HOME!! Part 2 and travelling back to TZ!!
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 09/Jun/2009 05:04, 34 days ago
Back in Mpwapwa now, my two week pumziko (rest/holiday) is now over. Here is the rest of the holiday in the UK and my journey back to Mpwapwa…Tuesday 26th MayWent to the allotment again with Dad, I enjoy the allotment, it is the time of year where everything is growing like crazy (of course that means weeds too!). I did make me a little sad about conditions in Tanzania but hey I gave it a go!Went to Winchester in the afternoon to meet up with Fran (we became friends after I took the year 7s to croft farm activity camp 2 years ago). It was nice visiting Winchester again, it reminds me of Bath in many aspects and the last time I was there I walked from Southampton to Winchester (maybe 15 miles…) We met by the cathedral and went for a beer and some food in one of the many nice pubs. Felt good to chat and talk about days gone by.Wednesday 27th MayWent back to Bath to see Marina, we met to catch up some more and to buy Justine some presents for her big birthday (won't say what number...). I travelled by train and must admit, I have a different perspective of the train these days, I remember complaining about overcrowding on trains (which is bad when they only run 2 carriages) but it is much nicer than Tanzanian buses!We met for Lunch and went to the‘Rat and Parrot’, after eating we looked around Bath which is changing slowly (quickly if you are a Bath resident though…) as the new shopping area and bus stand are taking shape.Managed to find some lovely presents and have a good catch up. Even went to Starbucks, don’t think I have been to one of them since Newcastle but then I am not into the coffee culture. Played lots of the sh*thead card game which you can probably tell is quite addictive!Caught the train back in the evening and the platform was very crowded, I was dreading getting on (if there was room). But to my amazment when the train arrived, rather than being a rubbish 2 carriage train it had 4! (Obviously they have finally listened to the customer complaints about overcrowding)Went back and spent the evening with Mum and Dad. They keep bring the new guinea pigs in for cuddles and Bertie the budgie gets jealous but they are a nice happy family (replacing us 3 boys with a budgie and 2 guinea pigs, if they compared us to the animals I wonder who would be who?)Thursday 28th MayWent for a nice walk along the Kennet and Avon canal with Mum, Dad and Jim, its funny to think that the canal leads all the way from Hungerford where we were walking to Bath where I used to jog along it!There were lots of old world war 2 pill boxes and we had a lovely picnic by the river. The weather back in the UK has been great I felt very lucky!Saturday 30th MayDid some shopping for friends and myself, fully adjusted to shopping malls again but on the flip side not worried about going back to the tiny dukas in Tanzania and not finding anything I want. I got some digital photos printed so I could stick them on my walls back in Mpwapwa. I also bought some penguins and rocky chocolate bars to share with Liz as she likes the Aussie versions called Tim Tams (Naff name!!)In the evening I went over to Jims to catch up. We got some beers in and got a takeaway from Ben's just down the road. We watch the Family Guy paraody of Starwars (can't remember the name of it...) and played lots of Xbox which I gave to him before I went away. I do not miss the Xbox but it was cool getting Jim interested in some of the games I used to play!Sunday 31st MayMum's birthday– I can’t remember the name of the posh house we went to but it was very extravagent and we had a wander around, I guess you would call it a stately home… I found the statues and painting most interesting. Seems such a waste that the family had so much compared to poor people in the UK and around the world... (guess thats the peasants view...)The paintings and statues were inspiring Jim, I was telling him to travel to Spain or Italy and have a look at some the museums there. The grounds of the house were beautiful especially as the sun was out.Mum's birthday dinner was roast beef and I made a banoffee pie (sorry Liz and Wendy again I know, but family had not tried it...) it was easier this time as could buy whipping cream and tinned caramel. I gave mum some earrings and a bracelet that I bought on Zanzibar as presents (she also had my company!)Monday 1st JuneThis was departure day! Dad had work so said goodbye to him in the morning and spent some time on the Internet before eating a fry up and having mum take me down to the national express depot down by West Quay. The bus trip was fine and the journey was not as emotional as the first time but I was sad to be leaving family, friends and conveniences.At the airport I wrapped my bag in clear wrap stuff again as it seemed to work last time. I did some people watching, it was much quieter than my original departure back in September (but then it was a Sunday). Smooth pass through security and ate at Wagamamas again. Boarding was simple and smooth and the plane was virtually empty which was fab as it meant I could move over to the central 3 seats and lie down. The air hostess was great she was very friendly, giving me extra wine and also going to get me some hot chocolate from the first class section! I watched a movie (Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood, very good!) and then after dinner decided to try and get some shut eye as the flight is over night and I am going to loose 2 hours sleep. I managed it and it was nice experience. The flight home to UK and returning one to Tanzania are the best 2 flights I have had!Tuesday 2nd JuneSo landed in Dar Tuesday morning at 7.00am, passed through security nice and quick and as I have a VISA it was much faster than September. Managed to get baggage and got a cab to the YMCA via Ubungo the bus station to get Liz and my tickets for Mpwapwa. It would have been nice to have been able to go all the way to Mpwapwa on the same day but the only bus leaves at 6.00am.The YMCA was not bad, more expensive than the YWCA but they have a bar and the walls are thicker… It was wonderful seeing Liz again after the time apart (I missed her!) and its funny we have been apart for longer than 2 weeks before but I guess it was the distance and the fact the feelings we have are growing. This time I was there to greet her rather than her usually waiting to greet me.In the evening we went to the badminton institute for beers and dinner. We kept playing sh*thead and just keeping record of who is winning and by how many, when I left for home I was 3 up and at the end of the night I was 5 up, result! There were some very close games!I really like the Hindu district in Dar, pretty sure I have mentioned this before but they have a wonderful community spirit and the temples (Mandirs?) are nice and welcoming. I bought some nice cakes from the bakery for the tutors back at Mpwapwa.Wednesday 3rd JuneWe travelled back to Mpwapwa today, got the taxi at 5.30 so we could catch the bus. We shared the taxi with an American girl who was off to Nairobi. The trip back was much much better with company, the 7 and a half hours soon passed.We got to my house and were greeted by Peter who since leaving his post in Mpwapwa was looking after my house while I was away. I much prefer coming back to a bustling house rather than an empty one, plus Peter had prepared some food for us so we all had lunch on the porch and caught up with each other.I showed Liz my leavers books (from Broadlands, which I got the students to sign) and put some of the photos up that I had printed back home. House looks much better!So that’s the blog up until my return to Mpwapwa, things are changing out here. The countryside is even more drier and changing from green to yellow. Also Peter is departing and Tony and Carla have already left.Life goes on and more of the blog to follow tomorrow!