Zanzibar

Monday was yet another national holiday here, so we decided to enjoy the low season (and rates) of Zanzibar. What easy access we have to one of the more exotic sounding places...the Arusha airport is about 2 miles away and there's a one hour direct flight to Zanzibar. Amazingly easy, well it was until our taxi broke down on the way to our hotel, but that let us sit with some village kids until a new ride arrived. Our hotel was perfect for a quick weekend get-away. We spent almost all of the time in the pool where even Anderson could stand (although it turns out he much preferred to swim). We did walk to a turtle reserve up the beach a little ways and we did go on a sunset boat ride (on one of the old dhow boats). We'll have to save the cultural excursions for next time (spice tours, tours of Stonetown, etc). Ash did get pretty sick the last day, so that did put a bit of a damper on an already overcast and rainy day, but Matt caught some jelly fish for her to look at while Anderson and Tierney played in the ocean (I was not too excited about swimming with the jellyfish). The hotel also had two little kittens that kept the kids entertained for hours.

We left with an Anderson and came back with a fish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B21GpwTx7lE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou4Kf11wY68

Tierney playing in the ocean (where we caught the jellyfish):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1qSGok_hsU

Bye, bye Mr. Rooster

After having the rooster for almost two weeks, we decided he'd served his purpose and settled the hens to the best of his ability and decided to have him for dinner. Surprisingly, all of the kids asked that we wait until after school so that they could be here to watch. So, when they got home from school they stopped and grabbed Cleophus and Mama Jackie before they even said hi to me. We all went out back to find Birch blocking the chicken coop. Apparently he decided that he didn't want to rooster to die. It was a bit emotional for a while, but then he decided he'd be the big boy and help the process. The kids all lined up in a row to watch. We let them know that there would be blood and they didn't have to watch, but they all stayed. I went around the corner to hide which Mamma Jackie found rather entertaining: "don't Mama's do this in the US? Here that's the mama's job". Cleo slit it's neck and drained it (kids still all watching) and then Mama Jackie boiled water to de-feather (still all watching). I was amazed that they were so interested and that not one of them seemed grossed out by the whole process. He was then chopped into pieces and grilled as part of dinner. I did not have any, but both Joey and Matt said that it was really tough meat and really not that good. Poor guy. The next morning we had no 4 am wake-up and we also got our first egg...coincidence??? Today 3 more eggs - yeah!

Ashlyn's end of quarter display

Who knew she was such the artist?

Kenya

We spent the first 10 days of the kids' school break traveling to Kenya. In hindsight it was probably too much to stay in five different places over 10 days, but there was so much to see it would have been hard to cut something out. Our first night we stayed in a roadside hotel that was mediocre, at best, but they had kiddie and horseback rides, so that sort of made up for it. The next day we crossed the equator (several times actually) and headed to Ol Pejeta where we were supposed to camp. But, after an afternoon downpour the campsite was inches underwater. Luckily Matt knew several people that worked their and their "donor house" was available, so we were able to stay at a staffed house overlooking a hippo water hole. We really scored here - much better than camping in the rain. We saw lots of animals at Ol Pejeta and had some much needed relaxing after 2 days in the car. From Ol Pejeta we headed to 10,200 feet at the base of Mt. Kenya to stay at Rutundu.









Rutundu was a small volcano and lake with 2 guest cabins and a staff cabin way up in the mountains. It was beautiful, but we were not expecting a 3 hour drive straight up on very bumpy roads to get there (broken shock to prove it). We kept thinking that we weren't going to stop for lunch because it had to be 'just over that hill'. We were wrong and gave up and finally had a peanut butter sandwich in the car. When we got there I was a little taken aback because they put our gear on a trolley/lever/pulley thing to get it across a huge gorge. I had no idea how we were supposed to get across, but it turns out that there was a bridge that was a short hike down. It reminded me a lot of Leadville, but even more remote. There was no electricity and the 'fridge' was some shelves outside that you could access from a door in the kitchen. We spent 2 days and 3 nights hiking and fishing in the surrounding areas. Unfortunately half of the group was sick (Cole seemed to have the worst of it); Ashlyn and Birch both caught a rainbow trout which was cleaned and cooked for us right away. We did a big hike with everyone on the first day up Runtundu where we saw lava tubes and beautiful views and flowers. The kids liked throwing rocks into the first giant lava tube because you never heard the rocks land. The second, much smaller tube, you could stick your hand in to and feel the cold air coming up (like a small cave).

From Rutundu we drove a little further to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (big TNC project site). We spend 3 nights at a house there. The house was simple and meals were provided, but we were able to bring in our own food and cook for the kids ourselves. From the pool we watched elephants, giraffe, impalas, and mischievous little vervet monkeys (who stole bananas and apples from us). One highlight of the game drive here was a giant family of elephants (15-16) ranging in ages to even the smallest babies. We just parked and watched them all cross the road around us and then saw them again later in a long line crossing a large plain - very impressive. Joey and David heard a rhino right outside their door while they were sleeping (Joey thought it might be something trying to get into their coolers)!

On the way home we spent a night in Nairobi and Joey and I got to go to the city market and do a little shopping and then we got to watch American movies on tv in the hotel - it felt very luxurious.

We were happy to return home and find that Mama Jackie had left us a lasagna and homemade bread for us - very nice when there really isn't such a thing as pizza delivery after a long trip. The kids are still off until Tuesday, so they will have some good relaxing time before school starts up again.

This trip required a lot of logistical planning. We needed different insurance for the car in Kenya, needed copies of the car's title (all in someone elses name since we haven't changed that and that it turns out they never asked us for), lots of food coordination, camping prep, and just dealing with Nairobi traffic. At one point there was a water main break and you get down a road to find everyone turning around. I wondered aloud why someone didn't turn us around sooner and Matt commented that would have required someone to be in charge. As David passed us we asked him if he knew how to get to the hotel after the diversion he says "I know where I'm going, I just don't know how to get there".

You can check out the rest of the pics here: http://tandapictures.shutterfly.com/1965

Now that we are back in Arusha, Matt took the opportunity of the kids being out of school to take them to pick out their own chickens. We are now the proud owners of 9 hens and one rooster. We were hoping to not have to buy a rooster (and I was thinking that again at 4 am this morning), but apparently we need him for a couple of weeks to make sure the hens settle in okay. After that he will have served his purpose and he'll probably become a good meal for us all (assuming mama jackie knows how to handle that).