Reef Walk

This morning we went for a swim in the ocean – the water is very shallow here and so we barely got our shorts wet walking. In that sense the beach resembles Weston-Super-Mare, but not in any other. We were advised to avoid the seaweed (darker patches) as these harbour Sea Urchins which can be very painful. While swimming Anita was approached by local men offering a number of goods and trips. She negotiated a deal with two guys for a reef walk at low tide, so at 2:30pm we set out on a walk out to sea. The aim was to show us the wealth of wildlife. About a kilometre out is a coral reef. On route the waters remain shallow. The water at bath temperature throughout. The guys showed us numerous sea creatures and the video below shows them.

Here are some of the pics with descriptions.

Sea Urchins

Brittle Stars

Star Fish

Sea Cucumber

Flat Fish

Sea Sponge

The walk out and back

Zanzibar Woes

Yet again in Tanzania we encountered the same issue as in the Serengeti – a lack of tourists. We are staying in a lovely hotel which is half empty. We went on a Reef Tour this afternoon (more later) Snd the guys taking us tell that this is supposed to be the busy time of the year.

The reason yet again is Ebola! Not it’s presence.

THERE IS NO EBOLA IN TANZANIA!!

It is the FEAR OF EBOLA.

Westerners are being frightened off by irrational fears! Ebola is closer to London than Zanzibar and is nowhere near East Africa. Geographical ignorance is ruining the industry here. Europeans and Americans are staying away even though the risk is greater in their own countries than here. The poor people are suffering for no reason. So get out your Atlases and research properly before turning your back on a continent which could swallow USA, Europe, India and China with room to spare.

Lazy Sunday Morning in Paradise

After all yesterday’s travel it’s a lazy morning in Paradise. We woke just after sunrise I got a couple of shots but need to be up about 20 mins earlier tomorrow. Early morning a man wandered past and offered us a free coconut (delicious) his mate then shimmied up the tall Palm to get the coconuts down.

After a leisurely Champagne Breakfast (only on a Sunday) it was time to wander down to the beach front.

I am writing this from my beachside lounger. The sea is aquamarine and green, the sand white and the cloud spotted skies are blue. The palms charter like a rain shower but it’s as dry as a bone. I’m glad to be in the shade as the sun is roasting. Perhaps later I’ll go for a dip in the Indian Ocean, but for now I’m content to lie here.

Songs of Christmas: Day 14 – Rejoice

Each year I start playing Christmas Music from the start of December.

Each day until Christmas (in addition to my other posts) I will post a link to a video of some of the Christmas tunes on my iPod. Some will be carols, others pop songs. Here is my 14th offering:

Day 14

Hillsong: Rejoice