Island life luxury style and Jazz festival!

---

Pemba

Next part of this endeavour of a “backpacking” experience takes us to the beautiful Island Pemba in Tanzania. Located a scorching five hours boat ride from Dar es Salam with a brief stop on Zanzibar to cram up on fuel and more passengers Africa style i.e. the floor is equally good place to sit. Not remembering to much of the horrible accident in 2011 when 800 passengers went down with the ferry running the route from Dar to Pemba where overweight was the supposed cause of the capsizing.

However after arriving to Pemba, trying to get transport to the hotel were I was to meet up with my parents and sister, only to realise they wanted as much as the charge for the boat ride to this island I got on the local bus. The bus however reached its end station 15 kilometres from the goal and therefore the journey continued in true not lonely planet recommended manner by arranging for a motorcycle to take me the rest of the way. After arriving at the hotel I realised this was going to be a difficult and demanding week on the all inclusive hotel. And by all inclusive I really mean that, even the bar tab was included and the staffs, helpful as they were, walked down to the beach to inquire if we needed more to drink was we were lying in the sun feeling the hardship of life. But then again once father only turns 50 one time so I and my sister decided it was worth the sacrifice of being invited to this place.

But let’s not talk too much about this place, the week passed very peaceful and quiet with lots of time lying on the beach, some running with the sister in the morning before temperature rose above 26 degrees (which was the minimum night temperature). The sand by the way was the purest of coral white snow sand that also sounded like snow, creaking when walking across it. Some diving got squeezed into the very crammed schedule of relaxation, two daytime and one in the night for me and the sister. Nice corals, seen better but still wonderful diving and beautifully clear water with visibility up to 20 meters. The time on the island ended with dinner on the beach which was provided for the last night after which the trip continued to Zanzibar were, as part of a freak coincidence, there was a jazz music festival staring the day after we arrived in Stone Town (9-12/2).

Zanzibar

Thursday began with music, rhythms and dancing. The general festival experience was genuine with sweat, lots of people and the smell of ganja heavy in the air... The music varied from rhythmic Africa style native music to a bit more hipetyhoppy tunes and dance performances. Really energetic and nice experience and dear lord what hips can move on stage! And that goes for both women and men alike. Very different from festivals at home but at the same time not...

Also one last thing I need to share with you, the world is a surprisingly small place sometimes. On the first festival day me and the sister got in front of the stage and chilled in the grass. Al of a sudden this guy comes up to me and asks whether we are from Sweden, it takes a while for the neurons to spark to life but then I recognize him. He’s an old colleague from Arla, Rasmus, who is co-manager with his fiancée Susanne at a Demani lodge hostel on Zanzibar. What are the odds? However very nice to meet them, spent a really lacy day at their place (Friday), chilling, bathing and talking trash. In general a very nice experience of Zanzibar despite the touristy stamp this island got.

Next stop will be Moshi and to compensate for the lack of stories about walking in this post, the next one will consist of nothing but a long walk uphill...

Take care!

---