Who needs to get away from Winter 2008/09?

Greetings all from lovely and lushly exotic Zanzibar - 35 miles offthe coast of Tanzania floating in the hot, hot, hot India ocean. Zanzibar is the hands-down "destination" leader on our trip so far. A wonderful and exotic melange of Arab, Indian and African, the maze-like alleys of ancient Stone town replete with spice markets and fresh mangoes (yum yum), Muslim calls to prayer competing with Christianchurch bells with Hindi temples thrown into the mix.

I know that my Canadian freinds are suffering through a brutal winter. So in all fairness, I can't really tell you about where I am now in Zanzibar. Having endured my fair share of Canadaian winters, at least until I smartened up and moved to the west coast , I know well the frustrating weighty feeling that one can suffer through an unabetting winter. Will it ever end? Will the thermometer ever creep into the positive ledger. And then, in total desparation, you bundle yurself off to the travel agent. The discussion goes something like this:

"Get me outta here - don't worry about the price. I need out now."

"Ah, but where" replies your trusty agent.

"Well, let me describe it to you and you get me there. I want to be holed up in a beach-side thatched roof cabin a mere 10 metres from talcum-powder white sand, fringed by huge swaying palm trees draped with hammocks, fresh coconuts on site, aquamarine green waters - clean and safe to swim in. Oh yeah - for food and drink I would like easy access to fresh fish and, wait for it ... sushi! ... prepared by the Japanese owner of my little resort and, of course, a significant supply of cold beer. In the morning, I'd like to sip my locally-raised coffee and eat fresh mangoes while I look out on the entirely pastoral and graceful scene of women, fully draped in shawls and dresses, harvesting seaweed from the ocean. Throw in some fantastic snorkelling off the coral reef that fringes the near horizon and keeps us all safe from nasty sharks and a stunning display of stars at night undiluted by the ambient light of large hotels, off shore freigheters etc. Let's start with that, can it be arranged?

"Ah, you are talking a dreamscript here. I'm afraid you will have to compromise on some of this and then we can talk details "

"No, no - I'm sure it must exist - somewhere, somehow. You gotta get me there"

I can assure you it does, in fact, exist. Find it and you will find the first round of cold Tuskers are on me. However, in fairness and ust to avoid any possible disappointment I must tell you, though, that the that the ocean is actually to warm to swim in in the afternoon. Ahhh, every place has its faults I suppose.