…or isn’t this woman a dead ringer for Emilio Estevez?

Emily Ruete (1844-1924) was born in Zanzibar as Sayyida Salme, Princess of Zanzibar and Oman.

Almost. Sayyida is not her name, it’s an indication that she’s supposedly a descendant of the prophet Muhammad, and I don’t know that “princess” is the most appropriate designation, but she wrote her own history for a western, Christian audience, so “princess” is what they would have understood.

Wikipedia has more.

But seriously, she looks like Emilio Estevez, right?

Guardian Weekly reader Dolar Vasani describes a visit to Zanzibar’s Forodhani Gardens – a seafront sanctuary filled with walkways, benches and food stalls

*****

Zanzibar is hot and sticky. It is the prelude to the long rains. In the evenings, I find myself looking to escape the stuffiness of my hotel room. Within a short walk, past the madrasa, are the Forodhani Gardens, a seafront sanctuary filled with walkways, benches and food stalls.

This rehabilitation project spearheaded by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has restored a variety of sites that mark Zanzibar’s rich history. Only men in white aprons and chef hats manage the many stalls of the night market, known for its shellfish, meat kebabs, fruit, freshly pressed sugarcane juice and, of course, the local Zanzibar pizza.

Read more at: Guardianweekly.UK

Related post:

Video on Inauguration of Forodhani Park’s Rehabilitation…

->>>>><<<<<-

I just discovered this delightfully-entertaining, half-hour episode comedy series about a diverse group of Muslims, set in a small Canadian town on on the prairie.  The 20-minute video above is the first episode.

The diverse group of Muslims in the town have the same disagreements among themselves that different groups of Muslims have in their own home countries, or even that different Muslim countries have with each other (between conservative and liberal views of Islam)–but all in an entertaining way.  Of course everyone in the town misunderstands things, in the same ways people misunderstand in real life.

Try this first video.  It’s a very cleverly done Canadian sitcom, filmed in Toronto, Ontario, and Indian Head, Saskatchewan.   The first episode (above) was filmed in Regina.  Little Mosque is the most popular sitcom in Canada and has been syndicated in France, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Turkey, Israel, the West Bank, and African countries.  It is light-hearted, and family-oriented.  Expats who have lived in Muslim countries will especially enjoy this humorous series!

Links to all Little Mosque on the Prairie episodes (Seasons 1 – 4) can be viewed HERE (scroll down the page).   The links are free.

“Eierprojekte” als ertragsbringendes Kleinunternehmertum für unterprivilegierte Menschen erfreuen sich in Tansania wachsender Beliebtheit.

Nachdem unser Teilnehmer Sebastian ein solches für ein Waisenhaus am Kilimanjaro gestartet hatte (siehe hier), verließ sich nun auch unsere Teilnehmerin Veronika aus München auf Sansibar auf dieses Erfolgsrezept. Eine vom Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) des SOS Kinderdorfs Sansibar unterstützte Frauengruppe bekam einen Hühnerstall sowie 700 Hühnerkücken und züchtet nun Hühner, um dadurch ein nachhaltiges Einkommen durch den Verkauf von Eiern und ausgewachsenen Hühnern zu erzielen.

Veronika war auch maßgeblich an der Umsetzung einer Kanga-Manufaktur beteiligt, bei der die Frauen Stoffe bedrucken. Kangas sind Wickeltücher, die das Hauptkleidungsstück für die Landfrauen Sansibars sind. Auch nach ihrer Rückkehr nach Deutschland kümmert sich Veronika um die Fortsetzung ihrer Anstrengungen und betreibt dazu auch einen interessanten Blog: http://www.fsptansania.blogspot.com, auf dem Veronika auch zum Spenden aufruft.

In October, the London International Development Centre (LIDC) organised a workshop to discuss the ‘Impact of Mobile Phones Upon Development and Health’. Three speakers spoke on the use of mobile phones and animal health in Africa:

Andrew Hagner (Royal Veterinary College) explained how he and his Undergraduate Research Team used mobile devices to record the health of cattle in Zanzibar. Nick Short (also RVC) spoke of ongoing work to develop instructional podcasts and videocasts in Swahili to enable field workers to access expert information by downloading resources to their mobile devices. Niall Winters (London Knowledge Lab) highlighted the opportunities for learning created by mobile phones.

The presentations:

AfricanMecca Newsletter – Fall/Winter 2009 – Update from Americas, European and Africa Offices

In This Edition:

• AfricanMecca News
• Top 10 Reason For Visiting Zambia – Reason # 2
• Royal Zambezi Lodge in Lower Zambezi National Park
• Matemwe Retreat in Zanzibar Island
• Zambia Safari & Culture Video Guide
• African Safari Program Prices & Proposal
• Indian Ocean Beach & Cultural Program Prices
• Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer Experience
• Newsletter Notes

AfricanMecca News

1. Kenya Orphanage Takes In Elephant Babies (VIDEO LINK) – Experience Daphne Sheldrick Baby Elephant Orphanage by booking the Daphnes Sheldrick Babes AfricanMecca Tour. Complete details

2. The Great Migration (VIDEO LINK) – Experience the Great Wildebeest Migration by booking the Best Of East Africa Safari. Complete details

3. Naomi Campbell In Tanzania For Fashion For Relief Charity

4. Victoria Falls – The Smoke that Thunders (VIDEO LINK). BBC Natural World IPlayer Video is only viewable in the UK.

5. Our 2010 safari, hotel and tour prices are now published and available. Please contact us for your tailor-make tour program or visit our website for recommended tour programs.

Country Guide

Zambia – People & Language

Zambia has one of the lowest population to land ratio’s in Africa. Only 10 million people in a country half the size of Europe. The employment opportunities offered in the post independence era in the copper mines and associated industries led to a strong rural-urban migration. The result has been to make Zambia one of the most urbanized countries in Africa. About one fifth of the population lives on the Copperbelt to the north of the capital, but the biggest concentration of people is in Lusaka itself with an estimated population of over 2 million. This has resulted in massive tracts of uninhabited land across the country. With over 70 different tribes in Zambia, there is wide cultural diversity. Interestingly enough, it is one of the few countries in Africa with very little tribal conflict, and the existence of so many tribes has proved less of a political problem than in many other African states. The Main tribes are the Lozi, the Bemba, the Ngoni, the Tonga, the Luvale and the Kaonde
Click here for a complete guide to Zambia

Zambia Travel Guide

Top 10 Reasons To Visit Zambia In Africa As Experienced By AfricanMecca

Reason # 2 – Zambia’s Wild & Unspoilt Wilderness Safari Experience: The national parks in Zambia remain off the beaten path, and nature is showcased and at work by the minute and particularly during the night game drives in the parks. The large waterways in Zambia make most of the parks inaccessible from November to March, allowing wildlife, plantlife, birdlife & the whole ecosystem to undergo a complete rejuvenation & rebirth by the time April comes around. The ecology’s unique “my time” is most loved and cherished by nature lovers allowing them to see the complete environment in a natural state after total five month absence. It is no wonder that famous adage about Zambia applies naturally: “Zambia – The Real Africa”.
Click here to review all Top 10 Reasons For Visiting Zambia

Zambia Safari Guide

 

Royal Zambezi Lodge in Lower Zambezi National Park

AfricanMecca Tier 1 Accommodation. Click here for details on Safari Tier™

Royal Zambezi Lodge is located on the bank of the Zambezi at one of its broadest points. With 3km of river frontage, Royal Zambezi Lodge borders the Lower Zambezi National Park and sits within a Game Management Area. With lions roaring in the distance and hippos snorting to each other nearby, the luxurious thatched tents, elegant design and gourmet cuisine of Royal Zambezi Lodge provide a perfect base from which to explore this wild and beautiful area.
In the Lower Zambezi Valley, the river follows the trace of an ancient continental rift, between steep-sided mountains. Watered year-round, the vast flat area between the two escarpment ranges forms an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a unique ecosystem. Teeming with fish, the river supports a truly astounding bird population. Reed banks and islands are home to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hippo and zebra, amongst countless others.

Click here for complete information on Royal Zambezi Lodge & complete guide to Lower Zambezi National Park

Indian Ocean Cultural Beach Accommodation Guide

Matemwe Retreat in Zanzibar Island

AfricanMecca Tier 1 Experience. Click here for details on AfricanMecca Rating
Matemwe Retreat is located on an amazing stretch of private land, just north of Matemwe’s main lodge and right opposite the Mnemba Atoll. Matemwe Retreat consists of 3 fabulous, separate villas, full of atmosphere, inspiration and personal touches. Each ground floor of each villa (150 m2 including verandahs) features a private cocktail bar, an air-conditioned bedroom, a bathroom with double basins, shower, and large romantic bathtub overlooking the Indian Ocean. The best part of each villa is the plunge pool on the private roof terrace (60 m2), complete with sun and shade decks. And if this is not enough to make you want to stay there right now – each villa has its own small beach right in front of it.
Click here for complete details on Matemwe Retreat & complete guide to Zanzibar

Zambia Video Guide

Royal Zambezi Lodge House

Royal Zambezi Lodge Suite Room View – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Room View – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Spa Room – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Elephant Feeding Next To Room – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Views – Click Here To Watch
Royal Zambezi Lodge Elephant Walking By To Feed – Click Here To Watch

Click here for a complete video guide to Zambia

Recommended African Safari Program

7 Days – Glimpses Of Zambia Safari: From US $3395 or GBP 2191 per person sharing. Programs Inclusions: accommodation, meals, drinks, road and local air transfers, conservancy and park fees, game activities and all taxes. Click here for a complete itinerary. Tailor-make safari is available on request.
Click here to review other Africa & Zambia recommended safari programs.

Recommended Indian Ocean Beach & Cultural Program

1. SPECIAL OFFER: Matemwe Retreat: US $430 or GBP 278 per person sharing per night plus one free night for every 3 nights booked. Offer valid from December 2009 to March 2010 (if booked before December 31, 2009)
2. Bush & Beach Safari: 7 Nights Showcasing Kenya Safari & 7 Nights Mombasa Beach Holiday: From US $2304 or GBP 1486 per person. Complete details

The above beach extensions can be tailor-made for our guests from North America, UK and other worldwide regions. Click here for prices for Indian Ocean Beach Holidays to Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo etc.
Bush & Beach Safari – Combine with Mombasa Beach Holidays. Click here for prices and safari programs

Another Perfect AfricanMecca Customer Experience

Jambo Altaf,

I want to let you know that both Dorothy and I found our two week trip to Kenya to be an absolutely wonderful experience. Our booking through AfricanMecca for our trip in August 2009 delivered everything we hoped for and more. We were met on arrival at Mombasa airport for the minibus journey to Leopard Beach Hotel with loads of local information provided by our driver on the way. The hotel was excellent in all respects, from the welcome with chilled towels and drinks to the helpful and cheerful service from every member of staff. Large comfortable air-conditioned rooms overlook the Indian Ocean, as does the main Horizon restaurant where the meals were lacking neither in variety nor quality. We stayed two nights at Leopard Beach initially before going on safari and then a further six nights on our return. Our first safari began by road to Tsavo West, staying one night at Kilaguni Serena Lodge. The restaurant, open to one side overlooking the water hole, provided a wonderful lunch and dinner with tremendous views of elephant, zebra, giraffe and buffalo, to name but a few.

Following an afternoon game drive which included the enchanting Mzima Springs and ended with the first of many fantastic sunsets, we had a comfortable night before an early start next morning. We moved on to Satao Elerai, overlooking Amboseli with Peter, our driver for these three days, pointing out many items of interest along the way. Our room at Elerai was in fact a self-contained cottage and while it was reminiscent of the Flintstones in style, the facilities were far from stone-age. We were lucky enough to witness two young male elephants at the water-hole while we had lunch, before Peter took us down to Amboseli for another fascinating game drive. After an excellent dinner and a nightcap in front of a roaring log fire, we were up next morning for another early start. At seven hours, we found the drive back to Voi Gate into Tsavo East to be rather tiring but we still made it to Satao Camp just in time for lunch outside, under the tree. This and a short siesta set us up for our afternoon game drive which culminated at close quarters with a cheetah. What a beautiful animal!

A busy day and a fine meal sent us to bed where we slept like logs, only to be told next day that we had missed a visit from a couple of lions at four in the morning. Our neighbours in the next tent showed us the paw-prints in the dust outside to prove it! With a good breakfast inside us, we were on our way to Buchuma Gate where sadly, we had to say farewell to Peter, our driver, guide and companion for the last three days. We were tremendously impressed, not only with his detailed knowledge of his country and its flora and fauna but also with his enthusiasm in sharing it all with us. We hope to see him again.

The air-conditioned shuttle bus took us back to the coast then for an overnight stop at Nyali Beach Hotel. It is old colonial in style having been opened in 1949 and while we enjoyed our brief stay and had no complaints at all, on balance we preferred Leopard Beach. After another early breakfast we were collected for the short trip to Mombasa airport for our flight to the Masai Mara and a two night safari. Arrangements for the internal flight on an eighteen seat twin-prop aircraft where rather more relaxed than is international flying these days; quite a refreshing change. The views of Kilimanjaro from 11500 feet were stunning. The landing on an airstrip in the bush was amazingly smooth and we were soon on our way to Karen Blixen Camp for lunch. On the way, Pius, our driver took our open-sided six-passenger safari vehicle off the main route and diverted into a small coppice of bushes. To our delight, we were soon within a few yards of a pride of four or five lionesses, stretched out in the shade. This time we were awake!

Our three days in the Mara were truly magical. The location of Karen Blixen Camp on the eastern bank of the Mara River is absolutely beautiful and we could not fault the accommodation and service although some of the catering would benefit from improvement. While you Mombasa team handled all our other ground arrangements (and more about them later) Karen Blixen Camp arranged everything in the Mara. Their modern Toyota 4WD open vehicles were great for game viewing and their drivers and guides were excellent. We remember particularly, Pius, David, Nixon and especially Peter, our Masai guide. Not only did we value his expertise on our game drives but also one evening he gave a fascinating insight into Masai culture to the assembled company before dinner. On our second day in the Mara, we were given the opportunity to take a full day game drive into the conservancy to the south. As this was the right time of year for the Great Migration, if we were very lucky, we might see ‘the crossing’. We approached the river slowly, passing thousands of wildebeest all heading in the same direction. The leaders stopped some hundred yards short of the river bank as the rest of the herd formed up behind them, some zebra and gazelle mixed in with them. They moved forward some distance then stopped again; and again; and again. Eventually, the decision was made to cross and they galloped en masse for the water, plunging through and up the river bank on the far side. More followed and still more until we were convinced that every wildebeest in Africa was in this herd. The crossing was incessant for over half an hour until finally the last stragglers made their way up the far bank. Our driver, David estimated anything up to 10,000 animals had crossed. We had lost count after about 5,000!

This sight was absolutely magnificent and undoubtedly the highlight of the holiday.

After an early morning game drive on the third day, we had to take our leave and fly back to the coast. We were met at Ukunda airfield for the short drive back to Leopard Beach where we settled in for a more relaxing week. We were amazed at how much we had packed in to such a short time. However, we don’t hang around swimming pools for long so a couple of short trips had to be taken as well. We had a great day snorkelling off Wasini Island with dolphins and a hump-backed whale accompanying us on the way out and a fine late lunch on the way back. Two days later, dinner in Ali Barbour’s (sic) Cave restaurant near Leopard Beach was also most enjoyable. Then on our penultimate evening we saw Mombasa by night. A sunset dhow trip in Tudor Creek and under New Nyali Bridge took us to the old harbour. A short tour of the old town ended at Fort Jesus for a sound and light show followed by a wonderful dinner under the stars.

The ground handling by your Mombasa team was excellent throughout our trip. All their drivers and staff were friendly and helpful and their punctuality was impressive. Harry, their representative at Leopard Beach was tremendous in ensuring that everything ran smoothly. We valued especially his advice regarding all aspects of our visit from safaris to local trips to departure arrangements.

We were extremely sad to leave Kenya, its animals, its vast open spaces, its stunning scenery and especially its charming, polite, happy smiling people.

Asante sana a thousand times!
John Lowry
United Kingdom

Watch The Video Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YaChOk6K2Q

The late great tenor saxophonist David Fathead Newman getting down on Jon Hammond composition “Pocket Funk”
Jon Hammond at the B3 Organ, explosive funk solo from Bernard Purdie “The Hit Maker”, George Naha is the rhythm guitarist
on this date at Zanzibar And Grill New York City May 17th 1990, camera: Joe Berger, R.I.P. David Newman and Zanzibar owner
Eric Fuchsman ©JON HAMMOND Intl. ASCAP http://www.jonhammondband.com Jon Hammond is Host of Hammond Cast Show KYOURADIO

© www.HammondCast.com

Bob Cunningham, Bass, Bernard Purdie, Jon Hammond, Local 802, Musicians Union, NDR Jazz, Late Rent, Mikell’s, Jazz Foundation of America, Elmar Lemes, ASCAP Network, B3 organ, XK-3c, Blues, Funky, Rhonda Hamilton, WBGO

ASCAP Network Behind The Beat with Jon Hammond “LATE RENT”

Elmar Lemes photo of Jon Hammond playing XK-3 organ at Local 802 Monday Night Jazz Session sponsored by Jazz Foundation of America

Jon Hammond MySpace

HammondCast

ASCAP Network Behind The Beat “NDR SESSIONS Projekt”

Jon Hammond is an endorsed artist of Hammond Suzuki USA

Pocket Funk, David Fathead Newman, Jon Hammond, B3 Organ, Bernard Purdie, Hit Maker, Zanzibar, Jazz, Funky, Blues, Tenor, HammondCast, KYOURADIO, ASCAP, XK-3c, XK-1
Related articles by Zemanta

• Jon Hammond B3 organ FATHEAD NEWMAN “Pocket Funk” JON HAMMOND Band with BERNARD PURDIE drums (lockergnome.com)
• LYDIA’S TUNE Fathead Newman on Jon Hammond Band Bernard Purdie drums (lockergnome.com)
• POCKET FUNK in STELLWERK Jon Hammond Band (lockergnome.com)
• Moanin Blues 2008 in Jazzkeller Frankfurt with guest Günter Bollmann trombone and Tony Lakatos from HR Big Band (lockergnome.com)
• SAVOY LOUNGE II NYC JON HAMMOND Band part 2 of 3 Funk Soul Blues (lockergnome.com)
• BBQ Lily in Birdland Hamburg Jazz Club Jon Hammond Band Featuring Lutz Buechner (lockergnome.com)
• High Noon at 50 UN PLAZA S.F. CA JON HAMMOND Band Larry Schneider guest star (lockergnome.com)
• LYDIA’S TUNE Jazzkeller Frankfurt Jon Hammond Band (lockergnome.com)
• David Fathead Newman Bernard Purdie Jon Hammond Band GEORGIA Kings of The Chitlin Circuit (lockergnome.com)
• Jon Hammond Band featuring Tony Lakatos James and Wess (Blues) at JAZZKELLER Frankfurt (lockergnome.com)

Watch The Video Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YaChOk6K2Q

The late great tenor saxophonist David Fathead Newman getting down on Jon Hammond composition “Pocket Funk”
Jon Hammond at the B3 Organ, explosive funk solo from Bernard Purdie “The Hit Maker”, George Naha is the rhythm guitarist
on this date at Zanzibar And Grill New York City May 17th 1990, camera: Joe Berger, R.I.P. David Newman and Zanzibar owner
Eric Fuchsman ©JON HAMMOND Intl. ASCAP http://www.jonhammondband.com Jon Hammond is Host of Hammond Cast Show KYOURADIO

© www.HammondCast.com

Bob Cunningham, Bass, Bernard Purdie, Jon Hammond, Local 802, Musicians Union, NDR Jazz, Late Rent, Mikell’s, Jazz Foundation of America, Elmar Lemes, ASCAP Network, B3 organ, XK-3c, Blues, Funky, Rhonda Hamilton, WBGO

ASCAP Network Behind The Beat with Jon Hammond “LATE RENT”

Elmar Lemes photo of Jon Hammond playing XK-3 organ at Local 802 Monday Night Jazz Session sponsored by Jazz Foundation of America

Jon Hammond MySpace

HammondCast

ASCAP Network Behind The Beat “NDR SESSIONS Projekt”

Jon Hammond is an endorsed artist of Hammond Suzuki USA

Pocket Funk, David Fathead Newman, Jon Hammond, B3 Organ, Bernard Purdie, Hit Maker, Zanzibar, Jazz, Funky, Blues, Tenor, HammondCast, KYOURADIO, ASCAP, XK-3c, XK-1
Related articles by Zemanta

• Jon Hammond B3 organ FATHEAD NEWMAN “Pocket Funk” JON HAMMOND Band with BERNARD PURDIE drums (lockergnome.com)
• LYDIA’S TUNE Fathead Newman on Jon Hammond Band Bernard Purdie drums (lockergnome.com)
• POCKET FUNK in STELLWERK Jon Hammond Band (lockergnome.com)
• Moanin Blues 2008 in Jazzkeller Frankfurt with guest Günter Bollmann trombone and Tony Lakatos from HR Big Band (lockergnome.com)
• SAVOY LOUNGE II NYC JON HAMMOND Band part 2 of 3 Funk Soul Blues (lockergnome.com)
• BBQ Lily in Birdland Hamburg Jazz Club Jon Hammond Band Featuring Lutz Buechner (lockergnome.com)
• High Noon at 50 UN PLAZA S.F. CA JON HAMMOND Band Larry Schneider guest star (lockergnome.com)
• LYDIA’S TUNE Jazzkeller Frankfurt Jon Hammond Band (lockergnome.com)
• David Fathead Newman Bernard Purdie Jon Hammond Band GEORGIA Kings of The Chitlin Circuit (lockergnome.com)
• Jon Hammond Band featuring Tony Lakatos James and Wess (Blues) at JAZZKELLER Frankfurt (lockergnome.com)

says XXL:

With their upcoming collaborative album Distant Relatives on the way, Nas and Damian Marley will be hitting Washington D.C. for a panel discussion speaking on hip-hop’s and reggae’s global impact.

MTV News’ Sway Calloway will moderate the debate, which is set to include rap pioneers DJ Kool Herc and DJ Red Alert, as well as Jamaican music legends Daddy U-Roy and King Jammy. The event, which is being presented by National Geographic, will be taped for an upcoming documentary and will also be broadcast live on natgeomusic.net. for those that cannot attend.

The event will take place at the National Geographic Live! building on December 12 at 7 p.m. Fans interested in attending the debate can purchase tickets online or at the venue’s box office for $25. The price of admission also includes entry into the after-party at D.C. nightclub Zanzibar.

As of press time Distant Relatives, does not have a set release date, nor has it been determined what label will distribute the project. Earlier this year the duo headlined the Rock the Bells tour. —Max G

1) Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls)  3.5 Stars

Pro:

• intriguing political atmosphere and its effect on the people
• Many action packed activities: Walking with lions, riding elephants, the infamous bungee jump, Gorge jumping
• Enjoyed the hippy dive bar I went to

Con:

• Victoria Falls did not live up to its name (atleast in May)… I like Niagra
• Activities are high priced

2) Zambia (Zambezi River) 2 Stars

Pro:

• Campsite on Zambezi River was beautiful
• I love monkeys and there were thousands everywhere, also animals invade your campsite.. ever see the book “Monkey Portraits” (LOVE IT!)

Con: 

•  lack luster overall

3) Malawi 4 Stars – Personal Favorite

Pro:

• the reason it is my favorite is not because it is the best but because it involved connecting with the culture and the people
• People in Malawi are very friendly and happy even though they are the poorest (makes you open your eyes ALOT)
• The Area is beautiful, very lush, very relaxed and most of Malawi is on Lake Malawi

4) Tanzania 3.5 Stars

Pro:

• All about safaris, and Masaii Mara culture, Snake Park is a must campsite
• Ngorongoro crater is absolutely the most amazing spectacle in nature

Con:

• Serengeti was lack luster, in fact null luster (but only because of bad timing… MAKE SURE TO GO ON SAFARI WHEN THE MIGRATION IS THERE BEFORE YOU SPEND $400

5) Zanzibar 5 Stars

Pro:

• An island in the Indian Ocean almost speaks for itself. All Day Snorkeling, boating  and huge lunch was well worth the $10?!?!? what
• GO TO KENDWA ROCKS BAR ON HE NORTH SHORE AND DON”T FORGET THE MARKET ON THE SOUTH PART
• It is not just an Island, it has sooo much culture, history, and don’t forget to take a Spice Tour… well worth it!

6) Nairobi, Kenya 3 Stars

Pro:

• It is Nairobi, you must say that you have been there
• You are instantly a celebrity if you are White. I felt like Britney Spears (maybe not a pro)

Con:

• People Stalk you and hassle you
• It is not particularly safe
• Sites are nothing spectucular, unless you go kiss a Giraffe like me look at my travel page

7) Masai Mara (mostly Kenya) 4.5 Stars

Pro:

• The GREAT MIGRATION WAS HERE…. sort of. Not in full force but it was here.
• Felt like I was on the National geographic, scouting around… Kenya has more liberal laws about driving right up on animals
• The Masaii Mara culture is interesting. From circumsizing girls/boys to killing lions for manhood.

If you would like to see pictures check out my Flickr or you can facebook friend me (let me know who you are and why you are adding me!!!)  And as always, leave comments and feel free to ask questions.

via Tibor!

Location: Zanzibar-Stonetown, Zanzibar/Tanzania
Duration: 4 days
Valid From: 01 Nov 09 To: 22 Dec 09

Images

Close to 100  African tribes make and use masks.

African tribal mask makers are not free to make any mask they want.  They must follow religious and spiritural rules.

Before cutting down a tree,  the mask-maker has to visit a wizard to undergo a purification ceremony and make a sacrifice to the spirit of the tree.  This purification ceremony protects the mask-maker against the rage of the tree spirit.

Once the first blow is struck with the axe, the mask-maker puts his lips to the tree and sucks out a small amount of sap.  This makes him become a part of the tree’s “family.”  After the tree is cut down, it must be left alone for a few days for the tree spirit to find another dwelling.  Even after the tree is chopped down, it continues to have miraculous powers, requiring the mask-maker to follow specific rules and practices.

When the mask-carver starts carving, he cannot freely make whatever shape he wishes.  The first rule is that the mask must represent his own ethnic group (of which there are over 1,000 ethnic groups).  If  not, he risks the anger of his entire village, and the rage of the tree spirit.  While the mask is taking shape, it is believed that the powers of the wood are increasing.

When the mask is finished, the wizard must hold a consecration ceremony which turns the mask into a dwelling place for the spirit to which it is dedicated, and afterward, the mask can be used in religioius ceremonies.

African masks vary in shape and appearance.

Ancestor masks have a serene look, while masks of non-human spirits have a bizzare face.  Masks with horns are used in exorcism ceremonies, while protruding eyes and cold expressions represent spirit posession.

White masks represent the dead looking in on the living, and round faces represent high degrees of spirituality.  C heckerboard patterns represent separations.  These can be separations between good and evil, men and women, or intelligence and stupidity.

Religious ceremonies with masks are allowed to be viewed almost excusively by men.  Regardless of the sex of a mask, the wearer is always a man.  Some villages even believe that if a woman sets eyes on a mask, she will die.  The mask represents a supernatural living person.  The person wearing the mask is considered to be in direct contact with the mask’s spirit. A mask offers a chance to a supernatural being for incarnation.  Because a mask is sacred, violating the rules of its use is punished severely, even by death.

Hai la possibilità di partecipare anche ad un altro concorso indetto da Consodata che mette in palio uno splendido Capodanno 2011 per due persone a scelta tra le seguenti mete: Zanzibar, Crociera sul Nilo e New York ed inoltre 50 buoni soggiorno per una piacevole settimana di vacanza.

Cosa aspetti? Partecipa anche tu!

Iscriversi è facile: compila il questionario e parteciperai gratuitamente al Concorso “Ricerca Nazionale Consodata 2009/2010″ attivo fino al 30 settembre 2010.

AFTER days of negotiations, Coca-Cola Tanzania has honoured a request by Zanzibar to be among areas the FIFA World Cup Trophy will visit during its tour of Tanzania later this month.

The golden trophy, now on a tour of Africa courtesy of Coca-Cola Company, is expected to arrive in Dar es Salaam on November 19 for a three-day tour of the country.

Coca-Cola East and Central Africa (Tanzania) Marketing Manager, Ritta Tsehai, confirmed yesterday that Zanzibar was among those areas that would host the trophy during its second tour of Tanzania.

This will be the first time for the Isles soccer fans to have a lifetime opportunity to interact, have a close up view and pose for photographs with the trophy.

Tsehai said it took them time to honour the Isles government’s request on the matter because they knew it could be difficult for the world soccer governing body, FIFA, to approve it.

”When we received the request from the Zanzibar government to include the Isles in the trophy’s tour, we were doubtful if it could be honoured because FIFA had already released the itinerary,� she said.

She admitted that they have been enjoying good support from Minister for Information, Culture and Sports George Mkuchika and Zanzibar Deputy Chief Minister Ali Juma Shamhuna in the build up to the trophy’s arrival.

She singles out Deputy Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Joel Bendera and the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) president, Leodegar Tenga, as the people they have been working closely with to make the tour a success.

Coca-Cola Tanzania, TFF and its Zanzibar counterpart ZFA and officials from the ministry responsible for sports have in the past two weeks or so held a series of talks on a request by the Isles to host the World Cup trophy.

Early this month, Shamhuna was quoted as saying that the government decided to host the trophy in Zanzibar for the benefit of its people.

The World Cup trophy arrives in Dar es Salaam on November 19 at 4.00pm aboard a special flight.

At 12.00pm the following day, it will be taken to Zanzibar where fans will have an opportunity to view and take photographs with it at the Forodhani grounds.

On November 21, the trophy will be at the ultra-modern National Stadium in Dar es Salaam from 8.00am to 4.00pm.

�While there will tight security in place to protect the trophy, fans will not be hindered from enjoying the unique experience with this respected icon,� Tsehai said.

�In fact, fans will be able to see the trophy at close range and, in many cases, even have their photo taken with it,” she added

Last nights Mad Men was a pretty fantastic episode, kinda like one extended scene from Oceans 11 or the Magnificent 7 where they try to get together a team of wacky cutups, each with their own talents a skills. Pete finally came out of his weasel bubble and demonstrated in an oddly sexy interaction with his wife that he had talent beyond just whining.

Joan was brought back the most awesome way possible.

Peggy finally stands up to Don.

Sally is the voice of truth yet again: You say things and don’t mean them. Don is an ad man. A constant liar. Damn right he says things and doesn’t mean them.

But the historical context of the episode is the most interesting. Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price set out on it own on December 13, 1963, declaring independence from its British overlords, which only seemed to treat it as a financial resource, worrying only about the short term. It is only appropriate that this comes smack dab between Kenya’s independence from Britain on December 12 and Zanzibar’s independence from Britain on December 19.

There is no real reason why the men of Sterling Cooper needed to break away. They would have been paid. They would have worked until they were fired. But they needed to be their own men, masters of their own kingdom, to manage and work as they see right, not merely worrying about the bottom line or profit.

They did not want to be mined for natural resources until nothing was left.

But if the histories of Kenya and Zanzibar show anything, its that the sudden burst of elation and creativity after declaring independence will fall into power struggles and internal conflict.

Just be wary of defense pacts with Ethiopia.

Sarah and I decided on a whim to go to Zanzibar for a long weekend. We got on the first bus out of Mombasa, 6:30am, and headed to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It was a long, bumpy ride that somehow Sarah was able to sleep straight through. It was quite impressive and I was extremely jealous. I am sure at some point I was able to catch a few flies, but for the most part I was left to entertain myself.

After 9 hours, we finally arrived to Dar es Salaam, and our adventure began immediately. As we disembarked from the safety of our coach, we were instantly accosted by a herd of taxi drivers more than willing to take us anywhere we needed. I cannot even begin to tell you how overwhelming it was. Sarah and I were unprepared for this line of attack as we felt quite ambushed. I tried to stay focused and finally made my way back to the coach conductor to find out the best way to get to the ferry, if we needed a taxi, and how much should we pay. He looked at me, then down to his watch, and informed us that by the time we got to the ferry we would have missed it. However, one of the drivers was eavesdropping and said that he “knew a shortcut” and could get us there in time. I honestly doubted him, but it was worth a chance, plus we figured that we could get the next ferry since it was only 3:30pm – surely there is another one going to Zanzibar this evening.

We arrived to the ferry building just a few minutes later to find out that it had left 1 minute before; we could see it just a spit away. So here was my big mistake. You know what they say about assumptions… well I made the assumption the ferry and coach would have coordinated schedules. Ummm, they did not, and therefore, we did miss the last ferry. Needless to say, we started looking for a hotel in Dar for the evening.

I am not going to bore you with all of the details, but let’s just say it was a hysterically disastrous weekend with nonstop comedy of errors, but of course we found humor through the whole experience. From power outages in both Dar and Zanzibar to endless rain upon our arrival to Zanzibar, we seriously could not stop laughing from the absurdity of the situation. When we did make it to a beach, not only was the tide coming in so there was about 3 inches of beach, but then it started raining again. Luckily my partner in crime, Sarah, is easy going and can roll with the punches, or else the whole experience would have been much different. Plan D was enacted, and we found the nearest bar… I mean cafe.

Remember what I said about assumptions, well, I did it again. One would think that there would be a coach terminal or ticket area that would be easily located within a city – but of course not in Dar, and not this weekend. We seriously walked for miles, asking everyone we could, including the herd of taxi drivers. No one seemed to know where we could purchase our return tickets to Mombasa. Finally, I realized that I had my old ticket and luckily it did have the local office number printed on it. I called, verified the address, examined our map and began heading in the right direction, so we thought. After quite a distance, we realized we could not find the cross street, even though it was on our map. We asked a taxi driver and fortunately this time he was able to take us there, at least within a block.

Now remember, this is one of those weekends where if something can go wrong, it did. As we were walking toward the ticket office down a busy street, out of nowhere I got mugged (no weapon, just snatch and run). This guy tried to grab my purse but ended up with my phone and case, which is my lifeline here in Mombasa. So, I did what every other woman would do in this situation, I turned, dropped my bag, kicked off my flip flops and ran after him. (Note that I dropped my bag that has my passport, blackberry and other electronics and all of my cash. Obviously this was not well thought out, but fortunately nothing happened to the bag.) As I was running, I kept yelling “Stop him, stop him!,” and shockingly as the guy was rounding the corner, a couple of men grabbed him. If I would have been in the US, I’m not sure anyone would have even paused, much less stopped him. The next thing I know I am in the center of a very large crowd, asking them to check his pockets and yelling at the guy “How Dare You” while shaking my finger at him. (I still find this humorous, like that is really going to teach him a lesson – “how dare you?” Really, I couldn’t come up with something a bit better than that?)

The thief was terrified and literally shaking and continued to deny he had it. One person finally handed me the phone case, but the phone was still missing. They ended up pulling him into the middle of the street and talking to him in Kiswahili, so I have no idea what was being said, but I can definitely tell you the thief looked petrified and for good reason. Since this situation happened, I have heard story after story about how the people do not always rely on the police to sort out these situations. They will take matters into their own hands when the thief is caught, which now I understand why they had taken this guy into the middle of the street. If the thief is lucky, he is just beaten, but there are times it is to the extreme where I even heard of a guy that was caught, encased in tires, doused with petrol and burned alive. So, after the fact, I now realize the severity of the situation.

I am still in the middle of the crowd, but Sarah has now made her way through to me. She asked me what he took, and said that we were still trying to get the phone back.  She said that a gentleman had found it and handed it to her. Apparently, the crook either threw it or dropped it when he snatched it, so luckily for him nothing was found on his person. I grabbed the phone and held it over my head and notified them that it had been found. The men holding the thief asked me if I had received everything back, or was I still missing something. I reassured them that I had everything back at this time, so they released him. I yelled out to everyone, “Asante sana, I guess that’ll teach him to mess with the mazungu!” They all laughed. In the end, it was quite funny, okay maybe not for the thief, but hopefully he learned his lesson.

I have to say that I appreciated the help that I received from the locals. It was quite refreshing to see how everyone came together to help a foreigner. Maybe I am wrong, but I am quite sure that if I would have yelled for help in the U.S., no one would have come to my rescue. Obviously, this story turned out great since the thief was released and I got all of my stuff back, but I only wish that we could find some middle ground in both societies.

Needless to say, we purchased our return tickets, found our hotel, and were able to leave the next morning without incident.

SOKO KIJANI QUICK UPDATE

I am seeing so much progress with the market. We finally received the official certificate for the Self Help Group, Soko Kijani. We had a fantastic business seminar, where the artisans are just begging for more. We have started to build the new display tables, which hopefully will be finished before I leave. We have almost finished a new small banda (workspace) for Murage, the coconut jewelry maker. I have been working with all of the artisans on their hands-on presentations, which has been a lot of fun. They are quite entertained watching me try to do their craft. We have also recently purchased a camera. All of this is possible thanks to all of you generous donors. We cannot thank you enough for your support! Asanteni sana!

Thanks to all of you once again, and a few new additions! xoxoxo

• Roberto Giannicola
• Bob Meyers
• Ronnie Unger
• Garland & Suzanne Marshall
• Janice Schindler-Horvat
• Holly & David Gay
• Melanie, John and Hayley Vest
• Mark Fischbach & Tristin Green
• Beat Bossart
• Havens & Miller, LLC (Thanks Jason & Cristy!)
• Jackie & Harry Swank
• Chip Nelson
• Samantha Miller & Aaron Brown
• John Christiansen
• Albert Greene
• Chris Schauer
• John Lama
• Erik Jacobs & Melissa Marshall
• Keirsten Wingo
• Jeremy Taylor
• Greg O’Donnell
• Chris & Theresa Marshall
• Bryn Brugioni
• Andrea & Lee Marshall
• PK Wendelboe
• Catherine Hooper
• Deepa Prasad
• Kenny & Erin Werner
• Vivian & David Aizpuru
• Michele & John Wetteland
• David & Janet Tewhill
• Danny Abrahams
• Heidi Dickert

Above:  Two stitched images from Zanzibar.  Click on the images, then click ‘All sizes’ for more detail

Taken from my journal:  10/21/09  Kendwa Beach, Zanzibar

When I asked the stocky Zanzibari who sold me the tickets for the snorkeling trip what his name was, he smiled and said, “Captain Morgan.”  Before we parted ways, I tried to put down a small deposit to save our spots for the trip the following day.  Captain Morgan shook hs head and closed his eyes, incredulous.  “No, no.  No deposit.  If you give us money now, we’ll drink it all away tonight!  Pay all tomorrow.  Hakuna matata.”

The  next morning, a motley batch of foreigners filed onto a battered boat with a crew of muscled Zanzibaris.  Most of us tourists clutched cameras, bottles of water, and sunscreen in ways that made us seem vulnerable and fragile, like eggs rolling across a freeway at rush hour.  Even amidst all the sand and cerulean seas, despite the hammocks, naps, sundowners, and familiar Western meals, we still somehow seemed completely out of place and reliant on talismans and habits from home for soul support.   The Zanzibaris, most shirtless and all with the chiseled arms and sinewy hands of fishermen, joked and loaded things onto the boat for the voyage:  gasoline, coolers, two 10-pound tunas.

Our destination for the day was Mnemba Island, a tiny tree-shagged island circled by a wide, Saturnian disk of white sand off Zanzibar’s eastern coast.  The island, Captain Morgan assured me the day before, was famous for its fish-populated fields of coral.  The schedule he pitched me back on the beach went something like this:  Leave bright and early from Kendwa, snorkel at two spots off Mnemba, then head to the beach for an all-you-can-eat fish barbeque, returning to Kendwa by 3:00 pm.  Things went kind of as the Cap’ said they would…sort of, but for a trip that cost half of what the certified dive ships were offering, I couldn’t complain.

It took two hours of sailing past breakers slamming the outer reefs, past deserted beaches on Zanzibar’s northeastern coast, before we pulled into the lake-calm waters encircling Mnemba.  During this time, couples enduring relationships in varying stages of decay passed the time in silence, time that ticked by as slowly as the single-sail fishing canoes floating on the horizon.  Tight-lipped, most couples maintained no physical contact with each other, as long ago they touched enough to never touch again.  One couple flat out hated one another so visibly that I feared the sun burnt, frowning woman would dispatch her man to a watery grave with a quick elbow to the nose at any moment and without reason. 

Boom! Man overboard!

Most couples, though, didn’t seem capable of such brutality.  They were nice, sun-burnt folks in revealing bathing suits.  They loved each other and saw our snorkeling excursion as a prime example of something that couples of their status should do while on vacation.  It was a neatly packaged memory in the making, a day away from the resort, a no-brainer that would yield a mass of picture dividends to show friends back home.

True to the Captain’s word, the snorkeling off Mnemba was stunning.  For an hour, we floated around in another world, one mountained with bulbous coral bluffs, peopled with fish as bright and sacred as orchids, and carpeted with gelatenous underwater plants and rigid branches of delicate, fanned coral.  Fish of every imaginable color flitted about, drifting motionless in schools above mounds of coral like a sliding screen of stars in a turquoise sky.  Needlefish threaded a maze of coral—20 or 30 creatures floating together—waving like leathery flags through the water.  A tiny point-nosed purple fish dug its snout into the gills of larger fish, cleaning them with a flurry of jabs and nibbles.  And everywhere, blue ruled.  An emerald blue, a rich Neptunean blush permeated even the smallest coral nooks and crannies.  Visibility faded into a misty curtain of blue that always hung just out of reach.

On this watery stage, with only my slow pulses of white noise breathing for a soundtrack, I felt at home.  I was at home.  In the water, I managed to steal a departure from the Natural Disconnect that marks man’s love affairs with routine, the ironically uncomfortable anxiety that underscores his endless quest for more comfort and convenience.  Once again, in the water with coral as my compass, I managed to realize my place in all of this.