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Hi All,
We crossed the border from Malawi into Tanzania and paid yet another $50 each, they sure know how to bleed you dry here that's for sure. Today we got up at 4.30am for our all day drive to Ininga in Tanzania and it was a long day but there was lots of stunning scenery and the clouds were so low down or the mountains were so high however you want to look at it but it was stunning anyway. There were lots of people tenting their crops in fields and most of them were women and children as young as maybe 4 or 5 and these people are the ones who actually have a livelihood, you can tell almost instantly over the border that this government is not corrupt as people don't seem as poor. There are also lots of children on the side of the road and some of them playing with things like an old bike tyre and a stick, I think its amazing how happy they look with nothing. Even the adults seem to just sit about under trees and things, it seems so boring, feel ike I just want to come here with a bit truck of clothes and goodies, especially in Malawi. We camped at a place called The Farmhouse and Craig and I were back to our tent in yet again the peeing down rain. This camp also had the pleasure of long drop toilets but it did have the best showers ever, I was in there for like half an hour which is long for an African shower lol they were so hot I just sat on the floor in it for ages. As we had driven alll day they didn't make us do dinner we had some in the camp restaurant which was lovely in a little shack with candles and stuff, tomato and basil soup and beef curry mmmm!! I love that you can actually get soup here! We were kind of hacked off today as Craig had a bit of a tiff with this know it all type guy on our tour, he was just joking with Mark about cricket being for girls not like rugby when this guy started ranting about how at least it doesn't include putting your head up people's backsides or something, we were not impressed! Anyhoo we went bed and had to wear a jumper and actually get in our sleeping bags tonight as it was cold in the mountains.
The next day we were up again at 4am and on the road. We drove for what felt like ages with a couple of stops to pee in bushes and then the truck broke down so we had to stop and fix it. We were there for about an hour and lots of local kids came and played with the balls we have on te truck with us. We stopped at a buffet place for lunch as well as too much driving means not enough time to cook, it was quite nice but I didn't try any meat as I am a bit worried about some of the stuff here. Also may I just mention that the toilets here are worse than anywhere so far, they are literally squats on the floor with buckets of water to wipe with as we are now coming more into Tanzania and there is more of a Muslim, Middle Eastern population and we all know how they wipe lol!! So rank! We got to the outskirts of Dar Es Salam and it was awful on the bus all hot and sweaty and the traffic was so heavy and there were kids begging up the side of the bus, it was not nice. We stopped for the bank and then took a mini ferry ride to our camp site and set up our tents then Craig and I had a drink on the beach front. Things seem to be getting a bit hairier the further you go as there are lots of areas we don't seem to be allowed to walk to now. We had dinner of some brought in chicken and an ice cream and went to bed.
Next day we were up and getting ready to head off to Zanzibar which we were excited about as no tents and it was our own free time. We got the mini ferry back over and walked to the Zanzibar ferry. It was practically a wooden ladder to get on it and some fat guy was sitting next to us and kept wanting past so I had his big fat backside in my face constantly then he ate with his mouth open so loud, burped and started snoring, some people are so minging!! We got to Zanzibar and to our hotel which was lovely, much better than we thought, it even had a TV! We went out round Stone Town which is so nice, its all big iron doors and wee small alley ways and lots of woman in full Muslim dress and nice sea front restaurants. Craig and I had lunch at the harbour and I had had my starter and then had to instantly got to the loo, food is quite spicy here which I like but mixed with the fact that our stomachs are not used to it is nt so good. We then went to the internet and attempted to put on some photos which took about 2 hours. At night we went back to Mercury's and had a few drinks but couldn't find anyone from our group, we did find a couple and then we all had a walk round Stone Town and went back to Mercury's and Mark, Jarrod and Pete came and we all got a bit drunk which was a good laugh. We have had 5 more people join our group in Dar. When we got back to the hotel we had a drink in Mark and Jarrod's room and then went to bed. Bridges of Madison County was on and it was so nice to be able to watch a film but I didn't last long before I fell asleep.
The next day we were up for our transfer to the beach as we were meant to have 2 nights there, may I also mention that another thing with Acacia is when you get to Zanzibar you have to pay all your food and accommodation yourself, not so good. It was a nice little drive through all the small hamlets to the hotel, the last bit was a bit bumpy though and I thought I might throw up, my stomach seems to be getting weaker, even on the boat it was a bit funny. It was a bit more expensive and not such a nice room at this one. We went to the restaurant for lunch and I ordered tomato soup, 20 minutes later she came over and said there was none so I said I would have Pumpkin and Coconut and I got it about 45 minutes later and it was a tiny bowl almost a cup and not very nice. We are not very impressed by the prices and the service in Africa, people are not very good at customer service and they just con you consistently. We had a walk on the beach and went in the sea at first with flip flops as a girl in our group got stung by a sea urchin after we just took them off though as it was a bit more high tide. It is like paradise here so pretty, white sand and clear water. We couldn't go too far though as again we were warned its not too safe. In the afternoon we had a nie massage on the beach by some local woman which was amazing and only about £4! Some people are going snorkelling tomorrow but we decided we would rather go back and spend another night in Stone Town as there was a bit more to see and we have just been to Fiji and Australia and have seen plenty of beaches. We went out to another restaurant along the beach for dinner in th hope of actually getting a portion not for a 1 year old and it was really nice although again as soon as we had finished we had to bolt back to the room as I had a loo emergency, about 2 minutes later so did Craig so we are not sure if we had some mild food poisoning as we were ill all night till we went to sleep. Our bed here is amazing, it is like two doubles put together but we couldn't lie the normal way as Craig is too tall so we had to lie the other way over and with the mosquito net tucked in it was a trek to the other end of the bed to go to the loo lol!!
Today we got up and were feeling much better and had breakfast and then took a shuttle back into Stone Town and to the first hotel we were at. We got some munchies and watched Jaws lol, it was so nice to watch a film. In the afternoon we went out to find some food and had a really nice Indian, the best one I have had since I left home, it was amazing. Then we went to the internet and it was rubbish and wouldn't work, meanwhile Craig was off getting his hair cut and a guy latched on to him, people are always trying to take you to places that you actually already know in the hope of getting money. The barber wanted 25,000 but they settled on 15,000 shillings which is still about £8, the guy had waited on Craig so he gave him 500 and he laughed in his face and said it was nothing and to give him more and Craig said he hadn't done anything and he was getting nowt. Then the pharmacy well overcharged me for some sea sickness pills. All that crossed with the internet being annoying and having to pay for stuff that doesn't work then resulted in a huge rant from me all afternoon. I am just so fed up of constantly being ripped off because I am white, racism works both ways. Some of the things they are selling are really nice but I cant be bothered to look as they are so persistent and just come out with stupid prices for stuff that you know a local would not be charged. They even think you are so thick that you don't get the way money works, they short change you constantly in the hope that you don't know what you are doing. If they were maybe a bit fairer people might buy more of their stuff, its just starting to wear a bit thin. We came back to the room and watched some more TV (taking advantage lol) an then went out in search of the night food market but I don't know if what we found was it or not but there was nothing I wanted and all the garages were shut so I had a toastie back at the hotel. I just wanted to get back as I was quite uncomfortable, we were the only white people at a few bits and it was dark and a bit too crowded. Now we are just back in the hotel watching Air Force One before bed and tomorrow we got back to the mainland. I really hope I can get a washing machine soon as all my clothes get hand washed in the shower with me especially knickers as they wont wash them in Africa, feels like you are just dirty all the time, I dread to think what colour the water will be when I eventually do get one lol!
Hope everyone is well back home and Happy Birthday to my Granddad.
Lots of Love
Eva and Craig xxx
PS My phone refuses to connect with the charger so will die pretty soon but I can check messages on Craig's but probably wont often just in case anyone is thinking I am ignoring them!
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