Zanzibar Friday 9am, 2am NYC Skuli ya Kairo GIVE School
My friends pitched the idea of visiting a local school. With me, to be honest, I didn't get it at first. I do feel that when you visit, particularly a school anywhere, there is intent, such as bringing supplies with you, having some type of cash to donate (which you have to watch for, due to corrupt individuals who may work at the school and not apply the monetary donation to the needs of the school, but to their pockets) as well as, what can YOU apply that will help further this school. I do feel that my exposure and experiences with having had traveled enough, and being surrounded by friends from different countries, you pay attention to details that are told you, however, it is something that I do suggest for most, to SEE for themselves and not just go based on word of mouth.
I was nervous about visiting the school, I have to admit, as looking at our surroundings and where we were located, there were parts that could use some assistance in bettering their lives, according to my understanding of "bettering" a persons life, or societies thoughts, per se. However, there were some folks who were content and happy with the way they lived so, who are we to come from outside, and assume they need more or anything at all?
I have been to places where I have visited schools, and the staff have blatantly asked for money for them, and not towards what could be improved at the location where children spend most of their day. Yes, I have to say, most teachers around the world, are underpaid. But those who have a passion for seeing young minds grow, not only come out of their own pockets for supplies, but boast about how they make due with what they have, and how they can improve their students lives, with just a little more help with additional items.
We visited the Kairo GIVE school. This school was solely built off of donations and volunteer work from the GIVE organization. They take 6 months of their time to spend in the village, continuing to build the school, with in between breaks taking place locally within Zanzibar. It's almost like a volunteer vacation LOL. I liked the concept, especially since the funding for the project, actually went to the school and not the governments pockets. We later also learned that prior to this school being built, the students would have have to walk to the nearest school, which happened to be 3-4 miles away, on their primary school feet. No buses, car ride, or even money for a taxi.
We later found out, after this school was solely built off of donations, the government is now in control of the school, so it is technically a public school.
We met with a few staff, which included the Head Mistress, a couple teachers and of course, the cutest faces ever!
We chatted with the staff, which I managed to record, gaining further insight into their lives and the lives of their students, and the benefits that have been presented to the students in the region. Zanzibar 12pm, 5 pm NYC Private Pool time
We returned to the resort and decided to just take the final day to just sit and relax. Thanks to my bff, she was shown where there was another pool on the property that was sort of a private pool. Not as much activity by it like the main pool. It's hot, quite, and perfect for a photoshoot or a book to read, with music playing.
As time rolls by, a few other people come to the pool and we suddenly look up to notice, we have a bottle of wine being delivered to us. No, we didn't request it :-). Just a nice gesture, and right on time because, I was running out of my own Barcardi to sip on.
(I do not own the rights to this music, playing in the background)
Zanzibar 8:30pm, 1pm NYC Surprise Private Dinner on the beach
We proceeded to our usual spot for dinner, late, because we knew we had more time to eat, so we took our casual time to come to dinner. Once we arrived, we were escorted to sit somewhere else. Well well well! I did mention to the girls that I wanted to have a final dinner on the beach if possible, before we left, only for this special dinner to have been offered to us as a nice gesture! BOY OH BOY was is it a shock and and just a final "wish" I wanted fulfilled. :-)
Our dinner consisted of a 4 course meal, with menus specially printed for each of us.
What's funny is earlier in the day, when we moved to the chairs that faced the beach, we watched the staff put the set up together and just kept looking at it in awe. Just real flowers, leaves, vines, and kept saying "whoever is eating there tonight is lucky". It turned out to be us LOL.
Maasai Compound
Once our big dinner was finished, we went freshened up little, and proceeded to head out for our final night with our friends, to a nearby club, called Waikiki. They made a scene at the door, like it was super packed at this outdoor spot only for it to be, the total opposite. A very nice beachfront, outdoor club, it was filled with many European tourists and...the Maasai! The girls even noticed one that they made friends with earlier in the day. When he realized they recognized him, he was shocked, because, he was not in his traditional garb.
Sam
As the time went on and the festivities at Wakiki was beginning to wind down, we could hear better music coming from a location a very short walk away. I said "let's go there, the music is way better".
Upon approach, we realize we were on a compound, where everyone looked alike. It was a Maasai compound, with a fully stocked bar, dance floor, disco lights, live DJ, and plenty Maasai tribesmen with a few stragglers who had also just left Waikiki. I was wondering why we didn't come here to begin with! We had a shot of, I have no clue what, I believe some type of local cognac, took in the sights, and danced a little, when we were not being surrounded closely by the Masaai LOL. Fun and awkward at the same time. It's part of there way of interacting.
It was an awesome close to our 7 day adventure. Hugs were embraced that night and with a little sadness after making new friends who live so far away, we have gladly been welcomed back with open arms! A different kind of welcome.
If your interested in visiting Africa or any other parts of the world, and want to get booked (payment plan options available), along with further information, e-mail me at ChristinaCtravels@gmail.com
Thursday 9am Zanzibar, 2am NYC Blue Lagoon Excursion
Per usual, we were picked up early by Azizi. Tired and all, we of course had it to make the most of it. We set out to where we were going to get our private boat to the Blue Lagoon. Along the way, we made a few stops, courtesy of Azizi, who explained to us, what they meant to him.
Paje Beach
We weren't sure about what was going on however, we just went with the flow. In the Paje area, we stopped by some local shops where one in particular, stood out. We chuckled. But let me tell you, the owner of the shop was one who made sure he showed you every item you requested, and definitely hustled for that American dollar LOL. He didn't know he was up for a challenge with my friends. For me, I'll negotiate but after a while, I get tired and over it. I'll change my mind quickly about buying anything where I have to hassle for a decent price.
This location also happened to be near where Azizi's brother (who we met while waiting to go to the next stop) worked!
It was nice to meet him. I even got a ride to the beach front, small hotel location, on his brother's moped 😊.
Met Hope
As we just hung out a bit at this beach front hotel, we are not only in the best weather there could be for this week that we have been in Zanzibar, but the water was just the brightest blue and green! My pictures and videos needed no filter. I laid in a hammock, just enjoying the "carribbean" feel of relaxation.
We were watched by a few Maasai tribesmen
who were trying to make a sale.
But there was one little Maasai girl who passed us and got our attention, as she was the most beautiful little girl with the brightest smile and the sweetest personality, we came into contact with.
Her name was Hope. She was 9 and she was Maasai. With the influence of many European tourists, she already knew how to work SnapChat on my best friends phone.
We took a few pictures of her, chatted a little bit, and she played with the filters on the app, until it was time for us to leave. Of course my girl was not just there to be there with her mom. She had a hustle as well! She surely tried to make a sale of her beads before we left the beach front. Hope KNOWS how to play the game...OKAY! I'm not mad 😂!
Michamve Village
We make a small stop at this village that, many would think did not fit in, especially with it being surrounded on each side, by big beach front homes as well as little hotels and moped businesses that have been obtained by Europeans who have moved to Zanzibar. This village is where Azizi is from, and had a story.
Some residents are noticing the changes that are taking place around them. They are also noticing that due to being part of Tanzania (remember Zanzibar wasn't, orginally), there are changes that are coming that they do not agree with. This village is also a village of people who do not quite agree with being part of Tanzania as well. They want to remain independent, or to say the least, left alone, without too much influence coming from the mainland. It all looked familiar to us, in the sense of gentrification taking place in NYC and other states. This village is holding strong which, makes you respect their movement. They are not violent. They are peacefully, resisting.
Thursday 1pm Zanzibar, 6am NYC The Rock Restaurant
I've seen many pictures, and read up on it before my arrival and there's nothing like seeing something in person for the first time and to be able to say "I went there".
This restaurant, from afar, looks tiny! It also makes you think, "how were they able to even build this establishment on this rock?". Well hunny chile, they did and not only that, the space available is something that blows you away. They managed to fit enough tables and chairs to accommodate enough patrons, along with an outside terrace/deck area for those who would like to sit and sip.
We ordered light food, because we did not want to be too full before snorkeling. I had Fish Fingers which were made out of type of fish. I can't recall LOL. I know that the fish sticks tartar sauce along with the side salad, were a great combo! Unique, but very good taste.
Of course a meal wouldn't be right if it was not chased with ALCOHOL! C'MON! I ordered "The Rock" which is kinda like a Blue Hawaiian back home.
What I loved about this drink was that it is a beverage that I have at a specific restaurant back home however, this one here has a slight touch of Coconut Milk/Creme in it. YUMMMAAAYYY!
Blue Lagoon
We finally hop on our private speed boat and head to the Blue Lagoon.
When it was time to find flippers that would fit properly, there was a slight struggle. I think we spent about 10 minutes on trying on flippers and praying they did not slip off and get lost in the ocean.
Let me just say, there is plenty coral and fish all around us. I tried my best while snokeling, to catch as much as I could on film on my GoPro. Just phenomenal!
We come back to the boat to take a mini break, readjust, and head back out. With this, somehow, my friend Tee ended up with her own tour guide LMAO! He came from another boat, a friend of Azizi's, and litterally turned to her in the water and said "let's go!" All we could do is laugh, as we knew what it was! OK! In the meantime, myself and Yasmin continued to snorkel with Azizi, since we the best swimmers or whatever! LOL! We finally stop to regroup by a coral rock. Everyone else was able to stand on it but I couldn't get my damn balance. I used my middle finger to break my fall and man oh man, I got the nicest cut from the rock, on my finger. Salt water going into it felt so awesome🙃.
Thursday 5pm Zanzibar, 2pm NYC
I thought we were headed back home however, the girls wanted to make one last stop in Stone Town for some final items.
Lets just say the vibe and look is very different at night
It was nice to have experienced it as well. My nap in the ride back was phenomenal, of course, since the ride is about 45 mins from Stone Town. I couldn't wait to run to dinner! 😊
If your interested in visiting Africa or any other parts of the world, and want to get booked (payment plan options available), along with further information, e-mail me at ChristinaCtravels@gmail.com
If you read my previous blog post on my travel to Thailand, then you know I am already nervous about flying out on time, with Qatar Airlines, again. To my surprise, we not only boarded a little early, but we departed on time! AMEN!
Just like my last time flying with them, I totally enjoyed my meals as well as, special beverages, as yes, I paid for them!
I have to say, their food is phenomenal. It makes me think, airlines in the US need to step it up!
Of course my view, in the middle of nowhere in the sky, is beautiful! Literally seeing the sky turn from night to day, flying through different time zones, took my breath away!
Saturday 6:45am Doha, Friday 11:45pm NYC
We finally arrive and all I can think is, "Hurry up and let us disembark, NOW! See, this airport is built differently and is time consuming, when seeking your connecting flight, and has a 2nd security check, once you arrive. Still don't get it. From security, to an indoor airtran,
to finding out where our gate is, as it is not listed on the board when we arrive, we finally find our gate. We had a little time to spare and depart Doha to Zanzibar a little late.
Saturday 3pm Zanzibar, Saturday 8am NYC
I steadily watch the airplane map, after I woke from my nap, to see how close we were to Zanzibar. The excitement begins to build even more, as all I want to do mostly, is see the culture. I knew that it would be a slight culture shock for my friends, however, it was a slight one for me as well, in the airport.
The airport is not built as nicely as most. Because it is a small island with limited access to construction materials, and as word on the street, government funds not being assessed properly to properties or the people, the airport is something out of a movie, where it appears like it was just built with limited materials, back when the first airports came into play. No real air conditioning, ceiling, tight customs area to fill out forms, just hot and crowded. Arrivals enter on one side of the 1 story building and departures are on the other side of a single wall. A very small and crowded airport. Visa and Customs
We decided to get a visa on arrival, which costs $100. We made sure we had the cash on hand only to find out, they do not accept cash payments. Payment for the visa was card only, which I was too hyped about because...I WAS EARNING MILES WITH MY CAPITAL ONE CREDIT CARD! :-) GLLOOORRRRAAAAYYYY! Plus I also liked the idea that I would have a legit receipt on file, with my bank showing my payment.
From that window, you go to the customs window, to get your picture and finger prints taken, and receive your temporary visa, which is applied to one of your passport pages. I felt so legit!
The exit is about 100 steps away from the customs and baggage area. You can feel the heat and humidity coming through the airport. Just sticky. However, before leaving, we needed to exchange money as well as get phone sim cards. The joke: The sale of both was OVERWHELMING! We had 4 different people in the tiniest boths waving money at us, yelling "buy money here, exchange here! HELLO! HERE!" It was a competition between all of them. At first we were appalled but then laughed because these folks, by any means, were trying to get our attention and do business with us. One girl, not with us, got so overwhelmed, ended up walking away because she couldn't take it. We end up doing both transactions and headed to our driver from the tour company.
Drive to Hotel
To finally see a part of Africa in motion was phenomenal. You see it on television, which sometimes you question, however, these people moved so comfortably in their crowded buses, cars, even pick-up trucks with folks standing in the back, packed tightly. There was no sense of nervousness or that the trucks would topple over if a turn is taken the wrong way. I was nervous when I saw it but, to the locals, it was the norm.
The greenery of the land: BEAUTIFUL! It was so lush and healthy. You can tell in its natural state, the trees and grass received enough nourishment even with the heat of the sun beaming down on them. Not one dry patch in sight. So much available, that those who owned cattle, just let them roam freely and graze on the land, right outside of their door or on the roadside along the "highway". It is because of this, we later discover there are certain parts on the island that are designated for growing certain fruits, veggies, and other crops of the like, for export. It did not appear that much tilling of the soil was needed to grow these items, as they just flourished nicely on their own, in the most random spots.
While driving and taking in the sites, we were educated on the history of Zanzibar, how it wants to stay independent of Tanzania, how Tanzania's name came about, and the types of people and cultures that are practiced on the island. Our guide made sure we were well informed during our 1 hour drive. It was also here where we learned that we were upgraded to the bigger, sister hotel. More excitement sets in.
Arrive to hotel, Maasai, & hotel upgrade
We stayed at the Bluebay Beach Resort and Spa. The outside of the hotel was nothing I expected. The doorways are all shaped in a Mosaic style, with some form of representation of prior groups that colonized Zanzibar, mainly the Sultanate of Oman. Well maintained land.
There are 2 security check points, which are a great distance away from the very entrance to the resort. Upon disembarking from the van, we were greeted by a local Maasai tribesman, which shocked the hell out of us.
It hasn't been known to us that they work, let alone, work in places like hotels. We were under the impression that they solely lived off the land. We were later informed that the governments of Kenya and Tanzania, have been trying to have them assimilate to live like today's citizens. A few have joined and embraced the change, where as others have maintained their semi-nomadic life on the mainland (Tanzania) (Maasai People). This Maasai man's name was Thomas, and he was lit! We received a Swahili lesson everyday, as we passed him.
We were greeted with fresh hibiscus juice (which immediately, I said "this is Sorrel" for my West Indian people). I was excited as hell. I chugged it fast. Just the right amount of Ginger mixed in it as well. We were informed that with our upgrade to this hotel, they also upgraded out meal plan to not only include breakfast, but now included dinner. We were too excited because, we knew food may be a little costly during our stay, but prepared financially for it. Now, we had plenty cash available for buying gifts and paying for other things while out and about.
The Room
The hotel is sprawled out in a luscious garden "campus" style. If you did not walk around at least once to see what else was around, you missed out. With the layout being as such, we had to follow signs for our room numbers. I was just excited to see that the beds came with mosquito nets that covered the bed perfectly, from ceiling to floor. The bed itself was about the size of a King, but a little bigger. Myself and my best friend never ended up touching one another while sleeping.
Dinner
The spread of some nights included a combination that catered mostly to those who were not familiar with Zanzibar cuisine, with the occasional mix of some traditional local foods. Let's just say, we never stopped at plate #1.
Our view was that of an illuminated sprawling pool, with a fresh sea breeze that blew just the right amount of air to keep us cool in the warmth. There was also evening entertainment for us to enjoy while taking in the fresh squeezed Watermelon and Mango juices.
However, to our disappointment, because we were half board, this was the night we also found out that with dinner, drinks such as juice, water, or alcohol, were not included with our meal. When we proceeded to leave the table, we were presented with a receipt to pay for our drinks. Confused, we asked "what is this for?". The waitress explained to us the process, why, as well as why it applied to us. This information was not told to us upon check-in. GRRR! Nonetheless, we had to freshen up and get ready for the evenings festivities. Please note, we have barely slept on our 24 hour trek.
12am Sunday Zanzibar, Saturday 5pm NYC
Moon Party Because I wanted to support a local business while in
Zanzibar, I came across a tour guide, by the name of Azizi, who I found on Instagram. Let's just say, he
became our big brother for the week. Before our arrival, he informed me
of an event taking place Saturday night, called the moon party. We had no
idea where it was taking place, where we were going, all we heard was
party. With suspicion, we did not proceed with excitement because it was
about a 30 minute drive to what seemed like the middle of nowhere, in pitch
black. Suddenly upon arrival, down a rocky road that goes far away from
the main road, and closer to the beach, you see a line of cars and people flood this hidden spot. We clearly were going to join civilization again.
We finally saw a sign of where we were: Kendwa Rocks. This area was built like a quick and easy access to bars, restaurants, and the clubs, on the smallest road connecting them all to one another. Inside (outside) was nothing of what we expected. A sprawling outdoor club, made of nice wood, even with an upstairs VIP area, stage, lightning all over, was nice!
Beyond the stage, was the beach, which had some lounge chairs, tables, canopies, and more space for dancing in the sand. There were also food stations set up.
They wind down the party by having a bon fire
We headed back to our room about 4am, to finally get some real sleep. The following day was going to be a bit more relaxing.
If your interested in visiting Africa or any other parts of the world, and want to get booked (payment plan options available), along with further information, e-mail me at ChristinaCtravels@gmail.com
