I left Shimoni Tues morning by bodaboda; I think the guy lied to me about there being no Matatus for a few hours….but I love boda boda means of travel. Then got a matatu the short journey to Kenya Kesho School for Girls where I was helping out at the start of the year. Good to see it in its completed state. The attention to detail that has gone into building the school is amazing. All interior fittings to a very high standards. From desks, tables and whiteboards…..and, and Italian tiles in the toilets !!!! Sandra and Peter deserve an award. The school is at about 50% of admissions.
Arrived at Lunga Lunga..no problem on the Kenya side. Pleased with myself, what could go wrong ?!! Horohoro the TZ side. The young guy behind the window saw my passport and rushed off with it. I was summoned to the boss’s office. He explained that I wasn’t allowed to leave the country under the terms of my business visa; that implied my contract had ended. I explained that my visa was until the 6th Jan and I only went for about a week and I hadn’t left East Africa. We batted our cases backwards and forwards for 25 minutes…… So, what are we going to do he asked, at the same time asking me to move to the chair closest to him. I knew what was coming…. He said he would stamp my passport, but it was approaching lunchtime ….!! I took out my wallet and put 10,000 on the desk. But I have a team to consider, he said….so another 10,000 came out. All smiles; I think I got away lightly…at a cost of about 7 pounds. Phew.
Got a daladala to Tanga; took 2 hrs, twice as long as usual. Checked into Splendid View hotel. Usual deal…. 5 pounds for the room and no toilet paper!! I went to the Swimming club for a swim. No WiFi at the Mkonge hotel but they always have toilet paper… WiFi at Nyumbani hotel was non existent initially but got there after a half hour. Was thoroughly looking forward to a curry at one of the best restaurants in TZ… Seaview hotel in Tanga is highly recommended. But that night they were closed while the kitchen was being cleaned..!! Grrr. Had samosas for dinner.
Did a lot of walking the next day…to Raskazone and back. The part of the cemetery where both my grandfather’s are buried is even more overgrown than ever…their graves have been demolished for ever. The curry on Wed night was superb though.
Left early Thurs on the bus back to Dar. On my way to the bus I stopped to put on my cap as it was drizzling. Realised I was at the Malindi hotel where we had stayed 2 or 3 times, and a few feet away on their verandah was the chair Dad used to sit in, puffing on his pipe and tapping his stick whilst I paid the bill and collected our bags. A bit emotional.
Back in Segerea, Dar..I got feedback re Emil’s trip to Simanjiro….real Maasai territory. He’s excited about the potential there for developing farming and forestry and generally improving the livelihoods of the local communities. I will continue to help him try to find sources of income to enable the NGO implement the programmes we’ve identified. I should be able to do it from Kenya as well.
Am in Dar city to use the WiFi and enjoy the speedier Sunday travel. I think we’ll be travelling inland in Tues to Morogoro area and then I start thinking of Xmas.
