Last days in Tanzania...
on Kev in Tanzania (Tanzania), 02/Jun/2010 08:18, 34 days ago
This is the last update of my time in Tanzania. There may be a few follow up posts though...Saturday 1st MaySo we spent the night at Pepes house and in the morning we went down to the port to get our boat - only to be told that the boat was cancelled! We phoned up the boat company and they said we could only get a refund if we went back to Wete (a 6 hour round trip!)We went to buy a ticket for Sunday on the slow boat and the guys tried to rip us off - they wanted us to pay more than the price of the fast boat! I got angry and walked out, in the end the manager came and gave us the tickets at the correct price. It was frustrating because it meant we would get to Dar late and I still needed to get my police clearance letter and wanted to enjoy a day or two in Dar with Liz before my flight on Wednesday.Pepe did not mind us staying another night and inbetween the rains he took us to see his warehouse just down the road. It is there that they pack up the dried seaweed for exporting. It was great to see all of the locals working and they earned about 200,000tsh per month almost twice the minimum wage!We bumped into the French women again and showed them Sharooks where they could stay.For lunch Pepe got us some takeaway chipsi mayai and the big family of cats by the house suddenly became a bit more friendly - there were 9 cats, 8 of them kittens! A couple of them were pretty scabby looking, I think they had a problem with their eyes.We spend the evening with Pepe and Liz gave him our mosquito zapper which made him very happy!We had an early night as we were getting the first (and only) boat to Zanzibar in the morning.Sunday 2nd MayPepe took us down to the boat in his car and we boarded. The boat trip was ok but it was busy and there were people lying all over the floor again sleeping - stupid... Imagine if there was a problem on the boat - so many people would be crushed to death in the panic...The was some classic movies for entertainment - Missing in action and Missing in action 2 - good old Chuck Norris!We got off the boat - Liz used some porters to help her with her stuff and we bought our tickets for Dar and then walked down to Mercurys bar - it was quite a walk with all our stuff and the roads were busy but we made it in one piece and had a few well earned beers!I went for a little walk to see if I could find any presents for people back but most of the shops were shut. We sent a text to Liz Rose as we were going to stay at her house which is at the TRC just outside of Stone Town. We caught a cab there and after changing went with Liz back into town for dinner. We had a few beers first and I bought some presents in a shop that was open. We took Liz Rose to the Silk Route, a top notch curry house.We got a cab back and had a restless nights sleep as it was hot - bring on the fans in Econolodge!Monday 3rd MayWe got the boat to Dar, it was a fast boat but unluckily for me I had a huge huge fat guy in the seat in front of me and his chair was close to collapsing! I lost some leg room. The boat ride was choppy and I did feel pretty rough for most of the journey - hearing others being sick never helps either but I kept telling myself this is my last boat trip in Tanzania!!Getting off the boat and leaving the port was tricky but Liz had managed to get rid of one bag on Zanzibar, as we were climbing up the steps Liz slipped (part being unco part on oil!) but she was not hurt but it made the porters feel guilty for being so pushy and harressing us.We went to Econolodge and then to the Ministry of Home Affairs - we were told we needed a letter and lots of copies of ID, just as we were told that the power went... But luckily I already had copies and I hand wrote my letter asking for a police check. I felt a little dispair as I was not sure how I would get this done in time but we returned to the ministry and managed to get it all sorted! Liz had permission to pick up the police check and she would send it to me in England - what a girl! She rules!We had lunch at Chefs Pride and then went to VSO to do our final reports and get our expenses for leaving Pemba. We found out we were lucky to get our boat in the end because all others were cancelled and so were the flights off Pemba - if we didnt leave when we did I would have missed my flight to England!!After sorting everything at VSO (along with a promise for a copy of my reference from Douglas - which today I still do not have...) we down to Slipway so we could watch the sunset and do some shopping. Frouke and Claire came down to meet us and we went to the Irish bar for the pub quiz and some beers! After 6 beers had a nice drunk sleep!Tuesday 4th MayWe went to Chefs Pride for breakfast, I choose my seats for the flight and checked in online, internet was very very slow... but got there in the end.After breakfast we went to Oysterbay to look at some Tinga Tinga paintings and then went to Wonder Welders tobuy some gifts. At Wonder Welders disabled locals made jewelery and other gifts - some of the stuff is amazing!We went back to Slipway as I had a few more presents to get and had lots of Tanzania Shillings to get rid off! I even bought a book to read while I wait for my flight.In the late afternoon I tried to change some Shillings for GBP but no where had any.For our last night in Tanzania, Liz and I went to the Badminton Institute - our favourite place in Dar - we had our last yummy curry together along with lots of beers and chatted about all the good times we have had together. Every now and then I would feel a little sad about leaving her but did not want it to ruin our time together.Wednesday 5th MayWe had a nice long cuddle in the morning before getting the cab to the airport. I was able to change some cash at the airport into dollars and then Liz and I had our emotional farewell, tears from both of us but both wanting to meet again one day.She helped to make my experience more meaningful and I have no regrets - thanks Liz!Lots in my head whilst I was waiting for the plane and I sent a few texts to people (lots to Liz!) Flight home was fine, lots of movies to entertain me and the train back to Southampton was fine too. My first night back home was a little odd as I was without Liz but also in a different house.Post ScriptSo now I have been home a month - I now have a job for September, I am getting used to the weather and am loving that I can drink tap water again.Liz made it up Kili and is now travelling through Botswana and will go down to South Africa before flying home.I have fantastic memories and sad memories of Tanzania and the experience will stay with me forever.I may volunteer again who knows...