Blogs from Zanzibar City, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa - page 21

February 11 - 12, 2006 - Chitimba to Iringa to Dar es Salaam We drove all day to get from Chitimba to Iringa, in Tanzania. The border crossing was a bit of a nightmare, as Tanzania was the first country that we all required a VISA for. We exited Malawi, drove across the border, then got our VISAs, then entered Tanzania. It took only took just over an hour, which apparently, is quite good. We stopped for lunch quickly on the side of the road, and were surrounded by kids watching us eat. As we loaded back onto the bus, one kid came up to Lucinda and shook her hand, then stole her sunglasses right off her head. She was fuming! We couldn't believe his nerve! Anyway, we spent the rest of the day driving and ... read more

I arrived at Stone Town the historic area of Zanzibar by ferry around 3pm.... read more

Sadly I did not sleep very well at all, waking up every two hours or so. In the morning I also threw up, I think because I had drunk too much (I’m talking about water and ORS here). This was not drunk all at once, but when I woke each time I would drink, so I was not absorbing the water very quickly. I saw the Doctor in morning for a checkup - my blood pressure and heart rate were both normal. The Doctor had written a report, which I then faxed off to the insurers, as well as some information from me. I spent the rest of the day resting. ... read more

I woke up with a headache. I had one bowel movement in the morning, which again was pretty normal. I went to the hospital (Mnazi Moja) fairly early, both to deliver a stool sample and also because I was not feeling at all well. It was actually some time before I saw a Doctor, as my normal Doctor had gone out of the hospital. I saw Dr Duchi though, who proved to be a very good Doctor. He said I was taking too many drugs, and told me to stop the loperamide as well as the Malarone. He also told me to drink less ORS. Although both my temperature and blood pressure were normal, my pulse was unsually high. He blamed this on anxiety caused by worrying too much, and told me to read my medical ... read more

No stool at all today, which is for me lately, highly unusual. It is related to the loperamide I am sure. I am still feeling a bit tired and weak though. Generally a quiet day, with no work due to Eid Al-Hajj. There are advantages to living in a country with two large religious groups, with an increase in national holidays. I am taking the opportunity to rest. I am reading a book on Zanzibari History, with a lot of details on their economics. Zanzibar has always had an international feel, due to the reliance on trade rather than production. It also was the reason for the British gradual increase in power. Reliance on trade rather than production means you need powerful allies, and as the British became the leading Indian Ocean power, so they gained ... read more