PEMBA!

Well, it’s been a while again, now, hasn’t it?  Well, Pemba was a wonderful way to end this program.  We travelled by ferry to Zanzibar early Saturday morning and then proceeded by way of another ferry from Zanzibar to Pemba.  The whole trip lasted about 9 hours (5 hours total on the ferries plus layover and bus time).  The way there was pretty terrible only because there was no air conditioning and it was hotter than blazes.  There were about a hundred people packed into one space and we had the sun shining on us the whole time.  Some of us even began to feel light headed.  There was virtually NO air movement at all.  Anyway, we finally got to Pemba and the hotel staff took us out on a boat right away to snorkel.  We went about 45 minutes away to a sand bar in the middle of the ocean where we ate lunch (fish pasta) and had TONS of fruit. They just kept cutting it up!  They had everything from pineapple to mangoes to papaya to watermelon to bananas.  We couldn’t even eat it all!  We swam around the sand bar for a while enjoying the cool water (it was hot out!).  Then, we headed back to the hotel for a shower and dinner.  The hotel was really nice and we had several dorm style rooms.  I shared a room with Siri, Chelsea, Zoe, and Carla.  For dinner we had rice, fish, octopus, kalamari, French fries, salad, veggies, and for dessert: more fruit!  I didn’t try the octopus since I had already had it before and didn’t really like it but I did have kalamari and it was one of the stranger foods I have ever tried-good, but strange. 

The next morning we got up and ate breakfast (tons of fruit again, bread, and eggs).  Then, we headed out to a beach to snorkel and hike.  The snorkeling was pretty good and the reef was really extensive.  My favorite part was swimming in this huge school of minnows.  You could see these minnows for miles!  I also saw lots of starfish, sea cucumbers, angel fish, and coral.  We ate lunch on the island and had rice and beans, and fish curry. The fish curry was so good!  And of course, we had fruit.  We hiked around the island after lunch and got to see some of the caverns on the island.  Then, we headed out on the boat to a spot where we could snorkel and where there are often sea turtles.  We didn’t end up seeing any sea turtles, but hey, what can you expect when you have 20 people thrashing about in the water?  We went back to the hotel in the evening for dinner which was pilau, fish, kalamari, veggies, and French fries. 

Our last whole day in Pemba was spent riding a boat 2.5 hours out to a shipwreck where we snorkeled.  It was really cool seeing the ship underwater.  It had sunk in 1967 and now there is tons of coral on it!  After we got out, it started to rain and soon it was pouring on us.  We were actually a little cold!  We rode back and had lunch (pasta and fruit).  Then, we headed into town to find some flying foxes (fruit bats that inhabit the island).  We were unsuccessful, but did end up watching part of a Tanzanian soccer game.  We hung out the rest of the afternoon and then had dinner: rice, shellfish, crab, fish, veggies, French fries and fruit.  After dinner, the hotel staff made us a fire and we watched a traditional dance.  It was very Tanzanian! 

Yesterday we woke up early to board the ferry and ended up making it back to Dar around 4:00 pm.  Nobody got sick on the boat this time!  Now, I have tons of laundry to do today and really nothing else to fill my day with.  I’ll probably go to the Godde’s house and hang out.  I can’t wait until the parents and Lara get here-only three days left! 
Well, I’ll talk to you later!

Erin