Zanzibar

On the 21st December I left the port of Dar Es Salem and caught the ferry for the 2 hour crossing to the island of Zanzibar. This island is famous for its spices most notably cloves and the fact it was the birthplace of Freddie Mercury. Unfortunately at the moment the entire island is without electricity - something to do with Tanzania cutting the electricity pipe line. This means the entire island is using generators but these are incredibly noisy, so they have to be switched off during certain hours and certainly during the night. Not so much of a problem you would think but the temperature is in the high 30's and 40's and without electricity there is no air conditioning, fans, refrigeration or even water - as the water pumps are all powered by electricity. On a night the temperatures got unbearable with the added plight of having no water, so no working toilets either! I spent a night in Stone Town, once home to the biggest slave market in East Africa and then it was up to Nyungi beach on the north of the island. It was so beautiful here, white sands and crysal clear turquoise waters. I spent alot of time in the Indian Ocean - it was bliss. Also went out on a dhow - a traditional fishing boat.
Had a christmas eve feast of Lobster and on Christmas Day I had even more seafood as part of a seafood buffet. Santa made it all the way to Zanzibar too with him bringing me a little soapstone dish with zebras carvings on it.