Sunday 17th December

It was a real slog getting to Zanzibar, minivan, then ferry, then another minivan, then another ferry, then another minivan. But it was all worth it in the end. Zanzibar is beautiful - we stayed at Kwendwe Ammand Beach.

One of the guys stepped on a sea urchin while swimming so I spent the best part of an hour trying to fish the spines out of his foot. Lucky I'm not squeamish. In the end one of the staff said to rub papaya juice on it as that would draw the stings out. Odd but it seemed to work.

One of the bars has swings for seats which was really funny - it can be quite tricky to hold your drink and swing but I'd mastered it by the end of the evening. In another bar they had hammocks so Kate and Lindsay decided it would be fun if they both got in one. Bad idea. Check out the photo to see them both lying in the sand where the hammock collapsed - hee hee.

Monday 18th December

Went on a fishing trip and caught three perch - hardly the catch of the century but better than some of the boys who didn't manage anything aside from throwing up over the side. Glad I've got sea legs - must have been all that time I spent in a boat as a child - thanks Dad.

Tuesday 19th December

Got very burnt again after 20 minutes in the sun with factor 40 on!! People keep trying to convince me that I'm going to get a 'base tan' at some point but I'm not quite sure when that's going to happen. Ah well - it's a good job there are small shops selling souvenirs on the beach where I can hide in the shade.

Wednesday 20th December

We left for Stone Town today which is the main town on the island. What a fantastic place. Lots of little back alleyways to get lost down, the architecture is a hotch potch of various cultural influences, the street markets are brilliant and we watched the sun go down at Africa House - just beautiful.

Then we walked through the night food markets exclaiming in delight at the wierd and wonderful concoctions on offer. We decided we would treat ourselves though and headed to Emerson and Greens Tower Top Restaurant for dinner.

It's a set menu and you all sit down at 7pm. The view over Stone Town was amazing. It's situated on the roof of the hotel and you all sit around the edge of the roof in a big square on the floor with cusions and low tables. They bring the food up in baskets from the kitchens down below. It was just lovely.

Thursday 21st December

We went on a Spice Tour this morning which included a bit of a tour around Stone Town. They started with a visit to where the slaves were kept when the slave trade was rife here. There is now an anglican church on the site where they used to bring the slaves to be whipped to see how fit they were before selling them!

The doors here are so intricately carved - and the more detailed the door the more wealthy the household. Arabic ones are build straight with extracts from the Koran carved into them along with the tree of life. The Hindu doors have a semi-circular top to them with roses carved up the sides so your door also established your religion. Apparently Zanzibar has always had many religions live side by side in peace here - people don't mind what religion you are.

We then travelled to a Spice Farm where we could touch and taste the various spices including nutmeg, ginger, bread fruit, jack fruit, lemongrass, cardamon, vanilla, peppercorns, passion fruit, cloves, baby cucumber, star fruit and cinammon to name but a few. Did you know that the roots of the cinammon plant smell like eucalyptus - very strange.

One of the guides also climbed a coconut tree - they strip some of the leaves down, entwine them together and make a figure of 8, then he put his feet in each hole and used it as leverage to help him climb the tree. They sing foolish songs as they climb coconut trees to let anyone below know they are about to cut the coconuts down. Apparently coconuts are the second largest cause of injury here after traffic! Not sure I believe it but it was funny just the same.

They weaved bags for us from the coconut branches and necklaces from tapoicha leaves.

I would love to go back and do a full days tour - they tell you so much about what the plants are used for, how to dry them and store them - fascinating. Dad - you would have loved it!