Coral Rock Hotel Jambiani

... island where we had a delicious lunch of lobster, fish, calamari and a sampling of many local fruits including a new one for me, jackfruit. In truly civilized fashion we ended the feast with a sake sized cup of expresso with Wild African Cream, a liquer much like baileys. While the fish we saw werent as colourful as some |ve seen they were certainly plentiful. Ive never snorkelled through clouds of jellyfish ...

... the following morning by coming to us and saying that we owed him money ... You can imagine the kind of response that he got to that! On Thursday we left Jambiani beach to return to Stone town - Lindsey and Megan were leaving on Friday. You'll be pleased to know that our adventures with Mosquito did not taint those beach days one bit; in fact I wouldn't be without that cycling day for anything! If nothing else I will never forget watching Mosquito's head-first voyage ...

... were chained to. We also got to see the auction area where they were tied to trees and whipped. The slaves that cried the least were sold for more because they were thought to be stronger. A large hole that used to hold water was also there and was used as a punishment when they disobeyed; their heads were held underwater and many of the slaves died. It was really incredible to see this port that was so influential in the slave trade. We headed back to the mainland, got cleaned ...

... to the airport. Wow! What service. I should seriously think about giving up my shoestring backpacking ways and go for the luxury approach. I could get used to having people look after the details for me! Like clockwork, a guy showed up at my door to take my bags and my taxi was waiting. During the drive, he had the radio with the African Christian Network playing. All Christian, all the time to 40 countries in Africa. In addition to other ****, the radio ...

... had only one bed and Mary didn't want to share so they brought in a small single bed and fitted it up with bedding and mosquito netting. I let Mary have the double bed upstairs. After that, Mary went for a swim while I took a walk down the beach and collected shells. I also had a little walk through the village. While on my stroll, I met a local lad named James who from there on out, kept popping up everywhere - not quite a stalker but in the same ballpark ...

... to think that she was trying to set up a buisness in Zanzibar I was thinking good luck, with her attitude she will need it. We made it up to Newuib and straight away noticed there was more tourists around. There were numerous bunch of overlanders there which I dispess because all they do is get drunk and dont really see the country, such an easy way to travel everything on a plate for you, no feel for the real adventure. I had enough of them anyway ...

... from the artist Ima who paints next to the hotel restaurant. These paintings are tough travelers we hope, he removed it from its wooden frame and rolled it up. We'll see. We arrived early to the airport for our last flight with OneTime airlines so had a quick lunch next door to the airport. Great outside café run by the same group who owns Stone Town Café. Great burger and last passion fruit Fanta. Planes leave early in Africa ...

... s connections we managed to stay at someone's house who had invited her a few months ago. And what a good idea it was, I have always found that you always get the best taste of a country by staying with the locals and this was no exceptions and what was even more lucky for us that night there happened to be a wedding. We even had to make a grand entrance being with the grooms family side, who we had just met. I didnt really know what was going on throughout the whole night but ...

... actually paid the taxi driver in advance. How naive is that? When I left the hotel in the morning, they were still waiting for the driver. I really wonder if he ever came? I walked over to the office of the spice tour company and while waiting for the tour to start met two lovely Canadian sisters on a round-the-world trip. They, along with two Germans, two Italians, a French woman, an Australian, an Alabaman (with both parents from Louisiana), and myself made up our group for ...