Stonetown of Zanzibar, also known as Mji Mkongwe (Swahili for “old town”), is the historic heart of Zanzibar City in Tanzania

What struck me most on my visit was how bright and vibrant everything felt compared to the muted tones of the UK

Another detail that stood out was the sheer number of UK Premier League football shirts, on sale in markets and worn proudly by the locals

One day, after a snorkeling trip in 2007, I found myself talking with a (younger) American couple

Naturally, our conversation drifted to the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election

At the time, Hillary Clinton, the Senator from New York, was seen as the clear frontrunner for the Democratic nomination

Barack Obama, a relatively unknown senator from Illinois, was in second place but seemed unlikely to overtake her

Curious, I asked them directly: “Who do you think will win the nomination?” 

Without hesitation, they both replied, “Barack Obama.”

I remember laughing and saying, “There’s no way Barack Obama will beat Hillary Clinton"

” They smiled and simply told me, “Just watch.”

They then talked about some sort of grassroots campaign, which I just put down to their clear fandom of Barack

I've been wrong on many things in life and I was certainly wrong then

As a Brit, I didn’t have the same depth of understanding of U.S. politics, but that conversation has always stayed with me

Conclusion

Travel often teaches us more than sights and scenery

It gives us perspectives, challenges our assumptions, and reminds us that wisdom can come from unexpected encounters

That day in Zanzibar wasn’t just about snorkeling, it was about learning how much you can gain by listening to others