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Blog, Feb 19
It’s difficult to backtrack to all that has happened, but let me start with the present: Today, we have landed at Mombasa, in Kenya, and I am signed up to take a trip this afternoon, to Bombalulu, a craft village featuring crafts produced and sold by the handicapped, followed by a stop at Haller Park, with the chance of interaction with the wildlife so famous in Kenya.

Today is the very first day since the cruise started, that I didn’t HAVE to get up early and start a morning full of activity; that’s because there are usually no classes on “land days” but we have been delayed in a few ports, such that morning classes took place anyway. However, we landed at 8 this morning, and my tour is only at 12:30, so I have really been free until now. As usual, the land tours are too difficult for me to negociate, especially in this heat! At the craft village, it was noon (lunch time) so no one was there to demonstrate, although we witnessed the various set-ups for clothing, jewelry, leather goods, wheelchair production, etc. In addition, there was a dance demonstration when we arrived. Then we went to an animal farm, where I saw the giraffes feeding, plus some loose monkeys, and a couple of animals I didn’t recognize. However, like yesterday, I went back onto the airconditioned bus instead of walking for 1 ½ hours to see a hippo, some snakes, alligators, etc. and visited with the other 4 or 5 people who chose to forego the walk in the heat. On the return to the ship, I was interviewed by an international TV video team, asking question about my impressions of Mombasa (much more westernized and modern than Zanzibar).

On account of “Security” (fear of pirates, etc.) our itinerary has been modified, and we will have to go much further south than originally planned, such that we will not be able to land at either the Sechelles or the Maldives; instead, we will continue directly to Cochin, India. That means we will have another 7 straight days at sea, which I prefer, anyway.

Last night was a special party for the World Cruisers, called Kamp Kwa Zulu, featuring original entertainment by the huge cast of talented singers, dancers, and jokers who are on board, and it was quite amusing. I do have a picture of some of the cast.

During the day, I went ashore in Zanzibar, Tanzania, which I would have enjoyed more, if we weren’t so close to the equator….. it was hot, hot, hot! The ship was a few hours late in landing, due to countercurrents along the way (this ship still has the sluggish propeller pod, which was never fully repaired last year; it has to wait until dry dock scheduled for 2012) and we are unable to go as fast as would have been necessary. That meant that instead of leaving at 07:45 as scheduled, we only left at 12:30 noon, in the heat of the day, and there was quite a bit of walking necessary. The trip was labeled “Exotic Spices and Rare Monkeys”.

My first impression was a woman, fully clothed in black from head to toe, and with a full face covering, also. Most of the woman wore very colorful long shawls draped in various fashions, and I missed what was said exactly, but it appears that a man can have 4 wives at a time, as long as he treats them equally, and so his women apparently dress in the same colorful prints in order to be identified (at least, that is what I thought the guide said. I couldn’t hear him because there was no loudspeaker, and he spoke from the middle to the back of the bus and I was up front!)

It was an hour’s drive to the forest, where most of the monkey population live, and I was fascinated by the scenery along the way. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get any pictures, because we were going too fast, and it was impossible to focus. However, although some of the roads were paved, lots are in the process of being prepared to be paved (eventually) and so are dusty and dirty, but people still hung their laundry out, dust and all. The favorite mode of delivery still seems to be a wooden cart, either animal (donkey) or man drawn. I don’t remember seeing any horses, and the cows are often Brahmin from India(with a big hump between their shoulders). There are still many thatched huts, and lots of cement foundations that have been started, but abandoned due to lack of money. There is compulsory schooling, and even a university of sorts on the island. My main impressions remain the colorful dress of the women, the individual tiny (hole in the wall) shops, and the small carts used for all purposes. It seems to be a very poor country, but the people are quite friendly.

Now, it’s already time to get dressed for dinner! Hopefully, I can post this to the blog.

In the forest, we first went to see the monkeys, all of whom nicely remained up in the trees, because they can be really pesky if they descend to the sightseer. Then, the others went on to see the Mangrove Forest (Banyon trees) and other vegetation, but I decided it was much better for me to go back onto the airconditioned bus, and await their return. At the spice farm, I followed the group, and saw and smelled, and sometimes tasted all the various spices that are indigenous to Zanzibar (clove, lemongrass, cinnamon, pepper, etc.)


The night before was entertainment by a string duo, and a baritone singer, but the fantastic part was a juggler! I have NEVER seen such an interesting and fascinating bit of juggling talent.