The Zanzibar Archipelago

We have spent the last week embracing Zanzibar with open arms. From the crowded alleyways of Stonetown to the pristine beaches of Kendwa, we have enjoyed every minute. We have dined in some incredible restaurants and I have vowed to learn to cook Swahili food when i get home as it is a TASTE SENSATION you have to try! It was a shock to the system to suddenly be back on the beaten track surrounded by hundreds of Europeans in their 'europeans'. It didn't feel like the Africa we have come to know and love. Food arrived on time, toilets flushed and beer was more than $1USD. It seemed all too foreign...
We are heading now to the Serengeti...more Europeans I suspect. I think our days as the lone Muzungu's are over. I have high expectations of the Serengeti as even on the bus trip from the border of Malawi to Dar Es Salaam we saw giraffe, elephant, warthog and zebra just on the side of the road! Crazy!
Here are some pics of Zanzibar. Enjoy!

Stone Town

The Idyllic Beaches of Kendwa

Sunset at Kendwa

Two dorks on a Spice tour of Zanzibar (spice capital of the world)

Making Friends

The red-headed "muzungo's" have made friend's wherever they have been...

Everywhere we go we hear whispers or sometimes just children yelling and pointing, "muzungo!" "White Person!" which is often followed by... "Give me money!" and a cheeky smile. We have had a great time making friends with some of the local kids around Lake Malawi who have happily played with us.

These kids followed me for hours!

The Might Boabab Tree

Laundry Lake Malawi Style

Again with the overcrowding...There is always room for 1 more!

African Highlight Reel

I'm way behind - acknowledged...

Currently we are still in Malawi, heading to Tanzania in the next couple of days. Lake Malawi is incredible! We have spent the last 3-4 weeks here doing very little and it has been perfect... Except for the transport... Let me describe getting from African village A to African village B to you. Basically, you fit 20 or so people into a 10 seater mini-bus or ute and floor it. Yesterday, squashed into the back of a ute with 25 others, Rich got vomited on..it was horrible. We have a few big days of travelling ahead of us... Wish us luck!

Here are a bunch of photos....

The back of the minibus...

Desert Elephants in Etosha NP, Namibia

Victoria Falls

Sunset over Lake Malawi

About Bloody Time!

These are the sand dunes in the Namib desert at sunrise. Unbelievable!

It feels like we were there along time ago...I think that's because it was...I see now i have figured this out I have some catching up to do!

where is the photo?

Asian Update

My apolgies for the delay..but here I am, don't give up on me just yet team....

Have had a great time in South East Asia...

10 days of stunning beaches, cheap cocktails, and great company in Thailand was the perfect way to kick of a massive trip and get me into holiday mode.

Holiday mode was abruptly shattered by 2 weeks in Vietnam trying to keep track of sixteen 15 year olds. It was...challenging... all children were returned home to their parents although there were a few i was tempted to leave behind...

Then the last 2 weeks were spent in Laos and Cambodia which was the perfect recovery... I have decied that Luang Prabang is the greatest place in the world...I think I could live there...for at least 3 weeks.

Highlights included:

crashing a Laotion wedding because our taxi driver was trying to mix business with family commitments (see pictures of us ripping it up on the dance floor)

rolling a tuk tuk at 5km per hour...can you believe we still had to pay our driver!

Here are some happy snaps for you all...

Am i being too ambitious??

I can't believe that I've managed to figure out how to set up one of these blog things - but i have...all by myself.... and I am really hoping to be a regular poster... I know I'm terrible at emailing but I'm hoping this blog might be my saving grace and be of some use in keeping those at home informed of my adventures.... If I can figure out how to do this, pictures and regulars posts and all I will consider myself a computing genius....

Leaving Australia tomorrow, first stop Malaysia, then 2 weeks in Thailand with Gypo, Cassie and Nicky B - should be a laugh... I'm pretty excited... That is off course if we can pick up our tickets... due to a technical hitch at Malaysia Airways Richie and I are still waiting on our tickets... apparently they will arrive by courier tomorrow...I know what you're thinking, we are LEAVING tomorrow.... fingers crossed the tickets arrive before the plane leaves....

if not Greengate, 7pm?

Peace,

Jill