Advertisement
Published: August 21st 2010
Edit Blog Post
Coral Island...what a dream after a long week! My first time in a tuk-tuk/bajoji (tiny, little, semi-open-air car type thing that fits 3 people, though I've heard stories of trying to fit in many more). Our ferry awaited us at the prettiest beach resort I had seen since coming to Tanzania, Balinda Beach Resort. (And the first resort, but it was quite pretty none the less) Our ferry awaited us. It should be know that, like many things I've encountered so far in Africa, this ferry was not what I expected. It was a small wooden boat with a tarp over it that began to take on water as we taxied to the island. Because it was low tide, we had to wade out to the boat which was actually one of the coolest things I've ever done--walking into the Indian Ocean fifty yards, dress hiked up to my waist (swimsuit on underneath) on an impossibly gorgeous sunny day. It's one of those things that's so far out of your ordinary experience, it makes you think of telling someone else about it nonchalantly like "Well sure I've taken a rickety ferry ride to a tiny private island off the coast of
Africa. What? You haven't?" Lol!
Coral Island was just as it had been described to me--a gorgeous, tropical, uninhabited paradise. It is a very small island with beautiful white sands, soft underfoot, and gorgeous turqoise and sea green waters, just cooler than a warm bath--perfect on a hot East African winter day. Officially, it is a marine reserve off the coast, owned and protected by Tanzania. and there is a fee to get there and get in. It cost me about $35 USD and was absolutely worth twice that--even in Africa. We scored a great bungalow for the seven of us with several beds, a table, and a mat and ordered our fish and chips. The whole day, there were no more than 75 people on the island so it felt like our own private world. The low number of people was a good thing practically speaking since there was only one public bathroom on the island which lacked toilet paper. I took a short nap and was joined by a few people still exhausted from their near all-night party-fest at Midsommar. Then I enjoyed some reading time while others snorkeled. Apparently it was quite beautiful, but I'm not
a strong swimmer (or even a weak swimmer for that matter--treading water has always eluded me) and there were no wetsuits or lifejackets available for rent because...TIA.
Lunch arrived and the fish was still smiling at me and I'm pretty sure he was winking. It was really delicious--tender and so fresh (caught that morning) and the chips were a tasty contrast. Our meal was eaten sans silverware or napkins. So fun! We went for a walk along the beach and I found some amazing shells! That's what I brought home for the boys. The love little treasures. Just before we left, I spotted a painting in the gift shop (two walls of 25-30 items in an open-air hut with a beach floor) It was the perfect gift for Dan--a rectangular canvas haphazardly nailed to a wooden frame, dirty on the back from hanging there who knows how long. It was an interpretation of African drummers with a yellow and red background. To me, it reeked of Africa and my baby has an artist's heart so I knew he would appreciate it. The shopkepper wanted 15,000 Tsh. I offered 10, he said make it 12. I said all I have
is 10 (lie). He said ok. And our transaction was as simple as that. What was not so simple was getting the painting back to the mainland. High tide had come in as we spent the day in our hidden paradise and our "ferry" was now picking us up on the opposite side of the island where we were dropped off. The water was now up to my chest, so I wrapped the painting in my towel and put it and my backpack over my head as I slowly and rockily (yes, I made up my own word) made my way to the boat. Getting off the boat, one of the guys was nice enough to carry the painting for me which was lucky since the waves were coming in hard. As I was hanging on to the ladder trying to exit, I was whipped against the boat producing a peach-size bruise on my thigh. We made the trip back to the hotel in time for dinner and I pretty much conked out. Who knew being lazy on the beach all day could take so much out of you?
Advertisement
Tot: 0.14s; Tpl: 0.02s; cc: 9; qc: 48; dbt: 0.0909s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb