I've been a bit silent of late because I've been running around like a headless chicken trying to get everything done before I go home to KL on Sunday. I still can't believe I'm actually going home for nearly 3 weeks! The last time I was back was in June 2007 - a trip back is long overdue.
The only downer is that The Engineer will be unable to come along because of work.
I've been cooking up a storm so he doesn't end up having to perpetually eat out or live on just coffee and cigarettes (!). The pork vindaloo, pasta sauce and all the rest is going in the freezer so he'll always have food on hand.
I'm afraid that I've been overzealous though - it looks like there's enough food now to last till the end of time! Well,at least if there's ever an emergency and we end up housebound, we don't have to worry about food (I always thought Tom Cruise should have shut up, stayed indoors and waited for disaster to pass in the War of the Worlds. He'd have had much less trouble but I suppose it would have been totally boring to watch!)
I've also been running around stocking up the house with groceries and stuff, buying gifts for everyone at home and meeting dear friends before I leave.
This might seem like a pretty straightforward exercise except that this is Dar and nothing is really straightforward. For eg: I noticed that the floor-cleaning liquid had run out so I thought I'd stock that up.
I tried first at Seacliff Village Supermarket but discovered that the brand I use is out of stock. Then I tried Shoprite and then Shrijee's to no avail. I was on the verge of pulling my hair out in clumps when it suddenly dawned on me that I should give up on my 'control freak' attitude and just buy a different brand.
Since there was only one other kind at Shrijee's ( which was where I was at when the lightbulb moment occurred) I went ahead and purchased the thing.
It looks a bit dodgy and smells like what I imagine toxic waste must smell like but hey - beggars can't be choosers now can they? I'm just hoping that the skin at the bottom of our feet doesn't start peeling away because of this toxic-smelling thing!
I can't wait to go back to a land where not only will I be able to buy what I want but I'll probably be spoiled for choice because of the sheer variety of brands on the shelves. KL - here I come!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
The flower shop under the tree
As I've mentioned before in this blog.... ever so often, Tanzania will redeem herself. It usually happens just as I'm ready to write her off.
I bought one and a half dozen roses yesterday for something like TSh7500 - RM19 and USD6.
They are so beautiful that they're literally breathtaking and I just had to get out the camera:
I've taken a similar photo as the one below and I don't think I'll ever get tired of snapping these shots:
One and a half dozen roses back in KL would have cost me an arm and a leg. If I were crazy enough to attempt buying them during Valentine season, I'd have to throw in a kidney too.
Even if I was willing to part with my arm, leg and kidney, I'd still have to drive a bit of a distance to get the roses and I'd most likely be stuck in traffic if I didn't time the trip exactly right.
Over here, the guys who sell me these perfect petals are just a 3-minute, traffic-free drive away.I don't even have to get out of the car because they come right up to my window with their flowers. It may be a 'down home' establishment made up of a some buckets plus a few rickety wooden crates under a tree but their flowers are unparalleled.
Of course, I have to contend with the bumpy, muddy, unsightly 'road' leading out of my apartment to the tree but it seems like a small price to pay for the sheer beauty of these roses.
As I said, once in a while , if you give her a chance, Tanzania redeems herself.
I bought one and a half dozen roses yesterday for something like TSh7500 - RM19 and USD6.
They are so beautiful that they're literally breathtaking and I just had to get out the camera:
I've taken a similar photo as the one below and I don't think I'll ever get tired of snapping these shots:
One and a half dozen roses back in KL would have cost me an arm and a leg. If I were crazy enough to attempt buying them during Valentine season, I'd have to throw in a kidney too.
Even if I was willing to part with my arm, leg and kidney, I'd still have to drive a bit of a distance to get the roses and I'd most likely be stuck in traffic if I didn't time the trip exactly right.
Over here, the guys who sell me these perfect petals are just a 3-minute, traffic-free drive away.I don't even have to get out of the car because they come right up to my window with their flowers. It may be a 'down home' establishment made up of a some buckets plus a few rickety wooden crates under a tree but their flowers are unparalleled.
Of course, I have to contend with the bumpy, muddy, unsightly 'road' leading out of my apartment to the tree but it seems like a small price to pay for the sheer beauty of these roses.
As I said, once in a while , if you give her a chance, Tanzania redeems herself.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Bad Earthling, Bad!
Happy Earth Day, Mother Earth!
Today is Earth Day and I think days like this should be celebrated by us Earthlings on a much grander scale. What could be more important than preserving our home?
But before I go around judging everybody, I have to confess that I wasn't exactly a Good Earthling today.
Even though my mum told me on the phone this morning about today, I promptly forgot about it 5 minutes later.
In my 'unaware' state of mind, I actually contributed to the demise of the planet at - of all places - Shoprite in Slipway.
In my defense, it was probably brought on by the long, tediously slow, queue at the one checkout counter that was in operation. The darn luku (power) was out again! I was just there to buy 3 miserable lemons but ended up standing there for a good long while.
Since I knew I was stuck, I tried to distract myself from going loony by focusing on something other than the wait. I ended up fixated on the inordinately large swarm of flies that were mysteriously lounging about inside the store.
Shoprite isn't usually covered in flies so I suppose it must have been the smell of meat going bad although I couldn't detect anything rotten in the air. I'm presuming that flies have a more acute sense for spoiled food (I think I'll look this up) so maybe they caught some kind of low-level scent that I didn't pick up. Either way, if anything goes rotten/sour at Shoprite, it's all Tanesco's fault. I mean, how hard can it be for a power company to maintain 24-hour electricity? That's their job function. It's not like they've got to plan weddings and keep the luku going for goodness sake!
Anyway, by the time I finished with this ridiculous train of thought, I found myself at the front of the queue. Unfortunately - I don't know if it was from the heat or plain lack of enthusiasm- the cashier took longer to ring up three lemons than it would take Britney Spears to get a degree in Nuclear Physics.
I stood there trying not to say anything but then she had to go and stuff the lemons in an eensy-weensy plastic bag that was clearly too small and had no handles ( how did she think I was going to carry it...with my teeth?).
Without thinking, I asked for a different bag and it was one that was much too large. It was only when I got into my car that it dawned upon me: I shouldn't have exchanged a little plastic bag for a big one - I shouldn't have taken a bag at all especially since there were only 3 lemons to carry! I felt really bad about that.
Sigh! This is what happens when I focus on long queues, slow cashiers and flies instead of something more important like Planet Earth. To make up for my behaviour, I'll watch less TV for the next couple of days and save some electricity (although knowing Tanesco, the luku will be out and I'll end up doing that anyway!)
Today is Earth Day and I think days like this should be celebrated by us Earthlings on a much grander scale. What could be more important than preserving our home?
But before I go around judging everybody, I have to confess that I wasn't exactly a Good Earthling today.
Even though my mum told me on the phone this morning about today, I promptly forgot about it 5 minutes later.
In my 'unaware' state of mind, I actually contributed to the demise of the planet at - of all places - Shoprite in Slipway.
In my defense, it was probably brought on by the long, tediously slow, queue at the one checkout counter that was in operation. The darn luku (power) was out again! I was just there to buy 3 miserable lemons but ended up standing there for a good long while.
Since I knew I was stuck, I tried to distract myself from going loony by focusing on something other than the wait. I ended up fixated on the inordinately large swarm of flies that were mysteriously lounging about inside the store.
Shoprite isn't usually covered in flies so I suppose it must have been the smell of meat going bad although I couldn't detect anything rotten in the air. I'm presuming that flies have a more acute sense for spoiled food (I think I'll look this up) so maybe they caught some kind of low-level scent that I didn't pick up. Either way, if anything goes rotten/sour at Shoprite, it's all Tanesco's fault. I mean, how hard can it be for a power company to maintain 24-hour electricity? That's their job function. It's not like they've got to plan weddings and keep the luku going for goodness sake!
Anyway, by the time I finished with this ridiculous train of thought, I found myself at the front of the queue. Unfortunately - I don't know if it was from the heat or plain lack of enthusiasm- the cashier took longer to ring up three lemons than it would take Britney Spears to get a degree in Nuclear Physics.
I stood there trying not to say anything but then she had to go and stuff the lemons in an eensy-weensy plastic bag that was clearly too small and had no handles ( how did she think I was going to carry it...with my teeth?).
Without thinking, I asked for a different bag and it was one that was much too large. It was only when I got into my car that it dawned upon me: I shouldn't have exchanged a little plastic bag for a big one - I shouldn't have taken a bag at all especially since there were only 3 lemons to carry! I felt really bad about that.
Sigh! This is what happens when I focus on long queues, slow cashiers and flies instead of something more important like Planet Earth. To make up for my behaviour, I'll watch less TV for the next couple of days and save some electricity (although knowing Tanesco, the luku will be out and I'll end up doing that anyway!)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The End of the Rainbow
The Benevolent Beings of Blogosphere are being kind today so, as promised, here are the photos I was talking about......
I was driving to pick up The Engineer from work last Thursday when I saw the end of this rainbow curving into a world of everyday-ness:
It was amazing to witness this sort of beauty amidst the traffic and ugly billboards.
I was pleased to have captured the shot although I nearly crashed into the car in front of me!I should actually stop snapping pictures whilst driving and this isn't the first time. My only (lame) excuse is that it's extraordinary how often a good photo opportunity arrives when one is alone, behind the wheel!
I managed to capture another gorgeous scene on Saturday evening (I'm pleased to report that this time, it was from the relative safety of our apartment balcony) As if on cue, a dhow lazily floated by. It looks like someone painted this (and I think Someone up there did!) :
The Engineer and I have been missing these spectacular sunsets since the rains arrived. However, I must say that despite it looking exceptional in the photo, it was even more exceptional when we saw it 'live'. Sometimes,despite best efforts, a mere camera just cannot convey the majesty of Mother Nature!
I was driving to pick up The Engineer from work last Thursday when I saw the end of this rainbow curving into a world of everyday-ness:
It was amazing to witness this sort of beauty amidst the traffic and ugly billboards.
I was pleased to have captured the shot although I nearly crashed into the car in front of me!I should actually stop snapping pictures whilst driving and this isn't the first time. My only (lame) excuse is that it's extraordinary how often a good photo opportunity arrives when one is alone, behind the wheel!
I managed to capture another gorgeous scene on Saturday evening (I'm pleased to report that this time, it was from the relative safety of our apartment balcony) As if on cue, a dhow lazily floated by. It looks like someone painted this (and I think Someone up there did!) :
The Engineer and I have been missing these spectacular sunsets since the rains arrived. However, I must say that despite it looking exceptional in the photo, it was even more exceptional when we saw it 'live'. Sometimes,despite best efforts, a mere camera just cannot convey the majesty of Mother Nature!
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Not So Benevolent Beings of Blogosphere
I was all set to be a good little blogger today and had not one but two entries ready to be published. Unfortunately the Benevolent Beings who rule Blogosphere were having none of it.
I needed to download photos for both my entries and despite my non-stop clicking on the "add image" button, nothing happened. I think my poor housekeeper got a little scared and thought I was going cuckoo with the constant clicking and gnashing of teeth (I can't blame her... the definition of insanity is : doing the same thing and expecting a different result!)
Hopefully the Beings will be in a more benevolent mood tomorrow!
I needed to download photos for both my entries and despite my non-stop clicking on the "add image" button, nothing happened. I think my poor housekeeper got a little scared and thought I was going cuckoo with the constant clicking and gnashing of teeth (I can't blame her... the definition of insanity is : doing the same thing and expecting a different result!)
Hopefully the Beings will be in a more benevolent mood tomorrow!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Karume Day
I've been sniffling and feeling quite sorry for myself this past couple of days. The rainy weather finally got to me despite my best efforts to avoid the Evil Grip of the Dar Flu.
I've been very careful since the rains have been blowing into Dar because I've come down with the flu before and let me tell you it ain't no party when that happens! You can refer to my pathetic ramblings here and here.
Fortunately, today is Karume Day and it's a holiday here in Dar so I managed to sleep in late. I don't work but The Engineer does and which means that the alarm rings early and wakes me up too. Holidays mean that The Engineer sleeps in and everything is peaceful until about 10 in the morning.
Just out of curiosity, I've been trying to find out what the heck Karume Day is in Dar and discovered something on Wikipedia (how did we survive before Google and Wikipedia?)
The only Karume listed is Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume who was the first President of Zanzibar and the first Vice President of Tanganyika alongside much-loved President Julius Nyerere.
Apparently, Karume had something to do with a rebellion in Zanzibar that overthrew the last Sultan in 1963 although it is now believed that John Okello was the instigator. I presume Karume Day is in his honour.
However, if it was Okello who was the real force behind the rebellion in Zanzibar, today might need to be re-named Okello Day but frankly...who cares! Karume Day - Okello Day, as long as it remains a Holi-Day it doesn't really matter to me!
I've been very careful since the rains have been blowing into Dar because I've come down with the flu before and let me tell you it ain't no party when that happens! You can refer to my pathetic ramblings here and here.
Fortunately, today is Karume Day and it's a holiday here in Dar so I managed to sleep in late. I don't work but The Engineer does and which means that the alarm rings early and wakes me up too. Holidays mean that The Engineer sleeps in and everything is peaceful until about 10 in the morning.
Just out of curiosity, I've been trying to find out what the heck Karume Day is in Dar and discovered something on Wikipedia (how did we survive before Google and Wikipedia?)
The only Karume listed is Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume who was the first President of Zanzibar and the first Vice President of Tanganyika alongside much-loved President Julius Nyerere.
Apparently, Karume had something to do with a rebellion in Zanzibar that overthrew the last Sultan in 1963 although it is now believed that John Okello was the instigator. I presume Karume Day is in his honour.
However, if it was Okello who was the real force behind the rebellion in Zanzibar, today might need to be re-named Okello Day but frankly...who cares! Karume Day - Okello Day, as long as it remains a Holi-Day it doesn't really matter to me!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
April Fool? Whatever
I must be getting old....
I just realized that it's April Fool's Day today and it incites no excitement in me whatsoever.I remember a time when I used to anticipate it for weeks and plan every, single trick/joke that I would play on my unsuspecting family and suspicious friends.
I'd also watch out for any strange behaviour from anyone I knew because I was determined to be the Fool-er and never the Fool. I was so set on not being caught out by anyone that people found it hard to convince me when something not-so-good was actually true.
If I received a C on a Maths test, I always hoped that it was the teacher playing an April Fool trick on me but unfortunately it was never the case!
That was back when I was in school. Nowadays, I'm more concerned about the weather and if the sun is ever going to make up its mind (it's been driving me crazy today - raining/shining/raining/shining all day!).
Jeez... I just realized that I sound so tedious!
I'd better play a trick on someone just to stay young....Getting older is bad enough as it is, I don't have to get duller too!
I just realized that it's April Fool's Day today and it incites no excitement in me whatsoever.I remember a time when I used to anticipate it for weeks and plan every, single trick/joke that I would play on my unsuspecting family and suspicious friends.
I'd also watch out for any strange behaviour from anyone I knew because I was determined to be the Fool-er and never the Fool. I was so set on not being caught out by anyone that people found it hard to convince me when something not-so-good was actually true.
If I received a C on a Maths test, I always hoped that it was the teacher playing an April Fool trick on me but unfortunately it was never the case!
That was back when I was in school. Nowadays, I'm more concerned about the weather and if the sun is ever going to make up its mind (it's been driving me crazy today - raining/shining/raining/shining all day!).
Jeez... I just realized that I sound so tedious!
I'd better play a trick on someone just to stay young....Getting older is bad enough as it is, I don't have to get duller too!
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