2016 SUMMER IN ZANZIBAR, PLACE-WHERE I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO LIVE

Paulina
Jul 20, 2016
5 min read

Well, really, never say never. I thought my life will settle down, but after this trip I have realised, that my life could be much more better than it is now. Why? Let me tell you all my wonderful journey and experience.

So July, 2016 my husband and I plus our friend had a perfect 10 days holiday in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. Let me be honest, I was looking for a rather great hotel (just in case). I‘m an active person, I like adventures, I like to try new things, but still... I thought it is the first time in Africa, I did not know what to expect. The pictures and reviews do not do its justice, you need to feel, smell, experience everything by yourself.

After long, basically 24 hour trip, the first and very funny thing was International Zanzibar airport, just have a look how the luggage system works.

I just couldn‘t understand for a second, how our luggage even have reached the destination without any problems. At last... we‘re going out from the airport. I have never ever seen so many black people in one place. They are suggesting transfer or waiting for their tourists by their surnames. After 10 minutes we are sitting in the car safely with our guy and with 1 million local money in our hands. The trip from the airport is not very long, about 50 km. But in that time... Police stopped us maybe 3 times. I was impressed, the rules for the cars, drivers, all licences needed there and then – very strict . All policemen are in uniforms. Every stop has different uniform. And of course, if you have money, your journey will be fast, just by shaking hand with money (bribing) J Our driver speaks very good english. We have learned new words from him in Swahili language(local) very quickly. Hakuna matata (no worries) is the phrase, that you just will hear a lot. Jambo (hello) is the second one. After a great one hour trip with very smart driver we reached our beautiful hotel, Uroa bay beach.

It was written everywhere – Welcome to Paradise. Ok... Why? Yes it is nice, but where is that Paradise. And, here it is. Amazing, unbelievable Indian ocean. It was magical. In the morning, water is far away, you can see how local people walk past, children running, men drives bicycles with lot of various things on them. Women sitting and picking seaweed in the water. Life is slow, hakuna matata, pole pole (slow slow), everyone is enjoying every second of their life they have.

Just 50 metres on the left side on the beach from our hotel, starts Uroa city life. Local souvenir shops, restaurant, fish market. Kids near fish market „preparing octapus“ for cooking. They wallow them in the sand and throw into the ground. That was.. very strange , but thats how they live. Children were happy to see us, laughing, even talking in English. I was thinking for the moment what kind of childhood do children have in Europe nowadays. Everybody has phones, PC’s or iPad’s, etc. I see many same things in our media ref. kids in Africa. I read, I see videos and pictures, but everything changes when you see it for real, when you can touch, smell, feel. So many emotions that I can’t even describe in words.

Have you ever waited in a queue to get a candy or a chocolate? Those girls did. Those smiles I’ve seen on their faces, it was just priceless. And I can tell you, there is no poverty in this island. Most of all are richer than any other person in this planet. They just, enjoy their life. Everybody is happy, everybody has friends and help each other. They are smart, every kid goes to school, they learn a lot. Literally, there are no sad people and they live in Paradise, they seem to enjoy life to the full.

At the hotel our security were Maasai people. Those people were amazing. They have traditional jump dance. You sould see this, they can jump to the sky J I had a very funny situation, I wanted to take a photo with them. I came on the beach, they were very generous, we‘ve done lots of photoshots. At the beginning they said: „We having a photo with a white lady „. That happend to me first time. I suppose they feel the same with white ones like I felt in the Airport on arrival day. I feel happy that I had a chance to meet those guys. And they are Christians. That was also suprise for me, basically 90 proc in Zanzibar are Muslims.

Before this adorable trip, I have read a lot about Zanzibar. The most used topic of the articles was „Trip to the sunny Zanzibar, the birthplace of Freddy Mercury “. So I will tell you a bit about feelings when I saw Stone Town. That is the name of the city where Freddy Mercury was born. Now the building where he used to live has souvenir shop. There is also the restaurant with his name. And it is rather a paradox, most of the people are Islam followers. They are very conservative and relationships between two people of the same gender seen as a crime punishable by death, but they still adore singer Mercury and do not seem to have problem about homosexuality.

Stone town has a huge history. Starting from stunning doors architecture, extraordinary nineteenth century Swahili civilization buildings, monuments. Remarks that it was a spice and slave trade center. Food and fish market - breathtaking, so many people in one place. You can ‘t even walk and they drive motorcycles between people, and so fast. Such a fuss and so many various fruits, vegetables, spices, etc. Fish market – the other Republic. Business, auctions, and various things I haven ‘t seen. Busy, lively environment.

The Slave trade it is a part of the history of Zanzibar. So if you visit Zanzibar you must visit Prison Island. It takes about 30 min by boat, that is even more exciting. The Slaves have been changed by huge Turtles. Now this island is a home to many Turtles, and one of them is 192 years old. Despite the sad history of the island it is a stunning place, snazzy atmosphere. Walking on this island allowed me to imagine how it looked like ages ago.

I could show hundreds of pictures, share my story, share my feelings...but it is not the same. I thought I will have a simple holiday, somewhere in Africa, by the beautiful Indian ocean with a cocktail from fresh coconut but no, it was totally different.

This small island has a history that you need to see, experience. If you don‘t have it on your TO DO list, then you should write it down. I have never ever felt in my life so nostalgic by leaving the country. Couple of days after my holiday I was reading even more about Zanzibar, people, traditions, places etc. We have done a lot in one week, have seen a lot of different beaches, have met a lot of different people. I just want to go back, want to be able to speak their language, to know more about the antiquity, to play those simple games with children, to be in a calm and relaxing place, just to feel that sand everyday which is like white sugar. It seems that to be HAPPY has more meanings in life.

WILL I COME BACK TO ZANZIBAR?- Oh YES