Hi all,

Haven't been on in a few days as it's been one early morning after another and by the time we get home at night, I have just enough energy to get ready for bed and then pass out!

So, we went to Zanzibar for 2 nights, taking a ferry there and back. Oh my goodness, as you may know, I am terrible at boats and spent the whole ride sick with my eyes closed, kind of ruining my morning. Anyway, Zanzibar was BEAUTIFUL! Such a magical city, with so much rich history, beautiful buildings and architecture, and very nice people. It is so safe, the safest African city we've been to by far, with tourists walking around till 3 am by themselves. The first day we spent walking around the city, visited the first JamatKhana ever in east Africa (1800s), and saw the beautiful Forodhani Park. This new park has made the local business ppl so excited and proud to be working there. Mum will explain more on this.

The next day we went on a small speed boat (ugh) to the Prison Island there, where they originally took slaves to be exported out. It later became a quarantine spot for East Africa. Kind of sad, but what they've done now is put up a hotel there and have started breeding tortoises there. Unlike here at a zoo, I picked up, fed, and was walking around hundreds of tortoises. (buggle, I want one now, they're so cute!) Some were hundreds of years old even! Next we checked out the House of Wonders Museum where some Sultan lived back in the day - oh lord it was huge. So grand and elaborate!

Highlight of Zanzibar was definitely Forodhani Park though. Seeing the Zanzibari business people take such pride in their little marketplace felt really good. Each stall had their cooks wearing chef's hats and aprons or chef's coats which you don't see anywhere else in East Africa. At night, each stall lights up Lanterns and the whole park glows! It's actually quite mesmerising, we sat there for at least an hour each evening just taking it all in.

So, back in Dar we went to Aunty Azmina's sister's place for dinner last night and it was Diwali. Oh my goodness, All evening and night till after 1 am, there were fatakra (fireworks) like no other. So loud even car alarms kept going off! Happy Diwali and new year to everyone by the way! Anyway Dar is really great - still full of Indians (yay!) and growing so much continuously.

Tomorrow morning (early again...) we leave for Moshi where we'll be for a night before taking off on our SAFARI! Here I come, monkeys! Just over a week and I'll be home (Anch and Buggle, start the countdown haha). I miss you all!

- Reena