Dar to Safari, in one smooth movement (pt 1)

The day after arriving in Dar Es Salaam [link], I checked out and heard from TC that he was allowed to board the plane this time and was on his way. One missed connection - this already felt like it would not be the last time.
It was decided that we needed to get to Arusha to start our safari (still unplanned at this moment in time) and so I made my way to the bus station to be met, as soon as he could make it, by TC. What a wonderful phrase "as soon as I can" is, it has such a broad meaning really.

Dar Es salaam is the biggest city in Tanzania and has quite decent international connections, the best rail connections and a pretty large selection of buses to other cities in the region. We had discussed some pretty spectacular train rides actually, in the planning, but it was not going to quite work with the timings so we had decided our route ignoring the option of the train (which was disappointing for both of us). The road network in Tanzania is not amazing but passable with one notable thing to consider for inter-city travel - the roads are not lit. Bearing that in mind, this means that there is a de facto deadline for the departures to Arusha from the coach stop, and so we checked the last departure to be at about 10am (8 hour journey, reaching Arusha at about dusk).

I got to the bus station in Ubungo (by cab) a little earlier as I thought I would check the times and prices before meeting TC so that we would be armed with information and be ready to go but I was not really sure what to expect and I don't think I could have expected it – my imagination has always been a little lacking...
The bus station itself is massive and the cabs have a bit of a cartel so once you are inside, you will only be approached by licensed cabs (as at the airport in fact) with an attached premium but there are plenty of people there – passengers and touts. There were lots and lots of touts approaching me as I entered, but the cab driver took me to the very end and I then waited. The touts came up to me and told me their prices so I got a rough idea but I was more worried when they told me the last coach had gone or that there were not many left. This information was simultaneously worrying and probably a lie. But how probably?

TC called me when he landed and so I knew he was still some way away, he might be able to get there for 10am which was when the last bus was but it was looking increasingly unlikely. As I waited, with two massive bags, and looking very much the international tourist, I was approached and then two touts just waited near me and constantly kept talking about how I needed to buy tickets. It was actually pretty intimidating but there was not a lot I could do except wait. And wait.
At about 11am, a gleaming white taxi drove right to the back of the station where I was and out jumped TC, with a broad smile and an air of nonchalance. Bloody nonchalance. I was pleased to see him but he had appeared to leave the cab with nary a care in the world as I had been a little worried, but this was his way and I think I'd have been the same. And what it meant was that he was ruthlessly efficient.

“So, this is your friend? Tell him he must buy a ticket.”

And we did as he said, what option did we have? We bought the ticket and bundled into the coach for Arusha – the last one and it was about to leave. It wasn't the greatest coach in the world, seats were a little cramped but it would get us there and it was relatively empty. Our bags were put in the hold and we were ready to go. I'd not seen TC in a while and so we had a lot to talk about - logistics aside, I did want to know what had caused the delay and where we were going^[1]. An hour and a half later, we were still just as ready to go as we had moved within the bus terminal only. Slightly nearer the entrance but not quite out. This was gong to be a long trip – we eventually left the bus station at about 12:30 and out onto the open road [next].


^{1. The delay on that day was caused by normal airport stuff. The previous day's cancellation was due to overbooking and, even though TC had turned up 2 hours in advance of the flight (and Lilongwe has a fairly small airport), it was already full at that point so he was offered a hotel room (which happened to be next door to his flat anyway) and a flight the next day. And we were going to Arusha – further details to be sorted on the bus. ↩}

Dar Es Salaam I

I'd never been to Africa before so it was a trip into the unknown. I was essentially going to visit a friend who was temporarily working in Malawi but we were to meet in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania as we would then be able to go on a little trip. The little trip was partially "organised" while I was away on holiday elsewhere¹ and partially over the last few days in London, but all I really needed to know was the hotel to meet at as my friend was sorting a lot of it out.

The flight, on Kenya air via Nairobi was pretty uneventful although I had bought a Nintendo 3DS in the airport so I played a little super Mario land 3D² which used up some time.
The airport in Dar is not particularly large so I got out fairly rapidly and looked for transport. I was pretty naively thinking that I'd be able to get into town on the bus, so I waited. It was an unsuccessful wait so after a while I got a cab to take me to the hotel.

The hotel [link] was in an area called Kariakoo but, as TC³ was to be my guide, rather lazily I'd not found out too much. He was due to arrive a few hours later and I was tired so I thought an effective and efficient use of time would be to have a nap so I'd be alert when he arrived and we went out. It is that fun-loving nature that makes me so popular.

It didn't take too long to be awoken (I may have been playing Mario to be fair) by a phone call from TC - and not a good one. He called to say he was stuck in Lilongwe and there were no more flights that day. This was less than ideal.
As it was going to get dark, I did want to see something of Dar that was not just the inside, and outside, of a hotel but at the same time, I was not entirely comfortable with going out alone (I later found out that this caution was wise on my part). I get cabin fever at the best of times but I'd been enclosed since London, essentially so I did go out for a quick walk⁴ which took maybe 25 mins though I cannot remember much of it. I ate in the hotel as it then became dark - at about 7. This was going to be an early one...⁵
In many ways, the holiday would really start the next day [link], I would hope...

<sup>1. I went to Japan in September, ostensibly for a wedding.↩
2. An enjoyable game and some of the 3D effects were astonishing.↩
3. "TC": travelling companion. Where possible, names are avoided unless necessary, or approved.↩
4. I like to feel some kind of connection with where I'm staying, or going to be which is why i'll often do a scene setting walk and, I recognise in hindsight, I often visit friends in the UK and walk through a town to get to their homes.↩
5. Actually, I was thankful for the amazing popularity of the Premier League as I watched a few games.↩</sup>

coalition of the willing

A. Right leaning leader of party that ostensibly leans to the left.
B. Right wing leader extolling virtues of compassionate conservatism whilst voting record and plans show lack of it.

A & B make speeches together, seem to get on very well personally although a cursory glance at their supposed political positions would suggest little in common.

A makes many decisions that are contrary to the party's supposed direction, on the basis that it is better to be in there with influence. B does not appear to compromise at all and it is difficult to see the influence of A in overall plans.

Media fed information about terrible state of affairs, parroted dutifully by supporting newspaper which are the majority.
State of emergency means that decisions are forced through, some may say too quickly, with little forward or contingency planning by those with little experience against the advice of experienced seniors.

What happened next?


http://zfacts.com/p/340.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2874075.stm


Clegg may not be a fan of the iraq war but, seeing how the government is working, maybe for different reasons than we thought.

time gentleman, please. Please.

A month on, so how is the new government working out for you? Dave and Nick (let us not forget Gideon "oik" Osborne) are leading us now. When they say "prime minister" on the news, they mean him. The sequel to "Four Weddings" and "Notting Hill" is now our government, oh the japes.
As a country being marshalled together by someone who has only a job in PR as their "previous experience", we should be well aware that it is the impression created that will be most important.
There are plenty of disappointments but a few good things too. Well, they appear good.
We are £20bn better off than expected apparently.
Bizarrely, Osborne used his time to say that things are worse than expected and also that the figures have been massaged. Obviously, if he had any idea on finances, he would have a more accurate expectation. And might realise that making things sound worse does actually start making things worse - such as running down GBP and causing a minor downgrade of currency.
It is a shame that Mr Laws had to resign so quickly - he'll be back soon. He is very clever don't you know, that is what everyone tells me. Clever enough to think that having principles would get him caught out? That was why this millionaire felt the best way to hide his sexuality was to claim voluntary living expenses. Not because he is a twat.

As the cabinet was announced, it all started to feel a bit samey, but PR Dave won't let you down, we had a token woman as Home Sec and, unbelievably, as Equalities Minister. Nice to see that Dave felt that the position required somebody with a homophobic voting record. But, agreed, equalities for bigots too, they are people aswell. As we are all about to find out.

Refusal to attend Question Time unless the panel had been approved, that is new politics. Why go on the most popular political media output - by far - if you do not like it? It is better to go on Sky News, at least you will get fairly explicit support from them, actual probity is a bit risky. This is remarkably like the present Mayor of London - talk about transparency a lot in the papers but close down any opportunity to actual scrutiny in the media.

First interview by the transport second was used as a way to eulogise the car, and driving. Next thing was to talk about how the war on motorists was to end, and public transport required to sweat their assets.

IS it any wonder that the opposition has seen a surge in membership? What a shame that we, as humans, usually need to be prompted into action.

Coalition squads

Wanted to do this for a while, seems like now is a good time. What I am aiming to do is to come up with analogies to explain, as I see it, certain things in the news. Most people get football so I think I'll use that.
----------
The biggest news this week is obviously the coalition of the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative parties in order to gain a majority in order to make Dave Cameron, husband of SamCam if you are not aware, the prime minister of the UK.

England have got a good set of players and consider themselves easily good enough to win the world cup. For the last 10 years, they have had what can only be considered a left sided problem - if only they had someone on the left that didn't keep drifting in.
Wales have a decentish set of players, people like them and they have a really good left sided player. For Wales, he plays a bit central, but he could occupy the left wing for England. In fact, as a youngster, he even did play for them.
England and Wales get together on a permanent basis.
Of course England only want the guy on the left, but to make it appear even, they put a few welshman in the squad and bring them on as subs.
The Welsh team are completely disbanded and once the left winger has served his purpose, England don't need the whole thing anymore. Except, Wales have not got anything to go back to, they disbanded and all the people that supported them as a plucky side don't really like that anymore.

Oh well, they will have to start from scratch.

リブート

新STAR TREK映画見ましたか。
英語では”REBOOT”「リブート」って呼ぶ「パソコン単語がふえている」。意味は古い話かキャラが新しいポイ。フレシゥなかんじかなぁ。問題はこの映画は誰のために作られたか。もちろんファンだったら興味があるが元のポイが好きになって,ファンになった。ファンじゃなかったら興味がないでしょう？
このブログもちょっとリブートしたい。話はおなじけど！イギリスに帰って、三年前、日本語は全然使わない。まだ分かるが、もちろんレベルは下がって,下がって,今は恥ずかしいレベル（T_T)　「モッタイナイ」と思って、またここにきました
実は、映画館に行って、スタートレック見ました。新しい映画は全然ダメだった。皆は若すぎまして「ありえない」かんじがしました。このぶろぐもかなぁ？

最近GOOGLEでRSSを使ってます。すごくべんりで、皆さん,このブログのRSSアドしてください。

日本語ブログはここです　http://swordwallet.blog.so-net.ne.jp/

旅…日本へ！ [編集]

すごくひさしぶりじゃない?このブログはよくしないから、いつもです。
1月からあんまりニュースがありません。でも日本に来ました！またイギリスに帰りました…
８月に友達のけっこんしきに行きました、もちろんけっこんしきは日本に行われました。この友達は上越人ですから上越県のある町｢高田｣に行われました。東京から電車の往復きっぷは２万円くらいからＪＲパスを買いました。
ＪＲパスは全国に使えるフリーパスです。２万８千円で７日パスが買える,それで日本にどこでも二行ける。：）
だから、ちょっと旅しました。私は日本に３年住んでいましたから国内旅はよくできました。このパスは日本人と外国人とうろくしょう持っている人に禁止です。だからこのチャンス
で...