Sights and sounds of spice town

Laying on my bed relaxing. outside in the square sounds are everywhere. Closing my eyes, hearing bells from a bicycle , scooters chattering up and down the slim ally's , horns beeping at every corner. The oddest sound was the sound of a cars boot slamming shut again again and again. It turns out to be one of the sounds most detest. Still keeping my eyes closed I hear the sound of street sellers clanging there change to let the people they walk by know their open for business. The evening call to prayer will start soon. Getting closer to dinner the streets calm down for at least one hour. Then it is bustling again. People smile as you walk, they chat and gossip like people at home. They spend time with family and friends. Just like home.
They live by cash only and only very very few people accept credit cards. If they do there is a 5 to 10% charge on the balance. Now this is nothing like home.

Laughter the one thing you will hear most of all.. The call to prayer has just started all over the city. They call for all the men to pray. For this 30 minutes the streets go quiet.

Having experienced Islam in many Islamic republics they are all vaguely different. In Jordan they kneel wherever they are and face mecca which can be a challenge to navigate on the street if you are walking. In east africa people are devout but more at ease with the times they may pray.

The call to prayer here is in swahilli.

Trying to explain all the differences between our two homes would take Far to long.
For my strong female friends this would be a place you would need to accept. You do see women but many are at home with the children. The men do the cooking run the market stalls and drive the cars. Women do work. In banks and administrative jobs only. Men are the head of the home but from what I have seen also very committed fathers.

Dinner is mangos and water till I get back my appetite back. Can you believe debating the price of three mangos when the asking price was $1. Sometimes just say Asante and take the mangos. Hell it's a dollar.




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Location:Zanzibar , Tanzania.