Dar-Es-Salaam, August 24th

Hello,

I feel the need to write another blog as a method of preventing certain members from my family from having me flown home. I'm not dying, I don't have malaria or aids, so everyone just relax!

Anyway, I was well set for my diving last weekend and woke up far to early being worried about missing the boat. The weather was atrocious. Full blown British style light drizzle with no sign of sun. Having been introduced to my Spanish dive crew, who conveyed the impression of all the gear, no idea, we set off for big wall. Thanks to a frankly miniscule swell (In comparison to Plymouth) the dive was moved and so I found myself off the Mnemba coral atoll.

It was awesome! Sea turtles and reef sharks were everywhere and I had a great time chasing the turtles and pretending to fly on them. However sharks and turtles are very nice, but only one fish really caught the imagination. I saw 5 napoleon wrasse! Highlight of the trip! They weren't huge, but still pretty formidable. However I went mad and chased them around the atoll and to my disgust my air was soon gone and I had to go and sit in the boat while the Spaniards, who I'm pretty sure didn't breathe, carried on diving for a further 20 minutes.

The dive was sufficiently spectacular that we decided to go down again after a short break to swim with a passing pod of dolphins. Once more we swam around with more giant sea creatures, this time including barracuda and once more I found myself sitting on the boat waiting for the Spaniards. They can't have been breathing.

After a typical african carbohydrate-fest for lunch, we headed down for one more dive in some shallow coral with a few rays and some smaller types fish. It was nice, but nothing on the two previous dives.

On arriving back at the hotel, I met up with some English guys, Drew and James, and we decided that, even though it was a wet Sunday and the power had gone out, we should probably check out the local nightlife scene. We chilled at the hotel having deep discussions with our rasta hotel owner, Shadrick, while he smoked so much dope I was suprised he didn't pass out and then hit up the Zanzibar cult establishment Cholos beachbar. A good time was had by all.

The next day everyone missed breakfast, I discovered exactly what bedbug bites look like and the weather was still crap. We headed to the beach. There were short periods of sunshine. We drank conyagi and went to Cholos. Thats about it for the day.

The next night was my last in Nungwi, not out of choice, but because I had run out of cash. So another day on the beach was followed by another night at Cholos, this time in the company of some girls from Leeds Uni and once more a good evening was had.

At some point over these three days I managed to get Amebaisis and/or chronic dysentry, which has given me a hilarious pot belly and some rather less hilarious stomach cramps. I also probably have worms. Medical advice has been obtained and assorted medication taken. I should be fine in 5 days. I think I'm still gonna eat streetfood because it tastes so good and is the only decent value food around here.

Getting back to Stonetown was a bit sad as I could have easily chilled on the beach for some time. Still the girls are all heading back to England today so we all went to Forodani Gardens for more outrageously good sea food.

Today I got the early ferry to Dar, a fast cat that thankfully did not take 6 hours and my train to Mbeya in the South is at 3 arriving 12.30pm tommorow. With a bit of luck I should be in Malawi by about 3pm tommorow probably for more chilled out backpacker antics by Lake Malawi.

Looking back its been a pretty boring week, but it has been nice to chill out and stop travelling overland for once!

LOL

Jx