Travel: Zanzibar

David was in America again so we decided to take a holiday for the long weekend.  It was one of TZ 7 million national holidays.  So we flew to Zanzibar and stayed in a  place called Shooting Star on the east coast.  We got low season rates since it can rain and the Italians don’t like the rain.  ( So we were told)  Our resort had about 10 rooms.  Most rooms were small bungalows with grass roofs.  A bushbaby came into our room in the middle of the night and  tried to eat our apples.  They can jump fast and far.  Great food- lots of fish.  We don’t really get fish in Arusha.  Here is the pool and the beach just at the lodge.  It was low tide a lot so we did not swim in deep water but had lots of mud/sand fights.

   

 

 

 

 

I love this because this is a picture of us just before going swimming with Bottlenosed dolphins.  We look so calm.  Turns out we went on a tiny little jet boat without a shade structure.  We drove for an hour and saw no dolphins.  The kids eyes glossed over, and their ears turned red so I just asked the guide if we could at least jump in and swim in the middle of the African ocean.  Both kids did great.

As we drove back to the shore I gave the lecture about “how we can’t control nature and the dolphins get to decide when they want to swim with people in the wild………… so don’t be sad- it was a cool boat ride”.  Luckily next to shore we saw a pod.  And this is what you do. 

You put the masks/life jackets on the kids quick and then throw them into the ocean next to the pod.  The African swimmer guide grabs them by the shoulders and swims with them while you try to get yourself in a mask.  You jump in, but by that time the dolphins are gone.  So everyone gets back in the boat.  A few minutes later you see them again and do the whole thing over.  This happens about 4 times until the last time one comes way too close to your five year old and he practically leaps out of the water and yells “back in the boat”- you get him in as fast as possible so he is not scared.  So, no direct in water dolphin viewing for me, but the kid got to swim with them and have stories to tell. 

 

 

Next we went to see Red Colobus Monkeys.  They are only on Zanzibar.  I think the park feeds them because they were extinct once but now just hang out everywhere for the tourists to walk right up to. They only have four fingers on their front hand to use like hooks. 

 

 

We stopped at a local turtle conservation site that was kind of a hole in the middle of the island that had six turtles bought from fishermen who caught them in their nets.  It was  a gross little hole, but the kids liked it and at least people are trying. 

The next day we went to the island big aquarium to see turtles.  It was really still a hole, but had more turtles and was connected to the ocean so the water was cleaner.  This one is also run by local villagers for conservation and tourism.  It has researchers pass through some too.  They had nice little signs and a good guide that knew a lot about turtles and marine life.  He asked me if I knew anyone in America to be his wife. 

     

Whale bones at the aquarium.  Dolphin bones.  In 2006 there was an underground earthquake and the pressure changed so fast the brains of the dolphins couldn’t adjust and they all died. 

  

We went to a place that they made local fishing boats.  Then to a deep water beach so the kids could swim. 

     

Lastly we went to Stonetown.  Known for tourism, spices, wood carving chests, and more tourism.  Lots of old stone buildings with little allyways.  reminded me of parts of Mexico or Portugal.  We did an museum, fort, garden, and ate lunch atop a tall bulding so we could get good views.  Then we shopped in the little stores that line the allys.  Birch got a model of a boat and Cole got a shark tooth necklace. 

 

    

 

 

 

Back the lodge for more swimming and relaxation.  Every night I had one cocktail called a dawa- which means medicine in Swahili.  It is vodka, honey, lime, and bitters.  My new favorite.  The kids were so well behaved I almost couldn’t believe it.  They kept saying they had to be the man since dad wasn’t there.  My favorite dinner they were feeding the hotel cat fish and after the fish was gone the cat jumped up front legs on the table and stole Cole’s bread.  They made up this game like they were cats calling each other on the phone.  “ Hey that table is giving out fish.  If they don’t give you fish jump up an still some bread from the little one”.  They said it a million times every night at dinner. 

 

 

Adventure: A walk around the neighborhood- Birch’s documentary except the first picture.

 

  

Our gate as we leave for a walk.  Matt and Lisa’s house from the fence.  Our other neighbor across the dirt road. Seisel plant  ( sp???)  that they use to make rope or just to line roads

 

  

 

The rooster.  If you have read Lisa’s site then you know he is no longer with us.  After a full out attempt to save by Birch we ate him.  We only had the rooster to settle the chickens so they would be calm enough to lay eggs.  Once they were ready the plan was always to let that loud rooster go to heaven or be reincarnated- whichever.  Birch always knew this.  But on the day of the event, he blocked the door and cried and screamed.  I had to carry him away in kicking protests.  Once he realized it was no help for the rooster, he decided to make a science experiment out of it.  He watched the whole thing, took a rooster blood sample, and kept the rubbery head thing for his specimens.  Now he just looks after his chicken.  He doesn’t like the eggs though he says the yolks are too gold.

    

Our garden after one month of planting by seed and seedling.  Crazy rain makes things grow fast. 

 

 

Travel: Kenya for 10 days with 2 cars, five kids, too much stuff, and lots of animals.

We started with an 8 hour trip across the border at Namanga.  We had to buy special insurance and leave our car title in TZ in order to do this by car, but we did it.  We stayed the first night in a gross hotel that David only described as clean.  ( He missed even that description.)  I have ended my PeaceCorps days and did not like this place.  But is was half way to our next stop and it turned out it had a great little carnival for the kids just behind it.  ( See Lisa’s site)  I was too much ugghhy with the drive and the hotel to be happy enough to take cute pics. 

Next we went to Ol Pejeta to camp.  There was a massive rain when we got there.  yeahhhhhh.  We got to stay at this cool donor site in the middle of the conservation site.  Got stuck in the mud on our way there but made it with Matt’s help.  As we walked into the rental house we lucked into there was a giant hippo in a pond behind the house that yawned for the kids.We did a game drive that night and saw hyena and cape buffalo(being nice to each other) and great scenery.    David and I heard lions at night. 

    

 

Next we drove forever to Rutundu, which is one of the coolest places on the earth, but I do not do well more than 4 hours on a  bumpy road.  No one got stuck though….Turns out Cole was starting 104 fevers and I was starting one of the worst cold/cough I have had in a long time.  We had to trolley our luggage and food across the ravine to get it to the cabin.  The people just do a long hike around. The cabins were great.  No electricity but some staff would boil hot water one time a day for a bath ( yes a tub in each cabin).  We cooked our own food.  The kitchen shot is of the outdoor cool fridge.  We hiked the giant mountain with the kids day two and then Birch caught his first trout ever in the lake below us with help from Cosmus.  Then Cosmus taught them how to clean the fish.

 

           Rutundu left mt Kenya below         

 

The next day Cole and I stayed in bed all day.  David, Birch, and Lisa hiked to lake Alice a few hours away.  Look at those views. 

 

  

That night Ashlyn caught a fish also and we cooked it in the fire with help from Peter.  See the cool kitchen and fridge.

   

Next we drove to Lewa conservation site nearby.  Heard rhinos outside our door- yes immediately outside our door at night.  I thought they were the vervet monkeys getting in our cooler.  We stayed in the work quarters that TNC stays in.  Simple but nice and had a pool in which you could often see elephants near.We went on lots of game drives and saw tons of animals. My favorite was the rhino, Cole’s was warthogs.  Got stuck in mud again looking at elephants when it started to rain.  But Matt got us out again.

 

 

      

 

We ended with a drive to Nairobi which is traffic hell, but stayed in a nice hotel and had time to shop.  Got some cool bowls. 

Now we are home and having a relaxing day since school is still out for another week.  David back in states soon.  Hope you enjoyed the pics.  email with any questions.  Peace as always. joey