How absolutely fascinating to be reading about Zanzibar. It is amazing, I had absolutely no idea of its existence. But then again I knew nothing at all about Malaysia before 2017 and then only that the Malaysian multibillionaire who owned the Vancouver Trump International Hotel, where I lived for four months came from there. Now I am making Malaysia my second home, some eight years later. Hmmmmm. I somehow doubt that I will, in my 90th year, be making Zanzibar my second home – but with me – who knows???
Wikipedia, not Artificial Intelligence is cramming my brain with, what will probably be useless information.
Here is an example:
Zanzibar is also a semi-autonomous region that united with Tanganyika in 1964, and formed the present-day United Republic of Tanzania. The archipelago’s main industries are spices, raffia, and tourism.[6] The main spices produced are clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut, and black pepper. The Zanzibar Archipelago, together with Tanzania’s Mafia Island, are sometimes referred to locally as the “Spice Islands”. Tourism in Zanzibar is a more recent activity, driven by government promotion that caused an increase from 19,000 tourists in 1985,[7] to 376,000 in 2016 .
What about this for useless information??
The presence of microliths suggests that Zanzibar has been home to humans for at least 20,000 years, since the beginning of the Later Stone Age.
However, it was interesting to speak to Rashid.
Me: Fascinating place from what I have read. I constantly marvel at how widespread the Islamic Faith, was and is.! Thanks for accidentally brining it to my attention. Hahaha Who could have ever guessed that having your name written in the sand in March of 2022 would lead to the discovery of a country that untied with Tanganyika in 1964? The joys of life – fascinating when one retains one’s curiosity, which, blessedly, I have.
Read about this and contrast it with the history of my birthplace in Western Canada “Portuguese arrived in East Africa in 1498, where they found several independent towns on the coast, with Muslim Arabic-speaking elites.”
Would you not have loved to meet a man called Tippu Tip?
“Many were captives of Tippu Tip, a notorious Arab/Swahili slave trader and ivory merchant. Tip led huge expeditions, some 4,000 strong, into the African hinterland where chiefs sold him their villagers at low prices. These Tip used to carry ivory back to Zanzibar, then sold them in the slave market for large profits. In time, Tip became one of the wealthiest men in Zanzibar, the owner of multiple plantations and 10,000 slaves.”
You would think that with all of that money he could afford to change his name. Hahahaha
It is a Muslim majority country.
Zanzibar’s population is almost entirely Muslim, with a small Christian minority of around 22,000.
From A to Z. Alexis to Zanzibar.
My prayer time app also provides thoughts of the day. “Oh Allah, there is no ease except in that which You have made easy, and You make the difficult, if You wish, easy”
That is definitely an inspiring thought for the day.
However, back to my present existence. The blog breakdown, entitled Confusion, Credit Cards and My Name in the Sand.
Some mornings don’t follow a script. They’re messy, uneven, full of laughter, tears, memories and miracles stitched together.
This one had it all: disrupted routines, eloquent words from Nesh that gave me own writing new meaning, a conference-room stranger stunned by a blog breakdown, and a thoughtful conversation with my manicurist about children and choices.
And then a voice from the past. A photo from Abu Dhabi, my name carved in the sand, a reminder that even improbable memories can resurface and make you pause. He is in Zanzibar now (yes, I had to Google where that is.)
By evening Shamir messaged me “We won!!” And I found myself thinking: maybe winning every time would make victory meaningless. It’s the balance, joy and grief, wins and losses, faith and doubt, that gives life its depth.
So no, it wasn’t a ‘normal day’. But maybe that’s the point. Life isn’t one thing. It’s everything, stitched with Allah’s mercy.
As usual Nesh and I conversed, told him that Shamir had posted the blog.
Mesh; Headed over to read it now. Now and will have the breakdown ready asap Alexis. Best part of my day.
Me: Wow! Thanks my dear.
He: It’s up! I cannot wait for you to read it.
Me: I did!! I am going to send you an email, or respond in the blog. First just to say the choice of photos perfect.! It would have been so easy to do the name in the sand but this captures much more.
He: To let you in Alexis, I was going to do that, and I just felt like it just didn’t capture what I felt when I finished reading the blog and the moment I used the picture of you and Shamir it just fit so perfectly.
Me’ This process is groundbreaking I think I write in solitude, often wearing in conversations with Shamir. You in solitude read the blog and write. Then you and I talk about its. Its impact changes – for me anyway. Events, not monumental, becoming more of a tapestry.
He: I love how you called it a tapestry!!
Me: I do too. It explains how it feels. It’s so important to see one’s life the way. A tapestry woven by Allah.
The process of choosing the photos became an unusual exercise as I had to look through many to find ALEXIS in the sand. As I scrolled saw the one of Shamir and I for the first time. What made it ‘stand out’ was the date – taken only one week after we met. One can see that, for whatever the reason, there was an immediate bond between us. I have no idea who took the photo, but whoever did saw the bond.
Shamir and I texted sometime today.
Me: I really appreciate you. You are the best thing that happened to me my whole life. Well, next to becoming a Muslim. I am so laughing comparing our relationship with the sand guy Rashid. I am SO happy, and you know you are too, that we did not have a ‘romantic’ relationship. Phew.
Then sent him a funny GIF.
Me: You would never believe the whole story about him. It did impress quite a lot of people though, the name in the sand and all. Now your Dad would never be writing my name in the sand at the Penang Swim Club. Thank God for that. Hahaha
Back to the blog breakdown. The most meaningful sentence was this “Life isn’t one thing. It’s everything, stitched with Allah’s mercy. “ There were many trials and tribulations taking place on that ‘abnormal’ day . But somehow it becomes, not a series of ups and downs, but instead a tapestry. But only with Allah’s mercy. I am not sure how nonMuslims survive, or make sense of their existence. But even with Muslims, sometimes strong in the faith, do not experience , Allah’s mercy which renders them harsh, critical, rigid in their beliefs and rituals.
My search for photographs continues, finding ones of meaning and ones showing adventures of the day. I met an interesting woman and her daughter in the Lyf lobby. We began talking of the Friday Tarrot card readings. I told she and her daughter of my experiences three weeks ago. We exchanged WhatsApp info, I sent her the photo taken in the Lyf lobby.
Me: Such beautiful people. Who is the handsome person in he middle? Hahah
She sent back laughing emojis. She lives in Penang, is a realtor. We promised to get together when I return from Jakarta.
Then another photo of a dessert from Mojo Jojo. It is the citrus pan cotta, with passionfruit granita and torched ginger. Sent a photo to Shamir asking him to join me. He asked for a rain check. I guess the idea of the passionfruit frightened him. Hahahaha
Then a photo of a new item on the menu: Mojo now has a Happy Hour Meny. Capellini, Lumpfish Caviar. It is nothing short of amazing. Perhaps one or two funny GIFs exchanged between Shamir and myself.
I forgot to mention this. I had not seen my part time driver Din for about a month. I do not recall his exact words but he said my face had changed. I was now at peace – had not been so in the past. We, more or less, discussed why. Then later he sent this WhatsApp.
He: Alhamduilliah Alaa. Fresh morning to you. Throw away the bad things and take a new one in your life. Always be patient and calm down. Do whatever you like the best in your life and our life is coming to the end of the world. May Allah guide us and also me this my life.
Me: Alhamdulillah. Thank you. What a blessed message!! I will write of it on my blog. I did
