Kwaheli sasa Africa
Saturday, February 3rd, 2007Goodbye Africa.
I am back in Dar es Salaam and in a matter of a few hours I will be heading back to the airport to catch my flight out of Africa and into Asia. I have 2 very long legs. 5.5 hours to Dubai with a 3 hour layover and then continueing on to Jakarta, Indonesia on Emirate Air. I was getting nervous about not having a guide book for SE Asia. I have one at home but thought it would be too bulky to bring but after being in Ethiopia with a guide book I realize the importance of it, if only for a good look at accommodation and how the hell to get from one place to another. I am sad about leaving but at the same time I am ready for a new misadventure and new cultures and experiences. It turns out Daisy and I found a bookstore in the middle of the narrow winding old Araba city of Stone Town and it had an entire travel section with guide books. I picked up a ROUGH GUIDE: SE Asia. I have something to read on the airplane now and all looks good.
I am a little considered about Jakarta right now. There have been pretty heavy rains the last few days and much of the city is under water. I am hoping that the district I have chosen to stay in is in good shape. Otherwise I will probably be leaving Jakarta for the beaches much sooner than I had expected. My home has been in the news here for the storm that swept through central Florida on Friday morning. A hotel worker here in Tanzania showed conscern when I mentioned I was from Florida but I told him my family was ok.
It has officially been one month today. I am on day 31 in my journal. I have more to write about Africa but I think I will keep it to my journal for now and post some writings from it at a later time. I am hoping this good fortune of great internet connection will last so I can once and for all get all my photos uploaded. In Singapore I will be spending a long weekend with a friend of mine from Orlando who is working there now. I plan to upload all my photos at that time if I am unable to do it before then.
Our last night in Africa was actually pretty ordinary. I felt like I was at home for awhile. We had drinks at a bar. I had a jack and coke and red bull and vodka and Daisy drank 2 terrible mojitos. We even found a video game shop that had about 5-7 televisions hooked up with playstations that you pay less than $1 for an hour. Most people were playing Fifa Soccer and I have played it before so I decided to give it a try. Daisy sat and watched others play and I challenged a local to a duel. The first game he chose Barcelona. I figured, with Ronaldinho, everyone’s favorite soccer player. I considered going to USA team but it would have been a bit too lopsided so I chose the Italians. He beat me the first game 1-0 in a very close match. The 2nd time around I chose Real Madrid and the game went into double extra halves. Victory was mine, 1-0. Viva Beckham! For a few moments I felt like I was right back at home playing games. It was really nice. I think I surprised them with my soccer game play.
Oh, I almost forgot. A funny conversation with a local in Zanzibar yesterday. Daisy and I were walking back to our hotel and this little boy, probably 10-12 yrs old walked up next to us and started chatting. Excerpt from the conversation.
Boy: You are Americans?
Us: Yes
Boy: Ah (mumbled something)
Us: Do you not like the U.S.?
Boy: I very much like the U.S. a lot. But your president is a stupid head.
Us: WOAH!!!
The boy eventually stopped following us.
Time to go!
Goodbye from Africa.
See you in Asia.
Joey