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Tanzania

12 December 2009

, Mae Patel , Comment

I’m back!

Our domain unfortunately expired two weeks ago and it’s taken a bit of time to sort it all out with the renewal. I finally managed to renew it for a further two years earlier today and now it’s back up and running again. I have two weeks’ worth of adventures to update you on!

Firstly, if you’d like to look at all the photos I have taken during my five weeks in Tanzania, here they all are:

Secondly, I have had some amazing adventures since the last time I wrote and I have experienced so much. I have met some wonderful people and seen some fantastic places. I can’t write about all of it now, so here is a list of the highlights:

Tomorrow I am planning on going to South Beach with Laura, Monday is my last day in the office and Tuesday morning I fly home.

I am feeling ambivalent about going home. On the one hand I really miss Tulpesh and the cats and I can’t wait to go home to Norway for Christmas. On the other hand I have got used to living here and I will miss Tanzania and all the lovely people I have met!

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26 November 2009

, Mae Patel , Comment

On Sunday I met up with Laura and we went to Mediterraneo Hotel & Restaurant to spend the day relaxing by their pool. We got a bajaj there and had quite an adventure when it got stuck in the sandy roads near the hotel! I like going in the bajajs, they’re fun and it’s nice being out in the open. Thanks to Laura for introducing them to me!

We spent most of the day relaxing, reading and chatting by the pool, and of course swimming. It was really nice to just relax and wind down, and spend some time outside. I spend the working week either in the office or my apartment, so it was nice to get some fresh sea breeze and some sunshine!

The Mediterraneo pool:

We went to their Italian restaurant for lunch and I had delicious fresh pasta with spinach and ricotta in a mushroom sauce – very yummy! I had been craving Italian food and it was lovely eating right next to the Indian Ocean.

In the late afternoon we decided to move to their lounge, as it started getting quite windy and my back had had enough sun.

Relaxing by the Indian ocean in the Mediterraneo lounge:

Laura on her lounger:

In the early evening we got another bajaj back to our respective apartments. A very relaxing, enjoyable day all around!

On Tuesday night I went to Addis in Dar again, this time with Laura, Sarah and three of Sarah’s friends. Afterwards we went for a drink in Sweet Eazy, where I had a mojito to celebrate my promotion to Senior Editor! It was a really good night out and very interesting company!

Yesterday I went back to Slipway with Laura to visit The Green Room, a relatively new shop in the souk area where Sarah knows the owner. She was holding a pre-Christmas do and we had canapés and wine. I bought some Christmas presents, but I won’t say what they are! I also bought two postcards that Sarah designed, for my keepsake journal.

Lastly, I think I may have finally figured out where in Mikocheni B our offices are:

The red dot in the bottom right-hand corner shows Mayfair Plaza and Markham Suites, where I am staying, whereas the other dot is the Longman Tanzania office – maybe! I figured it out based on counting roads and estimation, so it might not be entirely accurate!

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21 November 2009

, Mae Patel , Comment [2]

I have unfortunately spent the last three days housebound and feeling quite ill after contracting a stomach bug somewhere. I started feeling ill on Tuesday morning, but it got significantly worse Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, when I was really ill. I haven’t been able to leave my hotel room, but my lovely colleague Irene has helped me get groceries and medicines. I started feeling better yesterday, and today I ventured out for the first time since Tuesday night.

I met up with Sabrina, who I went to Aston University with from 2002 to 2006 and who I knew through a mutual friend. I knew that Sabrina was from Zanzibar, so when I finally found out that I was definitely going to Tanzania with work I immediately contacted her on Facebook and was very pleased to find that she was living in Dar es Salaam!

Me and Sabrina:

We had a delicious steak lunch at the Karambezi Cafe at Sea Cliff Hotel. Sea Cliff is a lovely place, situated on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Me at the restaurant – to the left in the photo lies the beautiful Indian Ocean:

We chatted away over lunch and shared a delicious brownie for dessert:

I am planning on seeing Sabrina again this coming Friday and meeting her adorable daughter Sarah. I had such a lovely time today and I cannot wait to meet her daughter!

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