The Fishline Online: ZANZIBAR!!

For the first time in its history, Heritage International School sponsored the first set of field trips which take place in locations further than a day's journey from the school. Locally, we do a lot of field trips each year. But this year was the first time the school TRIED to offer a trip to Egypt, amongst 2 other field trips (one to Rwanda and southern Uganda and one to a Rhino sanctuary in northern Uganda). However, with political issues in Egypt, a change-up occurred. Originally, I was asked to help lead that Egypt trip. Only after arriving back in Uganda did I find that there was indeed another trip planned in place of Egypt.

As you can see from the title... ta daaaa!!!!!! We went to Zanzibar in early May! There were so many amazing views, activities and photos, that I decided to try a slide show in order to incorporate more photos than I normally do. However, after 2 days of attempting a much longer slide show, alas, I had to revert to simply loading a very few photos (techie issues). There were more than 700 between 2 of us (meaning myself and Tiya, a HIS senior who is gifted in photography), and since I assume you won't want to see all 700, below you'll get only a tiny taste. For the trip itself, we took 19 students grades 5-12, along with 5 adults. Coming from about 9 countries, we had a wonderful mix of personalities and cultures.

I've simply loaded the pics. They're in no particular order, in other words. But the order of our days was like this: Day 1, fly to Zanzibar via Nairobi. Arrive for dinner then bed. Day 2: tour Stone Town (Old Zanzibar city) and slave museum, House of Wonders (history museum), lunch in town, and see a spice farm, including cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, coconuts, and many others. Day 3: Take dhows (boats) out to swim with dolphins then go snorkeling. Lunch at boat-launch beach (small cafe there). See Red tailed Colobus monkeys and mangroves in the afternoon. Day 4: visit Prison Island (see sea turtles there) and snorkel. Lunch out again. Tourist/curio shopping in town. Day 5: Relax at hotel. Fly out in afternoon, back through Nairobi to Uganda.

Now, day 3 of seeing the dolphins... well, it was an adventure to say the least. For the 3+ hours boat ride, we had a lot happen. We headed out to sea- about 1/2 mile off shore and probably 1 mile up the coast, which with the waves took about an hour. Sea waves were about 12' high, enough to continually swamp and rock and pitch our two boats so much that about 7 or more people were seasick the entire time, we had no chance of jumping in the dangerous waters (well, Mr. Kris did, but it was pretty rough). We did see around 6-8 bottle nose dolphins, but couldn't really get many photos due to the rocking of the boat and the waves that kept nearly soaking/ruining our cameras. After about 2.5 hours, we attempted to put the sick back on land, and in doing so, Kris slipped on a rock on the coral reef and landed on a sea urchin, more kids got sick, and so about half unloaded at that attempt. The rest of us wanted to TRY for another area to snorkel, but first our anchors twisted (between the 2 boats), then our boat motor got caught in a huge fishing net, the man had to swim from our boat to the other, get a very dull knife, then come cut us loose, then at one point our boat was so close to the other that a huge wave knocked us into theirs at the point (bow) and literally cracked the wood hull of the other boat. Yep, REALLY rough seas. So we said (for about the 10th time) to the (marijuana smoking) boat pilots that we were done; take us in. FINALLY they heard out pleas, and we all FINALLY went to shore.

And just before we did indeed head to shore, a wave hit so high and hard that it went over the entire boat - probably a wave about 16 feet high?! Thankfully by then I had asked the tour guide, Eddie, to hang my camera bag from the top of the poles over the boat (where a tarp would normally be). Had my camera bag not been hanging piñata style, it would have been completely soaked- with the camera as well. PTL it was okay- just wet on the outside. As I said, it was an adventure. Interesting to speak of now, but NOT the best to live through, but we do praise the Lord that we did live through it!

So on day 4, when we were to go see a place where they build dhows, we changed the plans and went snorkeling at the turtle island. It was most definitely a HIGHLIGHT of the trip, so I'm really glad we changed the schedule. I've never been, and to have been able to do so in the Indian ocean, well, it was amazing! Other really good times included swimming in the hotel "infinity" pool, right next to the ocean. Then swimming in the ocean. Then back in the pool. We also enjoyed playing some Phase 10 and some other group or small group times. And I personally was really pleased to bring home a small Zanzibar trunk (smile).