
In the video I uploaded to YouTube, I gave it the catchy title "A BORING VLOG". Yes! For many people, showing an ordinary everyday life, as well as the period of adaptation to the place, is boring, but it is part of the process of getting to know a place, unless you are there for 5 days. In that case, there is no time for enjoyment, nor for adaptation, nor to fully enjoy the colors. I like to have the time for that. I saw many tourists rushing through the island and not even having time to swim in the ocean, let alone enjoy the tides, the colors of the sand and the different shades of blue water. This is not me. I gave myself the time for that. In the first days, I just enjoyed what my eyes saw and as a bonus, I met many different people that you will not meet on the excursions that the tourist package offers you. After all, it is for tourists.
Morning
You know I love coffee. In the morning I would take my coffee to the beach and enjoy the turquoise water, the white sand and watch the local women work at low tide.
They were growing some kind of seaweed, and their children were playing carefree around them. These kids were jumping and frolicking and laughing so much that I thought, "Now this is what you call a carefree childhood."
The women sang the welcome song "Jambo Buana," which translates to "Hello, sir!" There's a line in this song that really stuck with me: "Wageni, mwakaribishwa." This means "Foreigners, you are welcome!"
How do I know all this? As I mentioned, by avoiding mass tourism, I learn more about the culture of the people around me.
The colors of the island, while I was drinking delicious Tanzanian coffee, which was bathed in the hot African sun, were a whole palette—from the cyclamen flowers and red hibiscus to the gray trunks of palm trees with dark green leaves, from the reddish-yellow soil to the insanely white sand, from the dark blue sea to its turquoise shallows. Unique! The colors changed at different times of the day. A dream come true!

Lunch
After a uniquely delicious lunch of local produce such as fish, fruits, and vegetables, I headed back to the beach.
This time for swimming or trying to reach the reef at low tide. The view from the ocean to the island was different: a green palm forest covering a large part of the island to the beach, where there were low-rise hotel buildings and Maasai shops, made with improvised or natural materials.
The warm water of the ocean and the white waves seemed to welcome you. Everything whispered love. Speaking of love, how can I forget to say that the beach we admired so much is called "LOVE," or in Swahili "MAPENZI."
There is one thing to consider, and that is the HOT AFRICAN SUN. It is at this time of day that it is at its hottest, so it is advisable to hide in the shade and drink plenty of water, which is what I did when I was not in the water.
One day, Russi mumbled that he was very hot, and then a kind gentleman replied:
Do you know why?
"Why?" asked Russi.
"Because you're in Africa!" the gentleman laughed.
Yes, the sun is strong in Africa and should not be underestimated.
Evening
Ah, Africa! I've heard a lot about the African sky, but until you see it with your own eyes, you can't understand. The first night I said to myself, "Hmm, nothing special," but I was wrong, oh how wrong I was. Maybe I was tired or overwhelmed by everything around me, but I was wrong.
After I got used to the surroundings, I was able to see its beauty. We were lucky enough to see the so-called supermoon and witnessed a night low tide. I tried to take pictures, but I lacked experience in night photography, and I was so enthralled that I didn't really think about settings, lenses, tripods, etc.
Honestly, it's beautiful! I'll attach my amateur photos to the blog, but they can't even half show you its beauty.
As we stared at the night sky, walking on the beach, lights were twinkling out into the sea. What was that? We both wondered. They turned out to be harpooners with flashlights, and so we witnessed night fishing. This is how the locals make a living. The evening breeze makes the temperatures bearable, even pleasant. One thing I should mention is that day and night in Zanzibar are almost equal, because it is located not far from the equator.
My time in Zanzibar taught me the beauty of slowing down and appreciating the little moments. I realized that true pleasure comes from immersing yourself in a place, its people, and its culture. So, whether you’re traveling for a few days or a few months, take the time to connect, explore, and truly experience the world around you. Memories and connections with people are what make travel unforgettable.
Kommentare