Friday, January 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
KAMPALA, UGANDA and bus chasers
well i made it to kampala uganda, but it was a long trip. i left tabora, on dec 20th, and i boarded a bus with my friend shoghi, and 7 hours later we arrived in mwanza, it is a pretty town, in north western tanzania. we stayed the night in a nice hotel (30000 tsh for a double room) the next day we treked out into the pouring rain to see how we could catch a boat to bukoba then later catch a bus to kampala. it was pouring rain. we were soaked to the bone, but by this time all we wanted to do was get out of mwanza,
we went to the boat launch, and there were hundreds of people there, fighting for third class tickets, an armed guard forcefully was pushing people back. there were no more 2nd class tickets, and the boat that was leaving that day did not have first class.
we payed a taxi driver some money to try and take us to a bus station. he did , he actually found us a company that takes you to kampala. we were like wow, lets do it, but he mentioned we had to switchbusses in kenya. we said ok. the trip also would take 27 hours, which didnt bother us at first.
the first leg was long and the buses clutch kept grinding, so we stopped every hour or so it could cool down. we arrived at the border at around midnight, and most of you know what border towns are like so we had to be on guard. overall the border was not bad, until we got to the town where our drop off was. it was a small gas station filled with bus chasers.
Bus chasers, these are the guys that live at gas stations waiting for busses to pull in and out, so they can sell theirmerchandise to the people seated on the bus. they do this 24 hours a day, they only sleep when the alcohol they have consumed during the day or night forces them to pass out, and there were many passed out when we arived at 2 in the morning. the bus driver said your conecting bus will arrive at 5 AM. i was like what ????? so for three hours we crammed into the AKAMBA bus station/booth and tried to sleep, but everytime a bus rolled in, i could here drunk screams of hamsini (50) or mia (100) and people pretending to european footballers with empty plastic bottles.
The bus did not arrive at 5AM. it arrived after the sun rose at 7:30AM, but the good news is the rest of the trip was very uneventful, we arrived at the ugandan border by noon, and we made it into kampala at around 5:30pm, caught a taxi to the Baha'i House of Worship and thankedGod that we made it alive in one piece.
Lesson for everyone, by weary of any bustrips in Africa that take longer than 10 hours :)
we went to the boat launch, and there were hundreds of people there, fighting for third class tickets, an armed guard forcefully was pushing people back. there were no more 2nd class tickets, and the boat that was leaving that day did not have first class.
we payed a taxi driver some money to try and take us to a bus station. he did , he actually found us a company that takes you to kampala. we were like wow, lets do it, but he mentioned we had to switchbusses in kenya. we said ok. the trip also would take 27 hours, which didnt bother us at first.
the first leg was long and the buses clutch kept grinding, so we stopped every hour or so it could cool down. we arrived at the border at around midnight, and most of you know what border towns are like so we had to be on guard. overall the border was not bad, until we got to the town where our drop off was. it was a small gas station filled with bus chasers.
Bus chasers, these are the guys that live at gas stations waiting for busses to pull in and out, so they can sell theirmerchandise to the people seated on the bus. they do this 24 hours a day, they only sleep when the alcohol they have consumed during the day or night forces them to pass out, and there were many passed out when we arived at 2 in the morning. the bus driver said your conecting bus will arrive at 5 AM. i was like what ????? so for three hours we crammed into the AKAMBA bus station/booth and tried to sleep, but everytime a bus rolled in, i could here drunk screams of hamsini (50) or mia (100) and people pretending to european footballers with empty plastic bottles.
The bus did not arrive at 5AM. it arrived after the sun rose at 7:30AM, but the good news is the rest of the trip was very uneventful, we arrived at the ugandan border by noon, and we made it into kampala at around 5:30pm, caught a taxi to the Baha'i House of Worship and thankedGod that we made it alive in one piece.
Lesson for everyone, by weary of any bustrips in Africa that take longer than 10 hours :)
Saturday, December 15, 2007
First Class Train to Tabora
I sometimes dont realize how lucky i am to travel in first class, and be able to afford the luxuries that many people around the world will never be able to expierence. Well lets just say, i am not forced to travel in 3rd class like most tanzanians who need to make a 30+ hour trek across tanzania.
Sometimes I dont want to be different and want to be and do what others do around me, i dont want special treatment just because i am white. But friends i will be the first to admit, this last trip i took from Dar Es Salaam to Tabora, was long and hard, and i dont think i would have made it sitting the whole way.
We left Dar at around 5pm and suprisingly we left on time. We were heading out of Dar in all its neighborhoods, and the further we got out of dar, the more i noticed the economic difference between town and the suburbs, but the wonderful thing is, when i wave at the kids, no matter what part of dar i am in they all laugh and wave back, as if i have made their day. they scream mzungu, mzungu, and all i can do is smile back. The night is long on a train and if you dont have a bed, god bless you, because the train stops in the pitch black every 20-30 minutes, and the engine is loud, and the whistle even louder.
I am in first class, so there are only two of us in the cabin and i get a good nights sleep. I watch the sunset over the African Sky and i think wow, i wish all my friends could see this. I also dont sleep that much, because who can sleep on a train anyway, but i get up at 6 am and watch the sunrise which is just as breathtaking. in the middle of the night we broke down for a few hours, but as God would have it, i was resting comfortably in my first class cabin. We are now about 4 hours behind schedule, but i dont seem to notice as i am enjoying the beautiful scenery around me.
Well we finally arrived in a town that well what can i say, business picks up 5000% when the train pulls in, they had, meat, chicken, chips, eggs, all ready for the 100o passengers as the train takes a 30-40 minute stop. i tried goat liver and chips mayai (eggs and french fries mixed) a local delicacy here, they sell it ever. it was very very good. One of my friends from canada who was travelling with some bahais in 3rd class, got sick, and by the kindness of the man who i shared a cabin with, he joined us in 1st class for the second day of the journey. so we had some fun, chatting it up with a man from bukoba, he is very very kind. here he paid alot of money to have a first class cabin, and now he is willing to share it for more than half the trip with a complete stranger. thats how everyone is here in tanzania.
As i said the train was late, and we rolled into Tabora at around 11:30pm. I was tired, we were all tired. There was a total of 13 Baha'is travelling together to get to Tabora for the youth conference. They were all exhausted. Me and my Canadian friend Shoghi were a little rested, but all in all its an expierence that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
And remember thank god that you are one of the lucky ones, you can afford to travel in style when most of the worlds population does not have that luxury.
Till next post......... so long and God Bless
Sometimes I dont want to be different and want to be and do what others do around me, i dont want special treatment just because i am white. But friends i will be the first to admit, this last trip i took from Dar Es Salaam to Tabora, was long and hard, and i dont think i would have made it sitting the whole way.
We left Dar at around 5pm and suprisingly we left on time. We were heading out of Dar in all its neighborhoods, and the further we got out of dar, the more i noticed the economic difference between town and the suburbs, but the wonderful thing is, when i wave at the kids, no matter what part of dar i am in they all laugh and wave back, as if i have made their day. they scream mzungu, mzungu, and all i can do is smile back. The night is long on a train and if you dont have a bed, god bless you, because the train stops in the pitch black every 20-30 minutes, and the engine is loud, and the whistle even louder.
I am in first class, so there are only two of us in the cabin and i get a good nights sleep. I watch the sunset over the African Sky and i think wow, i wish all my friends could see this. I also dont sleep that much, because who can sleep on a train anyway, but i get up at 6 am and watch the sunrise which is just as breathtaking. in the middle of the night we broke down for a few hours, but as God would have it, i was resting comfortably in my first class cabin. We are now about 4 hours behind schedule, but i dont seem to notice as i am enjoying the beautiful scenery around me.
Well we finally arrived in a town that well what can i say, business picks up 5000% when the train pulls in, they had, meat, chicken, chips, eggs, all ready for the 100o passengers as the train takes a 30-40 minute stop. i tried goat liver and chips mayai (eggs and french fries mixed) a local delicacy here, they sell it ever. it was very very good. One of my friends from canada who was travelling with some bahais in 3rd class, got sick, and by the kindness of the man who i shared a cabin with, he joined us in 1st class for the second day of the journey. so we had some fun, chatting it up with a man from bukoba, he is very very kind. here he paid alot of money to have a first class cabin, and now he is willing to share it for more than half the trip with a complete stranger. thats how everyone is here in tanzania.
As i said the train was late, and we rolled into Tabora at around 11:30pm. I was tired, we were all tired. There was a total of 13 Baha'is travelling together to get to Tabora for the youth conference. They were all exhausted. Me and my Canadian friend Shoghi were a little rested, but all in all its an expierence that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
And remember thank god that you are one of the lucky ones, you can afford to travel in style when most of the worlds population does not have that luxury.
Till next post......... so long and God Bless
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Random pics....
These are photos of my room
Bedroom, with mosquito net.
Door to my bedroom.
Living room, i have added mats and laundy basket since picture.
Door my bedroom.
Gazelle found on the way to Iringa.
6 Canadian Junior Youth came to Dar to work on a orphange/school project for 6 weeks,
I had the bounty of seeing them arrive at Dar es Salaam airport when they arrived, and also their farewell party in Dar Es Salaam with all the kids.
(two youth missing from picture above)
The view from my Hotel Room, Dar Es Salaam.
One night in Dar Es Salaam I splurged, I did not stay at the Bahai Center (2000 tsh), or the YMCA (11000 Tsh) I stayed in a nice hotel (35000 tsh). 1000 tsh is one canadain dollar.
Sushi Restarent in Dar Es Salaam. Best Sushi i have had in 6 months. Wait a second the only Sushi i have had in 6 months.
two of our neighbors kids at my old house where i stayed for about 8 weeks.
Good eating at Rumors. Indian food and lots of coca cola.
I have shed a few pounds while staying in Iringa, Tanzania
Playing Pool with the Maya, Maeve, Jordana, and Sara at Rumors Restaurent
Its been awhile........
For all my readers, I apologize its been a long time since i posted on this blog. I have been busy learning how to teach computer science to grades 10 and 11(Form III and Form IV.)
Its hard being a teacher, I have a lot of respect for teachers. I love kids dont get me wrong i just dont know if i am cut out to educate over 300 students. I guess a little bit of home sickness is starting to kick in too. But Last Friday was sports day and man that was fun, we woke up at 7:00am, met at the assembly hall at 7:45 in our track suit and casual ware, then we got ready to hike a mountain right beside the school. The name of this mountain is called "Kibwabwa Hill", maybe for the tanzanian residents its a hill, but for me it felt like a mountain. For those who know Mt. Doug, its a similair climb. except the paths are not clear, more like the paths at Finlayson.
Then after that, we played football, basketball, volleyball and ping pong. We also had 100 m sprints. (ok I finished last in my heat, but i was racing against fast Tanzanian students) everyone laughed in a good way and appreciated that i tried. (NiNa Tiedi, I am trying in Kiswahili)
We were also supposed to chase a chicken around, but there were no chickens available to chase. That would have been a kodak moment. We had a football match that same day and i was beat. We played the Form IIIs who are very good. I lasted only 45 minutes on the wing. I am always playing winger for the staff team, not sure why, i know i am not the fastest player, and the winger needs to do the most running.
To top off the day, a friend of ours from Liverpool came by to pick us up and take us out for dinner out at Riverside Campside. The food was amazing, Chicken cutlets, BBQ ribs (small portion), Lasagna, Friend Rice, veggies, lamb curry, my god it was good. Friday was one of the most enjoyable days i have had in awhile. I was just hanging out with the students, and i was not their teacher for a day, it was great!
Also who can complain about a 5 course dinner at a campsite in the middle of Tanzania. You see mom and dad, i am eating really well here.
Anyways i will post some pictures of my last trip to Dar Es Salaam, and some pictures of my new place.
Its hard being a teacher, I have a lot of respect for teachers. I love kids dont get me wrong i just dont know if i am cut out to educate over 300 students. I guess a little bit of home sickness is starting to kick in too. But Last Friday was sports day and man that was fun, we woke up at 7:00am, met at the assembly hall at 7:45 in our track suit and casual ware, then we got ready to hike a mountain right beside the school. The name of this mountain is called "Kibwabwa Hill", maybe for the tanzanian residents its a hill, but for me it felt like a mountain. For those who know Mt. Doug, its a similair climb. except the paths are not clear, more like the paths at Finlayson.
Then after that, we played football, basketball, volleyball and ping pong. We also had 100 m sprints. (ok I finished last in my heat, but i was racing against fast Tanzanian students) everyone laughed in a good way and appreciated that i tried. (NiNa Tiedi, I am trying in Kiswahili)
We were also supposed to chase a chicken around, but there were no chickens available to chase. That would have been a kodak moment. We had a football match that same day and i was beat. We played the Form IIIs who are very good. I lasted only 45 minutes on the wing. I am always playing winger for the staff team, not sure why, i know i am not the fastest player, and the winger needs to do the most running.
To top off the day, a friend of ours from Liverpool came by to pick us up and take us out for dinner out at Riverside Campside. The food was amazing, Chicken cutlets, BBQ ribs (small portion), Lasagna, Friend Rice, veggies, lamb curry, my god it was good. Friday was one of the most enjoyable days i have had in awhile. I was just hanging out with the students, and i was not their teacher for a day, it was great!
Also who can complain about a 5 course dinner at a campsite in the middle of Tanzania. You see mom and dad, i am eating really well here.
Anyways i will post some pictures of my last trip to Dar Es Salaam, and some pictures of my new place.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Impressions of a Tanzanian Winter
Yes thats right its winter here. It is cold. I am in Africa and i am cold. I live so close to the Equator too. Its Fathers day and most of my friends are fathers or soon to be fathers. So for all those fathers day.
Happy Fathers Day. Baba if you are reading this, I love you and i miss you.
Ok back to sharing my adventures in Tanzania. Well my last post pretty much said it all in pictures. The reason why i am not updating my blog as much anymore is i am addicted to Facebook. Yes I know Facebook is meant for 18-24 year olds with lots of time on their hands, but i am in Africa, and the internet is one of those comforts from home i cling too in the cold African winter. The temperature is between 10-20 degrees which is not that cold, but the windchill makes it feel less than 5 degrees celsuis.
I want to thank my sister she is sending a care package through my Friend Alicia's mother who is coming to Tanzania in about a week. I am very excited. Gary and the gang at RMS if you want to send a care package, I will wait under the plane for it to be parachuted down.
Anyways, its late, i want to go to bed soon. just a quick post to satisfy your African Advenutre appetite.
Kwa Heri (Good Bye) and usiku mwema (Good night)
Happy Fathers Day. Baba if you are reading this, I love you and i miss you.
Ok back to sharing my adventures in Tanzania. Well my last post pretty much said it all in pictures. The reason why i am not updating my blog as much anymore is i am addicted to Facebook. Yes I know Facebook is meant for 18-24 year olds with lots of time on their hands, but i am in Africa, and the internet is one of those comforts from home i cling too in the cold African winter. The temperature is between 10-20 degrees which is not that cold, but the windchill makes it feel less than 5 degrees celsuis.
I want to thank my sister she is sending a care package through my Friend Alicia's mother who is coming to Tanzania in about a week. I am very excited. Gary and the gang at RMS if you want to send a care package, I will wait under the plane for it to be parachuted down.
Anyways, its late, i want to go to bed soon. just a quick post to satisfy your African Advenutre appetite.
Kwa Heri (Good Bye) and usiku mwema (Good night)
Monday, June 4, 2007
Pictures of Tabora
The Canadian girls in their Element. Alicia on the left playing the Harp. Shanna on the right, singing and dancing.
Baha'i Friends in the Tabora Choir
I couldnt rotate this one, but a good friend from Tabora
This is just darn cute, i think these girls go to a Catholic School in Tabora
The Kids of Tabora, who are photogenic just in case you couldnt get that from the picture.
The Choir in Tabora
The two Canadian girls and Baba Farid JahanPour. Yes, he shares the first name with my brother.
In Tanzania they call them Dala Dala (dollar dollar). The cost about 200-250 Shilling depending on the line (18-25 cents a ride) and they cram between 16-22 people in one of the small vans and 30-50 people on the bus above. You havent lived till you ride in one of them standing the whole way.
The African Taxi/Mini Bus Station.
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