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The Glossary
Voodoo, full-moon beach parties, and the historical Spice Island are just some of Zanzibar's renowned contributions to the backpacking world. A ferry from Dar-es-Salaam brings one to Zanzibar and its heart, Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its picturesque harbor, labyrinthine alleys, and classical architecture like the House of Wonders and the Arab Fort.
Zanzibar is a Tanzanian state, composed of the islands of Zanzibar or Unguja and Penba, the former land of Zanzibar's sultans, now the center stage of voodoo and faith healing in the state. All activities in the islands usually start and culminate with shopping, from the handspun knick-knacks and textiles of Chake Chake in Penba, to the Elephant garlic and Goliath avocadoes of Stone Town Market. Long before products were sold in Stone Town, African slaves became the first commodities in the Slave Markets, now just shambles of dungeon-type chambers.
Another historical foothold is the Spice Island, the center of the centuries-long spice trades between Africa and the West. The island remains one of the world's few places where saffron is produced. A tour to its plantations includes a savor of its exotic fruits and spices such as cardamom and kukurma. Some visitors do not forget to buy cookbooks and spices as souvenir.
Motorized canoes with sails or dhows bring one to ecotourism communes like Ngungwi, with boat yards and a lighthouse for picture-takers, and a nearby aquarium where baby turtles are nurtured until they can be freed to the sea. Jozani Forest shelters the nearly-extinct red Colobus monkeys, while Mafia Island and Coral Gardens are dwellings for whale sharks and dolphins. In Zanzibar Butterfly Center, farmers grow butterflies as an added income for feeding their families, while in Kendwa Beach, revelers celebrate the famous Full Moon Party on a Saturday before or after a full moon.
User blogs:
Cheaper galactic spaceliner unveiled
News from http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3737940 Richard Branson unveiled Monday a commercial spaceliner offering tourists a cheaper chance to experience the thrill of weightlessness and view the splendor of the Earth from space. The British billionaire hopes to offer tickets aboard his spacecraft at a cost of 200,000 dollars each, giving adventurous ... Read full Blog post
Indonesia Eco Tourism
Tour Itenaray Day 01 BALI - LABUAN BAJO – RINCA ISLAND – KOMODO ISLAND (L.D) Pick up from your hotel in Bali and transfer to the airport, for flight to Labuan Bajo (West Flores) for approximately one and half hours. On arrival in Labuan Bajo airport, will be welcomed and met with our local representative or tour guide. Than transfer to the harbour to catch a boat cross to Rinca ... Read full Blog post
San Gimignano and San Pellegrino
Night falls on the flourishing and industrious San Gimignano, its 72 towers stand on the low roofs of the houses lit by the moon. This is not a luxury travel spot but is something you don't see every day. In the distance the clatter of hooves echoed tired in the Via Francigena. The hand of the blacksmith stops beating, the frame of the weaver becomes silent, the streets of the tank only a concert ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
Its a party in the sky as multi colored hot air balloons piloted ny different pilots from various partso of the world participated in this annual gathering. As early as 5am, the 2,500 hectare aviation complex at Clar Economic Zone in Pampanga was already crammedi with excitement. Clusters of hot air balloon participants busily prepare their own balloons for liftoff as they need to take advantage of ... Read full Blog post
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