Zanzibar rakers

[krt1]

Local women rake the beach at dawn along the north coast of Zanzibar.

-Ken

 

[Rog Tallbloke]

Are they collecting something? Or keeping it looking nice for the tourists?

 

[streetshooter]

....and is that uniforms they are wearing!

 

[quester]

Interesting and nice shot - looks like they're clearing the seaweed to me. To use, or indeed to keep the beach clean?

 

[streetshooter]

I just love the rhythm in this and the color is just wonderful I wish I could see color like this.....

 

[Wiener]

I'm guessing they are smooting away the footprints and jetsam left by the tide. The certainly do this on the Maldive islands that I visited...
The woman are almost in step as if performing to music...the music of the sea?
Andy

 

[bertalan]

I've been told that at one of the tourist trap beaches not far from me, they actually pull large rollers along the beach every morning imprinting advertisments in the sand.

 

[Rog Tallbloke]

The curious thing is, they seem to be raking *towards* the sea. What do they do at the water's edge? Hope it's an outgoing tide at that time of day? :lol:

 

[krt1]

Thanks for the interesting possibilities. Yes, these local women were hired by a diving-themed resort up the beach from where I was staying to rake the seaweed from the beach. They gathered it into a heap and buried it in a big hole further up the slope. Why they are in those amazing outfits is anyone's guess. They raked in unison, and cleaned up the beach in a jiffy.

-k

 

[streetshooter]

K.... Get out! Cleaning the beach for the tourist...
Where the heck have I been all this time...?

 

[thelps]

I think its a great image, repetition of colour and the angle is good. It tells a curious story anyway!
Cleaning the beach reminds me of oil spills and seeing people cleaning rocks with rags which seemed to be a pointless way.

 

[Blow-in]

I also think this is a great image - one that the tourist board would snap-up. As has been said already there is a feeling of rhythm to it.

Richard

 

[AlbertTRAL]

I think its a great image, repetition of colour and the angle is good. It tells a curious story anyway!

+1
In any case, i must say that those colorful african clothings always have an special attraction on me...