We arrived in Jambiani and had no idea where we really wanted to stay. we just knew that there were a ton of hotels and guest houses ranging in price. thankfully kaiza knows everyone on zanzibar island and had a friend who lives there. he was able to find us a guest house right on the beach with breakfast included for a really good price! after we got settled in we took a walk down the beach to look at other places. we definitely didnt have the money to stay at a lot of the places! zanzibar island for many europeans and even other africans is like the carribean to canadians. it is a popular vacation spot so the water front was covered with hotels. the cool part thouhg was that the village is RIGHT behind. you can walk in front of your hotel and be on the beach or you can go behind and be in a typical tanzanian village.

since we were budgeting, we spent much of our time eating in the village getting food from street vendors instead of going to the hotel restuarants. i actually am starting to prefer it more aside from the fact that 90% of it is carbs. the food is cheap and delicious! the first couple days we spent just relaxing at our guest house. unfortunately the time of year that it is, the beach was covered in seaweed. that didnt stop me from tanning though! also, with it being the rainy season, it had rained both mornings but it was georgous in the afternoons. we played a lot of cards and i did a lot of reading!

the next day, amanda, our friend from YCI came to join us for the day/evening. we spent most of that time walking through town and finding the best food and something good to make for lunch. we walked for about 2 huors and were pretty tired for the rest of the evening so we just relaxed again!

the last day (which was yesterday) we decided to go down the beach to another hotel which we had scoped out the first day. it had a nice area to lie ni the sun AND a pool!!! we asked if we could just say by the pool for the day and they said yes, for 5000/= (about $5) and i said how about 3000/= and it was a deal! i love bartering here. it is partly the season as well. since it is the rainy season, it is the low season. so any price they give we can argue and saw no, its the rainy season, we will go somewhere else. it usually works!

so we lied there for the day and swam in the pool which was SOOOO amazing. we had been getting asked everyday from a couple local women if we wanted a massage so yesterday we finally gave in. it was 5000/= for 30 min and definitely worth it! except that i was covered in oil for the rest of the day. we sat there until the sun started to go down and then we headed back to our guest house.

we got ourselves somewhat cleaned up and then headed to a nicer restaurant for dinner. it was right on the beach and very beautiful, with the stars and moon shining bright. that ended our evening and we headed back to the guest hosue.

this morning we took the local bus back to stonetown which is always an experience in itself. i dont know if i have mentioned it before but basically they fit as many people as possible and then some into a cramped bus, or in this case, the back of a truck with benches and a roof. it isnt that abd when you are going short distances, but it was a 2 hour ride. haha. i just have to laugh when i am on it. we will be in stonetown for the day and then are heading out on the night ferry back to dar tonight..it will save on accomodations! then in the morning i will begetting on a bus (still cramped, but a real bus) for a 6hour ride to moshi which is where the climb up kilimanjaro will begin.

I hope everything goes well from now until then and i will probably be on the internet in moshi, but if not, you will hear from me after i have either successfully (hopefully) or unsuccessfully made it to the summit of kilimanjaro!