I started off this blog with the intention of showcasing the beauty of Zanzibar. I mean away from the stereotypical attractions of wooden curved doors and obviously your sun, sand & sea - a less touristic Zanzibar.
There is no denial that living or travelling to a tropical island naturally includes the 3 S’s but I honestly believe that there is more to this paradise on earth than what the media hoodwinks the unwary. With a passion for sustainable tourism development, I couldn’t help but dissect every aspects of this industry, which I have eagerly blogged in the past.
At some point, I felt it became too rounded, constantly looking at the good vs evil of tourism. It was as if I was in “war” against what I love, which ofcourse is quite the contrary of what I had imagined my blog to be.
It was time for a deep reflection, a little break from blogging and now I am back. I guess the question would now be for everyone reading this, what has changed?
I realized that I have no control over what happens in the industry but only what happens in my own backyard. I am no mother Theresa of the tourism industry and I could never "save" it all. What I do know, is that I love travelling and almost everything positive about it.
It suddenly hit me, why not share what I love about the archipelago without forgetting what harms it and what mesmerizes me. In hope that people would see the beautiful Zanzibar and its people I know are out there and yes, my passion for the tourism industry - experiences shared through an islander such as myself.
Speaking of sharing experiences, I went into town to day to get my printer fixed. It was quite a scene, sitting in this electronics repair shop, surrounded by cables of all lengths, computers of almost every international make, some printers dating over 10 years stacked on the top shelf and other random half open machines I couldn’t quite make out what they were. I sat there patiently starring at the “fundi” (guy who’s fixing it) while I am sneezing away probably from the dust lingering in the cubical room when I suddenly hear the sound of chickens!
I thought to myself, has the dust gone so far up my nostrils that I’ve started hallucinating? But no, I was not going crazy there were suddenly chickens in that room.
An elderly man dressed in an off white shirt and dark brown capris stood by the entrance selling chickens. I thought to myself, this is not what I had expected to witness when I walked in here a few hours ago.
Two kinds in the baskets, with their legs secured - the black and the brown chickens sat calmly, rolling their eyes at us. Now, that is not something you expect in an electronics workshop but who am I to judge? I was told this man usually walks around town selling his organic chickens every day, and you can get them for a good bargain too, the fundi added.
Suddenly the adhaan started (prayer calling) and the elderly man asked us while posing a big smile that we each choose a chicken to take home and make a delicious soup. He was going to leave them there, head to the mosque for prayers and when he returned we could discuss the price.
The man suddenly got me hungry and I was simply in awe. I think for a few minutes, I even forgot my sneezing!
Sadly, there was no chicken soup for me today (at least not this time around) but I managed to snap a few photos of the chickens. Drawing out my camera from my bag and snapping away photos, made the fundis look at me funny and ofcourse giggle a bit J. To their surprise, I found all of it quite amusing so I just laughed along.
The best part is that my printer now works again! I am tempted to go back there to see what other random things would pop up while getting something fixed.
I’m telling you - island life is just the best!
