Heading North

I can see Kilimanjaro!!!

In the end I was quite sad to leave Bagamoyo, although it's a little quiet for my taste, it was beautiful and laid back and relaxed! I think initially I was sad at leaving Livingstone and all my friends there so didn't give Bagamoyo as much of a chance as I should. I ended up with some good friends there too though!

Last week I went to watch a local reggae performer called Jhikoman at the college as a couple of my friends Segati and Matiga were playing with his band. That was really fun and everyone was up dancing in a style that I can only describe as a cross between Madness (the band), Bob Marley and Jay Kay from Jamiroquai. It was awesome and I shall be using this dance style when at home, so I apologise in advance for the embarrassment this may cause!!!

On my last day I took all my kids to the beach - kids who live at the home or live nearby. When I walked into Terri's to pick them up the kids all screamed my name and jumped down from the tree they were dangling from/climbing and ran over and all hugged me, it was so nice!!! We trotted off to the beach (me and 13 kids - I looked a bit like the Pied Piper or maybe the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe). It was such a hot day, the kids were so happy and splashing around in the water - it was really nice! The water was really warm too!!! Some of the kids peed in it which may have contributed to the temperature, but it was nice regardless!! Really going to miss all of the children.

We had no power or water for the last few days so we were living by candlelight, and washing in the sea - either way not ideal but it was quite fun!!!

On my last night I was sat out with some friends outside our house at the container (like an actual metal container that's a little shop and behind it is where we get our rice and beans and there's a few tables outside), we were listening to some music on a lap top and singing along. Anyway, some guy came over with a guitar and asked me to sing some blues, which I did, and now they want me to go back to the college to do some performing when I'm back in the area in August/September so I may be taking a quick trip back to Bagamoyo at some point which will be nice!!!

I arrived in Moshi yesterday after a very pleasant nine hour bus journey , you'll be glad to know. The bus was nice and was 2 by 2 seats, instead of the 2 by 3 seats like the Zambian buses!! There was even a toilet, which I didn't use but nice to have all the same. I was sat next to a nice Tanzanian lady and we shared some biscuits!! The scenery was beautiful as we were driving up. There's lots of mountains (well technically they look like mountains to me but they're probably not), if you can imagine it, it looks like an African version of the Lake District!!! Then you spot you spot Kili which makes all the others look like hills - it's HUGE!! Moshi seems like a cool place, reminds me a bit of Livingstone!!

The place I'm staying at is great, it's a b&b called Shira Place and it's lovely and clean and good breakfast!! It even had a HOT shower and I hadn't had a hot (or even lukewarm) shower in a month until the last couple of days so I am very happy!!!! Staying there with me is an American family who are volunteering at an orphanage! Last night I went out for dinner with the b&b owner, Michael, the mum, Kathleen and the son Danny which was a nice surprise as I was expecting to eat alone for 2 days!! Had myself a big fat lasagne, which was heaven - gotta feed myself up for the mountain!!!

Today I am pottering around Moshi, just taken some dresses I had made in Bagamoyo in for alterations. You can get some amazing batik material and kanga material here. Kanga is like a sarong the women wear, you can either wear it like a sarong or get it made into something! The dresses I got made are a bit plain for me so want them jazzing up a bit!! Next I'm off to hire any extra equipment I need. Then to the supermarket to buy chocolate and sweets - I need them for the climb, honest!!!

Just met my guide for the mountain, Samson. Not at all like you would imagine a Samson in the Biblical sense - really short and looks about 12! But I've been told he's one of the best and his grandfather (or great grandfather) was the first person to summit Kilimanjaro so I'm hopeful I'm in good hands!! I will be in a big group of... actually, there will just be me. But it's all good as I will have Samson, a cook and 2 porters all to myself. This way I can go completely at my own pace, helping my chances of getting to the top!!! There will be plenty of other people going on the same route and staying at the campsites too if I want to chat to other people!!!

Just debating taking my altitude sickness medicine as the side effects can be a bit annoying, they're a diuretic (but you will be pleased to know that I am over my phobia of African toilets and peeing outside so I'm all set) and they can also make you tingly and mask the symptoms of AMS so there's some debate over whether people should take them or not.

Ok, that's all for me for now!! I'll be heading up the mountain tomorrow!!! Next time I write, I will have hopefully, all being well, had my picture taken on the top of Africa's highest point for ActionAid.