Fun in the Sun

Well I spent all of free week on the beach in Nungwi. It was nice to have a relaxing week, but I must admit I was glad when it was over because I was starting to get a little bored of laying on the beach. We stayed in bungalows on the beach for about ten dollars a night for the first six nights and then went to near by Kendwa for our last night. All week my day pretty much consisted of walking up and down the beach, swimming when the heat was unbearable, and working out when I got bored. The entire week all I could think about was all my friends back at home taking midterms while I got to relax on a gorgeous beach all week long.
One day a few of us went on a fishing trip which was fun, but I was rather sea sick the whole time. I didn't catch any fish, but as a group we caught quite a few that we had for lunch when we returned to shore. Despite my nausea the trip was fun because we saw some dolphins and sea turtles.
One night we also went on a sunset sailboat ride with a bunch of crazy Rastas who played drums and guitar the entire time. We left on the boat around 4pm and got to go snorkeling for a while before we sailed back at sunset. It was so fun because we got to eat fresh fruit and drink beer while being entertained by some Rastas rapping in Swahili. After the boat ride they provided us with a big kingfish dinner that was delicious.
Free week was really fun, but last week was heaven. We left Kendwa by boat on Monday morning and went to Pembe Abwe to stay at our safari leaders' private beach paradise. We stayed in little A-frame bandas all week and went snorkeling everyday. Every morning I woke up and watched the sunrise up over the beautiful Indian Ocean and walked along a piratically deserted beach. This private beach was so nice after my tourist filled week in Nungwi. The snorkeling was fantastic I saw so many cool fish, some octopi, some sea turtles, and dolphins. We learned about a few different indicator species and conducted a Reef Check which is done world wide to track human impacts on coral reefs. The whole week was so much fun between snorkeling. walking around mangrove forests, and playing soccer on the beach in the evenings. I didn't want to leave, but now that we have come inland I am really excited to start safari.
Yesterday we took an epic bus ride to Arusha where we are now camping at the Peterson brothers' (our safari leaders) fantasy home. Between their coastal homes in Pembe Abwe and their homes outside of Arusha they essentially live at summer camp year round. The drive here was amazing because we drove along the Usambara Mountains which were beautiful. Luckily right outside of Moshi the clouds parted and we got to see the top of Kilimanjaro. I am now super excited to climb it in a month!
Today I visited the orphanage that I am going to volunteer at in December and I am really looking forward to it. David, the man who runs it, is really nice told me all about the organization. The place I will get to stay is really nice and I met a lot of the kids and other workers and volunteers. It looks like it will be a great experience.
Well we leave on safari on Thursday morning so I wont be able to write again until December, but i will be sure to take lots of pictures of lions and zebras. I had better go so I don't miss the bus back. Take care and have a happy Thanksgiving! Miss you all!