Holidays update part 3: Visiting Dodoma and to Dar for New Years
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 04/Jan/2010 05:58, 34 days ago
Last holiday update!Sunday 27th DecemberToday we left Mwanza and caught the bus back towards Dar. We planned to stop in Dodoma for a few days and see Nelson.The bus trip was not the best one I have had. I was sat next to man with evil elbows and between 6am and 10am the bus played very loud, very crap Tanzanian music videos that meant no sleep and made me grumpy… The route back was the same one I took with Mr Satan but our driver was safer and slower. The rally course was wet and the trip to Dodoma took 10 hours.At Dodoma we took a cab to Nelson’s new place in Area ‘D’. I had stayed in his old house a few times and was looking forward to seeing his new place. He cooked us a feast (as all Filipinos do!) which was welcome as over the 10 hour bus journey I just ate some nuts! Ruth, a new volunteer in Dodoma was there as well and I opened my Christmas bottle of wine for us all to share. We taught her how to play monopoly cards and had a fun evening.Monday 28th DecemberIn the morning we caught a dala from Nelson’s to town. It was Maryanne’s first dala trip and she was amazed that they could fit over 20 people in a minivan. In town we bought our tickets to Dar (Shabiby ‘Luxury’ buses). I took the girls around Dodoma, we had a drink in Nyere Square and I bumped into Mr Moshi, the vice principle atMpwapwa, we had a nice chat and I told him that I was now working on Pemba.We tried to the use the Internet but there was no power, we to the New Dodoma Hotel for lunch. Nelson, Frouke and Petra (her Dutch friend) came along too. After some lovely Chinese and beers we walked back to Nelson’s via the shops.In the evening we went to Rose Garden near Nelson’s for some beers. We tried to order goat for Maryanne to try but there was none so we settled for Chipsi Mayai.Then it was back to Nelson’s for sleep in maybe our last night in Dodoma…Tuesday 29th DecemberWe woke up and packed. On the way to the bus depot we went by the Catholic Cathedral so Maryanne could take some pictures. It was rebuilt in 2002 and looked like one you would find in Italy, very impressive!The trip back to Dar was great, the Shabiby Line really was luxury, adjustable seats, movies, drinks a very pleasant journey! The 6 and a half hour journey was smooth and easy, recommend Shabiby’s if you are in Tanzania!We checked into Econolodge (the place feels like a home from home…) and after meeting Sandra went for dinner at the Badminton.Wednesday 30th DecemberWe went down to the beach today! It was Kipipeo (butterfly) beach. We caught a ferry across the bay (for tsh100, 5p!). I had not been to Kipipeo since in country training over a year ago and it was nice to back at a nice beach where you could relax with out being pestered! We stayed there swimming, drinking and eating until the evening.Later we went to O’Willies Irish bar and had dinner, I had sausage and mash – very exciting, have not had for over 6 months!! We were scooping the place out for tomorrow as we wanted to spend New Years there.Thursday 31st DecemberWe had breakfast at Chef’s Pride before catching a dala to Mwenge to do some shopping. We were originally going to spending New Years on Zanzibar but over the last 3 weeks they have had no power!At Mwenge we went to the craft markets and got some nice gifts. It was nice visiting again as the shop keepers remembered me and I was able to do some bartering. I was disturbed by one man though who wanted me to buy a bracelet made from Elephant’s tail and Lions teeth! I told him it was bad to sell these things and he just laughed…For lunch we went to a local joint called Cassballah and Maryanne got to try some goat, the food at local places is yummy and so cheap!We walked on to Mlimani city where Maryanne bought a top for New Years eve and Liz and I did some shopping for supplies to take back to Pemba (I got Bacon!!)We planned to go to O’Willies again in the evening for New Years, we had dinner back at the Badminton (fav place in Dar) and then caught a cab to O’Willies. We shared the cab with a strange Swedish girl who was telling us how she was robbed yesterday and we dropped her at the South African Embassy, she seemed at bit niave…O’Willies was nice, we got some cheap bubbly to have with our beers and the girls enjoyed the dancing.We got back to Econolodge around 4am.Friday 1st JanuaryWe slept in. I went to get our boat tickets for Pemba and then we had breakfast at Chef’s Pride. Mine was disappointing but what the hell I had eaten far too much the last week!We went to the bakery on Temple Street and I got some lunch for the boat trip. Then Maryanne and Liz went looking for a tailor.Late afternoon we went to Slipway to do some more shopping and we stayed for dinner by the ocean so we could watch the sunset. It was very beautiful but I was running out of money! Dar is so expensive!We got a cab back and had an early night due to travelling the next day.Saturday 2nd JanuaryWe got up at 6am and said farewell to Maryanne. We walked down to the port and waited for our boat. The boat was late but we got on and got our usual seats.I am going to complain here a second, I don’t know what it is about getting boats and dalas but people seem to lose their ability to queue and be polite (I know us English are patient in the queues but it was ridiculous!) At Pemba we were queuing to get on a dala and this women kept trying to push past grunting and pointing at the dala, Iturned to her and said, ‘We are waiting too you know!’ Sometimes it is so rude! They can wait hours to vote but when there is a dala or boat they just push and shove…Boat back to Pemba was fine, had my snacks and the entertainment was not too dire (Mr Bones and Mr Bones 2– South African comedy) I did start to feel a bit sea sick towards the end of the trip but that always happens after 7 hours on the boat… I was looking forward to being back on Pemba and having a break from the travels.For dinner we went to Juanito’s house and we were happy to see him again and hear he is happier.No power at home and the kitchen had two big ant nests in it!!That is it now, holidays are over and I am back at work with no lessons as the students are tidying...Happy New Year and have a good weekTake care