Spice Island of Zanzibar

Second leg of the Emirates flight was much better - and our seats were more comfortable.
We arrived in Dar Es Salaam yesterday afternoon 3.20pm local time (which is 7 hours behind Eastern Australia) and what a crowd of all the passengers off Emirates - filling in the Immigration card and also the Health form (swine flu symptoms etc)!!!! Using the back of passports to fill the cards in, or the wall or on the suitcase ... imagine 1-2 hundred people in the room roughly 4 metres by 7 metres - all getting the correct info for the papers and lining up. No fans, hot and humid ....... it was humid too. Anyway we both got through the 3 people checking the health slip ..... then the signage was a bit poor but we thought we had the right line for "customs" ..... but this official airport guy said 'you two go that line' so it was MUCH shorter so we did what we were told. The check was done on the passports so we proceeded to the security check ... got through that one then we walked along a long coridoor and saw that it was going to the 'lost property' so we u-turned and when we came back to the original hall the man who had given us the instructions reassured us to go down the hallway and at the end turn left! ..... so we did.
We went through another security check (and we only had our carry-on luggage) and we were asked to go up the stairs and go to the lounge for our flight to Zanzibar with Precision Airways. Once up the stairs there was a further security area so through we went again .... then we waited for the boarding call.
The flight to Zanzibar was 20minutes! We went to a desk and did the Passport check again and went through to pick up our luggage (it was booked through from Melbourne which was good.) A man (with his own taxi/van) - Ahmid was there holding up "NEWMAN X 2" so we went with him and he drove us to the Dhow Palace where we are staying until tomorrow (Wednesday). WOW!!!! They sure are skilled drivers here - when you see how close they drive to other cars and go along these narrow lanes!!!
After breakfast we were met by the driver Ahmid and his brother Talib - and John and I discussed the tours for today and tomorrow. Talib took us on a 3 hours walking tour of Stone Town .....VERY INTERESTING and steeped with History. It was hot but when we turned the corner in one of the buildings we got the sea breeze ... that was wonderful!When we had finished we walked back to the Hotel and had a quick light lunch ... then went with Ahmid in his van and went around the top half of the Island. So interesting to see the different kinds of houses ... go through some fish markets (short time due to the smell!!!) and the fresh fruits and vegies - what a variety!! Happy african children and everyone wishing to greet with a "Jambo".
Yes we are now very much in Africa .... so follow us and I will update as often as I can connect!! - Eliz

John adds:
1+2=3; 3+4 =7. = the brain still works!
And, i've managed to send 2 text messages. Amazing what a difference a + makes instead of an * (Janet!!!).

Apart form tech issues - things have been fine. Got caught & frisked at the third Dar security check = bottle of water! Ok after I drank some and didn't die (or explode). The flight to Zanzibar acttually took 15 mins - but we waited 20mins for permission to go = three landings!! Such a busy airport.

We have our tickets for the ferry to Dar tomorrow and, I understand I got the reliable one (made in Perth).

Apart from breaking down.... no, just a flat tire, there is not much to add. Apart from the Forest Cake we just had, after chicken & rice. Eliz couldn't find much chicken - funny that. I said that at least she knew it was free range.

Bed time.