Travel: Selous and Highlands

We started our Oct vacation knowing that we would be driving a lot to see cool, remote places. We drove 9 hours day one- on tarmac at 100km/hour. Never stopped by police patrols once. This is amazing- they stop you every town to wonder if maybe …….. Anyway we make it to a great farm in Morogoro. Pool!!!! and good food.

Start the next day for Selous to see wild dogs!!! Birch did a research project on them in 2nd grade. But we know they weren’t denning so chances were low. 8 hour drive. Get to lodge. Kind of just a mediocre place. Pool!! but kind of green- I didn't swim. We did do a boat tour to get up close to crocs and hippos- but what made the kids the happiest was the ability to get off on a sand island for 10 min and jump and play. Go figure.

Selous the other side- still no wild dogs. We stay at Sable Mt Lodge- food good and pool!! So kids happy. Starting to see a trend… Tried to avoid siafu ants on the path and Birch got a hornet stuck in his yellow shirt ( mom why did you make me wear yellow- shirt) and 6 hornet stings!!! We survived. (To avoid contact with wasps, never work in the yard or garden wearing yellow or white, since these colors attract insects. Many insects cannot see red, making it a good color to wear when working in the yard. You should also minimize olfactory enticements such as perfumes, colognes, hair sprays, and other fragrances, and by all means, never walk barefoot. per PETA on web on how not to hurt insects.... barefoot and yellow I suck)

On to Vuma Hills and Mikumi park. 8 hours again. Still tarmac. Ok animals- really just staying to break up drive. Food ok but pool great!!! Pool quality now more important than animal quality. At dinner Cole tries to feed a bush baby popcorn and gets bit. Kind of half domesticated animal so no rabies. He tried not to cry in front of all the guests. David says “ how many kids can say they were bit by a bush baby.” Cole survives.

On to Mufindi Highlands. 8 hours with half and half dirt and tarmac. I think. Forgetting it all by now. Quick stop to fix the fan belt for air conditioner. No worries 1 hour later we are off. Arrive at one of the most beautiful settings. So peaceful. I kind of forget it is Africa until we visit the orphanage near by, We met great new friends from Dar. 3 female dogs just birthed 6 weeks prior so 17 puppies to play with. Birch and Cole did horseback riding, fishing, and croquet. I felt kind of British. Birch even drank tea.

Off to Dodoma 9 hours all dirt really. No other cars. No villages. Over hills. 25 mph because of bumps and dirt. No worries pool at end of day at kind of gross hotel we choose just to sleep at. Best in Dodoma though.

last day to Arusha – the road from hell I have heard horror stories about. I am armed with IPod videos and valium. Turns out the road the day before was worse. Psych and it worked. We made it back still married and in love.

Our car Lola made it the whole way. Only one oil leak and a fan belt needing repair on the way. the day before we left her shocks broke apart up front but within two hours they had fixed it and returned it to our house. Only in Africa can a fundi work that fast. No power, no internet sometimes but a fundi when you need him- always.

Selous gate- our kids being kids

Boat ride with crocs and hippos but highlight of day the sandy island. Our boat motorized- TZ boat low to the water and slow- scary with all the crocs.

Yes we saw animals- but …

Mikumi gate. Pool at Vuma- best of day per Cole. Yes animals…..

Mufindi. A family picture- a rarity. Puppies. Birch being nice.

Tea leave “ mazes” per the kids.

Orphanage

Horse back riding.. Fishing and Birch catches a trout. Cole even sits weird when fishing.

Long road trips mean picnics Africa style.

The pope keeping us safe on the road.

Colisms:

I am gaining altitoid. ( with Legos in the back seat)

Is there a pool there?

Ninataka pipi. ( I want candy) Nayamba pipi ( May I have candy? if he really wants it.)

Daddy sing that rap song again. “ Have you ever been at friends house where the food was just no good?”

Can I play IPod

I need to sit criss cross on your lap. ( I need to take a nap mom)

I will have a cheese omelet. ( eggs everyday on safari- eggs eggs eggs- yucko now)

Lessons: Plants are cool, Mummies are cool, really just school is cool. oh yeah and friends too.

This is Birch and Tierney getting ready for primary school dance. No they are not a date just going in same car. Birch way ready to show off his “ so you think you can dance” moves.

Hippie day at school

Plant parade in Cole’s class. Cole did an experiment about sun shade or both.

Mystery plant that we think will grow to be a palm like this.

After school Tai Kwon Do. TZ Tai Kwon Do teachers use “ humor” to teach- but I think the kids don’t get the humor. Neither do I really either. But Cole likes this and has a yellow belt.

“ you baby girls yell louder”

“ if you are bad you go in the trashcan”

“Cole I will take away your belt because you dissappoint me”

Definitely a different style of encouragement than we Americans use in first grade- but again HE LOVES IT

Birch loses a Molar and makes sure the tooth fairy knows where to find it.

Birch teaches the school about Mummifying chickens at the share time assembly.

Sleepover with friends at our house when daddy out of town. Mom sleeps over too. Thanks Lara. IF you have ever seen bath water post African day at school, party, outside time, etc…. no shoes, dusty season GROSS!!!!

Lesson: Take a shower when you can or you may not get to.

Lots of power outages which means no hot water, no water upstairs.  the pool at school was locked yesterday at the PTA meeting so we lost our chance for pool bath.  So fun in the tubs at home.  Cold water with one heated kettle of water in the bucket too.  About 75 degrees. 

Cole being Cole in the coffee field.

Colism: 

I have the burp ups!  ( poor Cole probably really has Giardia)

Is power on?  ( every 10 minutes)

I really need need need to see Cars 2.  ( at the theater today-so we drove to see it)

Travel: Emayani

We went to the coast for a four day weekend.  School is out to celebrate the end of Ramadan. http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Ramadan/

We drove eight hours to a lodge on the beach.  Turns out we were the only guests this time.  So one staff person for every family member. 

We got to see green sea turtles hatching and making their way to the water for the first time.  See our friends who are helping them at this web site. http://www.kasa-divers.com/index.php?action=news2

This is our bungalow and pool.  The ocean had lots of seaweed and since Cole is a freak for seaweed we had a lot of pool time.  Birch however is a fish and will swim in any water any time any place. 

 

Screen time even on the beach.  IPod mania to relax in the shade.

Sandy beach island that used to have trees.  We went snorkeling.  Lots of illegal fishing – this is a reserve, but the Africans still fish it.  Hard to be angry since no other place for them to get food and no education on how not fishing it would be better in the long run for food.  A real frustrating story that is making slow slow slow changes. 

 

 

Waiting for the ferry that takes us across the water inlet to the main land before the eight hour drive.  Kids already bored but staying happy on  top of the car. 

 

 

Cole’isms:

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a world with power all the time so that I did not have to ask you “ is there power can I play Wii I could just ask if I could play Wii?”  -  he says after only two weeks returning from the states.

 

After not being at Emayani for two years and then going and seeing the dog again “that dog knows my scent”.

 

Every morning waking up: Who are you?  ( either a character in movie we watched the night before or a book we read)  today I was the raccoon's wife in “ Furry Revenge” the movie.

 

My birthday is gonna be batman.  ( Dec 13th)  I tell him great I will buy him a batman suit and he says no- he is robin Birch is batman.

 

“ I hope birch will play kings and knights with me.  He can be the king and I can be a knight or may be his royal dog”