The Energy, Noises, and the Smiles

TODAY WE WERE UP AND READY TO LEAVE AROUND 7AM- BACK TO THE AIRPORT IN DAR- WE NEEDED TO GO BACK TO KILIMANJARO AND FROM THERE TO ARUSHA- A NORTH EASTERN AREA OF TANZANIA- THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD STAY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK. ARUSHA HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 3 MILLION, AND IS ABOUT 7 HOURS FROM DAR- ABOUT AN HOUR BY PLANE. WE TOOK A 20 MINUTE TAXI RIDE TO ARUSHA- WE HOPED TO SEE MT. KILIMANJARO ON THE WAY- BUT THAT WOULD BE FOR ANOTHER DAY. WE ARRIVED AT OUR HOTEL, ILBURU SAFARI LODGE, AT ABOUT 10AM. WHAT AN AMAZING PLACE- FIRST OF ALL-THE ROAD TO OUR HOTEL IS FULL OF STREET VENDERS- THE ROAD IS NO WIDER THAN A ONE CAR DRIVEWAY AND IS A DIRT ROAD- FULL OF MAJOR BUMPS, HOLES, ETC. THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE- SOME SELLING ITEMS SUCH AS SHOES, SHIRTS, STUFFED ANIMALS, THERE ARE SHOE SHINERS, SEAMSTRESSES, ALL LINE THE STREET. THERE ARE CHILDEREN EVERYWHERE- ALL SHARE THIS ROAD- AS WE DRIVE IT SEEMS WE WOULD HIT A VENDOR, CHILD, ETC. BUT ALL SEEM TO HAVE AN AWARENESS OF THE OTHER- IT MIGHT DRIVE OTHERS IN AMERICA CRAZY- BUT I LOVED IT- THE ENERGY, NOISES, AND THE SMILES- YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT! THIS IS THE FRIEDNLIEST PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN!

OUR HOTEL- THE ILBURU SAFARI LODGE- IS BEAUTIFUL- WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN ROOMS- NOT IN HOTEL CORRIDOR STYLE- BUT CABIN STYLE- THERE ARE BUILDINGS ON THE GROUNDS - TWO SEPARATE ROOMS IN EACH BULIDING- I AM NEXT TO CARRIE- WE HAVE WALK OUT “PATIOS” AND TWO BEDS, ETC- IT’S WONDERFUL! THERE IS A HUGE POOL AND WALKWAYS ALL AROUND THE “LODGE” LINED WITH FLOWERS, TREES, BUSHES, ETC! NONE OF THE ROOMS HAVE A TV, AND EACH HAS IT’S OWN MINI WATER HEATER THAT YOU MUST TURN ON ABOUT 20 MINUTES BEFORE TAKING A SHOWER.

OKAY- I KNOW I’VE BARELY BEGUN THIS JOURNEY- BUT I’LL NEED TO WRITE MORE LATER- HERE IS A BIT OF WHAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SO FAR AND I’LL WRITE MORE LATER.

1. VISITED A SCHOOL WORKSHOP ON HIV/AIDS PREVENTION- I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR VIEW ON AMERICA.

2. I VISITED A MASAI VILLAGE- JUST OUTSIDE OF ARUSHA- THIS WAS THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE! OUR GUIDE AND NOW FRIEND- ALAN, IS A MEMBER OF THE MASAI AND HE TOOK US TO HIS VILLAGE TO MEET IS FAMILY AND TEACH US ABOUT THE MASAI- A TRIBE I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT!

3. LEARNED ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION CALLED TERRAWATU- EARTH PEOPLE- THIS ORGANIZATION WORKS TO BRING TRADITIONL MEDICINES AND WESTERN/MODERN MEDICINES TOGETHER- I’LL TELL YOU MORE LATER

4. VISITED A GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL- WHEW- THIS WAS A FUN AND “TOUGH” TALK/DISCUSSION

5. HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO EAT AMAZING FOOD, SAMPLE NEW BEERS, AND HAVE AMAZING CONVERSATIONS- ALAN IS FABULOUS!

6. SEE SO MANY ADORABLE CHILDREN

7. TOMORROW I AM GOING TO MT. KILMANJARO - WE’LL BE TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE DISAPPEARING GLACIER - PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON THE WATER FROM THE GLACIER. . CAN’T WAIT!

ANYWAY - I’M HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME- I’LL TELL YOU ALL MORE LATER!

CARRIE

Filed under Tanzania, Carrie Lennox.
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