Diplomatic status to take a picture of a monkey

On Zanzibar, there is only one little forest remaining, however, its main attraction, some Colobus monkeys, attract a lot of tourists; Obviously the government of Zanzibar recognized this potential soon, and now charges tourists for entering the forest as well as taking pictures. We were biking across the forest on the main road linking the East with the West coast, and stopped at a group of monkeys in a tree. When I had my camera out, it did not take long until a guard appeared trying to charge me money for the photos. While I refused to pay, arguing to stand on a public road where he could not charge me for taking any photos, he called over his colleague with a gun flung over the shoulders, and both then had a hand on my bicycle. Not a comfortable position for myself. I was persuaded about my right and determined not to pay a single shilling – finally it was however only my diplomatic status that made the guards give up and let me catch up with my fellow cyclists again!

Day and Night

Our neighbour in Switzerland was interested in Tanzania. As a farmer, he naturally was particularly interested in crops and the weather and climate down there. I told him that in Tanzania, so close to the Equator, seasons would be little developed, and it would be hot and humid all year round. He looked at me sceptically, and then asked, if at least there would be such a thing as day and night in Tanzania?!