Tanzania Take Two

After a humongous farewell night in Ethiopia I was a little worse for wear when i commenced the next leg of my trip - taking an overland truck from Zanzibar to Cape Town. My pack was lighter, having posted 12.5 kgs of my ruck sack back home, and i was ready to really see the wonders of Africa.

I arrived with a Finnish girl also doing my tour and we set off to meet the rest of our group - some who'd commenced their route 10 days earlier in Nairobi. Since the people you're with make or break a 5 week tour like this i was relieved to find a friendly, outgoing collection of 20 somethings welcoming us warmly into the fold. This was going to be fun!

We went to a local bar to celebrate one of the girls' 30th birthdays but i turned in early, unable to back up from the night before. I was also low on cash, but more on that later. In the morning it was up early for... wait for it... ANOTHER Zanzibar Spice Tour! If you're a blog reader you'll remember my last torturous one with the Bomb Squad. Boredom at it's best, and one of the girls even remarked we should make t-shirts that read "I survived the Spice Tour". Twice for me.

Before heading North we stopped at a bank where my growing fears were realized. No money. Mum had transferred my money for this leg days earlier (save keeping it all on one card all the time) but it still hadn't arrived. And we were about to head north with no ATMs for 3 days. I was laden with Ethiopian Birr and Egyptian pounds but no beureau de change would covert them for me. I was really fretting cos I had about $5 left in Tanzanian shillings. So, after trying everything I could I was forced to board the bus up north, cashless. I promptly spent the last of my money on an S.O.S email to mum but due to the 8 hr time difference it was Saturday morning in Australia when she got it. Still, she called my Aunty Claire in Sydney who dashed to the airport as it was the only branch open... And they saved the day! When I woke up the next day I had money in the bank. Massive thank yous to the rescue squad!

So, I found myself back at the Sunset Bungalows, where I stayed last month with my volunteering tour. To really round out the Zanzibar de ja vu I ran into some girls and a guy I'd volunteered with then too. We made a few extra friends on the beach and all made plans to go back to this cute little restaurant with 3 tables on the sand and the best fish stew in Zanzibar. Waves lapping at your feet, and thousands of stars sparkling in the sky above - iconic African decor.

The next day I blissfully did absolutely nothing. After being ferried around constantly in Egypt it was a nice change to not have anything I must do. Besides, I had to conserve my energy for the big Halloween party that night that everyone was buzzing about.

Now, when you only have the contents of a rucksack and a basic bungalow with which to create a Halloween costume your options are severely limited. There were a lot of bed sheet togas and first aid kit mummies at the party, but I of course decided to be different and went as Smurfette in my pretty blue dress. I can safely say it was the worst costume EVER. Firstly it was crap. Secondly, Africa doesn't have the Smurfs so to them I just looked like someone who'd gone overboard on the blue eyeshadow and had a penchant for big white headscarves (how African). I was shuffled out of photos and quizzed at the door, and spent the night constantly explaining who I was to blank faces. I was also very sunburnt (should have gone as a stop sign in hindsight) and was drinking my favourite African cider - Redd's... the irony certainly wasn't lost on me.

Still my lead balloon costume didn't stop one of the dancers from hauling me up on stage where I was taught how to booty roll like a local while being draped in an enormous python!

My head was sore again the next morning and the flu I'd been gallantly warding off for the last few days had just the assistance it needed to take hold. I was a coughing, sneezing, headachy mess for the next few days.

Discovering that the owner of Makindi campsite, where we stayed outside Dar Es Salaam on the mainland 2 days later, was a closet clothing designer did give me some relief though. After more than 2 months wearing the same clothes I was desperate for a change and her cute cotton print pants and colorful dresses were a savior and a steal.

I then had 2 solid days of driving (23 hours all up) to get acquainted with our overland truck (never call it a bus apparently) as we wound our way through southern Tanzania towards our next destination. Malawi here I come!

I love Tanzania and it was so nice to see this friendly country again. I'll miss it like I do Ethiopia... And my little monkey back home. Kisses for my little guy with the softest fur in the world.

Xxx

Btw did you know "Tanzania" was the hybrid name given to the country when Tanganyika and Zanzibar became  one?