The beauty of our trip last weekend, captured by my amazingly talented husband.
Tag: Vacationing
Our favorite place in Dar. This time we took two families who have been here less than a year. Both have kids our age, which is such a blessing. Up until recently there just weren’t many families in our community with pre-schoolers, especially in the HOPAC staff community. Such a joy to have the kids play and play and play together all weekend!
Amazing views, ocean breeze, fabulous food, luxurious house, and the most incredible beach we’ve ever seen equals a marvelous time!
So remember that Beach House we discovered a few weeks ago when our friends were staying there? We immediately asked to make our own reservation, and got really lucky that the owner had a cancellation and could get us in last weekend.
We took our youth group leaders and student leaders (the ones who could come on such short notice) and it was totally fabulous. This place truly is the most amazing vacation spot I have ever been to.
The front room and kitchen. This picture is taken from the porch. The entire wall of the house opens up into the porch. The pictures just don’t do it justice….
Matthew and the flying Josiah. He loves this. “High! High!” he kept saying, which is pretty significant considering this is the child that is afraid of ants and lizards.
Homemade dough-boys on the porch at night. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Amazing afternoons….unfortunately I was reading a very dry book on Paul’s theology for one of my classes….a novel would have been much more enjoyable.
God’s artistry and Gil’s talent.
But the best part was yet to come.
On Sunday morning, when we were having a little worship service, one of the workers came up and asked us if we wanted to see the “kasa.”
“What’s that?” we asked.
He didn’t know the English word. “A type of sea creature…”
We figured he was talking about a type of sea food that the local fishermen were trying to sell to us (as on previous mornings). “Nahhh…” we said.
Then one of our friends with us looked thoughtful. “I think ‘kasa’ means ‘turtle’,” he said.
“WHAT?!?!” we all screamed, and took off for the beach.
It was true. Something we have ALWAYS wanted to see, but is practically impossible to time right…was right on our doorstep.
A sea turtle nest was hatching. Totally and unbelievably incredible.
Baby sea turtles display the amazing handiwork of God. Once they hatch, they “somehow” know not to come out until it is night and high tide. They “somehow” know that they are supposed to get to the ocean, and “somehow” know how to get there. Their mother is gone; they are on their own.
The person looking after this nest estimated there were up to 200 baby turtles in there. He opened the nest so we could see some that morning, and then we stayed until night time so we could watch them make their long journey to the ocean.
We cheered them on, all the way down the beach.
Ah, the Splendor of God!
During our half-term break, Gil and I took our first “no-Grace” trip for 3 days to celebrate our 7th anniversary. We went to Zanzibar, an inhabited island off the coast of Tanzania. Technically Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, but is culturally much more Arab. We hadn’t been there in years, so this was a special treat. Zanzibar is one of the most fascinating, beautiful, and mysterious places on earth.
Zanzibar from the air. It’s only a 20 minute plane ride away.
Seen at the airport: “Smile U R in Zanzibar” Definitely gave us a good laugh!
We stayed at the “Zanzibar Coffee House:” VERY cool Bed and Breakfast-type place (even though we don’t drink coffee!) in a renovated old Arab house. Check out our bathroom!
The main city on the island is called Stonetown. All the original buildings are made out of coral and have the most fascinating architecture. Intricately carved doors, called “Zanzibar doors” are seen everywhere–even in the most run down buildings.
Zanzibar is 99% Muslim.
Yes, we were really that close to these dolphins! Close enough, in fact, to jump in with snorkels and swim alongside them.
Got even closer to these monkeys–Red Colobus Monkeys, found only in Zanzibar. Have to be careful not stand directly under them!
At night, dozens of vendors set up on the beach selling all kinds of seafood.
Anglican church established by David Livingstone on the site of a former slave market. Notice the mosque steeple right next door.
Wooden path-like bridge through a mangrove forest. It’s hard to see in the picture, but all these trees live in salt water, so the path makes you feel like you are walking on water. Absolutely breathtaking.
Come visit us and we’ll take you with us to Zanzibar next time!