Return to Tanzania

Saturday 22nd August – at the Sleep Inn Hotel in Dar es Salaam

We had a nice tea/dinner at the in-house restaurant and then I slept well after checking all could go into my main luggage as we planned to take only carry-on luggage to Kigoma. John was going to try to view a DVD using my computer but he didn't have my password to open the computer up …. so that didn't work for him.

Sunday 23rd August – Dad would have been 93 today …... and today we are heading to Kigoma, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika (longest lake in the world and second deepest lake in the world, and it part of the Great Rift Valley!) - Kigoma is where most of us lived last before leaving Tanganyika in late 1961 to go to live in Australia for good.

We had breakfast at 7am …. actually about 7.10 and then closed our big luggage and the front office locked it in the store-room until we were to return. 7.45am and our taxi man Moodi was ready waiting outside – so off we went with him to the airport. The Precision aircraft was due to leave for Kigoma at 9.20 but I think we got away around 9.40. We were to go down in Tabora, on the way to Kigoma, as there were some passengers there to collect and some folk getting on at Dar wanted to go to Tabora – hence the itinerary changed a little.

We touched down onto the dirt runway in Kigoma and once out of the plane headed to the exit of the arrivals lounge and looked for a taxi with driver. We asked the driver if he coulf show us the house where we used to live at 'Bangwe', as well as the Livingstone/Stanley meeting place and memorial at Ujiji and take us to the Lake Tanganyika Hotel – and we asked what his price would be …. he said 30 000 T.shillings – so we were happy with that so he took us to the Hotel first to book in.

Then once done with the paprwork at the Hotel we went with the Taxi and after locating the approximate area of where the home could be we asked a Form 5 student who knew a bit of English and he got further details and so John and I walked with him to the top of the hill to find the house..... a lot more worn, but it is a private house now and we met an African lady there and she said she works at the Hotel we were staying at!!! Amazing!! Anyway she said I could take some photos, so I thanked her. The road goes up to the house a different way now, and there's a couple of schools now on the same hill, so it looked quite different to when the house was the only building there in 1960-61!

The student took John and me down a 'short-cut' walking track and as we started off John asked him if there'd be any snakes …... but I was a bit concerned with some of the steeper declines and took the nearest sort of gutter to stay safeand go down very steadily! Once down in the centre of the school he showed us some of the buildings explaining their uses, then we had to see the dining room where the one TV was and there was sport on at the time and well over 100 school-boys were there viewing the TV!!

We got back into the Taxi and starting off on our next bit of journey. We arrived at the bottom of the hill and the driver said Ujiji to left and to right – I said to him you go the way you want to, and he decided to go left because he reckoned it was the shorter way to go!

After some distance on this road, all of a sudden there was a raised bit of road and then the road on the other side of the bump it looked like very soft powder-like dirt! Ahead you could see piles of gravel/dirt and they were obviously doing some work to improve the road! Well …. the car started to 'glide' a bit and the driver pressed onto the accelerator a bit more to move past the spot, BUT guess what!!!! the back passenger started going down deeper into the powder dirt! John said 'no, stop …. ' and the driver stopped.
John got out and tried to get the driver to understand the problem he had! A nice older African man came to help, John scooped out some dirt, then the driver stated again …... too soon, and so the tyre went down further! John looked at the back tyre where there was a huge gap and he asked me if the driver would need a 'jack' and I said 'no, what needs to be done is scoop out all the soft powder dirt from under the car, in front of the back wheel and in front of the front tyre, then push some old fronds and pebbles under and in front of the back wheel, then get the young men and teenage boys (4) to push while the driver starts to go forward SLOWLY.' John also helped to push whilst pushing down on top of the area above the back passenger tyre – and SUCCESS.

The driver gave a couple of small notes to those who had helped with getting the dirt out and pushing the car. So we got going again and I hope the driver has learnt something through the incident!!

We got to Ujiji eventually and saw the site where Stanley found and met David Livingstone – it was now fenced off and there was a museum there – but we didn't really want to go through the museum so I took a photo and off we went. We saw through the township of Ujiji then went back to the Hotel. I offered him 35 000 T shillings as he'd gone through quite a bit of worry and stress I thought! - but he asked for another 5 000!!!!! Anyway it was good to see the old house and the Ujiji monument.

After a bit of a freshen-up after all the fine dust episode, John and I went for a walk to see the Kigoma Railway Station where we had got the train years ago to go to Boarding schools, and we walked through a bit of the town and when we got up the road to a high spot, going away from the township, I was able to get photos of the Lake Tanganyika Port which has been a very large and important port over the years.

Kigoma was also an important point in the slave trade as Africans from the western countries were brought through Kigoma carrying ivory and walking to the coastal towns of Bagamoya etc to be sorted, chosen and traded to become slaves (the ones that looked stronger and able) whilst the remainder were hung and thrown into the sea – so very sad). The chosen Africans for the slave market were then put into a Dhow and they sailed over to Zanzibar where the selling and trading took place.

We then walked back towards the Hotel we were staying at and walked past the previous Kigoma Hotel that was used as the hotel in 1960 and 1961 when we lived at Kigoma (the locals didn't know that it used to be the Kigoma Hotel!). Now it is used for a local member of parliament or district commissioner or similar. What a palatial dwelling for them!!!

In John's room he was able to get the Internet, however I didn't have my laptop with me but I checked my emails next morning at the office.

We had tea/dinner at the Hotel's restaurant (the cost was more than other places we have stayed at! But meals were nice) and the lady we saw up at our old house was working there that evening as well as in the morning when we had our breakfast.

I paid the Hotel bill early evening so we would be carrying less $'s on us for our time there.
The rooms were very spacious and comfortable, and having a large flat-screen TV was a bit good!!!

Monday 24th August
John woke up with a virus … had had a few sneezes so I asked if he wanted anything to help him and he said 'no, I have Echinacea'. I had Vitamin C and other things to help but John was going to look after himself!
We had breakfast and the choice of things to eat was good – they even had maandazis there … so I hopped in and had 2, in case I didn't get another one whilst here!!!And I am not putting on weight! If anything I may have trimmed up a tiny bit!!!

I then found a film to watch!!!! on the TV – about a guy in America who was asked to build an Ark as a dam burst and he ended up saving lots of folk as well as two of all the animals …. it was very relaxing just sitting there in the cool watching!!! Yes I enjoyed a lazy time there!!

We had to vacate our rooms at 10am so we took our hand luggage up to the office area – and the IT man tried to assist John in getting connected to the internet for me to use … but no luck there. John went for a walk while I checked emails on their computer and found a change in our plane's leaving time. Then I just sat and read and relaxed. John returned all hot and sweaty from his walk, but he seemed happy about his adventures! I asked him if he'd been trying to 'sweat the virus out?' and he said no!

A group of African men (from World Vision and other similar Aid Agencies) were also going to the airport to get the plane. They had all come over on the boat from the Congo – an overnight trip and sounded like it wasn't relaxing!! Anyway the American lady who had organised the Hotel's mini bus to take the men to the airport saw us waiting for our taxi and suggested we go in the bus with the men. As our taxi hadn't come and he was meant to be there 10minutes earlier we said we'd like to go in the bus. We donated to the cost of the bus ….. and off we went. Got paset the Railway Station and as we were going up the road the sight os the tiny, dried, salted fish in kilo bags got all the men wanting to buy some!!! So we stopped and many, many bags were purchased! Back into the bus they got, then the driver thought it would be good to have some – so another two bags were purchased! The doors were shut again and yes we went on to the airport.

The plane left at 12.55pm and the flight was smooth and arrived in Dar at 2.40pm. The back door was opened and everyone got up ready to get out and we were asked politely by the (we think she was a Kenyan, lovely and tall and paler skin) hostess to 'please be seated until the bus arrives' …. so we did what we were asked to do! A ride by bus took us to the arrival door/terminal entrance and we walked through to find Moodi our taxi-driver who took us to our Hotel, via the bank ATM!

We had tea at the restaurant with our Malaria tablets … John has one a week and I have one every night with food. I have to continue my tablets for 2 weeks after returning to Australia …. so I hope no malaria bugs stay in my system like they did in 1961. Malaria is no fun!

Tuesday 25th – hey it is David's 40th Birthday tomorrow in the USA – hope you have a great Birthday David!
Breakfast a bit after 8am. John had a good sleep he said and took his 'dowa' (medicine) at breakfast to conquer his cold. I am well!
He has obviously been checking things out with where to walk and what to see once we check out of our rooms about 10 or 10.30am this morning.
We will take the taxi with Moodi as driver to the Julius Nyerere International Airport leaving the Hotel about 2pm. As we are leaving the country we will do Customs check etc and go through the three security screens. Our Emirates flight is due to leave at 16:50 and expected to arrive in Dubai 23:20 which is 5hrs 30mins flying time.

We stay in Dubai for a little over 24 hours and our rooms will be in the Ibis Deira City Centre. We are booked to be picked up from the airport and will be driven back to the airport the next night by the same driver. We are also booked to go on a tour in a double decker bus so we hopefully we will see a lot of the buildings etc. We leave DubaiThursday 27th August at 02:40 and arrive in Melbourne 22:05 (13hrs 25mins flying) – so it has been a great trip. Back home soon.... from Eliz
Wednesday 26th August in Dubai
We arrived here local time 11.30pm (Tuesday) and going through all the checks at the airport – the last one before collecting our baggage I was asked what was in my handbag? So I took all the stuff out and I think what they picked up on was the batteries for the camera – and they asked what the little tablets were! So once satisfied the man thought he'd check my other carry on bag but was happy once he'd done the 'look through'.

At Dar es Salaam as you enter the first Departure area, you place all your luggage onto the screening rollers to go through a security check – John had forgotten to take his pocket knife out of his pocket so the man there watched John put it into his main luggage. Then you check in your luggage and hand over you passport many times.

John realised in the taxi going to the airport that he'd left his cap at the Hotel – so once our main baggage was booked in we went to the Duty Free Shop up stairs and he now has a new cap (it is not bright in colour (it is a John colour and preference) and has Tanzania on it!!! So as a consolation I bought a Tanzania key ring!

At the last security I told the man I had 500mL of water that I was drinking while waiting for the plane as there are no shops etc there – and he asked me to have a drink of it – so as I was thirsty I started to have quite a drink and he said 'enough, enough – it is okay!' So off we went and waited about 1hr 15mins.

The plane left about 10 minutes late but it arrived on time. Comfortable and good service but there were some restless, noisy kids on board – I felt sorry for one youg English guy next to this couple with their scamp! Totally carefree parents with an out-of-control young boy! Mmmmm!

We are in Dubai for the day and we will have breakfast when John stirs ….. he has until 9am and then I will knock on his door!

It is the time of Ramadaan (don't know how to spell the word) and so there is to be NO drinking or eating in public from 4.30am until some time in the evening! So I wonder how we will go with no water whilst being on the Big Bus and walking around in the heat!!!? An experience maybe!

Dubai from first impressions is so huge and spotless and new – but the haze over the city skyscrapers is thick – not sure if it is dust related or heat – or both!!

I will probably do a wind up blog once I'm back in Oz – it was great to revisit my homeland and I didn't “kiss the ground” or plant a tree …. no! I did a number of taps on the ground at Dar airport before getting onto the steps to climb into the plane. I said 'goodbye' to Tanzania and I said 'thanks for having me stay'. A last look at the countryside around and was happy to have visited … and I went inside the huge plane.
Thanks for coming on our revisit with us. What a wonderful 22 days!

Saturday 22nd August Hi! from Dar Es Salaam
We left Iringa Friday 21st after breakfast, and Ian picked us up and drove us to the so called Bus “Terminal”- a yard for all sizes of buses and dulla dullas!!! He made sure we got to the bus then he bid us farewell as he had to go and lecture out at the College. Fiona and Ian were great and showed us around so much and we had a great time at Iringa, seeing the work they both do there and walking through the town's dukas and market – a great experience and not as pushy or as dangerous as other places.

Thursday afternoon we had arvo tea with Yobst and Liz and another man who I cannot recall his name – they have all been in Tanzania for yonks and it was great to meet them and talk with them. Yobst and Liz know Charis well and also Auntie Shirley and girls – and they enjoyed hearing news of them and wished to be remembered to them all.

Iringa is high up on hills and I never realised that before – and the views were spectacular …. just wonderful. Actually it has been amazing to see what the Geography of Tz has been, because as a child/youth I didn't really take it in …... maybe I just saw it and accepted it as “the norm”. Most of the travelling in my youth was in buses going to boarding school, and you were driven in the gate and unless you had to go to the Dentist or hospital when the 15 or 16 weeks of term were over you got onto the bus and were driven back to the central location to be collected by your parents!!! The second last school I went to here had two terms a year and I think the terms were something like 23 or 24 weeks!!!! I think there was a mid-term break of a week.

Yes it was good to see my old school – a kind of 'closure' and I was able to say goodbye to it for all of us who went there – Libby and brothers, Charis and Erica, the Bakewells and the Hannahs – hey! guys it is still very recognizable …. still a lot of grey buildings and now it is a University!!! The hill up from the gate seems a bit steeper now but maybe it was my age showing!!!! The road up from the gate starts off in a divided road now and the entrance before the gateway is very posh and divided as well with a garden down the median strip!! I didn't plant a tree … but I said goodbye.

So now it came time to leave Iringa
The Scandinavian bus was due to leave 9am and it left 6minutes late but there were lots of parts where roadwork was getting done but mainly in the first 100kms where they are widening the road. The range was very steep and some tight corners – I had taken the photos from the small plane on Wednesday and the gradient of the range road was as steep as the range going down to Mossman from Tablelands (The Rex Range) but this one was way longer.

The speedbumps I the road are before bridges, after bridges, before townships, after townships. They can be one rounded bump; up and then a metre later down bump; a row of three or four little bumps and today we went across one with five little bumps! Quite often in the centre parts around Dodoma you get a series with 3 bumps then a larger rounded bump then another series of 3!! They are all on the tarmac roads to slow down the traffic … and therefore preserve the road and keep it safe!

It has been amazing to see so many bitumen roads – but every now and then there are POTHOLES – but they are quite big at times. Maintenance is still a problem here in Tz – but when you think of all the roads being so rough before, years and years ago – I reckon there's been a lot of progress in some areas.

The land of Tz is still in great need of help and aid – there are still LOTS of people doing it really tough, yet I see so many more Primary Schools and Secondary Schools – but the need for teachers is GREAT. Pay for teachers is low and conditions is hard/poor. The kids are like sponges vso keen to learn and gain education, but most cannot afford it without sponsorship. So sad.
Now I have been off on a tangent and it wasn't a mathematical tangent!!!!

The bus trip was meant to be 7 hours but due to roadwork and countless “little stops” for the driver and 'ticket man/refreshment giver' to purchase vegetables for home, as well as a few of the africans on board to buy a few vegetables also!!!!!! And then we picked up one or two “extra” passenger to go here or there …... anyway we eventually got to the outskirts of Dar to reach a 'peak hour' type of traffic where we tried to go into one street but the conglomeration of vehicles in the intersection meant we'd be there for EVER!!!! So the bus reversed a tad then went around and on to a different route! As we went past a taxi driver had got out of his taxi and was yelling and pointing …. trying to resolve the JAMB of cars!! (Is that the right spelling? Sure looks funny …. but that's english!) Poor John just shakes his head a lot of the time and often gives a comment about things!!!!!

We finally got to the Dar Terminus for Scandinavian Princess Class Express!!!!! and we caught a taxi to bring us to the “Sleep Inn” and it had been a l-o-n-g day and hot, as most of the windows didn't open!! I told the lady manager here at Sleep Inn it was good to be here when she welcomed us. We were shown to our rooms after John filled in his details – 507 and 512 – and they are opposite each other!

We had tea then tried the Internet – John could get on and after trying for 1 hour 10minutes I still couldn't get on so I rang the office and they said 'come down in the morning' …... so I went to bed.

When we were at Morogoro at the 'Guest House' we stayed in, the girl there in charge of cooking, front office and in charge of the cleaners and security had said to me that Bagamoyo was worth seeing and was full of history. So I kept this in mind and after asking John if his friend/contact Wandwi in Dar wasn't going to meet us or have time to see us ….. and we had a full day in Dar for today Saturday so I made a suggestion we see Bagamoyo ….. so when we arrived at the Sleep Inn (much safer than the Tropical Hotel we had in the first few days … and they speak more english here!) we asked about the possibility of visiting Bagamoyo. The Manager was going to see if one of the taxis outside her hotel would do the job and ask a good price!

Saturday 22nd – and after breakfast I used the computer downstairs to check emails, then once John was ready to come down, he paid the Hotel A/c and then we went by taxi (9.30am) to see Bagamoyo – lots of history there – It was the Arabs HQ as a port and to trade slaves to Zanzibar as well as Ivory and skins – then it was German HQ up until the British took over after World War I – so we went on a short tour through the slave market building (later used by Germans, British, then in 1961 changed to being used for a prison, then a school!!) and then we went to see the slave port where the slaves were transported in Dhows from. Amazing, sad sights but all part of the history of this great land of Tanzania.
Our driver Moodi (is a Muslim and they are now in Ramadam so he couldn't join us for lunch) took us all over and we had a guide for the building we looked over and the Port. We had lunch in quite a posh place and the vegetable pizza was lovely.
After lunch we had a bit more of a look around Bagamoyo and then started back to Dar, then on the outskirts of Dar Moodi said he'd show us the first Prime Minister Julius Nyerere's House where his widow still lives. Dad and others from 1960/61 knew Julius Nyerere and his picture still is seen in lots of places and people appreciated his rule here it seems. He died a couple of years ago.
Going to Bagamoyo in an air-con taxi was safer and more pleasant that walking the streets here in Dar again!!! I am glad I suggested it and the history lesson was great.
We arrived back here at 3pm – a great outing!! Then once back in the rooms I was able to put a couple of Blogs on with John's computer. I hope to put this one on later before we go down for tea.

The food in most places has been great – occasionally the chicken has been so tough, but the vegies have been good!! I don't know how John was expecting to lose weight!!!! But we are both well. Eliz

This sure has been a super time .... down memory lane ..... and tomorrow morning we fly across Tz to Kigoma on the Tz side of Lake Tanganyika. You will hear from me when we return to Dar ....

Well, I am glad to see that so many are getting such a kick out of my mobile phone learning experience. I have now even used the alarm!!! It has been a matter of necessity as email has not been as accessible and reliable as hoped and causing some frustration for us.

And no, I am not feeling “delicate” - I just don't argue with my older sister when it comes to seating in the car! Besides, sometimes you need more faith when sitting in the front here and seeing what's ahead and the speed at which it is approached. Defensive driving – what's that? And I wouldn't have much faith in the seat belts.

Kilimatinde hospital, in the Rift Valley, is in a similar condition to Berega in 1998 and in need of an injection. A dozen solar panel lights only, an old diesel generator for ops and everything else (we wouldn't trust it in Aus!), no water on tap and uncertain longer term supply etc. During nationalisation, the government had taken it over and, when it was handed back,.........!

After the experience of the trip to Kilimatinde, where we missed the turnoff sign because of the new road, and going on to Manyoni, we discovered the road is not complete to Manyoni. And at Mvumi, I spoke with a guy from Kigoma who clarified that the road from Mwanza still had 100km plus at the Kigoma end to be completed. It seems that some hear work is on a five year plan and soon after it is complete!

Gave our driver my spare pair of (old) polarized sunnies on Monday and he has been wrapped! As my sons (and wife?) would disown me if they saw me wearing them again, I left them with him. The sunnies here are your cheap & nasties that you get at servos etc in Aus. Unfortunately, here they get a lot of poor quality stuff (guess where from!!).

Wednesday morning we did not have to worry about roads - we flew in a small Cessna with MAF from Dodoma to Iringa leaving 7am and arriving 7.50. Just a little better than 6 hours (approx 220kms) on a bone cruncher road or longer on sealed road!! No, we didn't get sick!

Internet has been slow, if at all, and mixed with some limiting factor in Eliz's computer for networking or wireless and the fact that both of our Word software are on trial, which has expired, Eliz has become quite frustrated in her attempts to keep the blog up to date.

Iringa was great and the Oates were very welcoming and supportive, cooler in the evenings and softer water.

Fiona, and others, show frustration at acceptance of planning and new ideas in design & construction. Understandable, but they have achieved gradual change and that it is great (eg Design of Cathedral & Dining room E has mentioned). But then, builders often have conflict with architects and clients!!!

We arrived in Dar, had a meal and settled into the Sleep Inn Hotel as planned - its good! And we have internet (well mine is working – thanks Janet!)

Bus trip from Iringa was OK but 91/2hrs - traffic in Dar is worse!

Great to see roads being repaired and even widened in parts (given that the road falls a way so quickly). Great to see so much construction in Dar – and modern style buildings at that – even some cranes, and shopping centres even! More huts with baked mud or concrete brick and tin roofs and, we heard, the government has made it illegal not to use brick.

Am still trying to find some signs of town planning! There must be some because there is a fair bit of redevelopment around Dar which seems regulated.

Wednesday 19th August – got up very early as we needed to be out on the airport tarmac ready to get on the little MAF Cessna 4 or 6 seater plane. The pilot was Dutch and he'd been flying in Uganda until the day before so this was going to be his first flight in Tanzania – not sure if that made John a bit edgy or not! We left about 10minutes late and it was a very good flight – but it showed us how hazy it is in Tz! Beautiful scenery and a very smooth flight and a great landing.

We arrived at Iringa airstrip and it was quite a bit cooler and our host Ian was there. He took us through Iringa to book our things into the rooms and then took us to Amani to see where he, Ian, worked. They have plans to extend the College but there is no money to meet the need. The man who was maybe the Principal said his father spoke very highly of George Pearson our Dad – and said he had beeb a strong man and a good person.
We then were taken on a tour of the college and then had morning tea with the staff. Some of the teachers speak English so well and are really keen about their jobs.
Then Ian took us into Iringa town to meet up with his wife Fiona who is an Architect but out here has a Building Supervisor title or similar. She has designed some fabulous buildings but then frustrations can come when those building the structure do something their own way!!
After a walk through part of the town, past shops and through a market we had some lunch and then were taken to the Lutheran Centre where we were booked in to stay. I repacked and then had a rest which topped up my battery!!

Ian came to pick John and me up to go to their home for the evening and for Dinner. They have built on an extension to the house, that Fiona drew up, and there is a round outside seating area and it is so relaxing sitting there and taking in the view – just magic. We had nibblies and when the light had faded we went inside taking the cushions inside with us. Dinner was fabulous and the discussions were great. About 8.30pm or a bit later Ian drove us to the Accommodation.

Thursday 20th August
We had breakfast and Fiona came a little after 9am and took us to town where she had to get a small job done on their Toyota Land Cruiser. We then went out to Kilolo where there is a Secondary School that Fiona has been doing some work – designing a huge Dining Hall for the School but can be used as an Auditorium or similar. Unfortunately money is very short and she is hoping some finishing touches can be made to get the building to usable state before too long. Money is needed so much to complete projects around here.

We saw through the School buildings and Dianne teachers Science but told us she has kerosene burners and how she has to improvise so much with equipment – almost is easier not to do practicals! When the rain comes it is torrential and Dianne's husband Ken was saying there was problem with gushing water down the roads so I gave him a suggestion to help and he thought it was a great idea. So that was nice!

We then returned to Iringa (35kms) and spent more time with Ian and Fiona. They let me use their Internet so I finally sent the last Blog. We then met an older couple who knows Charis very well and we had a cuppa with them and that was a great time chatting.

Ian and Fiona then drove us to see my old school and as the road had been worked on Fiona and I walked to the gate and we asked the guards there if we could walk up to see the school – and we were allowed so that was great and I took quite a few photos. It is now a university and many more buildings have been added – but it was great to see the school again.

We went to a Restaurant downtown and the food was great. Sarah – Ian and Fiona's daughter likes going to that restaurant so we all enjoyed the yum food. Then they drove us to out accomm and so now it is 10pm and time to hit the pillow after a shower!! So I hope to post this on the blog when we reach Dar tomorrow evening.
We catch the Scandinavian Bus from Iringa → Morogoro → dar Es Salaam tomorrow leaving 9am and it could take 10 hours because of roadwork. So until next time …. bye from Eliz

Monday 17th August – Dodoma
We arrived back really quite late from the Kilimatinde adventure – had Chinese again then off to the rooms to pack and sleep. I was really quite tired so switched the light off at 9.30pm.

Tuesday 18th August – left the 'New Dodoma Hotel for Mvumi – our Birthplace!
All packed up I took my large suitcase to the office then tried to put in a blog at the hotel's Internet Cafe – got nowhere apart from the Title and Sub-title in 30 minutes!! 500 T shillings was paid instead of the 1000 Tsh. I took my laptop to the office for safe keeping and we were returning in the afternoon to get out main luggage.

Our driver arrived at 9am and we left for Mvumi – about a 45km journey – all rough dirt, but it was great to see all the scenery. When I was young I cannot remember much of the scenery – it was just travelling to places then – but my revisit has made me aware of the varying scenery as we have travelled. So many mountains – even apart from the great Rift running through Tanzania.

Mvumi has grown so much and the Nurses Quarters were the same as 1959, the church had an apex roof on now and the Old Girls boarding School looked very much the same. The Doctors House and the Sisters' Home looked very similar only older (of course) however where our house was is now a vacant bit of land between two lots of parallel duplexs.

I was taken through the Hospital by the Patron (male Matron) and the standard of the Hospital is very good – but there is a shortage of nurses – and even though there are 120+ nurses in training some get out as they can'y afford to stay on and they need sponsors to finish their training. The Hospital is now helped by the Government so lots more patients come. The Govt pays salaries of workers, supplies drugs and equipment but won't pay anything towards training of nurses!! So I'm thinking of possible solutions as we go along that may work things out.

We visited Makangwa on the way back to Dodoma – it is where 2 friends of mine came last year to volunteer for 11 and a bit months, It is a famine relief project. It was great to arrive at the entrance and to have a bit of a look from the gate. I had no contact number for Father John – but it was great to see the location and what it looked like.

Back to Dodoma and we shouted our driver to a meal at the Hotel – which was enjoyed and then I went to the Bank to withdraw money to pay for the car and driver. We then went out to see the place where Mum and Dad first came to very early in 1943 but it is now a University and no really old houses or schoolrooms were there. It is huge and is being run well now that the diocese has taken it back to run rather than the Govt!

We returned to Hotel to pich up our large bags and my laptop then the driver took us to near the airport where MAF has its headquarters and Guest House. We walked around to the Simba Hotel for tea …... it took about 40mins to come after we had ordered!!! Then John thought we could walk the 10mins back – and I said 'no, ring the taxi' – so we got back to MAF and I tried the Internet again – but I couldn't get on yet John was able to!!! Don't know the reason …...

Next lot of news coming …. from Eliz