Mon 26 Dec. Having arrived late in Tanga on xmas day and having to make do with a chips omelette for dinner, I was ready to embrace Xmas in the town where I grew up. Being wished ‘ happy Christmas ‘ at SeaView was a good start, instead of the usual greeting of Salaam alaikum..!
Breakfast at Ocean Breeze was not that great, but to have something inside my stomach was better than nothing. I went walkabout. First to the bank, as the hotel receptionist kindly said I could pay on Monday as I was almost totally out of cash. Walked passed the railway station and checked out a couple of bus companies re the Moshi/Arusha route, but I would have to leave from opposite the old bus stand….I suspected as much.
Jamhuri gdns is being refurbished ( nobody seems to think there was a problem with it ) and is surrounded by corrugated sheets, so the view from SeaView has been spoilt. Walked to Mkonge htl. Had my usual coffee and enjoyed the view across to the Yacht club. Boney M xmas carols were being played, which got me in the mood. Walked to the cemetery and saw how overgrown the graves had become. Walked to Splendid View htl and met Adolf and ended up having 3 beers. I borrowed a big hoe from him so I could tidy up G’pa’s grave. Went to the SeaView and had a delicious chicken curry.
Tues 27th. I think the breakfast was even worse than the day before..a recurring theme. It had rained during the night; some big puddles on the roads. The hoe attracted a lot of attention and a number of comments. I spent an hour tidying the grave. Asked Robert from right across the road to join me at Mkonge. After a couple of hours we walked into town together. I went back to Ocean for an afternoon rest. Returned the hoe to Splendid. Stopped at Nyumbani htl to write up my blog. Was there for an hour but no-one approached me to ask if I wanted a drink…was a bit surprised…not good business. Went to SeaView where I watched some EPL highlights before I had a fish curry.
Wed 28th. Went to Ngamiani to buy my bus ticket on Raqeeb for the following day. Executive or luxury for 23,000tsh. On the way back I found the Blue Room where I had a tea, Mark was right in that it’s a nice restaurant. I caught a dala dala all the way to Raskazone, the last stop before going to the Yacht club. Took photos of the Yacht club and Swimming club. Walked around the point to take photos of residential houses in the hope of identifying the house that Jill lived in the 60s. Didn’t work out but I do like a challenge. Back to Mkonge for a coffee. There was a large troop of monkeys playing nearby. I paid a last visit to Splendid…but still no Adolf. Then to SeaView for a nice chicken curry and on to Ocean for an earlyish night as I was leaving the next morning.
Thurs 29th. Got up after 06:00, I managed to book on a bus so that I wouldn’t have too early a start. Was hoping to munch on mandazi on the way to the bus, but the hotel kitchen hadn’t got going yet. Left the hotel after 07:00 for the 20 minute walk. At about 07:45 we crammed into a dala dala to be transported from Tanga town to Kange bus stand ( 10-15 minutes drive) for the 08:30 departure. We left bang on time. At rest stop after Korogwe I got on the wrong bus !!! Some very perplexed faces looked at me , and then I realised !! Realised within a few seconds and promptly got off and found my Raqeeb bus.
It was just over 6 hours to njia panda….the junction where if you go left you go to Moshi and turn right you go to the border at Holili. Arrived njia panda 2:45 and reached Holili after 3:30….frustratingly slow dala dala. I had asked Mercy to meet me at Dubai (Mamka’s ) for kiti moto to celebrate both her Birthday and Xmas. We had a superb kiti moto…of course…consistently excellent. After 4 hours we crossed the border to Taveta.
I was still buzzing. I dumped my rucksack in my room and contacted Joseph. We met up at Utamaduni for a drink. Welcome to Kenya….