So we're back in Stonetown for another day in a half or so before heading back on the overnight ferry to Dar Es Salam. We spent the better part of three days in Jambiani which is on the east coast of Zanzibar. Its a sleepy little beach town with a little bit of tourism which revolves around a couple guest houses & hotels (only two or three of which are actually proper hotels) and various activities (read: taking a sailboat out and going snorkeling around the coral reef).
We spent one day snorkeling and it was really a great time. They take you out in a traditional Dhow sailboat which is a skinny little canoe-like carved boat with two stabilizing balancers on either side. The sail is made out of old, sown together corn and flour sacks. It's was so beautiful and a lot of fun.
The other really cool thing about Jambiani that I think is worth mentioning is the way the women of the village harvest the seaweed. When the tide goes out (way far out -- to the reef) every morning around 10 am, the women go out to the sites where they have tied these strings btw. stakes which are planted into the sand. The strings catch the seaweed as the tide goes in and out and when it is out (the better part of the day) the women go out and gather what has been caught on the strings. The collect the seaweed in bags and then dry it in piles all over the beach. Then, according to who you ask, they come from China or Singapore to buy the seaweed.
So, while we were relaxing in Jambiani, we stayed at this guest house which is run by these rasta guys. There are about 8 of them who live there and run the guest house/resturaunt/bar. It's really chill and every night they have a drum circle around a camp fire. It's a great sceene. We also happened upon a school and they let us come and visit and see the classes.
All in all -- it was a relaxing couple of days. I got my hair braided by one of the women on the beach. My pictures of these beaches (and my braids) -- you will not believe! But you'll have to - because Chaim jumped into a swimming pool with his camera and we're not sure if it will ever work again.
