Bewitched by Pemba

Haitian voodoo practioners in the early part of the century came here to learn or revise their voodoo skills. The enchanting art form is still alive and kicking but rarely ever witnessed by wazungus (white devils).

We flew here on a 12 seater Cessna and Marc was asked to co-pilot. Upon seeing who was getting into the seat next to the captain, I had to reassure everyone on the plane that he was only along for the ride and shouted, "DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING, HONEY!".

Quite frankly, I think they were all relieved. And the chance to be up by the captain in the important role of co-pilot was a thrill for Marc...even if he only just got to hold the clipboard!. It was a pleasurable short (18 minute) hop to Pemba, one of the lush islands on the Zanzibar archipelago.

We are staying in a small guesthouse in Chake Chake and have already visited the port town of Wete,passing banana plantations and clove farms along with sloping hills of coconut trees. Our form of transport is a converted pick-up truck called a 'dalla dalla' and everything from rice, chickens and even people are welcomed aboard with a broad smile.

Today's catch includes octupus and barracuda which can be bought from the Wete market and roadside stalls sell freshly squeezed sugar cane juice that puts the cane through a mincer to extract the juice...all in all, lethargy rules...