5-Star Luxury after 23 days of roughing it

After 23 days of roughing it, true African style, we entered the Southern Sun 5-Star hotel and enjoyed a HOT BATH – Luxurious Bliss!

Adam’s (a friend of Sarel and Sannelie) hospitality exceeded all our expectations.  Nothing was too small or too big for Adam.  Thank you Adam, for making our stay a memorable one!

We enter Dar-Es-Salaam

Markets next to the road were selling local farm products. Kasava could be found in all forms; long, short or flour. They cook it with peanut butter and it is their main source of food.

 

The locals transport their produce to the Market, in huge baskets, either by bicycle or motorbike.

Guavas were now in season in these areas and they were sold by the bucket loads. Guess what we will be having for dinner tonight...

Look at this vehicle - no shame, he's BOSS is Bin Ladin. All of a sudden I don't feel so safe anymore?

Then we enter Dar-Es-Salaam.  The TRAFFIC was terrible and everyone just does what they want. Wimcar asked "what’s going on?" but this is just normal in AFRICA.

Lindi

Lindi was a beautiful town. The influence of the gas pipeline was visible. New, unoccupied buildings were between the old reed houses. We stopped at an amazing little beach with only one women sitting on the sand, colourfully dressed in her Sarie. Slowly she moved closer to us staring in amazement. Nellie and Wimcar explored the beach and found exquisite shells. Nellie, who tastefully decorates our table every evening, will use them as decorations. She really spoils us. 

At Kilwa Beach Resort, the Boys found us a “tricky to get in” camping spot. After a lot of manoeuvring the three vehicles were parked under a giant tree. This will be a 2-night, which will give everybody the time to sort out their personal stuff and vehicles. Chris is still suffering from the robbery. His electric tester is gone – converting solar to electricity is impossible without a tester. Hans arranged with Vera, our helpful hostess, to get Chris one. 55,000 shillings and the tester was his - job done.

Big Lobsters (as they call it, but it's Crayfish as Wimcar explained to us) were on our plate with Paella - a feast fit for a King, thanks to Vera.

We enjoyed long walks along the beach and Wimcar and Nellie tested the waters, just to end up bite marks from some sort of small white bugs.

 

 

 

 

 

Long blue fishing nets were on the sand, ready for the next catch. The fishermen were ready after saying their prayers.

 

We were entertained by their music as they were busy with their election campaign, until sunrise. Green Saries were parading in the street (gifts from one Party) and was now the only evidence of last night’s party.

The morning of 23 July, had our daily praise and worship and we were ready. Dar- Es- Salaam and our host,  Adam,  was waiting for.

4000km from home...

On Monday morning, 20 July, we reached 4000 km. We had no idea where we would be sleeping tonight. Tendegrees featured as a prominent stop in all the books. Friendly people and dogs... so they said – instead of a sniff and a lick, Hans got a tooth in his calf. Needless to say, he wasn't impressed. Demestos and Lelanie's black tube came to the rescue (there is no chance to sue as in America).

It was Chris’s lucky day - ICE CREAM FLOAT. Wimcar had the same excitement but with Captain Morgan and Coke instead. Nellie was kind enough to brew up a Bodum coffee for the rest of us.

We visited the Boma at Mikindane. This is where Livingstone arrived and then took his journey further on the Rovuma River. The Boma was beautifully renovated in a true Colonial style and was now a hotel, where local people are trained to acquire different skills. A tutor was busy with an English lesson to a Swahili student.  They teach them to catch a fish, not to get one. 

The road took us to a Baobab, Palm and Cashew plantation. The villages are still the same, some with corrugated steel roofs and some reeds. The building style stays the same with wide verandas round the house. Probably to provide some coolness against the heat?

Our war against the mozzies was not getting any easier. They are definitely winning. I think they are immune to our weapons; Doom, coils, citronella, clothes spray and blue stickers????

At Rondo missionary, Hans phoned Pastor Forrest of the Catholic church. This missionary was founded by father Hadlestone, a former activist against apartheid.

At the house we met a couple from the UK on a sabbatical. They teach English to help the children on their way. Their transport is public taxis or busses. They don't know of all the dangers; they just enjoy the remote country and its people and were now heading for Maputo.

We set up camp. Soon, the children brought us buckets of water to use. Ablution facilities were in the house with no running water, only buckets.

Dinner was a Dutch one - meatballs rolled in cabbage, asparagus sauce, mash and lemony sticky sweet potatoes. Nellie made us a Greek Salad and for pudding - fresh pineapple rings from the land.

Our security Guard for the night was a man with a Bow and Arrow. We slept like babies.

Lindi will be our next stop.