Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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Fathima on the beach with Instax camera
2 Mins Read

Zanzibar: Fathima on the beach #INSTAX

Some stories from a trip need to be told separately. I didn’t walk around with all my cameras all the time, but when I did there were some amazing opportunities.

The journey that I have undertaken, meeting people from all walks of life and learning from them, has been my biggest achievement. Aamir Khan

I was walking on the beach with my FujiFilm (this camera has been to Europe, Egypt, Thailand, Mozambique and the Maldives) and Instax Mini when I saw Fathima picking up sea grass at around 6pm (low tide). She was etched against the sky and sea in her colourful garb and I asked if I could take a photo of her and in return I would give her a photo like the Instax photo I was holding.

Fathima held onto the instant Instax photo and smiled as she started appearing in the frame. Her smile widened and she said “this photo she will show to her baby one day and tell him/her about the day she had it taken”. By the time I took the digital photo of her holding her photo she was smiling from ear to ear.

I am glad I took my Instax to the beach so I could give her a special photograph for her baby.

I saw Fathima the last morning we were in Zanzibar. She was harvesting sea grass again and when she spotted me she waved and yelled, “Hello Susann, it is me Fathima”. I waved back and took a picture of Fathima etched against the sun.

I know what you think…

In Zanzibar the people do not have that much and I didn’t see many smartphones. This woman by chance stumbled on someone that just happened to have an Instax and could give her a photo on the spot.

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The perfect holiday plan for Zanzibar

When you play the flute in Zanzibar all Africa dances. (Zanzibar Proverb)

I’m going to shock you, make you want to climb in my suitcase and cry because you will be stuck in the middle of winter when I’m soaking up some sun – just keep reading.

Zanzibar here I come!

My husband’s birthday is coming up and to celebrate we are going to Zanzibar! We loved our island holiday in the Maldives so much that we wanted to do it all again – but somewhere different and close…and not Mauritius.

No matter how fast moonlight runs, daylight catches up. (Zanzibar Proverb)

We are staying at a very basic hotel right next to the water. We just want to sleep in the beach bungalow and the rest of the time eat, drink, swim and go on excursions. We aren’t those people that sleep off a babelaas until after lunch – we are out and about. Sometimes it is me dragging a sleepy husband out of bed to take a swim and walk around with a camera or it is husband wanting to eat.

I travel lightly…

This is the shocking part of my travel post – I only travel with carry-on luggage! I can pack for a 10 day holiday in a carry-on suitcase and take everything I need and come back with souvenirs.

I heard gasps of disbelief and jaws hitting the floor…

It is true, it takes some creative packing skills and planning to pack for a holiday in a small suitcase, but it takes away the stress of the airline “losing your suitcase” and you not having clothes. In my mind, that makes perfect sense.

I make packing lists – and I promise you, I have not forgotten a single thing I wanted to take. It is the best planning tool.

What am I most excited about?

Taking photos! Lots of photos will be taken. I want photos of Dhows sailing, some Masai etched against the blue water and Zanzibar doors.

I am also excited about the day we will be spending on a dhow sailing to 2 islands. I might get sea sick but I will take so many photos of that dhow it will look like the best thing I’ve ever done.

Then we are also going to Stone Town because I have this obsession about doors and photographing them with my Instax camera. I am drooling over photos of these Zanzibar doors and my husband has quietly resigned himself to his fate.

The water… I love the sea. I can stay in the sea for hours. I love to swim and luckily so does my hubby. (Have I ever told you that my hubby was a surfer in Ballito when he was younger?)

The only thing I hear my husband mumble is crayfish, seafood, swim – make it happen…and I will make it happen – in Zanzibar!

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Once in a lifetime

Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life.

In life you can choose many different paths. You can choose to live a real life or pretend to be someone else (for the rest of your life). You can choose to sit in one spot or explore the world with a big smile and camera in hand.

There are things and places I will never forget from our many family holidays – when your parents were as adventurous with a map and tent as mine was, you would probably have gone mad.

We were campers that could set up and break down a camp in less than 30 minutes. We were the family in the old light blue VW kombi and then the light blue Landrover that would always drive slower than the rest.

We have seen Victoria Falls from both Zimbabwe and Zambia. We slept in the Hwange National Park while hyenas pawed our tents and a lion chased a buck through the camp.

We have walked on the Makgadigadi salt pans in Botswana and marvelled at the flamingos in their thousands.

We drove to Cape Town and almost ran out of fuel in some mountain range. We “freed” down the hills and we got there. Unfortunately we were also that family that went to every museum in the Western Cape.

To my parents’ dismay I was the kid that made the menu difficult with my refusal to eat red meats (I come from a long line of carnivores). I was also the kid that refused to take of my shoes to go into (yet another) mosque.

Then I left home and moved to Jozi…

In 2008 I made my first trip to Europe and I was hooked on those beautiful passport stamps. I couldn’t get enough of the food, the culture and the people. It was like a big playground – and I could play around in it for 6 weeks only. It was a whirlwind tour to 8 countries and a week on my own in Ireland.

Ireland stole my heart and I’ve only been back once – and still trying to get back with every possible lame excuse.

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#Ireland #burren #travel

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Then the whole marriage thing happened and we dragged our guests off to Mozambique for 5 days and an 18 day Europe, Ireland and Egypt honeymoon.

…and then the Kgalagadi called us

Nothing I’ve ever seen could’ve prepared us for the beauty of the Kgalagadi. The sun beating down on the savannahs, the lions casually strolling over the road or the fresh baked bread from the locals.

For some reason all our friends started going to Thailand and raving about it… and we decided to go see what the fuss was about.

All of Thailand’s beauty and splendour could not save it from landing on our list of places never to go back to. It is a tourist trap – and we want true experiences.

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#phiphi #stones #beach

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The highlight of all highlights…

No holiday could ever compare to the one in the Maldives. This little island paradise stole my heart. My soul still yearns for the white beaches and turquoise waters.

Where would I still like to go to?

  1. I really want to see the country as it is now, before it becomes too westernized
  2. The Scandinavian countries
  3. Eastern Europe
  4. All the Greek & Italian islands
  5. Bora Bora
  6. Seychelles
  7. Comores
  8. Anyplace that isn’t yet on my passport

I probably will never stop collecting passport stamps and memories, but for now all I can do is plan, plan and plan.

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Return to Botswana

I inherited my love for travel from my parents that dragged us across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia in tents. back then I probably didn’t appreciate it as much, but I have many fond memories of amazing places and meals from a campfire.

Finally, 20 years after my last visit to Botswana I am going back.

I am so excited to show my husband the Makgadigadi Salt Pans and see the Okavango Delta.

Keep your eyes on this page to see me plan a holiday! I found lots of info on www.botswanatourism.co.bw…

 

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Paradise in Mozambique – Villa nu Mar

I have fond memories of Mozambique –  white beach, wedding and having my closest friends and family with us on that first trip. So obviously we were really excited to have won a stay at Villa Nu Mar near Xai-Xai.

We started the long road from Johannesburg to the Komatipoort border and met up with my parents. We drove the 400km and finally arrived at our destination after many delays. We booked in at Zona Braza’s offices and decided to have dinner at the beautiful restaurant. Friendly people, good food – this is what you can expect.

Zona Braza Mozambique Accommodation
We finally arrived at Villa Nu Mar and my jaw literally just dropped on the ground. The house was just amazing. 3 HUGE bedrooms, 3 HUGE bathrooms with showers you can run laps in, a kitchen with all the modern amenities and a livingroom opening onto a patio that overlooks the ocean. Don’t forget the little splash pool either. The house also comes with a cleaning lady and security guard.

Villa Nu Mar Mozambique Accommodation
I loved staying at Villa Nu Mar. Walking down a down to get to a private beach was heavenly. At low tide a natural rock pool was perfect for frolicking without waves.

Villa Nu Mar Beach

The road may be long to Villa Nu Mar, but it was totally worth it!

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Images of Sandy White Beaches in Mozambique

Mozambique conjures up images of sandy white beaches and empty beaches – and that is why South Africans make the drive.

Did I ever tell you I had my “family wedding” on a beach in Mozambique? (My official wedding was at our house in Joburg on St Paddy’s 2010.) It was the best wedding I ever attended – no jokes!

I was as red as Rudolph’s nose from 1 day in the sun and glowed like a lantern in my white dress. We had family from Limpopo, Gauteng and Ireland and we had a big traditional mix going on. The ceremony was performed by a drummer friend of ours that looked a bit like a messiah with his long dreads. We even had the local tribal head and his 3 wives attending. We served pap and vleis with delicious chocolate cake – and as a gift a sachet with pearl earrings and Irish shortbread (all the way from Ireland). Then the party continued for 5 more days…

Getting to Mozambique with its amazing beaches…

Unlike South Africa the beaches have no lifeguards, but with the small waves it isn’t the end of the world. Swimming beaches are mostly accessible from the resort you are staying at. You cannot leave any structures on the beach overnight either.

As far as holiday destinations go, Mozambique isn’t cheap. Quite a number of the resorts are owned by South Africans and charge in Rands (or US dollars).

You can buy fresh fish from the local fisherman as they come onto the beach – most are also happy to accept Rands (or Meticals).

I will definitely add more posts on Mozambique this year as I am feeling a bit nostalgic.

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