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I got back Sunday night at 9 pm, after a 36 hour journey. I could've gone to bed immediately to get on a regular schedule, but instead I stayed awake until 4am; unpacking, transferring pictures, eating pie, etc. Now I'm suffering the consequences of that, so I've been uploading photos since three this morning.
What follows is a sort of photojournal, with a favorite picture that characterizes each day (or two), and a short blurb about it. If you'd like to read more about my trip, but somehow missed out on the e-mail list, I've posted my Tanzanian mass e-mails to my journal as backdated entries. Enjoy!
A larger collection of photos is located on my Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/igglebop/
A 1-Week Layover in Europe
Day 1 - "...or did you get lost in Amsterdam?"
Self-explanatory.
Day 2 - Traveling alone in Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a quaint, antique Dutch town about an hour away from Amsterdam. It's famous for the weekly cheese market, which I, unfortunately, missed. That gets added to a long list of other things I didn't see, including the cheese museum (arrived too late), the cathedral (open every day but Tuesday), and the canal tour (couldn't find it). Still, it was a satisfying trip, if only for the beatiful scenery and the amazing green salad I had for lunch.
Day 3 - Dinner, on a budget
We arrived at Camping Zeeburg exhausted and eager for some time away from the city. Aside from realizing that I'd booked it for June instead of July, the camp was as relaxing and beautiful as I'd hoped. Thankfully, they successfully managed to arrange cabins for us at no extra charge. For this dinner, we ate spiced cheese from Alkmaar, Nutella remnants, and stuffed peppers from a can.
Day 5 - Cathedrals, Crêpes, and the Eiffel Tower
We took the train to Paris early in the morning, arriving at noon. We had to be back by 10pm to get our bags from left luggage. Our one-day tour of Paris included genuine French crêpes from a street vendor, a lesser-known cathedral, a tour of the disappointing Centre Pompidou, and a stop at the Eiffel Tower. We were running out of time and the line for the elevator was too long, so hiked it.
Day 6 - Travel, travel, travel...
We slept in the Charles de Gaulle airport.
Tanzania
Day 1 - L'Oasis Lodge
First impression? Greenery. Everywhere.
Day 2 - Arusha National Park Safari
Refreshing.
Our personal armed guard, standing near the buffalo on our hike.
Day 5 - Tengeru market day
Every Wednesday and Saturday in the nearby Tengeru Village is market day. I thought it was rude to take pictures outright, so I held my camera by my waist and shot through my fingers. I ended up with lots of pictures of my fingers. I didn't get any photos, but yes, people really do carry giant baskets on their heads.
Day 6 - Saint Lucia's Hospice visit
St. Lucia's is a care facility for victims of AIDS. When we visited, there were about 12 children, four other youth, and two middle-aged women who could've been mistaken for children. They had very minimal resources. Water was collected from the roof, via the pipe visble in the picture, then it drained into this tank.
Day 8 - Hike with Mwalimu
I set out to go hiking on my own, only to meet up with Mwalimu, a local whom I'd spoken with a few days before in the village. He offered to show me around, and though I wasn't too excited about it at the time, I was glad I'd ran into him by the end of the trip. We visited a gorgeous waterfall, quite possibly the most amazing site of the trip. Later on our journey, he took me to a small creek with an inviting jungle vine, and I made the long-awaited Jungle Vine Swing. For those who don't know, it's been my goal to swing on a vine ever since age 8, when I discovered you actually could do it.
Day 9 - Maasai boma
A Maasai woman in traditional garb and jewelry.
Day 10 - Lake Duluti
We hiked to the nearby Lake Duluti. No one swims in it, cause it has "evil spirits." Apparently they're of the breed which infect your body and attack your liver.
Day 12 - Moshi town
The trip to Moshi was mostly about shopping, plus a hike to yet another beautiful waterfall. On the way, the driver hit a speedbump, and our bus broke in half. I told Zik, "Hey, there's a big crack in our bus." He said, "Oh! That needs to be fixed." We continued driving.
Day 16 - Hike with Mwalimu #2
I set up a full day hike with Mwalimu this time. He took me to a waterfall by his village, where we barbecued raw meat on a fire, then ate it in a carved-out area behind the waterfall. We then returned to his house, where he'd prepared more food. I wasn't supposed to eat raw food, especially if it has been washed in the local water. But, wanting to be a good guest (and being really hungry at the time), I went ahead and ate my fill. I didn't get sick.
Day 17 - United African Alliance Community Centre
We spent an evening touring the UAACC compound, a volunteer-run school established by former black panther Pete O'Neal. Pictured above is Pete himself. He's crazy. But I mean that in a good way.
Day 18 - Nane Nane Festival (Farmer's Day)
This Tuesday was Farmer's Day, where many farmers bring their goods to a huge festival in town. It felt like a little taste of home, with the hundreds of vendors, a carnival ride, and even a petting zoo. Pictured above is Michelle petting a hedgehog. Just like at home.
Day 20 - Tekua
Continuing with my visits to other volunteers' placements, today I saw Tekua secondary school. It's part art school, part secondary school, and they sell the artwork of the students to support the school.
Day 21 - Upendo Nursery School
At first I'd thought it would be rude to bring a camera into my school placement. But for my last day, we threw a going-away party and I decided to break the camera rule. Here I am surrounded by my kids, with the flowers they'd given me tucked haphazardly into my hair, and Mama Anna looking on happily from the background.
Day 21 (cont.) - The orphanage
A taste of sadness on my last day, the orphanage was full of babies whose mothers had died and whose fathers were either dead or were waiting until they were older to accept them. Pictured above is the cutest baby in Africa (he's the one on the left, if you were wondering).
The End
Remember to check out my flickr site if you want to see more!
What follows is a sort of photojournal, with a favorite picture that characterizes each day (or two), and a short blurb about it. If you'd like to read more about my trip, but somehow missed out on the e-mail list, I've posted my Tanzanian mass e-mails to my journal as backdated entries. Enjoy!
A larger collection of photos is located on my Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/igglebop/
A 1-Week Layover in Europe
Day 1 - "...or did you get lost in Amsterdam?"
Self-explanatory.
Day 2 - Traveling alone in Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a quaint, antique Dutch town about an hour away from Amsterdam. It's famous for the weekly cheese market, which I, unfortunately, missed. That gets added to a long list of other things I didn't see, including the cheese museum (arrived too late), the cathedral (open every day but Tuesday), and the canal tour (couldn't find it). Still, it was a satisfying trip, if only for the beatiful scenery and the amazing green salad I had for lunch.
Day 3 - Dinner, on a budget
We arrived at Camping Zeeburg exhausted and eager for some time away from the city. Aside from realizing that I'd booked it for June instead of July, the camp was as relaxing and beautiful as I'd hoped. Thankfully, they successfully managed to arrange cabins for us at no extra charge. For this dinner, we ate spiced cheese from Alkmaar, Nutella remnants, and stuffed peppers from a can.
Day 5 - Cathedrals, Crêpes, and the Eiffel Tower
We took the train to Paris early in the morning, arriving at noon. We had to be back by 10pm to get our bags from left luggage. Our one-day tour of Paris included genuine French crêpes from a street vendor, a lesser-known cathedral, a tour of the disappointing Centre Pompidou, and a stop at the Eiffel Tower. We were running out of time and the line for the elevator was too long, so hiked it.
Day 6 - Travel, travel, travel...
We slept in the Charles de Gaulle airport.
Tanzania
Day 1 - L'Oasis Lodge
First impression? Greenery. Everywhere.
Day 2 - Arusha National Park Safari
Refreshing.
Our personal armed guard, standing near the buffalo on our hike.
Day 5 - Tengeru market day
Every Wednesday and Saturday in the nearby Tengeru Village is market day. I thought it was rude to take pictures outright, so I held my camera by my waist and shot through my fingers. I ended up with lots of pictures of my fingers. I didn't get any photos, but yes, people really do carry giant baskets on their heads.
Day 6 - Saint Lucia's Hospice visit
St. Lucia's is a care facility for victims of AIDS. When we visited, there were about 12 children, four other youth, and two middle-aged women who could've been mistaken for children. They had very minimal resources. Water was collected from the roof, via the pipe visble in the picture, then it drained into this tank.
Day 8 - Hike with Mwalimu
I set out to go hiking on my own, only to meet up with Mwalimu, a local whom I'd spoken with a few days before in the village. He offered to show me around, and though I wasn't too excited about it at the time, I was glad I'd ran into him by the end of the trip. We visited a gorgeous waterfall, quite possibly the most amazing site of the trip. Later on our journey, he took me to a small creek with an inviting jungle vine, and I made the long-awaited Jungle Vine Swing. For those who don't know, it's been my goal to swing on a vine ever since age 8, when I discovered you actually could do it.
Day 9 - Maasai boma
A Maasai woman in traditional garb and jewelry.
Day 10 - Lake Duluti
We hiked to the nearby Lake Duluti. No one swims in it, cause it has "evil spirits." Apparently they're of the breed which infect your body and attack your liver.
Day 12 - Moshi town
The trip to Moshi was mostly about shopping, plus a hike to yet another beautiful waterfall. On the way, the driver hit a speedbump, and our bus broke in half. I told Zik, "Hey, there's a big crack in our bus." He said, "Oh! That needs to be fixed." We continued driving.
Day 16 - Hike with Mwalimu #2
I set up a full day hike with Mwalimu this time. He took me to a waterfall by his village, where we barbecued raw meat on a fire, then ate it in a carved-out area behind the waterfall. We then returned to his house, where he'd prepared more food. I wasn't supposed to eat raw food, especially if it has been washed in the local water. But, wanting to be a good guest (and being really hungry at the time), I went ahead and ate my fill. I didn't get sick.
Day 17 - United African Alliance Community Centre
We spent an evening touring the UAACC compound, a volunteer-run school established by former black panther Pete O'Neal. Pictured above is Pete himself. He's crazy. But I mean that in a good way.
Day 18 - Nane Nane Festival (Farmer's Day)
This Tuesday was Farmer's Day, where many farmers bring their goods to a huge festival in town. It felt like a little taste of home, with the hundreds of vendors, a carnival ride, and even a petting zoo. Pictured above is Michelle petting a hedgehog. Just like at home.
Day 20 - Tekua
Continuing with my visits to other volunteers' placements, today I saw Tekua secondary school. It's part art school, part secondary school, and they sell the artwork of the students to support the school.
Day 21 - Upendo Nursery School
At first I'd thought it would be rude to bring a camera into my school placement. But for my last day, we threw a going-away party and I decided to break the camera rule. Here I am surrounded by my kids, with the flowers they'd given me tucked haphazardly into my hair, and Mama Anna looking on happily from the background.
Day 21 (cont.) - The orphanage
A taste of sadness on my last day, the orphanage was full of babies whose mothers had died and whose fathers were either dead or were waiting until they were older to accept them. Pictured above is the cutest baby in Africa (he's the one on the left, if you were wondering).
The End
Remember to check out my flickr site if you want to see more!