DT Where In The World?

[gumboil]

What's going on with the DT Where In The World? this week? It looks like Kate Mepham set it!

Anyhow, it seems the answer could be Zanzibar, Zanzibar Archipelago or Spice Islands, There's probably a few more I've missed too.

Could I have some thought on this please?

Many thanks.

[Minoru]

I agree with your sentiments gumboil.

I have put Zanzibar (Spice Islands)

[gumboil]

Thank you Minoru.

I think your suggestion might be the safest option.

[Catron]

I am sorry I do not understand the problem - Zanzibar and the Spice Islands are one and the same. The picture is of Zanzibari women (Corbis) and so Zanzibar by itself would be surely be good enough.

[gumboil]

Catron, if you look up Spice Islands on wikipedia you'll see there are more than one group in the world.

Also Zanzibar is sometimes said to include Mafia and Pemba Islands and sometimes it's just the main island (Zanzibar)

Zanzibar is therefore technically an Archipelago. The Corbis Photo does not clarify state if the photo is from the main island or one of the others.

These matters have led to the confusion.

[Catron]

gumboil - I am sorry, I do not follow your reasoning. The picture on the Corbis site clearly shows that the fisherwomen are Zanzibari. It does not matter therefore whether the other islands are part of Zanzibar or not - if they are then Zanzibar is the right answer; if they are not then the women come from the 'main' island and Zanzibar is still the correct answer.

[gumboil]

I'll try and explain what I mean again Catron.

To begin with, putting down "Spice Islands" as the answer may not be correct. A quick search on the internet shows that there are more than one group of "Spice Islands" and in order to answer this question correctly, I'm sure you'd agree we have to have the right group.

Now, I know perfectly well what the picture caption on Corbis says and there is no doubt that the picture was taken at Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar. However, the reality is that none of the people who enter this competition are aware of the degree of pedantry over this matter that may be instilled in the people looking for the right answer at the Telegraph or its agents.

Unless I'm mistaken, it seems to me that you may not have seen the set puzzle. The question asks "Name the islands". If I answer "Spice islands", the pedants could ask "which ones does gumboil mean, the ones off the coast of Africa or the Maluku islands?" If I answer "Zanzibar" technically this could also be incorrect as Zanzibar is the main island of the archipelago group as well as the name of the archipelago and might not have been the island upon which the photo was taken. Remember, not everyone would be ingenious enough to look for the picture on Corbis and might arrive at a different conclusion.

Nungwi Beach as you're probably aware is actually located on the north coast of the main island, Zanzibar. The question asks for the name of the group of islands. So if I answer "Zanzibar", exactly what do I mean? At least credit me with the fact that such an answer is dubious especially since the answer the examiners of the entries may have been told to look for "Spice Islands". It's a bit like New York, New York yes?

[Catron]

Ok gumboil, if you believe that the Telegraph or its agents are likely to be pedantic, then fair enough - your point is made.

I will stick to just Zanzibar and if that is not the answer that is given next week in the Telegraph I will be most surprised. We will see.

[gumboil]

Having said all that Catron, I can tell you that I like to be pretty certain of my answers to this competiton before I spend 34 pence on a stamp to get it to the entry address.

Like all other newspaper competitions, the chances of winning are fairly slim. To my mind, it would be illogical to send off a postcard with the word "Zanzibar" on it, when they might be looking for "Spice Islands" and vice versa.

This is exactly the reason why I said that Minoru's suggestion might well be the best option. Whichever way you look at it, putting down "Zanzibar (Spice Islands)" on the postcard means that the correct answer is in there somewhere.

[gumboil]

Sorry Catron, I see to have cross posted.

See you next week!