~ My Soul Visits Zanzibar~

Stairs to the Indian Ocean.
Originally uploaded by tommyimages_com

It seems like yesterday that my father had passed away. I know mentally that he has gone for years but my fountain of tears still has not dried, and all the tears that had cried for him, it is still not enough. Yet the idea of going back to Zanzibar scares me, however I love the image of the island from the sky, the green land, coconut trees standing thin and tall like a model parading her glamour physique. How I loved grasping through the ocean, keeping me breathless with its so ever green waters with strokes from here and there being blue. The work of our Creator is no doubt is beyond the word of being an artist.

As the wheels of the plane touch down the airport runway. The landing at the tiny airport and those tiny airplanes surrounding the airport, I keep going back to my childhood where my father puts me in one of those so I can go flying to Pemba so I can visit my grandparents. The image of my grandfather waiting for me, taking me to his home. The walk through the tiny roads and the smell of the road with touch of dusts from uneven roads. How I loved my grandparent's house, a tiny home filled with memories facing bananas plantation and other trees and all old women sitting outside their houses chatting with their neighbors and as someone passes through greetings have to be exchanged, seems everyone is related to each other. How peaceful this part of earth.

Though it's hard for me to be back to my father's house knowing I would not find him there but Zanzibar I visit you without you knowing through my heart and soul.

Copyright 2008 Nasra Al Adawi


This photo is a copyright of Tommyimages posted in flickr.com. Please visit other photos in his collection...

~Stone Town~

Forodhani Gardens, Zanzibar
Originally uploaded by nomadtraveller

"I can not deny
Zanzibar holds my childhood memory"

A dhow had sailed
To an island
Where the coconut trees
Standing tall as the people of this land
The blue sky carried the aroma of cloves
The history of yesterday and now
Had scripted this city
Zanzibar the Stone Town
Then when the night falls
*Forodhani embraces
A welcome with sugar cane juice
Stars and glitters
The sound of waves
Adding on the rhythm
What will always be
Stone Town by night
Gracing Zanzibar

Copyright 2008 nasra al adawi

* Forodhani is a place in Zanzibar city
Where stalls of food are sold and many items
BBQ with special flavor and sugarcane juice

Photo by nomadtraveller at flickr.com