Feb 6, 2015

Well....this journey is over and a new one is about to begin. After a 40 hour trip home where sleep was an elusive commodity we've all recovered and are ready for our respective next steps. The Amsterdam airport was probably the most memorable (not in a good way) part of the journey home. We had a 7 hour stop there and were hopeful that we would be able to find a corner to curl up in and catch a little shut eye but that is easier said than done in such a busy airport! Lynda and I checked out a hotel in the airport but it was way too rich for our pocketbooks so we found a corner where the floor was the same temperature as it was outside the airport! minus 1 that is!!! We stayed there as long as we could (ie: until the cold seeped right through the layers of clothes we were using as beds and into our bones) and then we were off and walking again. Did you know the Amsterdam airport has NOWHERE to sit??!! Gail and Darlene were much more resourceful than we were and they managed to locate a free lounge where they could at least get off the floor and curl themselves around and under the arms on the benches (that were padded - lucky girls!!) so they didn't experience the bone chilling trauma Lynda and I did. Calgary airport was much more civilized and Darlene's daughter, Cheryl, met us (with a sign so we knew where to go-LOL). We were able to sit down, have a coffee (Timmy's of course) and a visit before the final leg home to Kelowna. We must have looked pretty done in as we came off the plane as one of the greeters in Calgary even called out to us to give us a ride through the airport on their little cart. And to tell the truth....by the time I got home and looked in the mirror I can imagine just why he might have done that! Basil and Becky were there to meet us in Kelowna and it sure felt good to finally arrive home an hour after that. It was a wonderful adventure and we all feel so fortunate to have been able to share it with one another. We'll be able to relive this adventure over drinks on the deck for years to come! In the end...we all survived and a new record has been set in my books for the longest journey home. Previously 37 hours was my best but this one outdid that by a mile! Yes folks...3 hours at the end of 37 is a mile!!! Till another adventure calls, Darlorlynga

January 31, 2015

January 31, 2015 Day four of five in Nungwi underway and we've settled into our "lazy" lifestyle quite nicely! Gail and Darlene have gone shopping, Lynda is wandering and meeting people, and I've just made an appointment to have a massage this afternoon. Yes...we're working hard at being "lazy". LOL! I've located a local tailor and am having a couple of summer shirts made from local fabric. Fingers crossed that they turn out okay!! The last time I did this (that was in Vietnam) the outcome was not great but the surprise I will get in the end when I pick them up will be part of my African adventure and the memories that go along with it. Spent some time chatting with the food and beverage manager at the hotel this morning. Another great guy. All of the staff here are excellent and the conversation with this guy this morning confirmed what appears to be the case...they all have great attitudes and are willing and at the ready to do whatever is asked of them...always with a natural and sincere smile. The general manager of the Z, Julie, has been here for 5 years now (after 6 years in northern Thailand) and she loves it here too. She also commented on the positive attitude the staff bring to work with them and as a guest I can confirm that it shows in everything they do. Julie is from England, the food and beverage manager is from India (and is also experienced in hotel management at a number of exotic locations) but the vast majority of the staff are local Tanzanians but from the mainland. There are a couple of staff who are from England but thats about it. At breakfast this morning (b'fast is included with our room) we all agreed that this is the perfect way to wind up our adventure in Africa. Having the opportunity to stop and sleep in the same bed for 5 consecutive nights, to have no agenda during the day, to get clean....really clean, and to get lost in our novels or sudoku games for a little while has been a real treat and when the time comes to head for home we'll be rested and ready for the journey. Speaking of getting lost in a novel...mine is calling me so I think I'll spend 1/2 hour doing just that before I seek out my tailor. Till later..... It's later now so we're back. Dinner tonight was at a neighbouring spot where I can confirm the lobster coconut curry is a 10/10. Actually Lynda had it too and she also enjoyed it. Darlene and Gail also liked their food so we're all going to bed well sated AGAIN! It must be a norm for the tropics to have late dinners and early nights and we seem to have ssettled right into the flow of that pattern! Today was more of the same...lounging at poolside, playing in the waves and laughing at Gail and her faux pas. LOL She sure does a good job of keeping up all laughing! The best one today was when she was out in the waves and said, "I'm fun!" and then right behind that she said, "oops, I forgot to say having". OMG Gail....how do you do it?! This morning Gail, Darlene and Lynda all got another new dress and I had some luck with the tailor so by this afternoon we were all sporting something new. How nice to have something to wear that is really really clean and fresh! My massage at the spa also left me feeling pretty darn good. Aromatherapy massage left me slathered in coconut oil and smooth as a babies bum. Yes it was another great lazy lazy day! Hard to believe that We will be home in just a few days and that by this time next week one of us will be basking in the Arizona sunshine while two of us are soaking up some Mexican Rays while the fourth of us holds down the fort at home. Gail and Darlene have gone to bed and Lynda and I decided on just one more drink on the rooftop while getting this blog post finished so...I will sign off for now and enjoy my Mai Tai. Kwahiri for tonight, Darlorlynga

February 1, 2015

Hello on our final night in Nungwi on the exotic island of Zanzibar. We've started this post with a photo that is meant both to capture your curiosity and also to satisfy one of the assignments we began this journey with. Darlene's grand daughter, Leah, gave us a list of tasks to complete and photos to capture and one with the caption of "you slept where?" is satisfied by this attached photo. In fact we added to that caption and it now will read, "you slept where and with whom?" LOL Actually the fellow in the bed with us is Abula Khalfan. The really interesting thing about Abula is that his brother (who is also Tanzanian) lives in Vancouver and plays professional soccer with the Vancouver Whitecaps. His brothers name is Nigel Khalfan. Today was another day of lazing around the pool for the most part but in between being lazy, Lynda made her way out into the ocean (walking with her belongings over her head till about chest deep) to spend a few hours on a local dhow (sailboat). They sailed out to another island called Tumbatu where they snorkeled among the coral. The seas were really rough and everyone but Lynda (and the crew) were sick on her boat. My lazy day diversion was with my "designer" (as the staff have dubbed my tailor). We were back and forth several times with final adjustments and as per Murphy's Law she would arrive with my clothes every time I got into the pool so I spent quite a bit of time struggling into and out of a wet bathing suit! I can promise you that I got my exercise today! Gail's regular daily faux pas provided more entertainment again today and as a result we had to perform a heimlich manouever on Darlene. Today when she meant to say she was going in for a "quick dip" it came out instead as something quite different and I will leave it to your most vivid imagination to fill in the word that rhymes with dip. This morning as we sat in the Cinnamon Restaurant for our buffet breakfast we watched a herd of cows return to the beach again today. The story is that cows like the beach too....and as it is Africa everyone just says "hakunamatata" and steps over or around the cow pies they leave behind. Tonight on the beach below our vantage point at the same cafe we are watching a soccer team run through their paces after the game they played was over. Right now they're all doing push ups - lots of push ups!!! They are in such great shape and are able to turn on a dime as they run after the soccer ball in their bare feet in the sand. This afternoon as we were talking about how to fit everything back into our cases I discovered that Gail's case isn't full at all so I called dibs on her empty outside pouch. In fact, I think I could probably double what she has in her bags they're so "empty". We laughed and laughed at the thought of me filling her bags so full that they become so heavy and she ends up on her back like a turtle in the airport somewhere! Conjures up quite an image doesn't it?! LOL. Dinner is arriving and that's about all we have to report from today so will sign off for now and simply say that tomorrow we have made arrangements for a late check out (12:30 instead of 11) as our journey home will be a long one! Fourty hours in transit means that by the time Becky meets us at the Kelowna airport she might have trouble recognizing us!! Kwahiri from Africa, Darlorlynga