beach day

Yesterday was beach day. We got up early--I finally slept through the night, only vaguely disturbed by my rooster friends--and took bijaji (the go-cart/golf cart taxis) to the ferry dock to Bongoyo Marine Reserve, where Jess had gone the weekend before I got here.

I think the driver of our bijaji had some anger management issues because he kept weaving in and out of traffic (common), passing on the inside next to the lane of oncoming cars (common), and driving in the dirt "sidewalk" on the outside (common), but he did this with such intensity and in such dangerous situations, that we spent the entire time thinking we might die. Then again, because I had somehow not gotten up with my alarm, we might not have made the ferry were he not so aggressive.

The ferry ride over was less than pleasant--the smell of diesel fumes is not exactly what one wants first thing in the morning, and as we were disembarking onto the dinghy to bring us to shore, I unfortunately tossed my book over the side into the water. Luckily, the dinghy driver was able to circle around to pick it up, but not an auspicious start to the day. Also, we had seen a large group of children headed toward the same beach--again, not exactly what we had in mind for a relaxing day at the beach.

When we arrived, we grabbed our umbrella and some chairs and got down to the business of relaxing...that is, until we laid down and realized that wind we felt was actually quite intense and creating a massive sandstorm. It was sort of like a sandblasted exfoliation treatment we did not ask for. Included free in price of admission! Yikes...then the children arrived, screaming and yelping, which in some circumstances is quite pleasant...just not right now. Interestingly, the children all spoke English, as did some of the other families we presumed were Tanzanian. This was not an inexpensive trip to the reserve so likely they were middle or upper class, but it's interesting, if not unsurprising, to see English as the preferred language.

Finally the wind died down, the sun arrived, and this is what the rest of the day looked like:

It was unbelievably beautiful and relaxing. I took a snooze in the shade, read my soggy book, took a dip in the ocean, and ate unbelievably delicious grilled seafood cooked fresh for us. Then in the late afternoon, we sampled some of the local beer before hopping a much more pleasant small wooden boat back to the mainland as the sun set behind us.

I have some beautiful photos of this but they're all on my big camera, which I haven't yet synced tot his dinky little netbook. Those may have to wait till I get home.

The evening consisted of us gorging ourselves on Ethiopian food and passing out at about 9pm. It was phenomenal.

Today's agenda:
* gym
* craft market
* work