Can I really say 'Merry Christmas'?

Zanzibar baby! Bloody hell it is hot! I think it is actually hotter than Dar Es Salaam, and that was ridiculous! Anyway, I am here and it has been pretty cool. I mean it has the whitest beaches I have ever seen and it looks a little like paradise! Plus when I go swimming I won't get Bilharzia, always a plus! In all honesty though, I don't have a lot of interesting tales to tell! Hmm, I suppose the best place to start is arrival?

Well, the boat journey was...standard. I mean it wasn't the niceset, but we did pay as little as we could, but that does not excuse the poo in the toilet for the entire journey meaning I had to hold my wee in like there was no tomorrow! When we eventually arrived in Zanzibar we nabbed a taxi (after a stamp on the passport and a yellow fever book check) and got to the flamingo guest house, our home for the next week! Although it had no drawers and was a little cosy (4 of us in one room, each with a single bed) we made it homely! Of course Rachel unpacked her bag immediately and her clothes were everywhere for the next week and I made a huge mess in the corner with my clothes, therefore it was just like my bedroom at home! After unpacking almost everything, we set out on the search of food which was much needed! Once we had enjoyed a delightful meal we headed to a far-too-fancy bar where I had a lovely glass of wine and eyed up the cocktails, although they were all a little too far out of my price range!

The following day Holly went out by herself while Rachel, Jen and I gradually made it to a beach where we lounged about. We also managed to get some henna which is always fun, scared of needles and permanence, get a henna! Rachel and Jen went for quite cultural ones on their feet and hands whereas I got my Chezza on and got a cute little side-of-the-hander! For dinner, we decided, 'hey, we are on holiday, let's go mental!' So we put make-up on (I know right?!) and headed out...I had an Indian, one cocktail and then we all went home knackered! I reckon that male-up threw me! I am telling you, we are crazy cats!

Sadly I haven't been feeling the greatest and even spent a whole day in bed, or sleeping on the bathroom floor, with a terrible sickness bug! Thankfully Rachel took care of me all day and nursed me back to an almost health! The men that own the guesthouse also took great care of me worried that I was seriously ill and insisted I ate bread at least! I didn't eat the bread but I took it graciously for the others!

After a day of head in the toilet and sleeping we went to the East where we found a five star resort which had just opened! It was luxurious and some how we managed to get two whole days there for nothing. Rachel thinks I manage to get everything for free, but I did have to pay  for my water! One great thing about the place just having opened, it wasn't quite finished so there was no public toilet meaning we got to use one of the rooms...for free! (Usually you would have to spend $250 a night to use a room and we got a whole day for free!) The place was amazing and as we played in the loveheart shaped pool we all caught more sun and slept on beautiful white sun beds!

Christmas eve, not your usual Christmas eve I must admit. I mean who could possibly feel like they were about to celebrate Christmas when they are lying on a white sandy beach on Zanzibar? This was the day we went to the North, supposedly party town...I don't think so! We relaxed on the beach all day then headed out for tea. I held us up a little because I was on the phone but hey, we got out! We enjoyed a lovely dinner and even had some free entertainment, although it was a little odd. There were some dancers and I swear some of it was a little...erotic! Not going to lie, I felt uncomfortable! Although the weirdest thing was a man started dancing with a giant snake! I amn't joking when I say giant, the thing was bloody HUGE!!! And he wanted me to get a photo with it...I decided at that moment I really needed a wee! The evening was alright. We all wanted to dance but there was no where to dance! So we trudged back and headed to bed.

Then it was a big MERRY CHRISTMAS! Holly and I had done one another stockings which was cool, but nothing compared to being with my family back in rainy Scotland. I think I may have spend the majority of Christmas just crying. It was a very hard day and when mum got upset on the phone I knew at that moment I wanted to be home. I didn't care about the white sandy beaches and the beautiful blue ocean, I didn't want to be on Zanzibar anymore. Somehow I managed the day though because here I am, still on Zanzibar. Still not feeling great but still alive and in East Africa! I shall be heading to Kenya in the next few days where I am hoping to spend New Year, but until then I hope you have had a very Merry Christmas and you all have a great new year. Have a drink for me everyone!

All my love, a travelling Uganda Girl. X

Woaah, it is hot!

I oly have 5 minutes left on the internet, but I have to tell you all I a boiling! Dar Es Salaam, possibly the hottest city yet! It is very built up and an actual city too which is incredible! Although has resulted in me buying jeans, tops and earings...uho! They are all nice though! I have also been swimming in the sea, so hot and salty and beautiful! I was in heaven, although felt a little bit aware of how little clothing I had on...it is surprising how much it shocks you when you are used to being covered fro head to toe! 

The most important thing though is...I SAW BREAKING DAWN PART 2!! This may not mean a lot to many of you, but it cheered my right up and I felt so happy having seen it. It was fantastic and almost brought me to tears...but I was brave. Anyway, internet is up! Must dash! Lots of love

Welcome to the Land of Piss

Well, Tanzania is not all it's cracked up to be! It costs a fortune and every street corner there is the foul smell of pee! On the bright side I have spend way too much money...not really a bright side is it? I swear I am panicking! Nobody warned me that Tanzania would swallow my money as if there was no tomorrow! I guess I should have been prepared since Uganda is tremendously cheap and I am now having to pay for a place to stay every night, anyone got any friends I can bunk with?

Anyway, other than quickly running out of money I have done some things since being here. Mwanza was a little bit of a let down. I mean there was a great 5 star hotel which I visited once for some cake, I mean of course I also visited a cheap place for cake! Other than that there was just a market which we went to each day. We didn't manage to visit a woman who runs a charity there because it rained a lot and sadly Rachel got quite ill so was in bed for a day. Over all, Mwanza...good for cake!

We are now in Arusha and with many 'Hakuna Matatas' (I miss you Rachy!) and 'Sister, you give me money' we are now staying in a lovely little place which offers us private bathrooms and a cold shower. That was after we stayed in a mini prison for a night though! Arusha has not been the best either I must say. Although we did visit the 'Cultural Heritage' which was AMAZING! If you don't believe me, google it, and if it isn't on google then you will just have to believe me! It has art from all across Africa and things that are thousands of years old! It was fascinating! Sadly we couldn't take picture, but I did get a sneaky few in of the outside, cheeky! After the amazing visit I managed to hitch us a ride to a shopping area which was just like Tesco, only without the magazine, and then another free lift back to the hotel. It was all done by a man being white (and Spanish) and kind, and then the cutest little girl (besides you Ellen!) coming for a cuddle! Her family were so amazed they decided we couldn't walk back in the rain and dropped us at the door of our hotel, Hakuna Matata!

Today Holly isn't feeling too great, she's got a cold in Africa! So she has gone back to the hotel to bed, Rachel, Jen and I on the other hand have gone to a clothes market and a crafts market. I managed to stop myself from spending loads and only bought a pair of primark leggings (never forgotten!) and a cute little bracelet, Rachel on the other hand didn't get off so lightly! She has filled her bag and is also carrying a few extra things, although now we are all panicking about our spendings!

Anyway, off to see Kilminjaro soon in Moshi and then to Dar Es Salaam and then Zanzibar, all to spend too much money, then cry about it! I am sure I will be able to get internet and keep you all updated, fingers crossed I won't be in such a bad financial state by then and will have limited my spendings!

All my love, a travelling Ugandan girl!

Hello Tanzania!!

Well it took 15 people in a 5 seater car, but I managed to get out of Uganda and into the wonderful Tanzania before I got into trouble for going over my 3 month visa. We then hopped into a matatu (always a fun experience) and got to Bukoba where we spent 3 nights. It really was quite lovely. We visited a museum of wildlife photography (that was dull, but I went with it) where I bought a bag and was given some scrap material to sew on my blanket. We also got rejected from a  super cool church about 3 times, I decided I was going to throw a strop if I went back again and they said no. And finally chilled on a beach! It was lovely. PLUS Rachel and I went and got a pedicure and manicure, therefore I am now showing off some nice green toe nails and finger nails with little flowers and feet on them. B-e-a-utiful!

However now we are MWANZA! No easy task I can tell you! Well, it was we just made a mistake when buying tickets to get here. We travelled over the lake by boat, which would have been lovely had we not all been a bit merry in the afternoon and then had an over night boat meaning we could see nada when we looked out the window. Another thing which was only a lot annoying was that we were constantly being blasted by the horn of the boat, sleeping proved difficult for me last night!

Anyway, we are here now and have so many exciting plans, but I think I might just keep it under wraps for now, mainly because we have no clue of the plans ourselves yet, so that you can all stay sitting on the edge of your seat until the next installment! I must tell you though, I have just typed this up on one of the oldest computers I think I have ever seen! Plus the keyboard has arabic all over it! As well as that, I have become so skilled on a boda (pika pika in Tanzania) that I even managed a phone call with Greg, which wasn't the greatest since I was focusing on finding somewhere to get my nails done, sorry!

Speak soon, with love from a Ugandan girl in Tanzania (CRAZY!)