Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Njombe

As seen by my multiple posts, I have been in town for a few days. It was monthly meetig. It was rather uneventful and unhelpful, but I was able to have a few nights on a bed that has a matress thicker than 1 inch (no exaggeration-my villagematress has been reduced to a 1 inch nothing...hard to sleep well).
I hope you are enjoying them more to come very soon.

We are finishing up the final big things--Environmental Day and Sports League etc.

I am feeling well and can't wait to see you all!

Monday, July 27, 2009

More Pictures

He jumped!
Wildebeasts! Ngorongoro Crater.

Pics











Monday, July 6, 2009

Vacation Slowly Closing

Sadly vacation is coming to a close. I am in Dar es Salaam after a great few days in Zanzibar lounging on the beach etc. I will be here for a night then Iringa for a night then...BACK TO KIJINI (village).
This vacation has been a relaxing and enjoyable time which was necessary as I head toward beginning the second long round of village work. With a fresh mind and new perspective, I will be returning to village to focus on the things that work...not those that are frustrating as mentioned previously. I am going to take on a more observatory role to look at this small example of how things are in rural Tanzania and take note of the cultural and foreign causes of the good and the bad. Also, I will be working on a new approach for myself toward the situations that have failed previously and caused much of the stress and disappointment prior to vacation.
Deep Breath!! (haha)
Just letting you all into my new plan of attack and the plan for the next few weeks!
I will probably check the blog and my email one more time before heading to village. Ask away about the safaris, Zanzibar, the great pilau and food in Zanzibar, (spices everywhere), the city of Dar and more...then i am out of reach via computer for 3 weeks!

Monday, June 29, 2009

ZANZIBAR!!!

I spent today at the beach in zanzibar today. White beaches warm water and more!!! I may go diving soon which would be great since it has been a long time since I've been underwater like that and you know how much I love diving!! Even if not, this is going to be a great part of vacation just relaxing and figuring things out beofre taking the next step whereever it leads!
I will check in soon and try to do photos later but many issues have come up with that and it is not easy to do on slow internet etc.

Hope all is well...write some notes and keep me informed!!!
Bye

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Infamous and Invisible Mount Kilimanjaro














So I walked 7 kilometers yesterday to go to the hotel outside of Moshi which the great Lonley Planet of my friend said had a great view of the mountain. Of course I was concerned already as from town this great mountain could not be seen and, well, it should have. We walk and walk and finally reach there, the waiter at this empty and overpriced outdoor restaurant pointed to where Kili was supposed to be.............nothing but clouds. So sadly I expected that maybe I would have come all the way to Tanzania and to the town that Mt. Kili supposedly "hovers over" (Lonley planet) and yet never see the thing....luckly and ironically we return to our hotel I look off the 3rd floor balcony and wow...there is the peak just showing itself over the clouds. We went to dinner and then returned and then i saw a little bit more. I can now say I have seen the snows of Kilimanjaro. Do you remember that short story? I don't either exceot for its title...maybe I should read that one again.
Hopefully this evening will bring another short viewing of the mountain, but before then, I will be looking around, maybe shopping (I know I really must have lost my mind if I talk about shopping) and enjoying an avacado milkshake. If you have never had one, wait until I return, I love them!!
I will be leaving tomorrow to head to Dar es Salaam for a few days before heading to Zanzabar for a really relaxing few days.
Loving the posts...they make my day. Keep them up. I want to hear from all you followers about life and everything else!
I just figured out how to do this thing with pics ...it takes forever but...now you can see them!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Arusha Safari and Moshi

Just another quick one.
I went on a safari in Arush...I arrived on Thursday night at 1:30am (or Fri morning) after a long 15 hour bus ride...Arusha is fine...unexciting. It really is only a hub to go on safaris etc.

We left Sat morning to go to Lake Manyara National Park. We saw lions lazily sleeping in trees. Giraffe sleeping on the beach, thousands of Flamingo, elephant, hippos, buffalo (not that kind!) and more. It was great! We slept in a tent for the night and after a long day on the road...it was great sleeping.
We woke up the next morning and went to Ngorongoro crater---hyena, a whole prode of lions (cubs and all)...wildebeasts, hippos, elephant, another cool kind of wild cat, zebra, and the crater itself was beautiful! many pictures!

TIme is running out but I wanted tyo keep you updated..
hop[e all is well and I'll give more details soon!!!
Bye

Seeing Kilimanjaro tomorrow