Pool with the Maasai

Our first night in Kendwa (North coast of Zanzibar - super beachy) was the most interesting to date. We were hanging out at the hotel restaurant/bar and noticed a group of Maasai warriors playing pool (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maasai). We wanted to talk to them, but were shy, so this British guy we met who's working in Dar was like no problem, asked them all in Swahili what they were drinking and bought them beer. So now we've played pool with the Maasai. Needless to say, the hunting skills make them very good. Also, everytime they missed a shot they uttered a string of popular American curse words. We think they're only in Zanzibar for the high tourist season because all of them said they're from the Kiliminjaro area. They sell jewelry and sarongs on the beach, and we heard that some of the women work as prostitutes. I also think of them was courtng me on the downlow. Lord Jesus!

Yesterday was a very relaxing day. We woke up around 9, had breakfast, sat on the beach, went on a short trip to Nungwi to see a turtle conservation/hospital center. The sea turtles live in a large "aquarium" that's fed by the ocean -- it's like a tidal pool. The water is super clear, so you can sit or stand on the path over the
water and toss seaweed in to feed them. They get to be almost three feet long. We saw one that was 25 years old, and she was only just reaching sexual maturity. She was pretty good at bossing around the small turtles.

We took a dive trip yesterday -- I snorkeled & Molly dove. Molly's obviously spoiled by the dives in Cozumel. Her report: It was okay diving. Lovely coral, nice fish. Visibility wasn't fantastic, and someone saw a turtle but we missed it. Did catch a small ray, hiding under a rock (at this point I actually had visibility with my shitty goggles).

And now for a new segment we will call:

Random Observations and Things that Chap Our Asses
1. Immodest women in Zanzibar. It's a fucking Muslim country. Please respect the culture and put on a fucking shirt and pants (ahem German man in speedo and polo).
2. Loud Australians, Americans and Brits (but mostly the first two). Indoor voices, please. And it's very nice that you meditated in the Himalayas with a Buddhist monk, but the whole bar doesn't need to know that.
3...And on that note, bragging, elitist backpackers.So you went gorilla stalking in Rwanda...that does not make you cultured. Talk to a Rwandan. See what they think.
4. Female tourists with the "I just got my hair braided on the beach" look. You're not Bo Derek.
5. The abundance of Manchester United Fans in Tanzania (and largely East Africa). What is the deal? However, many West Africans are avid Chelsea fans. I'm wondering if I can make a career out of exploring these alliances.

Sidebar...We may sound like a bunch of haters, but at least our blog is keeping you entertained. Despite the hateration, we've met some pretty cool people I've managed to do some productive networking, thanks to Molly pushing me. We talked to a guy who works in Malawi for World Food Program, a Serbian guy who's working for an anti-corruption and election supervision NGO in the south of Sudan, a British guy
volunteering in northern Tanzania building schools, and one girl spending two weeks of her gap year volunteering at the Nungwi turtle sanctuary. Not your average Caribbean crowd.

It's our last night in Kendwa, so we're gonna go look for the party. Also, our Serbian friend has taken to reading my journal, so we need to go check on that. Ma'salamma!