May, 2009 I visited Lome with my daughter and Edna Dach. During the visit Edna and I worked with the PATC staff focussing on developing a coomunications plan for the organization.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
July 15th
Left Mbezi and headed for the Dar es Salaam airport after lunch. Arrived at the airport at 2:10 pm for a 3:00 pm flight. Managed to push my way to the front of the line and make my flight barely in time. Spent the next nine days in Paris with my wife Michelle. In true Kenya Airways fashion my luggage did not make it until a week later.
Left Mbezi and headed for the Dar es Salaam airport after lunch. Arrived at the airport at 2:10 pm for a 3:00 pm flight. Managed to push my way to the front of the line and make my flight barely in time. Spent the next nine days in Paris with my wife Michelle. In true Kenya Airways fashion my luggage did not make it until a week later.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Mikumi National Park
July 14th
At 6:00 am the next morning we headed off to the Mikumi National Park. With hundreds of sleeping policemen (speed bumps) along the way the trip was slow. During the trip Anthony and Lawrence discussed how much dowry they paid to their in-laws and how much Anthony could get for his school age daughter. Seems even in today’s world he could still expect to get 65 cows and a few chickens because of her musical ability.
On the way we stopped at the city of Morogora. Morogora is where Anthony is from. It is also where thousands of South African refugees came during their years of tension. The refugee camp was later turned into a university for agriculture.
We stopped along the highway to purchase some handmade baskets.
Five hours later, after passing some pretty exotic road kill (monkeys, hyenas, etc.) we arrived at the game park. While driving through the park we came across baboons, giraffes, antelope, water buffalo, wart hogs, impalas, hippopotamus, cranes, zebras, wildebeests, and elephants. Our guide wouldn’t allow us out of the vehicle because lions were spotted in the area that morning. In addition to animals we also came across Maasai. Maasai are a nomadic tribe who maintain many of their traditional values and beliefs.
Maxwell, Anthony,Lawrence and I prepare for our safari.
Driving home that evening I was reminded how much I really do not like night driving in Africa. Too many vehicles with no lights, driving much too fast, weaving in and out of their lanes. The uncontrolled burning of bushes along the highway was also a little unnerving. Driving through 20 ft high flames on the side of the highway is not my idea of a relaxing time.
Maasai girl holding a Chapters bag??
At 6:00 am the next morning we headed off to the Mikumi National Park. With hundreds of sleeping policemen (speed bumps) along the way the trip was slow. During the trip Anthony and Lawrence discussed how much dowry they paid to their in-laws and how much Anthony could get for his school age daughter. Seems even in today’s world he could still expect to get 65 cows and a few chickens because of her musical ability.
On the way we stopped at the city of Morogora. Morogora is where Anthony is from. It is also where thousands of South African refugees came during their years of tension. The refugee camp was later turned into a university for agriculture.
We stopped along the highway to purchase some handmade baskets.
Five hours later, after passing some pretty exotic road kill (monkeys, hyenas, etc.) we arrived at the game park. While driving through the park we came across baboons, giraffes, antelope, water buffalo, wart hogs, impalas, hippopotamus, cranes, zebras, wildebeests, and elephants. Our guide wouldn’t allow us out of the vehicle because lions were spotted in the area that morning. In addition to animals we also came across Maasai. Maasai are a nomadic tribe who maintain many of their traditional values and beliefs.
Maxwell, Anthony,Lawrence and I prepare for our safari.
Driving home that evening I was reminded how much I really do not like night driving in Africa. Too many vehicles with no lights, driving much too fast, weaving in and out of their lanes. The uncontrolled burning of bushes along the highway was also a little unnerving. Driving through 20 ft high flames on the side of the highway is not my idea of a relaxing time.
Maasai girl holding a Chapters bag??
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Winding Down in Dar es Salaam
July 13th
After a couple of frustrating hours in the school lab we decided to finish off our work in a local Internet café. The increased speed and reliability made today go much smoother. Later that evening Anthony, Maxwell, Lawrence and I went out for dinner at the Sea Cliff Hotel. Found the food excellent. Our table gave us a clear view of the Indian Ocean. Anthony mentioned it was a very expensive hotel for foreigners ($130 a night).
July 12th
Today was a long day. With very little sleep I was on my own with the workshop participants. Power outages and Internet problems only compounded things. After work I went to a local handicraft market with Anthony. Visiting and bartering with the local artisans is definitely one of the most enjoyable things to do when in Africa. Dar es Salam was particularly enjoyable because the vendors were very polite and relaxed.
Young lady in the artisan market wearing traditional clothing.
Later that evening the Teachers’ Union held a short ceremony for Arlene in the hotel restaurant. Afterwards we drove her to the airport.
After a couple of frustrating hours in the school lab we decided to finish off our work in a local Internet café. The increased speed and reliability made today go much smoother. Later that evening Anthony, Maxwell, Lawrence and I went out for dinner at the Sea Cliff Hotel. Found the food excellent. Our table gave us a clear view of the Indian Ocean. Anthony mentioned it was a very expensive hotel for foreigners ($130 a night).
July 12th
Today was a long day. With very little sleep I was on my own with the workshop participants. Power outages and Internet problems only compounded things. After work I went to a local handicraft market with Anthony. Visiting and bartering with the local artisans is definitely one of the most enjoyable things to do when in Africa. Dar es Salam was particularly enjoyable because the vendors were very polite and relaxed.
Young lady in the artisan market wearing traditional clothing.
Later that evening the Teachers’ Union held a short ceremony for Arlene in the hotel restaurant. Afterwards we drove her to the airport.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Trouble In Tanzania
July 11th
Received a telephone call from Arlene at 11:30 pm. She was experiencing difficulty with her Malaria medication. Lawrence, Anthony, and myself took her to the hospital to get checked out. By 3:30 am we were back at the hotel and plans were being made to send Arlene home.
While looking for a hospital we came across a Maasai warrior working as a security guard. Dressed in traditional clothing, wearing a sword, and holding a spear he was much more menacing that the guards who were protecting our hotel. Anthony said no one would ever attempt to rob a place with a Maasai standing guard. Maasai have been known to prove their manhood by attacking lions with just a sword.
July 10th
Tuesday, July 10th marked Dr. Lawrence Kannae’s 51st birthday. During supper at the hotel he and Maxwell Amuzu had their hotel cabins broken into. While we were 100 feet away a laptop, projector, cell phones, and a large amount of cash was taken from their rooms. Arlene and I had cabins adjacent to theirs but did not have any problems. Lawrence, Maxwell, and Arlene were pretty shaken up by the incident. Anthony and Lawrence believed that they had been followed back from a money exchange in Dar es Salaam.
Received a telephone call from Arlene at 11:30 pm. She was experiencing difficulty with her Malaria medication. Lawrence, Anthony, and myself took her to the hospital to get checked out. By 3:30 am we were back at the hotel and plans were being made to send Arlene home.
While looking for a hospital we came across a Maasai warrior working as a security guard. Dressed in traditional clothing, wearing a sword, and holding a spear he was much more menacing that the guards who were protecting our hotel. Anthony said no one would ever attempt to rob a place with a Maasai standing guard. Maasai have been known to prove their manhood by attacking lions with just a sword.
July 10th
Tuesday, July 10th marked Dr. Lawrence Kannae’s 51st birthday. During supper at the hotel he and Maxwell Amuzu had their hotel cabins broken into. While we were 100 feet away a laptop, projector, cell phones, and a large amount of cash was taken from their rooms. Arlene and I had cabins adjacent to theirs but did not have any problems. Lawrence, Maxwell, and Arlene were pretty shaken up by the incident. Anthony and Lawrence believed that they had been followed back from a money exchange in Dar es Salaam.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Travelling to Tanzania
July 7th
We arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania July 7th. Anthony from the Tanzania Teachers’ Union was there to meet us at the gate. Unfortunately, only one of my suitcases made it to Tanzania. Several days later it arrived with the lock removed and digital camera missing. The airline declined to take responsibility. Kenya Airways – The Pride of Africa!
During our time in Tanzania we stayed at the Mbezi Garden Hotel. The hotel is located northeast of Dar es Salaam, about an hour and a half from the airport.
Tanzania has one of the highest incidence of death due to Malaria in Africa. My bed was outfitted with a mosquito net.
Flew out of Edmonton July 4th and arrived in London July 5th. The following day we flew out of Heathrow Airport to Nairobi, Kenya. We arrived in Nairobi one hour before our scheduled flight to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. There were no signs indicating gates for flights and none of the airport personnel were able to provide answers. Instead we were told to join a line with several hundred travelers waiting for flight information. For the next four and a half hours we stood in line. During this time we found out our Kenya Airways flight had been cancelled and were put on another flight scheduled for the next morning. We were then told to go to the Kenya Airways lounge and wait. No apologies, no explanations, no compensation, and no night’s sleep!
Standing in line in Nairobi gave us a glimpse of the cultural differences between various ethnic groups while we waited. We learned just how patient and polite Japanese and Indian tourists are while being physically pushed out of the way by 30 or 40 Africans from the Ivory Coast.
Had no problems with the bottled water in Kenya or Tanzania.
We arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania July 7th. Anthony from the Tanzania Teachers’ Union was there to meet us at the gate. Unfortunately, only one of my suitcases made it to Tanzania. Several days later it arrived with the lock removed and digital camera missing. The airline declined to take responsibility. Kenya Airways – The Pride of Africa!
During our time in Tanzania we stayed at the Mbezi Garden Hotel. The hotel is located northeast of Dar es Salaam, about an hour and a half from the airport.
Tanzania has one of the highest incidence of death due to Malaria in Africa. My bed was outfitted with a mosquito net.
Flew out of Edmonton July 4th and arrived in London July 5th. The following day we flew out of Heathrow Airport to Nairobi, Kenya. We arrived in Nairobi one hour before our scheduled flight to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. There were no signs indicating gates for flights and none of the airport personnel were able to provide answers. Instead we were told to join a line with several hundred travelers waiting for flight information. For the next four and a half hours we stood in line. During this time we found out our Kenya Airways flight had been cancelled and were put on another flight scheduled for the next morning. We were then told to go to the Kenya Airways lounge and wait. No apologies, no explanations, no compensation, and no night’s sleep!
Standing in line in Nairobi gave us a glimpse of the cultural differences between various ethnic groups while we waited. We learned just how patient and polite Japanese and Indian tourists are while being physically pushed out of the way by 30 or 40 Africans from the Ivory Coast.
Had no problems with the bottled water in Kenya or Tanzania.
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