Adios Arusha

Yesterday was my last night in Arusha. I spent most of the morning doing errands with Jutta and Francesco-one of the Italians (hehe shopping). And then when I got home, Asif decided he wanted to have a barbecue. 

We convinced him to also invite the Italians along with Jutta. So the total number of people went from six to 14 in a couple minutes. 

Then it was time for prep. Sabri and I were sent to go do the drink/whatever else was needed shopping. And it was like being back at home! We were being so loud and obnoxious. 

And then...suddenly, out of the blue, as we were in the drink aisle Sabrina said "you know, I love Dr Pepper, I'm gonna get one." 

And there it was! DR PEPPER!! I may or may not, but definitely did yell "THEY HAVE DR PEPPER?!" At the top of my lungs as we were surrounded by people...

I took a picture as proof. 

There it is! A taste of home!! I haven't tried it yet, but we shall see how it compares. 

Anyway, we finish buying drinks and such and come home to start prepping/packing. 

Finally, all the guests arrive and Asif tells me to put on my iPod (because I have the best music ever) so that he can enjoy barbecuing to some real music. 

So the party started at 7:30-8 and the last guests left at 3...and we were eating until 3...well, mostly I was eating until 3...because I love barbecue and Asif is as good as Dad when it comes to barbecue. 

But that was my last night in Arusha and it couldn't have gone better! Good food and good company! 

Also, I found out that Poochie is actually called Gucci...sooo...

We call him the mzungu dog, because he is so white. 

A Sunny Christmas

Christmas in Africa, or rather Arusha (since I shouldn't generalize), is not what you'd expect...it's just like Christmas at home! Except for the weather and a few minor details. 

This was my first Christmas away from home and surprisingly, I didn't feel homesick. Granted, I have FaceTime so I was able to talk to my mom, dad and sister. As well as a couple crazy aunts :p. 

But, seriously, this Christmas was pretty cool. 

On Christmas Eve, Sabrina, Asif and I all went for last minute shopping. Y'all. Shopping here is so easy! We went into the store and Asif gave the people his list. They found all the things we needed and had it all packed. During that time we went to go collect presents and buy more stuff. When we got back to the store, everything was done! 

As we got home, we got pulled over by the cops. Now, most of y'all know when you get pulled over you have to show your license, insurance, registration and the entire process takes forever. You get written up and blah blah blah. Well not here! Here the cop will pull you over and either tell you what you were doing wrong and ask for money or just straight up ask for money. So when we got pulled over Asif was already pulling out money. The whole process took maybe a minute. Maybe. I don't even think Asif fully stopped the car haha! 

So we get home and around 7 pm (this is still Christmas Eve) we start opening gifts. 

Now this part is a bit different from what my family does because we open only one gift Christmas Eve and then the rest we open Christmas morning. But apparently Europeans and Africans open the presents on Christmas Eve. And y'all, I actually got a couple of gifts! 

These two super cool bags from a designer in Dar es Salaam. The name is Moyo. And two journals that look completely African! Whoot whoot! 

Anyway, after opening gifts Sabrina and I went to watch Castle (which is my new favorite show). Before we knew it, it was 10 and we still hadn't had dinner! So Asif took us out to Khan's, which is famous in Arusha as well as among tourists. Delicious fries, chicken, mishkaki, and shish kebab! (Nope, I didn't take pictures). 

On Christmas morning, I woke up to wonderful sunny weather and a barbecue breakfast! 

It was almost like being back home! 

There is Asif, the master chef of Arusha! Omelettes galore! 

After a delicious breakfast, we spent the majority of the morning stressing over the table layout along with the silverware. 

There is the table! Sabri and I did all that y'all! Well, not the food part, that was Sabri's grandma. 

We had a relatively normal Christmas lunch, with turkey and potatoes and such. All the works! Gravy and cranberry jelly included. 

After lunch, Sabri and I realized we hadn't had any pictures together sooo guess what we did...

The two half breeds!

Showing off our food babies. 

Andddd being super girls. 

Anyway, after all the guests left we were too tired to do anything except finish Castle and eat popcorn hehe. 

The next morning we were up bright and early to go work out at the gym. After almost dying, we came home to enjoy leftover turkey omelettes!

Then, Sabri stayed home to study and I went to Jutta's (Sabri's mom) orphanage, Malika. 

This place is amazing. She has 6 boys and 6 girls. The kids are so adorable! I had visited before, but at night. So it was cool to see the entire place in the daylight. 

The entire area is self sustaining. They are fully solar powered. There is a farm with a cow and calf along with 7 chickens. They have veggies growing as well. It is just a cool place. And all the kids are registered in social welfare, which is how they are accepted at Malika, otherwise they would be full of kids. 

When I got there, there were friends of Jutta's visiting from Italy. -you pronounce her name (you-ta). So they were making pizza, tortellini, and bread for lunch. It was basically a party for the kids. 

There are some of them dancing! I have videos too!

As a surprise, for the girls mostly, a guy named Carlos came. He is Arusha's best nail guy and he is totally amazing. Those girl's nails looked so good. They all had hot pink! It was a rare treat because during school the girls aren't allowed nail polish.

After spending the majority of the day Malika (which means angel in Swahili), Sabri and I went with Rahim, Alkarim, Zuby and some aunts and uncles of theirs to go see Dhoom 3. 

We had been trying to watch Dhoom 3 the past 2 days but it had been sold out. Finally we were able to see it! 

Now, I forgot to mention that here in Tanzania and I'm sure Kenya as well, when you go to a movie...you have assigned seats. Of course, you get to purchase which seat, but you have to sit in that spot. Which I think is ridiculous, but that's just the "American" in me. 

But other than that, the movie was pretty good! Full of action, which I love. Although they totally ripped off the concept of the movie The Prestige!! Both Alkarim and I noticed. 

After the movie we had dinner and said our goodbyes since Sabri and I won't be in Arusha for New Years. 

I was so lucky to meet such cool people on the safari, and lucky that we could hang out for the last three weeks that I have been here!

And yesterday, we went to the pharmacy to help with stock counting...which was interesting.

But then we had dinner with the Italians and we had fondue...but the meat kind! Which I have never had before! And for dessert...

A chocolate truffle slice. Sooo good!! 

Back to the Roots

Yesterday, I went on a day trip to Moshi and Marangu falls with the safari group for the last time before James and Lorna leave. (Rahim, Alkarim, James, Lorna, and Rahim's cousin Hussein and his girlfriend whose name I can't spell...) Zuby wasn't able to make. But we picked up a friend we had met on the safari, Ruby, in Moshi. 

So anyway, Rahim had said he was going to pick me up at 1 on Monday...at around 1 he texted me saying he would be there in 20 minutes. When he sent that text, I told my cousin Sabrina "it'll be an hour before he actually shows up." And sure enough after an hour he texts me again saying he would be there in 10 minutes. But that time, he actually did show up in 10 minutes haha. 

So off we go, to my actual Fathaland! On the way there, we tried to see mount Kili but it was covered in clouds. Here is the only picture I could get. 

I'm not even sure if that captured all of Kili...

So after about an hour and a half we arrive in Moshi. I asked Rahim to stop by the old Ismali compound on Agakhan street. Ma and Bapa- We weren't sure which house was number 13 and we tried to ask around but it didn't turn out so well. I took pictures of the entire compound though, just to be sure. Hopefully this was the right place!

If our counting was right, that light one should be number 13. 

That's the whole compound! I hope it's the right one! And if it is, it was cool to see where my father grew up and where my family was originally from. The town of Moshi is probably completely different from what it used to be. It was not as small as I thought. 

We didn't stay very long in Moshi because we had to get to the falls and then drop James at the airport, so we didn't have much time. We picked up Ruby and headed off to the falls. 

As we reached Marangu, Rahim started trying to clarify where we were going. Some guy on a piki piki approached us and offered to take us to the falls, so we agree. 

He takes us all along this dusty road and then there is this sign for some falls that start with a "k". (I can't remember what there were called.) As we are going down this road, we all start getting a bit sketched out. There is no area to park and it doesn't seem as though anyone comes to this side. Also, Rahim was saying he didn't remember this place (because he had been to the falls we were going to before). 

Then Rahim calls over the guy who offered to lead us and chews him out. The guy played dumb. And then decided he would lead us to the right falls after we had been driving for 30 minutes. 

At this point, we realize we won't have much time to swim at the falls because it was already 5 something and we had to drop James off around 7:30. 

So after another 30 minutes of driving we finally make it to the falls!

That's a statue at the top. 

And those are the falls. It was so beautiful. There were evergreen trees and both Ruby and I were saying it looked just like Canada. 

We all took pictures together as well, but I have to get them from Rahim. I'll post them as soon as I get them! 

There were a lot of close calls with almost falling in the water, but it was fun! 

So then, we had to bust outta there and get James to the airport. We were actually on schedule so we are driving and driving. We drop Ruby back off in Moshi and James, Rahim and I head towards the airport. Alkarim, Lorna, Hussein and his girlfriend are ahead of us. 

At one point, Rahim is trying to pass and misjudges so he has to get back into the lane. James, jokingly, says "don't do anything stupid right before my flight home" and I kid you not, 10 minutes later James says "I think we have a flat tire..." We pull over to check and sure enough. The back left tire is completely out. 

Dad- you had always said this was going to happen and it finally did. I was totally prepared to change the tire, but of course. They wouldn't let me because I'm a girl. Hehe. Also, it was dangerous for me to be there. 

But we make James do some of the work. And it was only an hour and a half before his flight would leave. 

There he is trying to change the tire. 

So we call Alkarim and they come back to pick up James and I, while Hussein and Rahim stay behind to change the tire. 

We made it in time for the airport though! And James is hopefully back in the UK by now. 

Also, Rahim and Hussein changed that tire pretty fast and met us at the airport about 20 minutes after we dropped off James. 

Then we all headed back home. It was a very eventful trip. And I definitely could have changed that tire! 

Also, I forgot to mention...on Sunday Sabrina and I attempted to bake a cake with this, if I do say so myself, wierd recipe from BBC. This is how it turned out...

Yummy...haha. 

And I found cultural diffusion in Lipton tea!! Look at this!

Can't get that back home! But I can't find root beer here, so maybe it is evened out. 

Also, here is Poochie. 

Such a cutie!

Ngorongoro

Once we arrived to Ngorongoro, we had the shock of our lives. Or at least of my life. It was FREEZING! As in, I could see my breath! In Tanzania! During their summer! What even?? But the view was amazing. 

We were at Simba campsite, over looking the crater. It was the only public campsite for Ngorongoro because you're not allowed to camp inside the crater so it was packed! We had to wait extra long to get a table inside the eating area for dinner. 

And y'all I am serious. It was so cold. I had on 4 layers and 2 pant layers. And my teeth were still chattering! 

The next morning we were up at 6 to have breakfast and I was able to watch the sunrise. The pictures don't do justice but I'll never forget watching it. So gorgeous, well worth the loss of sleep. 

That's an attempt to capture the colors but it didn't work. 

So off we went for our last game drive. We had seen 4 out of the big five and were hoping to catch a glimpse of a rhino. Edrick told us that the best place to see them was in Ngorongoro because the animals don't leave the crater, but even then it is hard. 

The crater was huge! As soon as you enter you're overwhelmed (just like when you enter the Serengeti, but in a different way). They have plains, a lake and a jungle all within the same area. It is just weird. 

Apparently an elephant did that to that tree. And we saw many animals that we saw in the Serengeti. Warthogs,

ostriches,

wildebeest and zebras.

And of course, lions! 

And hippos, but I've already posted pictures from Kisumu. 

So as we are driving we approach another vehicle which is stopped. Edrick talks to the other driver and we learn that there is a rhino about 10 miles or so away. So out come the binoculars and sure enough a black block with a huge front horn is walking across the plains!! As soon as we could confirm, Edrick said "well, that's the big five!" Our mission was complete. Or at least, mine was. And this rhino was so far away even Lourna, with her fancy camera, couldn't get very good pictures. And that wasn't the only rhino we saw! Later on, we saw a light grey one. He was also about 7 or 8 miles in the distance. 

It was just the perfect trip...just amazing. I still can't believe we saw them all and had such a good time. I was lucky enough to be put in such a good group of people who were so nice and welcoming! 

From left to right: Edrick, me, Rahim, Alkarim, Zuby, James and Lourna. 

It was just an amazing experience. And anyone who goes to visit any country in Africa has to go. But I highly recommend the places I went to. Tarangire, Serengeti (which also overlaps the Masai Mara in Kenya...that's how big it is) and Ngorongoro. 

Serengeti Part 3

We spent another night at the Serengeti camp and Tuesday morning is when we really woke up early. At 5:30 a.m.  Except for Rahim who woke up at 6 and made us wait an extra 20 minutes haha.

We didn't even bother having breakfast because we were coming back to the camp around 11 a.m. to load up the car and head the Ngorongoro. 

So off we go, at 6:20 a.m. to see animals! And first thing we see is two lions mating...so that was fun. Haha. But then, after they finished, the male started walking towards us and I got some amazing pictures! Even with my crappy camera!

Isn't he gorgeous? That's Simba all grown up! And he even walked right past us growling for his mate. It was just mind blowing to be that close to such a magnificent animal. 

And then we stumbled upon more lions. These ones were mostly sleeping, but I was able to get a video of one of the lions walking right towards us and sitting down. Then we took pictures with it in the back ground. 

There's Rahim and I trying to get the lion to attack us...I'm still alive so it obviously didn't work haha. 

That's two baby cubs cuddling!

And then we saw more cheetahs! These ones I was able to get good pictures of. 

There are two of them in the second picture, if you can see them. 

After that we headed back to pack up and have brunch. Then we headed off to Ngorongoro. The drive was supposed to take maybe 4 hours when we left around 12:30-1. But a few things happened...

First off, it rained like crazy. I'm talking thunderstorming. And then, our car broke down. The front end started smoking inside. And this is how laid back I am, I saw the smoke after everyone else also noticed it and I was the one who was blocking the door. Rahim freaked out and yelled at me to get out and I was so tired, I just looked at him and said "why?" He thought the car was going to blow up...which it didn't. But he was laughing at me afterwards. 

When Edrick and Paul inspected under the hood, they found that we had a short circuit and needed a new wire. Thankfully, after about 30-40 minutes a South African man pulled over (because remember...we were still in the middle of the Serengeti) and he had an extra wire. Then after he left the issue because, well we need tape or something to keep the wire from sparking. And this is why I call Paul a gangsta. 

Every time some one pulled over, he wouldn't even greet them. He would just say "tape leta." Which means "give me tape" in Swahili. No please, no hello, just give me tape. Hahahaha. 

But anyways, we didn't find tape so they just wrapped a plastic bag around the wire. And then we got a push start with tire to tire (as in the back tires on the truck for spares pushed eachother with another jeep). But we had no electricity anymore (no headlights, windshield wipers...) and we couldn't shut off the car because then we would have to push start again. 

But we finally made it to Ngorongoro, around 7 or so. With the complete African experience of the car breaking down! 

Serengeti Part 2

After the first night in the Serengeti, we woke up early to head off for another game drive. And by early, I mean at 7 or so again. 

We saw these cute little things called "dik dik's" ...don't ask me why they are called that...

It's right underneath the tree. So cute! 

And then we saw two giraffes doing the famous power stance with the neck fighting! 

I think it was the most calm fighting I've ever seen in my life. I didn't even notice until Edrick pointed it out! 

Then we came across a pride of lions. They were just chilling in front of a great line of wildebeest. 

It's a bad pic, but I have better ones! Anyway, the family consisted of a male, 3 females and 2 cubs. As we were watching this family, I noticed one of the female lions looking across the field at the wildebeest. Then Alkarim said "look! Cheetahs!" Three cheetahs took down a wildebeest! It was amazing to see!! I've always seen kills on Nature but never in real life! It's freaking scary! And after the wildebeest was successfully killed by those cheetahs, the lions got up and scared the cheetahs away so that they could eat. Talk about lazy!! Those poor cheetahs got jipped hardcore! 

After that, we saw some "honeymooner" lions...so you can guess what we witnessed...haha. 

And then, we saw another leopard! This one was the most difficult to see. It was at the base of the tree and because there was so much grass you could barely even make out it's body. But still, we could see it (with binoculars). 

Before we headed back to camp, we stopped at a store to get some snacks. As we were there we saw all these baboons. (The store was in the middle of the Serengeti). Then, I headed out to the car to get some water and Zuby was in the car. All of a sudden, a HUGE baboon jumps through the window, Zuby screams, I may or may not have cussed explicitly as I am standing outside the window opposite. The baboon quickly snatched a packed of biscuits, gives me and Zuby a look and jumps out the roof onto the store roof! EVIL MONKEYS! It was so scary!! Worse than the other monkey! All the guys were laughing at us, especially at poor Zuby who was in the car. 

There is one of the baboons. Not sure if he is the one, but he could be. 

Also during this safari we were able to see a serval cat. 

One of the cutest kitties ever! 

As we approach the campsite we see a whole group of elephants, with the babies!!! 

The baby is to the left. 

They were surrounding our entire campsite! 

Then Rahim and I did something very stupid. First off, Rahim decides he wants a picture (we have already gotten back to the campsite and all the elephants were by the bathrooms). So he gets Alkarim to stand with the camera as Rahim approaches the elephant. Alkarim was actually taking a video. And so Rahim is getting closer and closer and all of a sudden the elephant shakes it's head and stomps. Rahim yells "ya Allah!" And runs. 

Then, he decides to try again but this time he wants me in the picture also. So we are cautiously approaching and as we get closer the elephant does a roar (or what ever you call it) and lifts up it's trunk and takes a couple of steps. Rahim and I don't even bother turning around to look if it's chasing us and just run like we were  being chased by an elephant (haha). It didn't actually chase us, it was just giving us a warning. But we learned our lesson...don't approach a momma elephant...ever. 

Serengeti Part 1

Sunday morning we got up pretty early (7 a.m.) in order to leave around 9 for our next stop...the Serengeti! 

After packing and having breakfast all of us piled into the land rover. It was raining most of the ride, which was very worriesome because the government was threatening to shut down all the parks (I didn't find that out until yesterday...). 

In order to get to the Serengeti, we had to pass through Ngorongoro (the famous crater). 

That's from the viewpoint looking down over the crater. 

When we reached the Serengeti, 

we dropped off Paul again at the new campsite and set off on our adventure! 

Right away we saw zebras and wildebeest. The wildebeest are still doing their migration so they are every where!

We saw a dead hippo...which I won't post the picture but it smelled disgusting. We also passed the water buffalo (one of the big five) and so many lions! 

I have better pictures of lions from the other days so I will post them on the other blogs. 

We even saw a cheetah that first day! (Again, better pictures from the other days). 

And probably the most amazing thing, considering that it was our first day in the Serengeti, we saw not just one but two leopards...Now, the reason why this is so amazing is because leopards are part of the big five and the second hardest to find (the first being a rhino). I didn't get any pictures of the leopards because they were all in the trees and the only way we could even see them was with binoculars. But trust me, we saw them and it was amazing. I am still in shock that we actually saw 2 of them the first day! (Just as a side note the big five includes: elephant, leopard, rhino, lion and buffalo). 

After hours of the game drive we went back to the campsite called Tumbili, which was right in the middle of the Serengeti. As in, the animals can just come up when they want. 

There is one of the tents (the background tents are for the cooks and drivers). 

And there is the dinning area. But we were competely surrounded by the Serengeti. 

After dinner Rahim, Alkarim, Zuby and I all stayed up taking. After a while Zuby went to bed. And then...the animals cane out. There was a giraffe walking around. And we started hearing growling noises. There were hyenas prowling around us. And so we all freaked out and locked ourselves in the kitchen. We probably stayed in that kitchen for an hour and a half. We would keep hearing growling noises and decide not to go back out. Walking to the bathrooms was the worst because you couldn't see anything, even with a flashlight. 

Thankfully, we made it through the night and didn't get attacked by hyenas. Although the next morning all the guides and cooks were laughing at us because they could hear us freaking out in the kitchen.