PHOTO ALBUMS (TANZANIA)

The TANZANIA Album

ARUSHA DAYS

Michael helps his mother Amina to set the table for dinner. He lays down the table mats, utensils and plates, every time when he’s not drawing water from the well outside or playing football in school. Michael is a striker. A good one. One day he wants to be an engineer.

 

Little sister Miriam’s favourite subjects in school are Civics and Geography. Now she knows where Malaysia is on the world map. She’s excited to learn that there’s actually a place called Miri. When she grows up she wants to be an accountant. ‘I must do well in Maths,’ she says, matter of fact. She’s determined. She never tires of making origami cranes.

 

Michael and Miriam say ‘Thank you, mother’ after each meal, without fail. Amina then says ‘You’re welcome’, and smiles proudly. She laughs approvingly that I finally reply ‘Poa’ when she greets me ‘Mambo’.

 

Baby Naomi giggles playfully in her makeshift play-pen that doubles up as her bathtub. She gives a delightful squeal as she swiftly puts the tiny piece of squishy avocado in her mouth.

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We maximized our short stay in Arusha as much as we could, experiencing Arusha’s hospitality at its best. The overwhelming kindness offered, sometimes under less than convenient circumstances, was very humbling. Maggie hosted us and drove us from her house, 8km from town and back, even when she didn’t have to. Amina sat with me all evening until I was ready to go to bed (she probably gave up her bedroom for us but she wouldn’t say) and every morning she’d prepare a bucket of hot water for our baths. The safari trip with Alec and Naomi to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater would probably be our last in this journey; starry nights in the wilderness now parked in our memories until the time comes to revisit the details again and share our tales. 

 

Our Arusha days.

 

William and his family at his family home in Arusha. This is where we stayed for a few days before leaving for Nairobi.

 

Just before getting on the shuttle to Nairobi.

 

Lake Manyara is a massive plain with an eclectic mix of African wildlife roaming around freely. 

 

Born free. The crater lions of Ngorongoro.

 

On our safari: Driver and guide Robert, with travellers Naomi and Alec. It’s always a good idea to come prepared with a face mask or hanky to cover your nose and mouth as it gets quite dusty with the number of vehicles around; and take binoculars!

 

   Dinner with Carey and Maggie at AfriCafe. Carey volunteers at the St. Jude’s School while Maggie graciously hosted us for the first couple of days at her house. Every morning we woke up to Mt. Meru just outside our door.

ZANZIBAR

Words. I must’ve lost them in the maze.

 

The calling of the ocean. 

 

The view above.

 

The enchanting labyrinth.

 

The pleasant oddities. 

 

The hustle and bustle. 

 

The treasure trove of beauty. 

 

The story of the past. 

 

 

The epitome of youth.

 

The greetings of the sun. 

 

The kaleidoscope of life.

TANZANIA - RESEARCH PART 1

Capital: Dodoma
Population: 39 million (over 120 ethnic groups)
Official Language: Swahili
Currency: Tanzanian shilling

- image from skyviewofafrica.com

The other day I told Yao Jung about this trip. In Skype mode excitement, the first thing he blurted was "Serengeti!"

Yes, the stuff of the National Geographic Channel. The great migration.


1. The Serengeti

There's just too many National Parks and Game Reserves to choose from, such diverse habitats, but supposedly the untamed Katavi National Park is one of the few that allows visitors to jump off the jeep and walk on the plains. The only complication is to get there, land transport may take days. My eyes open wide when I read "all flights will require landing on a grass airstrip" and "bush-compatible light aircraft". Bush-compatible. Cute.


2. Zanzibar

'Nuff said :)

- image from come-to-africa.com


3. Kilimanjaro

Standing at 5891m, the climb up to the Uhuru Peak at Kilimanjaro needs a week, possibly a bit more costly too. Scientists posited the year 2014 as the date for disappearance of the mountain's ice cap due to global warming.

- image from 7summits.com


4. The Maasai

The world is fascinated by them.

Lions are afraid of them.

Everybody else wants to dance the adumu with them.

- image from masai-mara.net

This may be one of the highlights of the trip, especially for Riz. I leave it at that, I'm sure he'll divulge the story.