a ball. The only dodgy part was the leaky snorkel and masks, but hey everyone enjoyed it.

Everyone is now pretty horizontal here. Just chilling.

By Deb and Greg

Friday 2 January 2009

Dave's blog (supplemental)

Been for a swim in the sea which washes up on the white sandy beach, then off for a massage followed by a dumping of hot water in the wet room. Must dash the Pouilly Fume is in the ice bucket.

See ya. Wouldn't want to be ya!

By David

The eventful morning after the night before

We all rose at varying times, depending on the level of alcohol intake the previous night. Had a hearty breakfast at Coral Rock of eggs, pancakes and fresh fruit.

Deb and Greg took the children on a long stroll on the beach. The tide was out so they walked quite a distance.... Saw a sea snake, lots of crabs and starfish. The kids loved bathing in the hot pools, but unfortunately Fern ended up being stung by something nasty in the water. Debs frog-marched her back to the pool, keeping her positive between sobs, bless! We considered a trip to the hospital but after washing the stings, applying vinegar, cortezone cream and anti-histamines, she made a swift recovery and was in the pool within an hour!!!

The Scotts left for Echo Beach just after lunch and the rest of us just played around the pool and snoozed on loungers. The ladies had a massage from the local village women, who were a little rough with their sand-paper hands....ouch! Polly had a couple of henna tatoos and is now believing she belongs in Zanzibar!

We had a tasty dinner in the restaurant in the evening, a few beers, wines, game of cards and had an early(ish) night.

By Polly

Thursday 1 January 2009

New Year's Eve

More learning about how Africa works:

We booked a couple of 12 seat minibuses (that we have routinely seen stuffed with as many as 20 people) to take us back over the little ferry and drop us at the terminal for the fast ferry to Zanzibar. But when it became clear that they weren't interested in negotiating their fee down to a reasonable level, we moved to Plan B. We unpacked our stuff, started the truck and all clambered aboard.

Japhet and Joseph took us all down to the ferry terminal with the idea that one of them would accompany us as foot passengers to the main ferry terminal - a slightly daunting prospect, as the ferry gets very crowded. When we got to the ferry, however, the rules had obviously changed (again) and for less than half the cost of yesterday (when they wouldn't let us on) we were floating toward the town centre!

After a second tearful farewell to our trusty Scania and two drivers, we got in the queue for the Zanzibar ferry. Three-quarters of an hour later, we were all sat, in stifling heat, in the lower deck of the ferry, waiting for our "fastest boat" crossing of one-and-a-half hours. We disembarked after nearly three hours on the boat! We had been diddled into paying top dollar for the slow boat!

The journey from the port took another hour-and-a-half so, by the time we clapped eyes on the beautiful sight of the Indian Ocean, we were desperate for a beer. Fortunately, this was easily solved. We went straight to the bar and got stuck in.

The party revved up gradually around us and we all enjoyed the seafood buffet and beer and wine and cocktails, with the kids downing fizzy drinks like drains. Unfortunately, it all turned out to be too much for most of us, with only Sam, David and Georgia seeing-in the New Year and partying until the early hours.

It's been a tiring fortnight on the truck and we're all looking forward to a late breakfast in the morning.

By Rob.