Returning 'home'

We have had a most excellent time on Safari and loved seeing another side to Tanzania in Moshi. Moshi is certainly much more ‘tourist friendly’ which whilst refreshing for us in some ways, will always have downsides as well as up. Probably the most irritating aspect is how all the prices of goods are heavily elevated for ‘Muzungus’, by five to ten times! This is very different to Muheza where people will occasionally try their luck, but on the whole the price is the price, Muzungu or African. Whilst it is absolutely possible to haggle them down to a sensible price in Moshi, and this may at first be fun, after a while it is exhausting by its repetitiveness. We absolutely want to pay a fair / good price, but equally can’t afford to be swindled. You are also somewhat hounded at times for your custom, again which can be too much with some traders, when they just won’t accept no for an answer!

There are lots of upsides too. Things are definitely more comfortable. There is a greater sense of wealth, a sense that this part of Africa is starting to ‘catch up’ with the west (if that is a good thing?). And it is easy to find whatever you want. Also, being very hedonistic, the food was very good too. We found an Indoitalian restaurant (whoever knew such a thing existed) where their biryani was excellent, as were their pasta dishes (much to the approval of the chidlers).

Countless bus station vendors

So finally it was also time to return to Muheza. Yesterday the bus company had phoned to say that the bus we were booked on had broken down and would not be running. Fortunately, we found an alternative, but the ‘luxury’ was distinctly lacking aircon. It was a very long, hot and sticky 6hr bus journey. The programmes shown on the TVs were also far from age appropriate, with very sexual music videos, a film about a child kidnapping and an extremely violent kickboxing movie. The girls had some insight to resist watching on the whole, but curiosity will always win to a certain extent!

Muheza Bus Station

We eventually arrived in Muheza, very ready to get off the bus! Amongst the sea of faces plying for trade at the arrival of a bus, we were greeted by a friendly taxi driver that Kate had used in the past (to go to school with the girls). A warm smile guided us to his car, and there was no question about the price. Straight down the line, 3,000TS (about £1). Spot on. There was a bit of a hitch in getting the boot open (pretty standard to be honest, you can’t expect the whole vehicle to function all the time – the jury rigged sting in the back-seat to open the boot didn’t seem to work today?!). So we loaded the bags in the back, Kate, Lottie and Beth climbed in, whilst Ruth and I walked. This was a blessing in disguise. A really lovely stroll home together. As we walked back into Muheza, it really did feel like we were returning home. After the hustle and bustle of Moshi, it felt so much quieter (strange when I remember how overwhelmed I felt when we first arrived in Muheza). It also felt familiar, and as we walked the now well trodden path back to the hospital, it felt like we were returning home. Very comforting. It was a very nice feeling.