In the Globe and Mail

Ok...I realized I haven't posted in a while, especially to explain how the final presentation went (amazing!  They were so thankful and appreciative of what we provided them with) - but it will come as soon as I can find some good pictures!

In the meantime, there was an article posted in the Globe and Mail about the work we did over there, so please check it out!

Thank you to Alexander G for sending it to me!

 

My Return to Zanzibar

Well, as most of you know Zanzibar has always been one of my most favourite places in the world.  And of course, it remains true - it got even better the second time around!

We started our journey right after finishing up with the community service work.  I was a little nervous about the plane - more than usual actually (probably the mefloquine making me paranoid).  It was a 10 or 12 seater single engine plane - I was literally right behind the pilot which was pretty cool.

The plane we took to Zanzibar from Tanga - a little scary

Sitting right behind the pilot - we were snapping pictures like crazy and he was such a good sport about it

The plane held no more than 12 passengers - one of them actually had to sit in the co-pilot seat!

View of the landing strip in Zanzibar

Thank goodness it was only 1/2 hour flight!  We arrived in Zanzibar and immediately took a taxi into Stone Town, where we spent the entire weekend.

Stone Town

We went to all the main sites - checked out the Forodhani Park with hundreds of vendors selling fesh seafood, miskhaki and kuku choma.

Forodhani Park in the evening - it was so happening. Definitely the place to be after sunset

We then went to Prisoner's Island to see some massive turtles! Saw the building where prisoners would have been held (if the prison was complete - it actually didn't end up being used)

This Turtoise was 155 years old!

The Prisoners Building on Prisoner's Island

Right around the prisoners' building, we saw this beautiful peacock that spread it's wings for a lady friend that was close by.  It was beautiful! The first time I have seen one with the wings spread like that!  The picture definitely doesn't do it justice!

A male Peacock trying to get attention of a lady friend

Rebel group #2 (newest member Kalpana - middle left)

We ended our evening watching the sunset on a little private island not far from the Serena Hotel.  Apparently this is the Island where the Aga Khan (leader of the Muslim-Shia-Ismaili faith and major benefactor in East Africa) goes to pray when he visits.  I can understand why - we literally felt like we were alone on the edge of the earth!  It was just amazing...

Sunset on the white sand Island

Sunset coming back into Stone Town

I'm not sure when I'll be back to this part of the world, so am so glad that I was able to experience Zanzibar again!

Only one week left!