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| Pristine Beaches |
ZANZIBAR:
This was intended to be a restful interlude between the safaris of the past few
weeks and the upcoming Gorilla trek in Rwanda. Zanzibar, I had heard, had pristine
sandy beaches, and warm clear waters; ideal for sunning and bathing. Oops, I
must not have read the fine print. Instead I’ve encountered rain and dirty
beaches. Strolling along the beach strewn with garbage I’m constantly set on by
peddlers of paintings and local handicraft. “Hello there! Where are you from? Obama country? My name is Alibaba. You
know Alibaba and the seven thieves? Yes, that’s my name. What is your Name? David,
you say. I like that name. Now you’re King David and I’m Alibaba. Right? King David,
you come now and see my shop. I’m an artist. I make these things in my village.
I carve things. I paint things. I do this all myself. You like, I give you good
price.” His artwork is identical to what I see in the other shacks that
line the beach. He continues, now grabbing my arm, “You buy! Help me support my family.” I can’t resist, “Alibaba, if you’re the artist and proprietor
of this shop, why don’t you clean up the beach in front of it?” He looks at
me quizzically, and then laughs, “You
funny King David. Now you buy. I give you good price.” I turn and he
follows me for another ten meters before I’m picked up by another vendor, “Hello, where are you from, etc., etc.?”
