In our extended stay in Jambiani, we've noticed the village
has its own rhythm. There are a few factors that set that rhythm, the sun, wind, tides and some scheduled
commerce.
With very limited electricity in homes, little happens
before sunrise. People are most active in the coolness of the morning, relax
with the heat of the day, and buzz a little in the evening with the return of
the lower temperatures and higher breezes.
The schools are tied to the clock which is in tune with the
morning coolness. The children usually dressed in their uniform, walk to school
about 7:30 and return about 1 o'clock.
The children, mostly
between 7 and 12, seem to lie low in the heat of the day after school, but in
the 2 hours before dark, play hard on the beach. Most evenings, there is a
soccer game just outside our door, along with cartwheels, headstands, some
breakdance moves and more. I'm proud to say, last night I won the impromptu
pushup contest, though did poorly in learning some breakdance moves on the sand.
The monkeys are active passing by on our balcony at sunrise
and sunset, their motivation and destinations still unknown to us.
The high and low tides happen twice a day, with the peak and
valley times drifting later daily by about 50 minutes from the previous day.
Tide tables are posted on the internet, but we can tell when high tide is
approaching by the sound of the surf breaking on the beach below our balcony.
The tides set the time for fishermen to get their boats out
to deeper water before the tide goes out leaving them otherwise grounded, and likewise
sets when they can return. For the fishermen netting in the shallows, the best
time is when the tide is going out, and the water is waist high for good control
of their nets and easy fishing. The tide also determines when the women can
tend their seaweed gardens because they need low tide to expose them. The swimming
for locals and tourist alike is set to high tide plus and minus a couple of
hours.
Very little commerce seems set to the clock and a fixed
schedule. Most businesses are very small, family operated and do not post their
hours. We've seen only one larger grocery store with posted hours.
In this tiny village of Jambiani, life is pleasant,
unhurried, and dances to its own natural rhythm, different to that of other
parts of Tanzania and the wilds of Africa.
Click here for the next story in this series: http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2016/11/slaves-ivory-and-spices.html
Click here for the next story in this series: http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2016/11/slaves-ivory-and-spices.html
