Tuesday 30 July 2013

Dear Terry

Thank you for your action.
Thank you for your kindness.
Thank you for your beauty, inside and out.
Thank you for everything that you shared with the world.
We miss you.
We love you.

Terry used pictures to tell inspiring stories.
http://canadatokenya.blogspot.ca/2011_01_01_archive.html

Jen

Wednesday 15 August 2012

To the west

The Black Sea? I could not understand our pilot's accent, approaching Istanbul.


The Taurus Mountains?


Crisp, clean sheets, sunshine, electricity, and everything at the Bridge Hotel in Amsterdam.


Having water from the tap was incredible!


This is a different world, indeed.


with love, from Jen

Leaving Zanzibar

I was somehow desperate, leaving Zanzibar, to capture some images of these beautiful people. These are all done on the quick sly; hence the blur.

Goodbye to the beach!


In the shuttle to the airport, I snapped quite a few. Here is the dalla dalla with the loader who rides the back, collects fare and gives the driver a few slaps on the truck indicating to stop or go. Happy also to get a snap of coal bags, up top.


Eager for an ox/bull/donkey cart shot, I found these kids who'd been led into the ditch for a quick bite.


Blurry, but you see the girls here, and the guys. I have even more love for scarves and bikes now. Scarves protect us from many things - cold, sun, eyes. A woman or girl who is covered preserves herself and her dignity, here.











What I appreciate most is African people's focus on the work of daily life and on the well being of others.



Monday 13 August 2012

Kendwa, Zanzibar




A dalla dalla is the best local transit. I bought a shuttle ride to and from town, but missed the return departure time while fabric shopping, so I hopped onto a dalla dalla with 26 others and enjoyed the grassroots ride home.


After buying some fabric in the market, à woman merchant took 500 shillings for a picture of only her baby. One is not to shoot a direct picture of any one Muslim. Babies are exempt, I guess! This long marking stays for two years. It is an Indian custom.


Back at the resort was the best place to display the wares,


and eat the fruit (remember it's Ramadan, so no eating in open places. Restaurants are closed and the only food around are the preparations people make for the sunset mean and the big celebration that ends Ramadan in about 7 days.


Fashion show...Little House on thé African Prairie


Arabia!


I'm ready for home. Thank you, all, for following the journey!

Nwembe

Expecting a walk on the beach, along came a beach boy ( little did I realize just how cunning they are). David Livingstone was okay. He was old ( although younger than me ) and desperately partnerless. His mother died in June and I wonder how gullible I am... He led me through the village of Nwembe and slowly tried to figure out what would make me smile.


We snuck through various resorts - one was where David actually works, so we had to be swift across the borders, climbing along pilons from one property to the next.


A tease of home - The Maple Leafs - and a perfect day because with all the swimming and the blessed life I lead, the Graham family comes to mind, their love of camp, swimming, hockey and people. Thank you, David, for making us such a beautiful place. Thank you to Jean and Jake, for carrying us further!


Here is a map of the north end of Zimbabwe, Tanzania.


Amid Ramadan traditions, there are infidels among us. David showed me some local living, off the beaten muzungu path.





with love from a risk-taker, Jen.

Friday 10 August 2012

Dar to Zanzibar

Coconut water this morning at the beach





Departing Dar es Saalam via The Kilimanjaro hydroplane boat (1.5 hr ride)





The fish market in Dar,


Colorful transport


Yes, fish...yum!





Arriving Zanzibar... I wish I'd taken a snap of the people on the dock!


A few glimpses of life as we drive north from Stonetown to Kendwa. it's Ramadan, and 98% of Zanzibar is Muslim. - this means no food from sun up to sun down, this also explains the piercing glares I felt as I nibbled two crackers upon loading the ferry... Oops!

My new friend, Ali, visited with me on the boat, teaching me about Islam, and arranging transport for me on the other side. He got a free ride out of the deal, and I avoided public transport - a bit pricey, but good.

a beach town


Roadside life


Sorry, guys, but you are irresistible. Blew kisses to pay for the photo :)


Aiming the camera at a donkey cart, they move quickly. These guys are earning their permits.


Glad to see an international goal in progress. Zanzibar totally discourages plastic bags, but is not yet free of polythane bags. Maybe Victoria, BC, will lead the way for our Pacific Northwest plastic control. Come on, council - sharks, then plastics. Let's do it!


On the windy beach, I picked these notes and a picture. They are amazing artifacts to have discovered, and they will become part of our GNS artifact collection. Any guesses?


My home in Kendwa, Zanzibar





with love and limited time in the sun,
Jen

Dar es Saalam

Coming into town, by Dar Express Bus. So much to see!





It's just like where the Island Highway comes into Uptown.


Sabebe was a lucky catch at the bus station. He stuck with me through my whole time in Dar es Saalam - a city of many thieves.


I swam at The Golden Tulip , and practiced butterfly so I can coach better next year (with Aidan, Jack, and Erik).


Forgetting my passport in Arusha was a major traveller's mistake, especially because I could go no further than Dar without my ID. Passports and visas are going to be a big part of next year's Trip of a Lifetime. They are an important part of moving around successfully. The police "slapped my wrist". I'm okay, and another bus driver delivered my passport at midnight.

Here is The Indian Ocean, east of Africa, south of the Red Sea and Arabia.
There is a huge Indian and 98% Muslim presence here, in Zanzibar, mixed with black, sub-Saharan Africans.

Check these out:








Tanzanian seaweed.


Traveling to my chalet, down the main road back inland, towards tonight's chalet and the bus station, where we'll pick up the passport later.








Tuk tuk or three-wheeled taxi, boda boda in Swahili.


The Levi's Store


With love from a big, colourful and quite Muslim city,
Jen