So, When Am I Heading Back to Zanzibar?

It's been a week since my last trip to Zanzibar, and I'm already missing it.  Expect a flood of Zanzibar stories, but in the meantime I'll simply post one of the many, many beautiful sunset pictures I took (nobody does sunset like Zanzibar).  However, in seven weeks I'll be in India . . .

I snapped this in front of the Dhow Countries Music Academy before the dinner and concert they always arrange for us.

Fifty-nine is a great number, if you're golfing

If the fates allow I'm in Zanzibar today (and if the nano overlords agree to release this post on time), and I will have turned 59.  Groan.  I'm not aging gracefully, certainly not physically but also emotionally. I'm now a year removed from my promise to myself to wake up on 7 January 2020, my 60th birthday, in some truly exotic, far off the beaten path, location.  It will be my #FuckOldAge gift to myself.  Where am I going?  Well, I guess you'll have to check Facebook and Twitter that morning to solve the mystery.  The first one to solve the mystery get dinner on me.

International Crytozoology Museum

Recently I talked about the passing of my friend and former colleague Richard. On the long drive to his hometown I stopped in Portland, Maine to fulfill a long-standing desire to visit the International Cryptozoology Museum (and knowing Richard's whimsical sense of humor he would have definitely approved).  It was founded by Loren Coleman, who I've been watching on cryptid documentaries for decades.  Sadly, he wasn't there at the moment, because I would have definitely had to break one of my rules about not asking for pictures with people.  It's actually located in a cool and bustling little warehouse area, surrounded by some trendy shops and bars, so there are a lot worse places that you could spend an afternoon.

If you see the large wooden statue of Big Foot you must be there.

Naturally, this shot inspired several Chuck Bashaw memes.

I make so many bizarre little side trips, so I find it hard to believe I've never visited Point Pleasant to see the epicenter of the Moth Man phenomenon.

TechDren

By the time the nano overlords have released this post the New Year will have started, and we will have delivered forty rehabbed laptops to an elementary school on Pemba in Zanzibar. As I've discussed previously on last year's trip three of our amazing young women from ITS decided that they had to do something to help: Jackie, Abbey and Anna.  It touched my heart, but, truthfully, despite their best intentions, I didn't know if it would ever get off the ground.  It this was where I was so happy to be proven wrong.  The young women formed an organization (TechDren: TECHnology for chilDREN) and met weekly. First they had a few laptops, and then a dozen, and then fifty.  And now suddenly, after a local television interview and the support of a local middle school, they have over three hundred.  Recently they met with Green Mountain Power it it looks like they're going to have all the technology they desire for years to come.  Steve Wehmeyer and I have supported them, including in fund-raising, but they've been the driving force from the beginning. They truly are the best that America has to offer.  One of the original founders, Jackie, is back in Hawaii dealing with some health issues, and they've added Ashley.   It's definitely a formidable team, and they've made it clear they want this to continue even after they've graduated.  Recently they made the decision that they want me to find an elementary school in Jordan so that they can bring computers to elementary school kids there.  Amazing.

Here are Ashley, Abbey and Anna, dragging me out to WaltMart the week for Christmas to buy supplies to gift wrap laptops.  It's an honor to work with them.