2018 Trip to Zanzibar - Loving the Indian Ocean

- Stone Town Welcome - The Doors of Stone Town - Retreat in Matemwe - Loving the Indian Ocean -

In addition to a lot of chilling out, we traveled around the northen and northwestern areas of the island, and while Zanzibar is know for its lovely beaches, many people live and work on the island. So there is a lot of fishing and boat building that goes on.

Getting out to sea and coming in us restricted by the tides, give the shallow coast around this area. We got out to do our snorkling just as that tidal window was about to close. The group of fishermen just came in as we were headed out.

Traditional fabrication, to create many functional items, is quite in evidence everywhere on the island. The land of "development" and the island's remoteness encourages the use of mant natural materials that, given different circumstances, would be replaced by plastic. This is not to romanticize the fact, as life is hard for this same reason, for many.

Having some delightful interaction with the children of the neighborhood, as we wait for our launch. Their parents are fishermen, or work seasonally for the private resort owners. It's inspiring and also discomforting to realize how bright, enthusiastic and creativity these very young children are, and at the same time, ponder the imediate prospects for them to realize even a fraction of their potential, given the lot they will grow into.

There are at least two varieties of Baobob tree on the island, and I saw one for the fist time in my life while trucking around the north. Baobob's are dying due to antropogenic changes. This one looks in bad shape, be I saw healthier look specimens. There is a grove of the huge ones frther to the South, that I'll want to see, if ever we return.

So, I feel fortunate that our visit allow us to enjoy the beauty of the place, and learn a bit and come to know some of the people who know it as home.

This is one of my fav pics from the trip. I got several great pics of BeYonne. IT was a great family time.

Totally tryna live my BEST life while I can. And Thredra never met a travel itinerary she didn't like (or couldn't tweek), so that makes it kinda easy.

Not my Ken doll figure of 1981, when I was in Rio, touching the weights regularly, but there are clear signs of progress with the love handles...

Though it was a mini vacation, we were up super early on a lot of mornings, to watch the glorious sunrises.

- Stone Town Welcome - The Doors of Stone Town - Retreat in Matemwe - Loving the Indian Ocean -