Mombasa
We Began our journey to Mombasa, Kenya on Friday morning from moshi, tanzania. We get to the bus station. And and to wait for the bus. When I said bus station, I mean a shithole place in an ally thats no wider than 25 ft of dirt road. It is about 1 hour to the border. Right before we reach the border, our bus had a flat tire. I was actually amazed at how quickly they worked on that. Exertions the bus stops, there are vendors trying to sell you something outside the window. You just don't give them eye contact unless you intend on buying my brother advices me. Well, how the heck do I know what they're selling then. Anyways, no eye contact.
Crossing the border was quite an ordeal. We had to get returning visas for Tanzania. They had to inspect out bags so we took everything off the bus so they can literally look through our back for a split second. The process was so insufficient and pointless. Then we had to walk over to the Kenya side which was about 500yds away. Wait in Line for that. Waiting in line for Africa, you have to be willing to speak up or they will just jump in front of you. Single file line is definitely not a concept in this country. So on the bus again and we are on a dirt road for 7 hours. Then we finally got on a paved road for 2 hours to mombosa.
Mombasa is dirty and big. We were happy to reach the beach resort where we will be staying. My kaka has an ultimate frisbee tournament on the beach this weekend. That's another story.
Our room had a great view if the ocean. The accomadations for this beach front property.....let's just say motel 6 blows it away in luxury and comfort. But it has a toilet you can flush( just every 30 minutes though). And a shower ( which full blast water pressure is a trickle). Our food takes an hour to make....no matter what you order.
It rained all day but I didn't really mind. The weather Cooled down and it was just relaxing sitting around reading and sipping on beer. Watched my brother and his team compete in the tournament. That is really exciting. His team has a bunch of local mwanza kids and players that will lift your spirits just from their innocence and energy. They took third place. That is also another story. Uganda won the tournament. Bunch of classless competitors if you ask me. That's another story.....
Swimming in the Indian ocean is warm and salty. The sand is beautiful. I love the color and texture of the sands in Africa.
I love that you can buy mangoes in Kenya for .25cent each or get a pop for less than .70cent. Resort price for Mombasa is 6.00 plate for lunch and dinner.
Next adventure. Safari.
Monday, April 25, 2011
4/21
4/21
We went into town at moshi and shopped and hung around Internet cafe most of morning thru early afternoon. My KaKa (brother) had to do some work on the computer. It costs $1.00 an hour for Internet. .50 cents for sodas. .80cents for cappachino. Moshi is a big city in aspects to some. Kilimanjaro still didn't want to be seen through the clouds. I travelled all this way kilo, and you go stubborn on me.
We went on a nice hike to a waterfall hike before sunset. It was beautiful and gave a different perspective of Africa. It is one of the greenest countryside I've ever seen. Agriculture is abundance and people thrive on the crops. You never see the goodness in things because youre so tainted by the negativity. Yes these people are poor. But they learn to live efficiently and not above their means.
We went into town at moshi and shopped and hung around Internet cafe most of morning thru early afternoon. My KaKa (brother) had to do some work on the computer. It costs $1.00 an hour for Internet. .50 cents for sodas. .80cents for cappachino. Moshi is a big city in aspects to some. Kilimanjaro still didn't want to be seen through the clouds. I travelled all this way kilo, and you go stubborn on me.
We went on a nice hike to a waterfall hike before sunset. It was beautiful and gave a different perspective of Africa. It is one of the greenest countryside I've ever seen. Agriculture is abundance and people thrive on the crops. You never see the goodness in things because youre so tainted by the negativity. Yes these people are poor. But they learn to live efficiently and not above their means.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
4/21
Jambo!!(how are you?)
Pole(sorry) my typing is a bit off. I'm working on an iPhone and my thumbs aren't always working and I am too lazy to edit. Time on Internet is limited as well.
We are in moshi and we have done a bit of shopping. Still some madness going on, but feeling a bit better. Negotiating for prices is hard work and draining. So forgive me people if I don't bring anything back for you, it is simply draining.
Pole(sorry) my typing is a bit off. I'm working on an iPhone and my thumbs aren't always working and I am too lazy to edit. Time on Internet is limited as well.
We are in moshi and we have done a bit of shopping. Still some madness going on, but feeling a bit better. Negotiating for prices is hard work and draining. So forgive me people if I don't bring anything back for you, it is simply draining.
4/19
4/19tues
We went on a spice tour this morning. It was pouring rain all day and it just doesn't seem to bother the locals. It really didn't bother is either. They say alot of the Europeans come here because they love the spices grown here. It's located in the middle of the island, the highest point. It is like a Forrest of trees and bushes of every imaginable spice you can find.
My cousin tina brought a box of school supply to donate to primary students. (she is a teacher in dc) so our tour guide tool us to one of the schools with very little. It was so wonderful. To see the shyness and curiosity of these kids. There are over 900 students and the girls edge out the boys by just 10. Zanzibar is not kidding about their schools. The government donates uniforms so every children on the island is the same. They break up sessions of teaching to get all the kids in. The classroom really isnt that over populated. They don't go by age of children in classroom,they go by levels of learning.
I think Americans can really learn from this concept. And it is a must for these children to attend school! Go figure.
When we came back to our hotel, we called our friend sallim to take us to the sandbar for some snorkeling. The weather was, of course raining, but we just wanted to get away from the city. It was a rocky boat ride but we made it. When we arrived, there was this island of sand. We snorkel and swam until the sand bar began to disappear. Some more memorable times with sallim.
We were invited to watch the sunset at emersons home, the owner of the inn. Spectacular view and had a couple glasses of Tanzania cognac (whatever that means). I didn't ask. It was lovely and we were hungry so we went down to foradanhi park to grab something to eat with the other inn owner, Lynn and her son Koon. They are she is Swedish and her father is danish, and Koon speaks 5 different languages. He is 14 years old.
So they recommended this local soup and I thought it couldn't be all that bad since they like it. Well, this is the beginning of my zanzibar madness. I thought I malaria. My symptoms of diarrhea, shivering, fever, aches in my body, headache, I was sure it was malaria, but my brother what has a phd. in infections disease convinced me there is malaria mosquitoes in Zanzibar. And so my diagnosis is the soup.
We went on a spice tour this morning. It was pouring rain all day and it just doesn't seem to bother the locals. It really didn't bother is either. They say alot of the Europeans come here because they love the spices grown here. It's located in the middle of the island, the highest point. It is like a Forrest of trees and bushes of every imaginable spice you can find.
My cousin tina brought a box of school supply to donate to primary students. (she is a teacher in dc) so our tour guide tool us to one of the schools with very little. It was so wonderful. To see the shyness and curiosity of these kids. There are over 900 students and the girls edge out the boys by just 10. Zanzibar is not kidding about their schools. The government donates uniforms so every children on the island is the same. They break up sessions of teaching to get all the kids in. The classroom really isnt that over populated. They don't go by age of children in classroom,they go by levels of learning.
I think Americans can really learn from this concept. And it is a must for these children to attend school! Go figure.
When we came back to our hotel, we called our friend sallim to take us to the sandbar for some snorkeling. The weather was, of course raining, but we just wanted to get away from the city. It was a rocky boat ride but we made it. When we arrived, there was this island of sand. We snorkel and swam until the sand bar began to disappear. Some more memorable times with sallim.
We were invited to watch the sunset at emersons home, the owner of the inn. Spectacular view and had a couple glasses of Tanzania cognac (whatever that means). I didn't ask. It was lovely and we were hungry so we went down to foradanhi park to grab something to eat with the other inn owner, Lynn and her son Koon. They are she is Swedish and her father is danish, and Koon speaks 5 different languages. He is 14 years old.
So they recommended this local soup and I thought it couldn't be all that bad since they like it. Well, this is the beginning of my zanzibar madness. I thought I malaria. My symptoms of diarrhea, shivering, fever, aches in my body, headache, I was sure it was malaria, but my brother what has a phd. in infections disease convinced me there is malaria mosquitoes in Zanzibar. And so my diagnosis is the soup.
More Zanzibar
We decided to visit prison island today. This is where they have the giant tortoises. It is about 1/2hour boat ride. The tortoise was amazingly gigantic. We were able to pet them and feed them and we even witnessed a mating event. That was very interesting. After the tortoise, we walled around the island. It turns out that it was a quarantine island for typhoid. The hotel on the island was the sultans holiday home. We then went around the island to swim in the Indian ocean and snorkel. The starfish was my favorite species. A bright orange red color. So beautiful. So we then headed back for lunch and had a spectacular view of the ocean. We loved sallim. Something so induring about this man. I told him I wanted to take him home so he can remind me of hakunamata everyday.
Monday, April 18, 2011
4/18 Monday
Nothing like waking up to at 4am Zanzibar time when for the last 20 years of my life, that has been my bed time.
It could be the headaches from the malaria pill. Could be the flash rainstorm that lasted for 20 minutes with the rain on tip of tin roofs. It could just simply be jetlag.
And jus as I was Notting off again, the 5am prayer announcement came on.
No Internet yet so don't know when this will be posted. Today we will take a city and spice tour with our famous tour-guide.
Nothing like waking up to at 4am Zanzibar time when for the last 20 years of my life, that has been my bed time.
It could be the headaches from the malaria pill. Could be the flash rainstorm that lasted for 20 minutes with the rain on tip of tin roofs. It could just simply be jetlag.
And jus as I was Notting off again, the 5am prayer announcement came on.
No Internet yet so don't know when this will be posted. Today we will take a city and spice tour with our famous tour-guide.
4/17 Sunday
Dar Es salaam. Tanzania's Capitol and largest city in the country. The people are pushy and aggressive. Sounds like my kind of place right? I didn't mind that part of culture actually....but they would even make me look like a patient soul.
We arrived in Zanzibar this afternoon. I was so exhausted by then that I didn't even know we had taken off on our 30 minute flight from dar es salaam. Next thing you know we are witnessing a beautiful sunset over the Indian ocean landing in Zanzibar.
Two taxi driver were waiting for us to take us to the hotel. Boy, I'm so grateful for my brother to think of all the details of our trip. It has made me feel like royalty. One of the driver was a fast talker. He showed us a visitor book and shamelessly pointed out a picture of himself in the tourguide book.
Our first night in Zanzibar, one of the inn keepers roomate took us to forodahn park. What a great place. So lively, not only with the locals but a great spot to taste a bit of culture for the tourists. Lots of round eyes, but all europeans, I don't think I heard one American accent.
Hassis is our new friend/bodyguard/tourguide. With very little English between him and nil swalhili between us, we smiled alot at each other. I asked him if he had children. He replied, "yes, one daughter. She is 23." I asked him how old he was. He replied, "37."
Hassis works on a fishing boat with his brother. This is a fishing island. At the food park, the three of us drank fresh press sugar cane juice, ate Zanzibar pizza, and had kabobs with sweet potato chips. It was good. I should have tried their octopus, calamari, or many fresh catch of the day, but I decided to giver my stomach a chance to acclimate. It just looked all good. I will definite try the seafood tomorrow.
We walked around back to out hotel. I was glad hassis came along. stone town is surrounded by very old buildings and their streets are half the width of any American allyway i've ever been in. Lots of zigzagging. Locals perching at their stoop. Children playing futbol with a small stuffed animal. Very creative kids can be when have nothing. That was probably the memorable thing I saw today. It reminded me of Jody and Stephen Russell. Boys will be boys, in las Vegas or in Zanzibar.
Dar Es salaam. Tanzania's Capitol and largest city in the country. The people are pushy and aggressive. Sounds like my kind of place right? I didn't mind that part of culture actually....but they would even make me look like a patient soul.
We arrived in Zanzibar this afternoon. I was so exhausted by then that I didn't even know we had taken off on our 30 minute flight from dar es salaam. Next thing you know we are witnessing a beautiful sunset over the Indian ocean landing in Zanzibar.
Two taxi driver were waiting for us to take us to the hotel. Boy, I'm so grateful for my brother to think of all the details of our trip. It has made me feel like royalty. One of the driver was a fast talker. He showed us a visitor book and shamelessly pointed out a picture of himself in the tourguide book.
Our first night in Zanzibar, one of the inn keepers roomate took us to forodahn park. What a great place. So lively, not only with the locals but a great spot to taste a bit of culture for the tourists. Lots of round eyes, but all europeans, I don't think I heard one American accent.
Hassis is our new friend/bodyguard/tourguide. With very little English between him and nil swalhili between us, we smiled alot at each other. I asked him if he had children. He replied, "yes, one daughter. She is 23." I asked him how old he was. He replied, "37."
Hassis works on a fishing boat with his brother. This is a fishing island. At the food park, the three of us drank fresh press sugar cane juice, ate Zanzibar pizza, and had kabobs with sweet potato chips. It was good. I should have tried their octopus, calamari, or many fresh catch of the day, but I decided to giver my stomach a chance to acclimate. It just looked all good. I will definite try the seafood tomorrow.
We walked around back to out hotel. I was glad hassis came along. stone town is surrounded by very old buildings and their streets are half the width of any American allyway i've ever been in. Lots of zigzagging. Locals perching at their stoop. Children playing futbol with a small stuffed animal. Very creative kids can be when have nothing. That was probably the memorable thing I saw today. It reminded me of Jody and Stephen Russell. Boys will be boys, in las Vegas or in Zanzibar.
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