The Soul of Zanzibar

A 20,000 year old home to humans

The Persians, Arabs and Indians

Ah 'karibu' to Zanzibar

The Africa you've only heard of from afar

The Arabs of Oman the locals liked

Imperial Europeans the brave-hearts despised

A history of slave trade surmised

Pride in Masa'ai culture has since survived

Here flourishes the sacred Jozani forest

Where green mambas, antelopes and red monkeys rest

'Hakuna matata' sings our guide

He regales us with tales of mangroves as we ride

On a boat over choppy waters to Prison Island

Sold to a British Lord by an Omani Sultan

Never as a prison, but used as a quarantine

The turquoise sea views from here are mighty pristine

Adorning Stone Town are carved Indian doors

Coral walls, Arabesque interiors - all treasure troves

The markets aromatic with peppers and cloves

Just where once were auctioned slaves in droves

Birthplace of Freddie, Queen's front man

Strange few locals know of his jam

Africa, the keeper of Dr. Livingstone's heart

It was here, in abolishing slavery, he played his part

The diamond studded Zanzibari sky

Its display of stars so stunning

Like a live planetarium screening

A constellation ceiling, seeing is believing

A twilight walk by the crystal beach

Hopping over sand crabs the color of peach

Hunting seashells, exquisite with sheen

Here, it's the busiest you've ever been

Feast on nourishing crustaceans

That boast flavors of the oceans

Relish the fresh tropical fruits and juice

Savor the moment, there's nothing to lose

Peace-loving people, they have no qualms

They fight with words, no weapons, no arms

These innocent local folk smile from teeth to teeth

Betraying the daily struggles they face beneath

'You're welcome' in Swahili they say

Before we can even thank them with a simple 'asante'

This is my ode to Zanzibar

The Africa you now know from reading my ode thus far

Comments

INSIDE THE GO CHEESE FACTORY

Last weekend, I got a unique opportunity to visit Gowardhan Cheese Factory in Manchar district, a good two hour drive from Pune city. The owning home-grown company Parag Milk Foods brand portfolio includes Gowardhan and GO boasting of a range of dairy products that have been retailed across Mumbai and Pune over the last decade. I first started using their yoghurt when the local kirana store ran out of my usual preference of Amul , Danone and Britannia . One spoon of it and I instantly found it so fresh, light and 'unprocessed'. I have always loved cheese but now I even prefer it over chocolate. So when I was scheduled to visit the GO factory, it bore semblance to winning the golden ticket and entering glistening gates to its factory much like the popular Roald Dahl 's Charlie . Except that it was not all that dramatic!

Restaurant Review | Where Else Cafe & Bar

Where Else promises to be unique in Viman Nagar, a neighbourhood already brimming with so many eateries. Four young friends came together to put their love for food and travel experiences in a melting pot called ‘Where Else’. This new café and bar is the brainchild of sibling duo Ardesh and Daisy Rustomjee and best friend duo Amritha Shrikumar and Sweta Jobanputra. These Viman Nagar residents have been firsthand witnesses to the rise of new eateries in their locality. With ‘Where Else’ they aim to fill in the void of a place that offers all-day breakfast and good quality indulgent food. We drove to the outlet in its first week of opening to find out if ‘Where Else’ is the place to be.

First Look Inside Legoland Dubai

Yesterday, I went for the soft opening of Legoland Dubai . It's a much anticipated attraction at the Dubai Parks & Resorts - home also to the Bollywood Parks (I hear you can film your own movie here), MotionGate (a Hollywood inspired theme park), Lapita (a Polynesian, tribal themed Marriott hotel) and Riverland (retail and dining zone). Now who doesn't love Lego right? I remember spending as many hours building Lego house models as I did playing with Barbie! So when you get a free ticket for a trial run of the park, you go! Riverland, the 'reception' zone of Dubai Parks & Resorts; and way in the distance, Bollywood Park The beautiful 500-room Lapita hotel with the beautiful sunset backdrop This wasn't the first Legoland I have visited. On a trip to the U.K., we spent such a fantastic day at the Legoland . Imagine what a fascinating sight it was to my ten year old eyes! I vividly remember seeing a Lego version of a giant Cadbury...

Explorer of Experiences

Search This Blog