Tumbili. Diabetes Monkey.

The Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey is unable to process sugar, like me!

It is official. I have a new favourite animal. Not only are they adorable with killer hair-dos, they, like me, cannot process sugar.

I was lucky enough to visit Jozani Forest which was the best thing I did in Zanzibar. Not only do I love forests of any description, but it was so unlike any place I have been before. The forest is humid, lush and teeming with life, with immense mangroves that you can explore via a boardwalk. It is the largest remaining stand of forest on Zanzibar and an essential habitat for so many creatures, from land to ocean. The National Park authority works with local communities and it seems to be a real success story in ecotourism supporting local enterprise and conservation. One initiative is teaching local people to farm butterflies which are purchased from them for the butterfly park and sale overseas.

The forest is home to endangered Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys. Sadly, because of the small habitat and threats due to road traffic, these monkeys are listed as endangered. The Colobus around the walking trails are used to visitors, so unlike the Black and White Colobus in Arusha, you can get close without disturbing them. I was  delighted when my ranger guide informed me that they only eat leaves and unripe fruit because they cannot process sugar! While I use insulin to get around this, they eat charcoal to help process trace amounts of sugar. In that moment I wished desperately I could communicate with the monkeys to lament our bodies and their sugar processing abilities. The cruelty of living in a forest with jackfruit and mango abounding and we cannot eat it without medical intervention! I found my kindred animal.

This monkey gets me. How I feel when I'm hypoglycemic... or hyperglycemic.

Beautiful Vine Snake in Jozani Forest.  

Unguja. Zanzibar.

Hello from the beautiful island paradise of Zanzibar. Jarrod was conveniently sent here for work and school is closed, so guess who got to join him.

Zanzibar is still Tanzania but is considered a semi-autonomous region. They have their own parliament and leader. Currently there is no parliament due to
disputes after the elections in October, and people tell me that a re-election may be years away. This unrest saw a lot of media attention and has deterred visitors, however peacefulness seems to be reigning and people tell me the “shida” or “trouble” was sensationalised.

Stonetown alleys.

Zanzibar has an interesting history and has been an active trade hub for the Middle East since the 8^th century. You can see this influence permeating every aspect of life here, from historic ruins to the spiced food to the mosques. Stonetown is made up of narrow alleys, mostly painted white, with ornate carved doors serving as the entrance ways to buildings. It is stiflingly humid and hot, which suits the atmosphere of the environment beautifully. The food is fresh and delicious and the people are warm and kind. Getting lost wandering through the alleyways and marketplace is safely intrepid and a wonderful escape; a completely different feel to Arusha in mainland Tanzania where we live. 

Finding a ledge to check my blood sugar.

Wandering through any busy town is always tricky in terms of blood sugar checks. I try and make the most of convenient opportunities, such as stopping for lunch or right before hopping out of the taxi (or tax as they say here). Needless to say, sometimes you just have to get over it and test or inject on the street, regardless of whose looking. Generally I find no one expresses anything more than a mild curiosity. In fact, I think the locals enjoy seeing the flaw in someone who they previously perceived as a rich and privileged mzungu (foreigner).  I think that perhaps when locals see me testing or injecting they think, "Oh, her life is a bit shitty too sometimes."  I feel this minor display of vulnerability creates a little bit of shared humanity that transcends any preconceived differences. Anyway, island hopping and blood testing calls. 

Flying into Zanzibar with Jarrod as pilot.

 

Kitenge and alleys.