My return to Dar Es Salaam

Thinking I would have a lonely journey back to Dar was a mistake, as someone I started talking to on the ferry turned out to be a friend of my cousins when she was working in Dubai! It's funny the people you meet when you think you don't know anyone anywhere close by.

Once off the ferry I found a taxi to take me to somewhere to stay. Half way through the journey my driver changed the hat he was waring. He explained that when he was at the ferry port he wore a hat typically worn by Muslims. This he said was because if he didn't then none of the Muslim population coming from Zanzibar would get in his taxi. Really though he was a Christian and this apparently was reflected by the next hat he put on.





In my limited experience, Dar Es Salaam is always busy and the hotels always full. I thought by arriving early in the day I wouldn't have a problem finding somewhere to stay but again I was wrong and we spend ages trying one hotel after another. I almost gave up my search to stay in an 'executive suite' but decided against it because of the price and fortunately found somewhere else much cheaper at the next hotel we tried.





I spent a couple of days exploring Dar so as to avoid traveling with my unhappy tummy and I began to quite like it. I mastered the dalla dallas, met a lot of friendly people and a lot of proposing men, got to know my way around most parts of the city and even found the botanical gardens. As you may be able to see from the picture, the gardens weren't at all impressive. In fact I walked right past them not realising what they were until I double checked on the map. There were far more beautiful plants outside of the gardens than in them.


I feel I should also perhaps mention a type of food I've been eating here, which can be found in most places and bought for a very little amount of money - chip omelets. They may sound a bit odd but are actually very tasty and although perhaps not the healthiest option I've figured they give me protein and so should be eaten and enjoyed. The chips are all already cooked and look pretty unappetising in glass cabinets by the side of the roads. When you order they're fried a little again and then eggs are mixed in. If it's a good stall you get salad too. Actually, considering the food I've found here, they probably are one of the most exciting foods you can get.