Daily life in Tanzania
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…
lisbonchick 
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