Tuesday, 8 April 2008

Zanzibar

It’s a week since we returned from the ‘Island of Spices’, so now it just seems like a dream, but a very pleasant one! Beth (my colleague and friend) and I travelled up to Dar es Salaam for a meeting related to our work, and then popped over to Zanzibar with a couple of others. Our flight was delayed an hour because of poor weather conditions, but when we finally got up in the air, we were back down again before we knew it – it’s a short 20minute flight.
We spent our first day wandering round the narrow streets and alleyways of Stone Town, admiring the carefully crafted door frames and investigating the little shops full of paintings, materials, wood carvings etc.




We visited the Anglican Cathedral on the site of the former slave market, where you can visit a tiny room where up to fifty slaves were kept at a time, awaiting auction, with just a tiny window for air, and no food. Many died of starvation or suffocation. Our second day was taken up with a spice tour – I had no idea that turmeric was a root or what nutmeg looks like – it was a fascinating exploration of how different spices are grown.

<--Nutmeg Turmeric-->

Our next couple of days were spent on the opposite side of the island in a nice hotel, right by the ocean. It was wonderful to swim, snorkel (except for getting stung by lots of little jellyfish), relax with a book, soak up the sun and stroll along the beach under the stars. It was also a great time for food - delicious sea food at every turn, everything from shark to octopus.

Sadly my last meal on the island was rather wasted: Beth and I returned by ferry, like a big speedboat we hit those waves, and up and down we went, and out went my meal over the side!

Friday, 7 March 2008

A glimpse of KJ at work

I don't just climb mountains and go on nice trips, once in a while I actually do some work! Recently we have held a couple of Scripture Use seminars introducing ourselves and our work to the Language Committees of two different language areas. The first seminar was also attended by the local Officer of Culture, so here my colleague listens intently (trying to understand his Swahili) as he encourages the seminar participants to value their culture and language.

After this seminar the rain tipped it down, turning the footpath to our friend's house (where we went to enjoy some delicious Tanzanian food) into a stream.

The second seminar was held in a huge church, we looked a bit lost clustered at the front, but despite the echoes, the seminar went well and the participation was good.



Monday, 18 February 2008

Pancake day

I know I'm posting this blog a bit late, but I just wanted you to rest assured that I didn't miss out on my pancakes! Instead, I invited friends from work around to share in a pancake feast. Got pretty hot over that cooker, and had fun trying to use the hobs as all of the knobs were broken so you had to turn the connecting rods with a pair of pliers and had no idea what temperature they were on!

However, the results were good (and I still think lemon juice and sugar is the best topping)!