K 10

After relaxing and re-gaining of our energy, we made our way back to Stone Town for some serious shopping. We were on the hunt of all hunts for scarves and fabrics. We also, as usual, chilled in a lot of cafes, enjoying some nice coffees. As I said before Stone Town is one large maze. It is one of those places where you twist and turn and come around the corner and find some really cute teashop, coffee shop, or clothing store. Stone Town has a strong Muslim influence, so be sure to be reasonably covered when you are walking around shopping. Of course locals are used to the tourists, so your do not need to cover every ounce of skin, but just be respectful and don’t walk around in your bathing suit, even though the ... read more

If you have ever met me, you will know in about 5 minutes all about my love of the ocean and my constant need for salty, ocean breezes and walks in the sand. So my second day in Tanzania started on a different foot than the first. We were armed and ready with our ferry tickets for Zanzibar Island. All I knew at this point in time was that it was an island, so that was more than enough for me. As soon as we were safely aboard the ferry and I was plopped happily in my beanbag chair, it was as though all was right in the world again. Believe it or not there were two beanbag chairs on the outdoor decks of the boat and I snagged one of them. The ferry ride passed ... read more

First I have to say that I lucked out and got an aisle seat with an empty seat next to me for my 17 and1/2 hour plane ride from Washington D.C. to Johannesburg (Joburg)! What are the chances? Yesssss I got the empty seat, which is currently housing a pile of books, magazines, and extra pillows. Oh, and I just learned that I am stopping over in Senegal. Cool, it would be even cooler if I could actually be in Senegal and not just in the Dakar airport. I have been blessed by a nasally snore from the woman two seats to my right, a group of American tourists ready for their safari in Kruger National Park to my left, and a tv stocked with plenty of movies I have never seen. I have the goal ... read more

On November 3rd at 8 a.m., we made our way up the Saigon River to the one and only Ho Chi Minh City. Yep, that’s in Vietnam. The whole voyage and the time up until the voyage I was looking forward to Vietnam; I thought it was going to be an awesome experience, as I didn’t really know too much about the place. It wasn’t until we left India and began studying Vietnam, that I realized this wasn’t entirely true. All of a sudden we were talking about a little thing called the Vietnam War (the American War in Vietnam) and I made some connections. So maybe I did know something about this country, I just hadn’t prepared myself properly or really ever sat down and thought about Vietnam. This is a war that while we ... read more

Oh…my…gosh, get your shots, grab your malaria medication and get your butt to Ghana. After one day I have been put under a Ghanaian spell and I do not really want to come out of it (it saddens me to know there are only three days left). Forget every single thing you thought about Africa and prepare to be amazed, if not by the cities, towns, or wilderness, by the people. I love Spain, and I loved Morocco, but Ghana, man, I wish there were words. It is a fantastically energetic country with culture, great food, and more than friendly people. Just about every person that we passed welcomed us, they love Obama and everyone and everything that has to do with America now, and for all you who think that foreign languages are impossible (including ... read more