Around the World in 128 Days - Zanzibar, Tanzania Day 1 - Rainy Day Monkeys

 

Travel Day 96 - April 8, 2024 -7,398 Steps

Interesting day today as we had our first rainy excursion day of the cruise. I've posted some 40 images and more than usual videos, it being that kind of day where I think videos tell as much or more than photos and words do.

The first port where we have seen Dhow's.

Two somewhat different Dhow sail configurations.

Like I've said, it was a rainy day, and with rain comes water on the windows which means there may be a few blurry photos during the post.

The first view of what we would often see during the day. People, that is.

The petrol stations all had three types of fuel listed, petrol, diesel and kerosene. I asked why the kerosene and the guide explained that it was for use in lamps since not everyone had electric and also all the boats used it in their lamps.

When you live in a country that has a rainy season, it is simply something you live with.

Sometimes it rained and sometimes it really rained.

A different way of mowing the median strip.

Motorbikes and scooters are a common method of transportation along with the busses which are only supposed to hold some twenty passengers but are seemingly always carrying far more.

See below for what was happening.

The door closed but didn't seal tightly.

Our destination, Jozani Forest.

Our guide kept us in the bus until the rain stopped, saying the monkeys are not out and about when it rains.

Linda in the blue poncho. I proved to be an expert at predicting the weather. If I wore my poncho it didn't rain. When I didn't wear my poncho it did rain.

Heading out into the jungle in search of monkeys.

A first it was all that bad.

It was one of those kind of days. I was lucky because Tevas have no problem with water. Those wearing shoes became squishy sloggers.

And sometimes it was really deep, but you do what you have to do see the monkeys up close.

First monkey. Not to worry, it got much better further into the jungle.

The tree branches suddenly shake, you look up and there is a monkey.

Contented Blue Monkey.

It's all about being in the right spot at the right time.

This Blue Monkey youngster wasn't a very happy camper.

My favorite photo of the day. A young Red Colobus monkey.

Heading back out to the bus through standing water. Linda is wearing the blue poncho.

Wet feet, wet shoes was the order of the day as we walked back out of the jungle. And it that tree branch looks like something I might walk into, the scab on the top of my head says it was because I was trying keep the camera aimed right instead of seeing what was up ahead.

Visiting a mangrove forest.

It is easy to see how mangroves can prevent coastal erosion from occurring.

These little guys were about the size of a silver dollar, they were oh so colorful.

It just proves that even crabs can be beautiful.

Blue monkey

These two were near the bus, so no water walking was necessary. The images above and below show one aspect of these two, a moment in time, while this video shows them doing what monkeys do.

Linda said I should post this photo she took. Let your mind wander as you look at it and try to fill in what you don't see in this Blue Monkey photo.

There are four monkeys in this tree standing above the others.

Here two of them which are Red Colobus monkeys..

Waiting on the bus.

This was not good.

Starting with this photo are several images of people.

They use these long poles in constructing inexpensive buildings.

Doors are woodworking works of art.

I was able to take a chicken picture to make Linda a happy girl. Good Bob.

My favorite person image. Wearing that very colorful clothing with her hand on her chin and having that far away look, what is she thinking.

Who needs a fuel hogging, road hogging pickup truck take something home from the home improvement store anyway.

Looking for the bus while looking good in their colorful outfits. And if you haven't already guessed it long ago, it is a Moslem country.

As we drove further into the city the street scene changed somewhat.

We've seen this before during the cruise.

I only saw a few women wearing full bourkas.

The motorbikes serve as taxis, with the women passengers always facing the curb side of the road. Looking out the windows of our bus, median side windows were splashed with muddy water while the curb side windows remained relatively clean. When you sit facing this way you don't get your face splashed for one thing I'm thinking.

A different look at the traffic, this was as we were approaching the ferry terminal where the ship's tenders were docking.

The contrast between men and women in terms of clothing.

Tender docking in the rough water at the Zanzibar ferry terminal.

Tender interior.

Remember my early on comment about squishy shoes, when you walk through muddy water above your ankles, there is some cleaning to be done to those soaking wet shoes when you return to the ship. Linda was glad she wore her black pair and not her white ones.