So today s Saturday May 14th. I will break up thise 3 days into sepersate posts, as I have too much info to share!
So far I've hardly had any problems with the jetlang, a benefit of being neqarly nocutrnal at home I am thinking!
So Thursday May 12th I mer with the volutneer coordinator of TVE, Sarah who lives here in Dar and she was amazingly helpful! She showed me around and took me where I could take out money. The exchange rate is crazy sounding here. 1,540.00 TZ Shillings is equivalent to 1.00 CND. So it feels like you are carrying around way too much $ all the time! I think I've nearly adjusted now though!
After getting out my money I also bought my bus ticket to Arusha, which was 28,000 shillings (18-19 CND). I also bought a phone which was 38,000 shillings (24-25 CND) As well as a SIM card for about 1CND dollar. If you want my TZ # message me on facebook or email me!
Sarah and I went to a local place where I tried Chips Mayai, this is essentially a french fry omlette and was actually really tasty! I tried out my first dala dala which are basically vans or mini buses, and they get crazy packed sometimes, and cost about 300 shillings (20cents) We took the dala dalas to Slipway a weekend craft market, though it wasn't very busy because it was only Thursday. It was at slipway where I saw the only other Mzungu (white person) of the day besides Sarah and I. From there we took a pajahji (i'm totally spelling it wrong but it's pronounced....pah-jaw-gee. They ar three-wheeled covered trike type things with no sides, they're super fun and cheap. After Sarah told me some good places to eat and left. I went to a restaurant called Chef's pride and had what I think was BBQ Chicken and Chapatti for 5,500 shillings (3.50 CND). All in all my first full day seemed to be a success and I already am loving it, though still not fully comprehending the fact that I am really here.
Will write more next time I get online, though it may be a few days away - I have so much to tell though I'll try not to get behind.
Miss everyone back home!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
34 Hours Later but I arrived Safe and Sound!
Here I am currently sitting in a restaurant called Chef's Pride in Sakina, this means I arrived here in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania safe and sound.
My journey here can best be described as very long and very tiresome. I left my mamma's house on May 10th at 6:15AM. My flight from Winnipeg to Toronto left at 9AM. I landed in Toronto 2.5 hours later, from there I endured a painstakingly boring 5.5hour layover. The journey was then continued with a 7.5 hour flight to Amsterdam. My layover here was only 3.5 hours long-so I used it to explore. Amsterdam International "Schipol" is the best airport I've ever been in! It is very well designed and has so many things to do. IO soptted in internet cafe, walked through a mini museum, and took a peek in the library. We eventually went through securtiy where they had the coolest body scanner. It looked like a huge vertical plastic tube that you stepped in and put your arms above your head, then a big magnetic arm would swing all around you taking a 360 degree x-ray exxentially. Then I got good and fondled because of the underwire in my bra, oh the joys of airport security!
Anyways when we were waiting they told us there would be an hour delay because we needed a different plane, as something had happened to the one originally scheduled for us. The last and final flight of the day was approximately another 10.5 hours. All in all it was was about 20.5 hours flying time and 10 hours of layovers. Also I never got to sit in a window seat the whole time :( and maybe only 4 hours of sleep all together. If you're ever planning on flying to Africa I highly recommend either getting the shortest layovers possible or more ideally taking a day or two in each spot so you can explore those cities too, and get some real sleep.
I knew I was in Africa the minute I stepped off the place and a wall of humidity hit me literally at the same time as 1 of the hundreds of large grasshopper type things that were in the connection tunnel landed on my arm! Getting my visa was simple enough, and a huge sense of relief cam over me as soon as I saw my bag on the other side, because I'd been slightly paranoid that it was going to get lost the entire journey, because of the mixture of 3 flights through 2 different airlines, and 4 different airports as we technically made a stop in the Kilimanjaro airport, before getting off in Dar. Either was kudos to all of the people who handle all the airport baggage, I totally appreciate you! :) My volunteer coordinator had arranged for a taxi driver to be waiting for me at the airport, so he picked me up and took me to my hostel.
So 34 hours from the time I left my mamma's house I arrived at Econolodge in Dar Es Salaam! The room is a double but I only have to pay for a single. It is very no frills but it does the job. There is running water and even hot water though when you shower it kind of feels like what I can only imagine being peed on would feel like, as the water pressure is rather null. The area it is in looks rather sketchy, mostly because you have to go down a poorly lit alley to get to the front entrance - I have had no problems so far though! I am hoping to keep it that way! However they do warn you about not taking any valuables with you anywhere because muggings do occur commonly in that area. The rooms cost 20,000 shillings for a single with a fan (12-14 CND) and I will be here until Sunday, so for 4 nights! This concludes my write up for now, I will write about my first few days in Dar in another post!
Cheers for now! :)
My journey here can best be described as very long and very tiresome. I left my mamma's house on May 10th at 6:15AM. My flight from Winnipeg to Toronto left at 9AM. I landed in Toronto 2.5 hours later, from there I endured a painstakingly boring 5.5hour layover. The journey was then continued with a 7.5 hour flight to Amsterdam. My layover here was only 3.5 hours long-so I used it to explore. Amsterdam International "Schipol" is the best airport I've ever been in! It is very well designed and has so many things to do. IO soptted in internet cafe, walked through a mini museum, and took a peek in the library. We eventually went through securtiy where they had the coolest body scanner. It looked like a huge vertical plastic tube that you stepped in and put your arms above your head, then a big magnetic arm would swing all around you taking a 360 degree x-ray exxentially. Then I got good and fondled because of the underwire in my bra, oh the joys of airport security!
Anyways when we were waiting they told us there would be an hour delay because we needed a different plane, as something had happened to the one originally scheduled for us. The last and final flight of the day was approximately another 10.5 hours. All in all it was was about 20.5 hours flying time and 10 hours of layovers. Also I never got to sit in a window seat the whole time :( and maybe only 4 hours of sleep all together. If you're ever planning on flying to Africa I highly recommend either getting the shortest layovers possible or more ideally taking a day or two in each spot so you can explore those cities too, and get some real sleep.
I knew I was in Africa the minute I stepped off the place and a wall of humidity hit me literally at the same time as 1 of the hundreds of large grasshopper type things that were in the connection tunnel landed on my arm! Getting my visa was simple enough, and a huge sense of relief cam over me as soon as I saw my bag on the other side, because I'd been slightly paranoid that it was going to get lost the entire journey, because of the mixture of 3 flights through 2 different airlines, and 4 different airports as we technically made a stop in the Kilimanjaro airport, before getting off in Dar. Either was kudos to all of the people who handle all the airport baggage, I totally appreciate you! :) My volunteer coordinator had arranged for a taxi driver to be waiting for me at the airport, so he picked me up and took me to my hostel.
So 34 hours from the time I left my mamma's house I arrived at Econolodge in Dar Es Salaam! The room is a double but I only have to pay for a single. It is very no frills but it does the job. There is running water and even hot water though when you shower it kind of feels like what I can only imagine being peed on would feel like, as the water pressure is rather null. The area it is in looks rather sketchy, mostly because you have to go down a poorly lit alley to get to the front entrance - I have had no problems so far though! I am hoping to keep it that way! However they do warn you about not taking any valuables with you anywhere because muggings do occur commonly in that area. The rooms cost 20,000 shillings for a single with a fan (12-14 CND) and I will be here until Sunday, so for 4 nights! This concludes my write up for now, I will write about my first few days in Dar in another post!
Cheers for now! :)
Monday, 9 May 2011
Times a Flyin'.....and so am I.
It is currently 1:09am Manitoba time on May 10th, 2011. To comprehend that May 10th has actually arrived, is extremely mind boggling - as after months of planning the day to start the adventures is here. I am all packed, and will hopefully make the weight and size restrictions. (My bag is weighing in at around 44 pounds!) As well as a full back pack and small purse for my carry-on. Here are the pictures of my bag from the night before take-off....
This is also funny....
My dearest dog Sheba must have seperation anxiety and gets quite anxious whenever we clean the house majorly, or pack, or change things around. She has been far from helpful in the packing process as she liked to conveniently be in the way all the time, or lay on my stuff laid out to pack. As in this picture where she was laying down about 4 feet away - got up and laid her self down again with her paw on some of the clothes I was just about to put in my bag. She is too funny, and will be extremely missed! :(
5 hours from now I will be waking up from the comfort of my own bed for one last time before I become accustomed to sleeping in/on: airplane seats, airport benches, hostels, bunk beds in a room with 5 other people, cots in mud huts, many more hostels and lots and lots of African ground! The thought of that absolutely enthralls me, and is still way too surreal! The idea that I am really flying to Africa for 137 days by myself is still a little hard to comprehend myself....and certainly comes with many many mixtures of emotions: Excitement, anxiousness, stress, fright, happiness, saddness, pride, and much anticipation to name just a few.
Many of you who might be reading this will be extremely missed, and it was not an easy thing to say my goodbye for nows and see ya laters! I never have been really good with goodbye. Though with every goodbye and good luck and stay safe I got, I felt extreme pride in the company I keep who have all been nothing but supportive and fantastic! I have always been told I was a girl with a lot of determination and drive to achieve nearly any goal I set in front of myself - though none of that would be possible without the encouragment from all of you lovely people...especially my mamma! :)
If you want to get in touch with me, I will do my best to get to an internet source as often as I can, and you can email me at..... kateleask@hotmail.com ......though for me it is just easier if it is on here, regardless I'd love to hear from you all!
Though I have a solid 29 hours of travel ahead of me, so I'm off to get some shut-eye before I have to get up again! Much love and best wishes to all! Stay in touch!
Kate
oxox
This is also funny....
My dearest dog Sheba must have seperation anxiety and gets quite anxious whenever we clean the house majorly, or pack, or change things around. She has been far from helpful in the packing process as she liked to conveniently be in the way all the time, or lay on my stuff laid out to pack. As in this picture where she was laying down about 4 feet away - got up and laid her self down again with her paw on some of the clothes I was just about to put in my bag. She is too funny, and will be extremely missed! :(
5 hours from now I will be waking up from the comfort of my own bed for one last time before I become accustomed to sleeping in/on: airplane seats, airport benches, hostels, bunk beds in a room with 5 other people, cots in mud huts, many more hostels and lots and lots of African ground! The thought of that absolutely enthralls me, and is still way too surreal! The idea that I am really flying to Africa for 137 days by myself is still a little hard to comprehend myself....and certainly comes with many many mixtures of emotions: Excitement, anxiousness, stress, fright, happiness, saddness, pride, and much anticipation to name just a few.
Many of you who might be reading this will be extremely missed, and it was not an easy thing to say my goodbye for nows and see ya laters! I never have been really good with goodbye. Though with every goodbye and good luck and stay safe I got, I felt extreme pride in the company I keep who have all been nothing but supportive and fantastic! I have always been told I was a girl with a lot of determination and drive to achieve nearly any goal I set in front of myself - though none of that would be possible without the encouragment from all of you lovely people...especially my mamma! :)
If you want to get in touch with me, I will do my best to get to an internet source as often as I can, and you can email me at..... kateleask@hotmail.com ......though for me it is just easier if it is on here, regardless I'd love to hear from you all!
Though I have a solid 29 hours of travel ahead of me, so I'm off to get some shut-eye before I have to get up again! Much love and best wishes to all! Stay in touch!
Kate
oxox
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