Bajaj are a little safer than boda boda so I try to take one if I can find one. I had been to the Chinese Supermarket in Mikocheni and then looked around for a bajaj. Up pulled a black vehicle with the words “Black horse” on the windscreen. We agreed a price to take me… Read More »
I look at Bongoyo Island every day. I sit on the balcony and gaze across the ocean at it. I can just about make out some sand on the shore but apart from that it looks like a forested island. The day came to visit it. I got a ferry ticket for 30,000/= and paid… Read More »
I love to see people playing cards and chess under trees on the streets and in China is was either cards or some games called Chinese chess and sometimes Ma Jong. Here is Tanzania, it’s mostly draughts (chequers) and it’s played with a handmade board and red and blue water bottle tops. This week I… Read More »
The boy came running up the stairs shouting for me. I wondered what on earth was going on. Was there a fire? had someone hurt themselves? “Come quickly. There’s a giant lizard in the pantry.” I put on the flips flops and headed downstairs and round he back of the house where a small group… Read More »
It’s hard not to stop staring out to sea and watch the dhow boats sails or being punted past. When the sun goes down and I am at Waterside Bar with my friends, the sight is beautiful. The wood from old and broken dhows is valuable as a source of wood to make craft items… Read More »
There are three tall coconut palms in the garden and often, when I am sitting on the balcony or at my desk looking out to sea, I hear a great thud and then see a coconut on the ground beneath the tree. I did wonder to myself how many people must die each year from… Read More »
I had decided that I should make more use of my balcony which is normally only used by malarial mosquitoes. So I bought some cheap mosquito nets and then headed down to Kariakoo Market. I had seen it on the internet and it looked good. I wasn’t disappointed. It was not just the central distinctive… Read More »
I had this idea that Coco Beach would be really really busy on a Sunday but by the time I had got the taxi there, there was almost nobody on the beach. In fact there were probably more stall holders and hawkers there than customers. I stated at the far end and walked the length… Read More »
I wasn’t going to bother going to Dar Es Salaam but I had time and it seemed quite a cheap place to get to and stay so I thought – why not! I was in Moshi but got the hostel to book me on the Super Luxury Bus. I was a little suspicious but when… Read More »