WE HAVE A LIMITED WIFI CONNECTION. PHOTOS WILL BE ADDED LATER.
We haven’t mastered getting into the mosquito net, as my three bites in the morning evidence. We are on prophylaxis meds, so I’m not worried about malaria. We even have treatment meds along just in case, which we’ll bring back to the USA because of the incubation period.
After a breakfast, we walked the path to next door to meet our snorkeling group. Low and behold, it includes Susan and her daughter, Bethany. Susan is the daughter-in-law of the late Rev. David Simonson and his adorable wife, Eunie, (who just celebrated a birthday). Susan’s husband, Nathan, was at the retirement celebration for Pastor Nangole. I know Susan from our teaching days here, and I asked her to be the narrator for one of the video projects I did, because she has a rich but non-distinct international English accent (Canadian citizenship with various British Commonwealth influences). In other words, it is hard to tell where she came from, but clearly not American. Anya had played with Bethany, who is about 4 years older, when we were all at Tarangire Safari Lodge, which is also owned by a Simonson son (as this place is as well). So, again, we were not just tourists; we had relationships and were connected with significant people.
Their friends from the UK, a couple with two children about 8 and 5 were in the group too. Our German guide and two Tanzanian crew members rounded out our party. The German woman has been here 9 years and has helped save 30,000 turtles by relocating the nests to higher ground. National Geographic arrives next week to do some videoing of the story here!
At the beginning, the weather cooperated. We saw rain clouds in the area of Maziwa Island, but they passed by the time we arrived by motor boat. Maziwa is totally under water at high tide. The light aqua colored water surrounded the island. We gathered some shells to admire, but as this is a marine preserve, we can’t take any with us. We also picked up some garbage which floats in with the tide.
The snorkeling was even better than the last time I was here! There are over 500 distinctive fish species in these waters, not to mention the corals. The water was not cold, so I stayed in quite a while, discovering a kaleidoscope of colors. The British mom and kids were out of the water soon, and Anya followed later. When the rain came, they huddled under a mat to try to stay dry. I decided it was warmer in the water, so I continued to be amazed with the fish, clams, and coral.
The two who were taking their first scuba diving lesson and our German guide were the last in the boat. We returned to Maziwa Island for some samosas and watermelon. Anya did some sprinting on the beach for conditioning in preparation for the fall soccer season. Now I could email her coach and relay that she was doing running in the sand for conditioning, another training technique I’ve seen done.
Then the rain decided to come again. The joke was that when Susan is along, there usually is rain! So, the tarp—which usually is a sun shade—now was a rain cover! As the rain stopped, we ventured out again on the island to gather a few more beautiful shells.
On the boat ride back, we shared stories and just before land, the rains came again. Fortunately, this isn’t a miserable wet, as it isn’t too cold. I say that the third worst thing in life is being cold, and the second worst thing is being wet and cold. Then, I stop there. Inevitably someone asks, as Bethany did today, “What is the worst thing?” I reply, “Rejection.”
We helped unload the boat and then returned to our banda for a warm solar shower. I washed out the salty suits, shorts, T-shirts, and wraps. (Travel tip: I carry laundry soap leaves which are small and easy to use.) Then we hit the clubhouse for sodas and a bit of food from the snack bar—a chicken wrap in a chapatti—as sisimizi (tiny, tiny ants) run around. We also get to charge our gear in the clubhouse, as there are no electrical sockets in the banda.
The rest of the afternoon is relaxing in the clubhouse, writing up the missed blog posts, and hanging out for dinner at 7:30 pm. If the WIFI is capable, I may try to buy a plane ticket for a family wedding in August in Ann Arbor, Mich., and then start reading a novel from the little library of finished books. What a wonderful day!
With blessings,
Beth