The Honeymoon Testers Blog

Guest Post: Spiced, skewered, smoked and served in banana leaves

The wonderful Kenya Airways changed us on to a later flight today so we could spend a few more precious hours in Baraza Resort in Zanzibar. However there is no avoiding it - today is unfortunately a travel day and we have to leave paradise soon to head back to London. 

As we will be flying for most of the day, arriving back at about 7am on Thursday, we have asked one of our good friends Jacqui, who was one of our bridesmaids, to share her experience of travelling to Zanizibar. 

Before that, we wanted to say thank you to everyone that has made our first trip a dream come true. We have had a wonderful time in Africa - it was the perfect place to start. The wildlife and hospitality of Kenya was unforgettable, Mauritius was a heavenly romantic paradise and the beauty and relaxation of Zanzibar were idyllic. We are now complete advocates for a honeymoon combining safari and beaches. RunawayBrideandGroom.com can help you book an incredible and memorable honeymoon and the process will be hassle-free and fun. 

Over to Jacqui to describe the delights of a holiday on this majestic island: 

Holidays in Zanzibar: Spiced, skewered, smoked and served in banana leaves

I remember Zanzibar as a magical place. Fresh, alive and radiant with aromas. I managed to stay in two places on the island, to get a taste of both worlds; the island’s main hub of Stone Town, and an isolated resort on the north coast. Stone Town has an old world colonial feel to it, whilst bringing a myriad flavours, spices and exotic twists. Lying in bed of an early morning, I remember it being still, quiet and cool, the sun just tipping the horizon, the tic tic of the ceiling fan, and the call to prayer echoing out, far enough away to feel like an early morning lullaby. If you get the chance, do stay here. For me, Zanzibar’s allure lay in its complex blend of sensations, like its spices; the mildly fruity, the piquant and the fiery. The hidden smiles, the open laughs. Young artisans and old architecture. You feel the familiar chilled ambience so universal to island life, yet you know that this version is like nothing you’ve quite experienced before.

The coastal beaches are fresh. Think gouging the pulp out of a coconut shell once you've finished its juice, devouring whole skinned pineapple, watching fishermen drag in the day’s catch onto the beach, straight from longboats and dhows you watched float by hours before. Produce fresh from the sea or the treetop, combined with island spices makes for beautifully diverse food. There are also a few really lovely chilled out bars that have a perfect ambience at sunset. Zanzibar isn't big on bars, so the ones that are there I remember being more about ambience than drink. There I was, sprawled across my aged leather armchair, strategically placed outside on the deck, book in hand, cocktail in the other, both framing the orange blaze of sunset. Foot lazily draped over the arm. Indulgently sipping my cocktail and juice as the sun disappeared over the horizon. Decadence simplified.

Photos by Jacqui Evans. Jacqui is a writer, traveller and business woman who has lived in Austria, UK, France and currently resides in Perth, Australia. 

A Perfect Wedding Day at Baraza

Our 11th wedding vow renewal took place at the stunning Baraza resort in Zanzibar. (In case you don't know, we're going for the Guinness World Record and must get at least 84 renewals to win!)

Baraza is not only perfect for your destination wedding, but has such beautiful villas and impeccable service that you're in danger of not wanting to leave. Our wedding ceremony here was a wonderful example of a personal ceremony with a drop dead stunning location. 

The wedding was right on the beach, under a purpose built canopy decorated with local flowers and palm leaves. There was a hilarious moment when I forgot to walk through the archways and just headed to Mark, but I backtracked and did it properly!

We were literally metres from the sea and had Father Charles perform the sweet ceremony. Afterwards, photos on the beach require no photoshop, it's literally that blue and perfect!

Dinner was a romantic private table by the beautifully lit swimming pool and the midnight sky and stars above us. With the attentive service and the grounds stretching out in the background, it feels like you're the luckiest couple in the world.

After living in London for so long, it's a glorious occasion to eat outdoors with a warm breeze blowing, and it's certainly a romantic atmosphere. 

Of course, the love continued the next day. Breakfast in bed (whatever you want, but we opted for the fruit plate and fresh juice) and then a private yoga class, followed by a visit to the Frangipani Spa for an hour long aroma-soul massage, which almost put us in a relaxation coma and then another swim in the pool. 

Lunch overlooking the beach and then some sun-bathing while I read a book I picked up in the gorgeous library. I would have loved to stay reading in there, but seriously - I have to enjoy the sun whenever it's out.

I also had a browse around the beautiful Baraza Bazaar, the in-house shop which has an exquisite boutique of up-market clothes (think jewelled caftans and beautiful gypsy skirts), glasses and bowls, place settings and home decorations like photo frames, and my favourite - gorgeous jewellery, both brightly coloured beads and sterling silver pieces. Perfect for either a really nice present or a reminder of your honeymoon to keep forever. 

All in all, a beautiful and memorable renewal, and definitely one that we would have enjoyed for our "real" wedding. We're so sad to leave!

Watch the video of our renewal below and get inspired to book your Zanzibar destination wedding or honeymoon at Runaway Bride and Groom.

Welcome to the Sultan's Palace

We know instantly when a honeymoon place is special, and that's the feeling we got as soon as we arrived at Baraza. Almost a sense of sadness that one day we'll have to leave. As we walked through the stunning reception with its fountains, baskets of dried cloves and seemingly endless sparkling tiled walkways, I wanted to slow down time and I had to remind myself to enjoy our brief visit and not think of our impending flight out of Zanzibar. 

Everything at Baraza gleams and reflects the dazzling light, not just because the resort is so new but because the colour scheme of white and gold gives the unmistakeable lustre of luxury and calm. Imagine being a pampered guest at a sultan's palace and given free rein in beautiful gardens with a team of people dedicated to your every whim. Classical music mingles with the sound of the ocean and even the azure pool has piped underwater music. 

Baraza is a fully inclusive resort, which means you just drift from meal to pleasant activity without a care in the world. Service is friendly but not over the top. The chef came to visit us personally to ask about our meal preferences and then freshly made food just appears - exactly as we like it. Try and refuse dessert!  

Our villa is gorgeous, again I'm almost pained that we'll have to leave it soon. Everything is perfectly appointed, luxuriously decorated and really, just leave me here to die propped up gazing at the ocean for my last dying breath. Over the top? Seriously, come here on honeymoon and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

The back-yard of Baraza is the beautiful Bwejuu beach, voted by Conde Naste traveller as one of the best 30 beaches in the world. It's warm, sparkling and shallow enough for swimmers like me who aren't that confident in open water.

If you're sick of sitting around smooching your new spouse there's a daily reef walk, bikes, snorkelling, daily yoga classes, a beautiful library, afternoon tea (in addition to all those other gorgeous meals), two stunning pools, a luxurious spa and much more.

I have to stop gushing, because it reminds me this isn't our permanent home. Moses our villa host may have to prise the villa key out of my hands, or maybe I should just hide somewhere...?

Watch the video of our first day, and if you're stuck on where you should have your beach honeymoon - you've found it! Runaway Bride and Groom can help you get it booked. 

Getting spicy in Zanzibar

Posted by Denise

If you're in Zanzibar, it's well worth a trip to the spice plantation, a lush forest of fruit trees, grasses and herbs and a total eye-opener about how far removed we are in the Western world about where our food, spices and in some cases our every day medicinal remedies come from.

Our tour guide, Isaac walked us through the dense vegetation and at each point asked us to identify various trees and fruit. We eat a LOT of fruit at home, but even we struggled at some. Isaac was impressed that we identified durian, jackfruit and passionfruit but it was hard to identify really exotic fruits like paw paw (papaya), custard apple and breadfruit.

Once we had smelled various things like cinnamon bark, curry leaves, cloves, ginger and tumeric, we could instantly tell what it was, but I had no idea really how they were grown nor would be able to identify them in the wild. 

Who knew that vanilla grew on vines and looks like string beans? Or that they take 7 years until they start to grow the valuable vanilla pods? I only see these things when they are either completely dried out or flown half way across the world while still unripe. 

It was really informative learning about how each spice is harvested. Cloves, for example are Tanzania's biggest cash crop (and second highest national earner after tourism). Each bunch of green cloves grow high up in massive, tall green trees. They must be harvested by hand and then sold to the government who have monopoly over the export of the dried cloves.

We tried a bit of everything, either sniffing crushed leaves or nibbling at green shoots and pods. It would be so cool to have a forest like this in your backyard. Crush up some tumeric to get rid of pimples, chew on a clove pod for toothache or bad breath, boil some of the cinnamon root to clear your sinuses (it's the main ingredient in Vicks vapor rub) or even the "Lipstick" fruit for a natural red stain for lips and cheeks. Pretty fascinating stuff. 

At the end of our tour we got a taste test. Someone climbed a tree to retrieve a fresh green coconut for us (watch the video to see how incredibly high it was) and just used a machete to open it right there. Really cold, fresh and delicious, better than anything in a bottle. Then a huge array of freshly picked fruit sliced in front of us - papaya, bitter lemon, grapefruit, passion fruit, mini bananas, tangerine, cucumber and more. Probably the freshest and healthiest fruit we've ever had and it looked completely different to the too-perfect and improbably coloured fruit we get at home.  

There's a shop to buy all the dried spices made from the plantation, as well as millions of types of flavoured teas and coffees, so we got some to drink on the road (no point buying spices if we won't be cooking for six months). They also make their own oils, such as jasmine and lemongrass (wards off mosquitos) and soaps too.

Lastly, we got some personally woven souvenirs, bags, earrings, necklaces and crowns made from woven palm leaves. 

It's free to get into the plantation and get a guided a tour, but you will be expected to tip virtually everyone there, your guide obviously, but also the fruit guy and the coconut climber (fair enough, you wouldn't expect this to be free) and then the weaver guy too, so make sure you come with enough small notes for everyone, and then some extra if you want to purchase anything.

If you're staying at Breezes, Baraza or the Palms, it's about a 30 minute ride away and can be organised through reception as part of the city tour.

Book your Zanzibar honeymoon through Runaway Bride and Groom. 

Rain stops play on day 3 in Zanzibar

Posted by Mark

It even rains in paradise, and when it rains, it pours. June is the end of the wet season for Zanzibar and the major rains have come and gone but occasionally there is a downpour and today we got buckets.  

This is not the type of rain we have at home - windy and cold, like thousands of tiny ice needles. The rain in Zanzibar is like the fruit here - big, fat and juicy. The rain falls in warm tropical torrents and ten seconds of exposure feels like you are in a bath. Although the weather did put a damper on our reef walk and sailing plans, this type of rain can be fun - I remember spending an hour in our swimming pool with Denise's little brother in a similar storm in Thailand a few years ago.

The rain was actually pretty helpful, it allowed us to get quite a bit of work done while not feeling like we are wasting valuable 'sun' or 'testing' time. I know we have said that Breezes is relaxed but the fact that this resort is family-owned really shines through. The team at Breezes have made us feel very welcome and it is easy to chill-out here. It feels like we have been here for a lot longer than two nights - perhaps is was the wait in Nairobi and the longing to get here. 

The management have also put together a great schedule for us over the next few days. We don't want to reveal too much but definitely stay tuned! We will be visiting Stone Town - the capital of Zanzibar, completing our 11th wedding renewal and also we have been given an unexpected upgrade and we will be moving to another exclusive resort property owned by the same family just 500m down the beach. We will have our own villa - YAY!

To find out more about Breezes and booking your honeymoon here, check out the packages available on Runaway Bride and Groom. 

How to survive the honeymoon buffet

Posted by Denise

The all inclusive or full-board resort holiday makes for the ideal honeymoon. Complete relaxation, endless activities and wonderful food. However, they can be dangerous to your health and waistline! Most honeymoons operate on this basis because after dieting for the wedding most brides and grooms can wait to relax and treat themselves to some great local food.

Hotel buffets are a subject close to my heart (and stomach), as we both find it very hard to resist the lure of the all-you-can-eat challenge. 

Last night was Swahilii Night at Breezes and there was a fantastic spread of local salads, curries, breads and of course desserts. The food was great and the resort restaurant was lively with local Swahilii dancers and drums. Under cover, but near the ocean, even at 9pm the restaurant is warm with a balm sea breeze. The resort interchanges buffet and al a carte menus in the main restaurant and has a private and group restaurant for romantic nights and celebrations. 

The mosquitos even had a little buffet of their own as well on my arms!

We are quickly learning that a calculated approach will be needed to handle six months of wonderful buffets so here are my tips to feeling satisfied but not sick after the honeymoon resort buffet.

1. Bread is for mugs

Bread is provided for you to fill up on or to fill in the time before you can eat. However, too much bread (and then butter) can literally fill your stomach with bloat and adds unnecessary empty carbs. Try a piece of fruit before you head to dinner so you aren't ravenously hungry. I get food rage if I have to wait too long, so grooms should ensure your bride won't fall on the buffet like a starved wolf and encourage something healthy to start.

2. The salad bar is your best friend

Start with a giant plate of salad before you go near anything else. Try a bit of everything and really enjoy it as a meal rather than the prelude to stuffing your face. Last night Breezes had about six different salads on offer and a whole vegetarian bar which kept me very happy. 

3. Pick the best

Next, have a small amount of whatever you fancy, nothing is off limits (except unnecessary gluttony). If you grab something and find you don't like it, then don't finish it. It is of course a shame to waste food but do not force yourself to clear your plate. You are on honeymoon - enjoy it but think about all the photos in your bikini!

4. Sweet endings

Lastly, it's not compulsory to have dessert. Last night we took a big gap before deciding on dessert - only eat if it's something you really fancy. Many a time, I've eaten a really average cake and then afterwards wished I hadn't!

Don't worry, it can be done. I've been to places where it was buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner and you don't have to get it right every single meal and the rewards will be worth it - much more energy on honeymoon, a flatter stomach and a glowing face will be yours!

For the best honeymoon buffets visit RunawayBrideandGroom.com

Life's a breeze at Breezes

Posted by Mark

All be it a little late, we reached Zanzibar this morning and checked in to the luxury Breezes Resort. After two nights in Nairobi we could not wait to get here and certainly were not let down when we arrived.

Breezes is based on the South East coast of Zanzibar and during the one hour drive from the airport our very friendly and knowledgeable taxi driver Abdul gave us the low down on the island. We were quite surprised to learn that Zanzibar has strong heritage and links to the Middle East and is actually 90% Muslim. This is because of a history of exporting spices to the region (hence the nickname the Spice Island). The tropical location makes Zanzibar a moderate muslim country which is peaceful (the whole country speaks one language unlike most of Africa) and welcoming of tourists. Although part of Tanzania, Abdul explained, that there is a growing wish for independence to try and develop the island which aspires to follow in the footsteps of other Indian Ocean Islands like Mauritius. This is needed because Zanzibar is quite a poor country where spice exports and agriculture are the major revenue sources. Outside of tourism, jobs are limited due to lots of immigration from East Africa and mainland Tanzania. This is one of the reasons for the Tanzanian government's has high visa fees for arriving tourists (that must be paid in USD at the airport) - $50 per person for Commonwealth countries and $100 for Irish and US citizens.

At Breezes we were met by Esther (British), Lars (Swedish) and Ali (Tanzanian) as well as other local members of staff and the lovely Resort Manager Jacobs. We were surprised to see European staff, but it was nice and would be reassuring and welcoming for new travelers and honeymoon couples. We spent the afternoon exploring. The weather is scorching, about 28 degrees and very direct and bright sunlight - much hotter than in Mauritius and Kenya. I think you would have to consider the right time to come to Zanzibar as the European winter may be too hot (35 degrees plus) for some people, but this seems to be a great time to visit.

The resort itself is beautiful, right on the beach and we have a well appointed and luxurious room. There is a chilled vibe about the resort and couples mingle and chat at lunch and in the bar. The Arab connection is evident in the decor with the comfortable cushions, loungers and bright colours, again this helps with the relaxed atmosphere.

We had lunch in the beach side restaurant and we have welcome cocktails with other new guests booked tonight (nice touch - good to get people talking). I think we are going to have a great time at this resort, the staff are very friendly and I can not wait to get back to the beach and pool - we even have a massage booked for tomorrow morning to make sure we are fully relaxed.

Check out our first few hours at Breezes below and visit RunawayBrideandGroom.com for more information on Zanzibar as a wedding and honeymoon destination.

In transit

 Posted by Mark

This morning was a very early start, made all the more difficult by the fact that we were leaving our villa in Mauritius. Our butler Rao woke us at 5:15am, brought us breakfast and then drove us the 3 minute walk from our villa to our taxi to the airport - I promise we are not becoming spoilt divas - Mauritians just insist on being helpful.  

All is not lost however, we have one more leg of this big first tip. We are back in Nairobi for one night in transit between Mauritius and the exotic and mysterious island of Zanzibar. 

Our flights for this trip are provided by Kenya Airways but today we actually flew with their partner airline Air Mauritius. It was an eventful flight because we had the 'pleasure' of sharing the flight with the Mauritius national rugby team. Eventful because obviously economy seats are not really designed for rugby player so the guys spread out through the whole plane also rugby players are not really designed to be quiet and finally of course boys will be boys. Between joking and playing cards the twenty or so massive blokes chatted up the airline stewards and played the classic game of 'How much salt can we pour on this guy's head before he wakes up?' It was funny to watch and all harmless fun - they were heading on a tour of Tanzania so we wish them luck. 

Tomorrow morning we fly to Zanzibar and to tell you the truth it is a place we know we little about. Based off the East coast of Africa the island has a population of 1 million people is part of Tanzania. Friends have told me to expect another Mauritius like paradise island but also to be braced for the poverty and underdevelopment that affects the island outside of the luxury resorts. I have also been told about the beaches, especially one in the north of the island that illuminated at night by glow in the dark algae - very exciting. Reportedly the beaches of white sands and aqua oceans make Zanzibar a honeymoon mecca and the beach where we will be staying at Breezes Resort was voted in the Top 30 in the world by Traveller magazine. 

Our stay in Zanzibar will be our longest to date, we have an incredible 8 days in the same location so we really hope to get to know the island and resort. Denise is most excited about the daily yoga classes! See Runaway Bride and Groom for more info on Zanzibar as a honeymoon destination. 

Wikipedia has informed me that a very cool fact about the island is that Freddie Mecury of Queen was born there - maybe there is a shine we can visit. 

Have you been to Zanzibar - any tips or advice on what to expect and what to do to test our the perfect honeymoon?