Week 21 at School

Something I received this week that thought I would share with you was an email to consider the Say No to Ivory campaign http://www.iworry.org/

Also for all those interested in how Ajabu is coming along you can check out her progress at

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/monthly.asp?o=AJABU&month=Jul

Now on to our activities and the enjoyable parts from last weekend.

As Tanzania celebrates the end of Ramadan we got a four day weekend, so on Wednesday at 5pm we began our long weekend trip away with two of the other volunteers.

The weekend was fantastic for company, scenery and wildlife.

For those reading on the blog site, there is more if you click on the Read more>> button below.

First stop, St Jude's Smith Campus, where we had free accommodation for two nights.  Tick for meeting our budget.  A further two volunteers followed us there and we all went out for drinks just down the road while watching wildlife (monkeys, zebras and birds), then went across the road for dinner.  The food, drinks and company were fantastic.

The next morning we went to Arusha National Park which was about 10kms away.  For those who don't know, this is where you begin the Mt Meru climb.  The day started out as drizzle and light rain and that continued until after lunch.  Once in the park I think we veered right instead of left and ended up seeing some wonderful countryside with monkeys every few kms.  When we finally got to where we should have been via the round trip, we discovered giraffe, zebra and buffalo.  The giraffe were sitting down which I can't remember seeing before.  After that we finally found the headquarters where we were supposed to go to do a 1-4hr walk.

The girls decided that it would be no more than two hours, so I lost out on my request for four hours.  Possibly wise as it was already well after lunch.  Luckily we had a big and late breakfast.  The walk itself was the start of the Mt Meru climb, but as soon as we started climbing we turned left to see a waterfall.  Quite pretty if you are not climbing Meru.

Now the only problem I had was that our guide was carrying a gun.  Why did he have a gun I asked?  Are there any predators here?  No, only the odd leopard and they are great at camouflage.  I'm still not too sure what he was going to do with the gun, or even if it was loaded.

After the waterfall we went looking for buffalo, and found them, eventually getting within about 20mtrs of them.  There were also pumbas (warthogs), and on the way back we saw some Dik Diks (small antelope).

That night it was back to Smith Campus via a posh place just across the road from the entrance to Smith Campus where we ordered drinks.  The service was terrible even though we appeared to be the only ones there.  I still haven't got used to Tanzanian time.  Then it was back to Smith Campus to wash, dine and drink followed by playing some stupid guessing game (yes, I lost), then a card game.

The next morning (Saturday now) we headed off to Moshi.  This place is better than Arusha as the locals don't hassle you as much to buy things or give them money.  We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.  That night it was out for dinner and when finished we called our taxi and as we were driving out we realised we were in the wrong taxi.  This one had a DVD, plus our proper taxi driver called to say he was there.  We stopped the taxi, got out then got in the right taxi.  Woops!!

Lisa Heaven

Always keep your eyes open.

You find these on footpaths and in the road.

During our evening drinks I purchased some local spears to hang on the wall here.  They are even hanging up as I type.  The asking price for the spears was initially 50,000 shillings.  I offered 10,000, take it or leave it, he took it.

The next day was another stroll round Moshi where the girls bought material while I followed, calling a few people on Viber and Skype while wandering round aimlessly.  I did look for laces for my hiking boots without finding any and one of the locals realised he might make some money if he found them for me.  He came back twice with laces that were too short.  I was after 1.8mtr laces.  We then went to a coffee shop for a late lunch and a few minutes later in he walks with long laces for 10,000 shillings.  Now, as I wasn't in a hurry to buy laces I said they were too much and waved him away.  He asked me how much and I said 2,000.  What each?  No, 1,000 each.  I pulled out 2,000 shillings and swapped it for the laces.  As he wasn't happy I took my money back and gave him the laces.  He decided 2,000 was better than nothing.  2,000 is $1.20.

After lunch we headed off to Lake Chala.  This is on the Tanzanian Kenyan border, in fact the border runs through the middle of the lake.  Look it up on the net, it is a spectacular place and I recommend it to everyone.  Driving in you wonder what you are going to, and even when you pull up you wonder where you are.  On the drive in we saw squirrels on the road and a small herd of elephants about 1km away.  It's not until you walk down to the office you catch a glimpse of what is there.

 First Glimpse - Lake Chala

That's the restaurant with the high roof

  Looking out from the restaurant

We camped in tents for the night, so setting up we went for a 30-60 min walk with a guide to find elephants for 5,000 each.  No gun this bloke.  He did say there were no predators, but being on the edge of a park I didn't really believe him.  Anyway we walked off and saw a dry creek bed with a small dirty water hole, then went to see what he said was a small meteorite crater and then we headed back - no elephants.  I asked him what about the elephants and he said we would go up the hill.

About 1/4 way up we spotted a small herd of about 7 elephants that were 1-2kms away, so off we went.  Initially we walked along a road where we were caught up and overtaken by about 15-20 Spaniards also looking to see the same elephants, but they didn't have a guide.  The girls weren't happy to share our guide with the Spaniards, but we followed them as they were going where we wanted to go.  When the track stopped so did the Spaniards, until they saw us carry on.  At this point they followed and soon tried to get up the front.  At this stage I told them to stay back, politely as I always do.  It helped that I was carrying a long stick that I was using to hold back spiky bushes until I was past, then I would allow it to flick back, subtle, but it worked.

We eventually got to within 50-100 mtrs of the elephants.  What a beautiful sight.  I got a little worried when the big female turned and flared her ears, but the guide assured me it was OK.  I didn't really believe him, but what were my options.

We finally go back just on dark after 3 hrs and 10,000 each - it was worth double.

The excitement continued at dinner when a person of sub continent extraction got very upset at the lack of selection and quality of food and threatened to leave.  After some fairly loud foul language, the whole restaurant was against him.  Unfortunately he failed to leave and make us all happy, but I must congratulate the manager on how he handled the situation.  There are idiots everywhere.

The following morning I set off to walk round the crater/lake with the other two girls while Denise read her book.  The walk is said to be 3-4hrs, and some British backpackers camped next to us ran it in 1 hr.  The walk was good, but there were many thorny bushes to negotiate, some of which I missed, and others got me, as my legs can now tell you.  That long stick would have been handy here.  The views and scenery were absolutely spectacular.  The walk itself takes you into Kenya and back without a passport!!!

Once back we had a rest, a shower, packed the car then back to Moshi for a late lunch, and finally back to Arusha and home.

The school is on a term break of two weeks so it is quiet during the day.  They come back next week.

I got Small Red (my shopping bus) back this week after a few weeks off the road.  Did you know you can sponsor a bus, so your donations can help it stay on the road.  All donations will be gratefully accepted by St Jude's.  Another shameless plug.

As I type, Denise is back in Australia with her new twiga (giraffe), a mate for the first one she took home last year.  I get the hint that she enjoys being home, while I continue to earn, oh sorry I'm a volunteer, not too much at all.  I hope you don't spend too much at home....hint to everybody else, she is destitute.

 She's found her kitchen

The little ray of sunshine.

Denise wants to bring back some acrylic paints for one of the Upper Primary art teachers.  Does anybody want to assist with financing this purchase?  If so contact Denise or myself now.

Funeral Notices

BOHAN, Maurice Kelly (aka Kelly)

OAM Formerly of Bellbowrie and most recently of RSL Care, Pinjarra Hills, sadly passed away unexpectedly on 8 August, 2013. Aged 79 Years Husband of Lynette, treasured Father and Father-in-law of Kerry and Ian (Hoges) Hogarth, Denise and Peter Barnett, Katrina and Darren Czapracki, loved Pop of Charlotte, Victoria, Melanie, Alex, Emma, Lisa, Dominic and Cassandra. A Service to Celebrate Kellys wonderful Life, will be held at Centenary Memorial Gardens, Wacol Station Road, Sumner, on Friday, 16 August, 2013, commencing at 10.00a.m. Heartfeld thanks to Staff at RSL Care.

(Peter's note.  Sorry for the late notice, but I only saw this on Friday.)

BOHAN, Lynette (nee Brookfield)

Late of Ipswich, aged 76 years.

Wife of Kel, Much loved Mother and Mother-in-law of Katrina & Darren Czapracki, Denise & Peter Barnett, Kerry & Ian Hogarth. Adored Nanna of Dominic, Cassandra, Melanie, Alex, Emma, Lisa, Charlotte, Victoria & Angus.

Family & friends are invited to attend a service for Lyn at 2:00pm on Wednesday, 21st August 2013 at Sylvan Funerals Chapel, 22 Warwick Road, Ipswich. Private Cremation.

Until next time.