Two Nights in Mbeya

Trip Start Jan 10, 2006

Trip End Jun 02, 2006

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Flag of Tanzania Mbeya, Tanzania
Tuesday, April 4, 2006

From Karonga, it was less than an hour to the border. Then it was three or four hours to Mbeya. We drove through mountains of tea. I met Mr. Paul Banda on the bus, who bought me some fruits I never knew existed with dark red-purple juice. I don't remember what they are called, but it translates to "blood fruit." They taste like watermelon candy. He also showed me all around Mbeya town, to a nice lodge, to the bus station (where he works), to where the email's at, to trade money on the black market, to find some reggae tapes, and to a great local restaurant for dinner, all for a $2 dinner and a beer. He's one of those "angels" that Frank was always talking about in his manuscript. On our way back from dinner we saw a rainbow in pink sunset. Today I had chicken and ugali (nsima, sadza, pup, all the same corn mush) with him and his sister at her home.

Internet is cheap in Tanzania, less than a dollar per hour, sometimes 50 cents. I made contact with Prosper, my Dar es Salaam contact, via phone. He said to call when the bus gets in. I was going to take the train, but the bus is faster and cheaper.

But today I missed the bus, partly because my watch was set to Malawi time and partly because my wake-up call never came. I'll take the same bus tomorrow for a small "missed the bus" fee. So, make that two nights in Mbeya.