Set loose

Last monday, we signed away the programme and were turned loose to wreak individual havoc on the continent. We spent a day wandering stone town, shopping and taking some time to regroup.
2 friends and I went up north and spent a few days in Nungwi. We caught a daladala which is the local kind of bus system, it is essentially a flatbed truck but with a kind of cabin instead of a truck bed. There were benches and a roof , and handles to hold on too, but you would be amazed at the ability of people to find a way to turn 2 free inches of space into room for another person. It was an absolute riot - and I even got to rock my Swahili trying to ask the woman sitting across from me if I could take a picture of the live chicken she was carrying in her handbag. (the computer won't read my thumbdrive - but its a great photo)
There was not much to do up north besides lie on the beach but the people were wonderfully friendly and the water was gorgeous. We met a fabulous couple from Ottawa who'd been traveling since November starting in Europe and on their way down to Johannesburg. They were some of the only backpackers that we've found since we got here in January- Africa seems to be a place where old people come to travel and feel wealthy. Especially Italians but no one's really sure why.
On friday we caught a daladala back to stone town and then a Ferry to the mainland. We are staying at the YWCA in Dar Es Saalam which I think has probably not changed since the 1950s since there is actually a 2 page list of rules including a description of the authority of, and the diciplinary action that will be taken by the matron. Yesterday we went grocery shopping, and then treated ourselves to a movie. ( 'we' by the way is the group of 6 I'm traveling in to Malawi. 2 guys and 3 other girls from the programme, all of whom are lots of fun) We saw Marley and me, which I guess was entertaining, but was actually a huge cultural experience. Dogs are not at all the same here- there are very few of them, and they're not so much pets as guard dogs or tolerable strays. It was incredible to see the different reactions in the audience, and blatantly obvious that only the ex-pats and tourists were really broken up by the ending. So funny to really notice that taking animals as family members is a genuine luxury. Its crazy how the little things can get you here.
Today we are hunting for a small restaurant that is rumoured to serve hummus - and I am at the point where I am actually willing to look all day- so keep your fingers crossed.
Tomorrow we hop the train and its a short 26 hours to Malawi. - we've started collecting bottle-tops for our very own travel checkers set, which should help pass the time.
Be in touch soon.
xxK