lisbonchick

Feeling settled and now it is nearly time to go!  We have made some good friends and have somehow grown some roots in this place that seemed so alien to us not that long ago. Walking through Moshi felt like walking through some mad chaos where everything looked the same.  Unknown smells, different noises, “strange” people, different rules in terms of eye contact, personal space and traffic added to this chaos.  It felt claustrophobic at times as well as exciting.  Going into town became a major expedition and any achievement (such as buying a kitchen bin) made me elated and proud!  Generally, it was impossible to find anything I wanted and after a couple of hours of wandering the streets, I would come home, usually empty handed and exhausted.  Now, I see things, I see shops, items, people, fruit…  It is as if life has come into focus again.  I will miss it, I am sure.  This laid back feel, the space, the magnificent views, the downpours, the permanent bird song, the smiles all around me and the sense of not being alone as everybody greets and talks to each other.

There is something about Africa (yes, I know it is big and not all the same), about the way of living, the way of just being, the way of not caring, the way of simplicity that is good for the soul.  On the other hand, animal cruelty, child abuse, extreme poverty, lack of human rights can be very painful and raw to experience.  It is certainly a place where emotions are pulled from left to right.  I have taken photos of daily scenes which I pass by chance and of places I go and enjoy.  Hopefully, it will transmit some of the atmosphere of the place and what we have experienced since being here.

I was not sure which photos to add so have added a selection from the past 22 months.  It is like a walk through Moshi and Tanzania through photos.  I have been told I get far too wistful at times in my writing so I am letting the photos do the talking this time.

Carrot washing by the river in Moshi

The derelict railway station, great place for a drink in the evening

How do they do that?!

I think it is closed….

Dancing with a group of women in Mambo, Lushoto

West Kilimanjaro

Jackie contemplates death at Lake Manyara

Apparently they do not bite, can’t remember what sort it was…

Getting muddy at Lake Manyara

Wood collecting

Young Maasai before becoming warriors

This always make me smile when I drive past

Driving home one evening

Sugar cane plantation bus stop

Evening football game

Sunset swimming at Lake Manyara

Love the barber shops

Would not see this in Europe!

Hotel car park, the only car there and we were the only guests!

Christmas day Bagamoyo 2015

Local cafe, sadly iy was closed

Never seen this before….

Food shopping

One of the two rubbish bins in Moshi

Road block

Local bus

Posing beach Maasai

Lake Natron, the only vehicle we saw for a long time!

Lake Natron – Ol Donyo Lengai volcano

Walk with a Maasai, well more of a clamber across a small canyon

Petrol station in Wasso, tookk us a while to find it

Zebra photobombs our selfie

Crossing Lake Victoria

Beautiful animals

Testing the water at Lake Victoria

At Ujiji by the lake

Kigoma’s finest establishment

Sunset over Lake Victoria

Hard choices in Kahama…

Wanna fight?  Boys pose for a photo in Mambo

No idea how they jump so high!

Mambo views

Chill out time

Zanzibar

A local walk

Mataruni waterfall

Coming right at us

Boys in Pangani town

Ushongo beach

First time with binoculars

Mobile basketry

Amani reserve

First 4W4 experience

Road works

Well done for getting to the end!  Hopefully this has been a journey through some parts of Tanzanian life.  But wait, this is not the final blog yet…

As April comes to an end we are faced with our impending departure.  Time is flying fast and the end seems near.  I know it sounds a little extreme but the end of our adventure in Tanzania is bitter sweet, a love/hate relationship, a roller-coaster of extreme emotions. Today we may feel like we can not wait to leave whilst tomorrow we can not imagine not being here.

Tanzania has been a country of extremes for us.  The natural beauty is astounding and awe inspiring.  The country is magnificent, the views that go on forever and the sheer amount of space.  Nature is simply breathtaking, the variety of animals big and small, the trees, flowers, rivers, mountains…  I have fallen in love with elephants, incredibly beautiful and on the brink of extinction should poaching continue at the current rate.  The cities are not attractive, they look chaotic at first until we learn to navigate this different world which is at times overwhelming.  The people are friendly and helpful but not always trustworthy. Their wide smiles and welcoming friendliness are warming and remind me that there is still humanity in this world.  On another hand, I have seen plenty of cruelty here, against humans and animals which has left me bereft.  So from one thing to another, day by day, loving the place, getting mad with people’s apathy, missing food and the Saturday Guardian…

The most amazing thing has, of course, been the animals!  I have posted plenty of photos but here are the latest ones from Tarangire, Maramboi, Lake Manyara, Simba Farm and Mkomazi.

Up and very close to baby elephant

Are you looking at me?

Scary eyes!

Saddle billed stork

Dik Dik

Spot the bird

Baboon meditating

Leopard tortoise

Lilac breasted roller

Love birds

Big horse, small horse

Pelicans and flamingos

Never seen sitting giraffes….

Sun bird

Our resident garden owl!

Being close to nature has been truly amazing.  Nature here is raw, untouched, wild, unsophisticated.  It has made me realize its beauty and how truly spectacular it is.  I have developed a love of elephants.  They are no longer animals I saw in the circus as a little girl which now I know is cruel and causes so much suffering.  They are beautiful, majestic, clever, gentle and are being killed on a daily basis.  Let’s all try to do something towards keeping this ecosystem and its animals!  It would be extremely sad if our grandchildren will no longer be able to see an elephant in the wild, or any other animal….

The most amazing thing has no doubt been to camp in the wild with the animals.  I wish we could have done it more!  Camping in the Serengeti, we had hyenas and leopards walking around the tent.  In Tarangire, there were lions grunting close by through the night and impalas and giraffes were by the tent in the morning.  In Ruaha, the elephants walked slowly by and the hippos wallowed in the river below.  It has been magnificent!