And this brave woman smiles! What a resilience after months of misery.
And the massive road work is being carried on as usual. No visible help is diverted to the people. I hope l missed something on that aspect.
There was a street some time ago...
Some residents are relocating, salvaging what they can.
Another resilient woman, laughing while spreading fish to dry.
The road work going for 100's of km in the area.
A typical butchery in east Africa and maybe beyond. I'm told that the carcass is fresh from the morning, always. I spotted some smiles around...about our weak stomachs or about noticing my incredulous face?
Fur hoodie...? Uganda is not the hottest country but not cold either, to me.
Sugar cane delivery. Sadly I don't see those juice machines. My favorite juice in Zanzibar, sometimes in Dar
The dream at night when overtaking is envisioned...
In Kampala, many sidewalks are much larger than the streets. Traffic jams are there much worse then Dar es Salaam.
I aso owe an apology to some Tanzanian drivers I may have abused for their terrible driving...they are waaaayy worse here.
Fiest time I went to buy a phone voucher, I went to such a yellow shop. Only to discover the salesman was selling car parts. Millions of houses and shops are painted for free by big companies in those bright colors. Better then concrete grey hen people don't have th money for a paint job.
Some areas in Tanzania will see many girls or women on bicycles. Others, none.
A bit of nostalgi...my old dirt bike.
Architecture and mix of style and colors can be interesting...
The smart display.
Common scene in many bus stops or crossroads...some areas are simply annoying.
Sometimes a guy sits in a sofa and enjoys a VIP ride.
So I finally reached Uganda 10 days after I drove from Dar es Salaam. The drive itself is quite uneventful. The Corona factor was the issue. 3 days wasted in Mwanza for a test that was finally not accepted in Uganda. Is it about money extortion? Nowhere was it specified on any official website...so 2 more days wasted in a lousy border post, Mutukula, west of lake Victoria. There are some parks and reserves wedged between the lake and Rwanda, Tanzanian side but completely off the main parks in Tanzania. And so not many tourists seem to go there apparently, even in normal times.
The trip is quite pleasant for the joy of driving to central and northwest Tanzania instead of flying over, for the great landscapes in some areas, and for the details that differ between regions, for the life on the side of the roads...
Today I chose some pictures about the transport theme.
I want to make it clear that I shot a lot of pictures while driving and focused on the funny vehicles and contraptions that usually impress a travelling "mzungu". I didn't focus too much on the many cars, some of luxury type, the many buses and trucks that roam the roads. But I insist the country is not to be limited on the pictures below.
"Proudly Tanzanian"...this rider is my champion on the road so far. In fact we should praise the 2nd woman sitting flimsily on the baskets at the very back of the bike. Yes you can notice another passenger wedged in the middle of the cargo. Hats off to the would-be engineers who patched and roped such a burden on the bike. The helmet was optional...
Safer but more colorful, this tuktuk here called "bajaj" for the most common brand.
In the Tabora region, red, yellow or blue tyres are common. Unseen in Dar or Dodoma. Cycling girls and women are also numerous in the region, as opposed to other regions.
In Mwanza...dala dala are also more colorful and decorated.
Bicycle taxis are more common in the center. Too hot or too hilly somewhere else? Notice the cushion.
I couldn't believe it when L actually saw one man riding such an assembly. I thought the thing was meant to be pushed.
But here we go. Amazing.
Another case of a proud Tanzanian man. Such a painting is rare though.
Not too heavy I suppose but a bit unstable?
South Sudan, a veeery common scene...
Notice the scars and the jewel on the chin. The place was Kapoeta on the Kenyan border. Somebody told me they were cousins with the Masai people.
Fashion, henna work, jewels, South Sudanese women try hard to escape a bit from the daily horrors.
Welcoming party in Yirol for a VIP. Dance and...
...guns! I hated those happy trigger dudes around people and my airplane...
When the plane drops cargo in a no-seat configuration but people insist on boarding on the return flight...ah well if they are happy to sit on the floor, why not. I just to be careful and explain in detail that the aft area is a total no go (not exactly true but just to be safe over the language barrier).
Happy to sit on the floor or on anything...on another occasion there had been fighting all night long and people had died in Rubkona village and sporadic shootings were still going on while boarding! That day I took about 10 women and 22 kids on board. That plane, a Grand Caravan 208, is normally configured for 13 passengers... South Sudan being the wild west, thsi shouldn't be a surprise.
USAid center on a delivery day, Pibor.
Full load of biscuits...the plane was so packed I couldn't take another box. Except on my lap.
Those Chinese made bicycles are everywhere in East Africa, and beyond? One of the few kind of good Chinese products...a Grand Caravan in the background. Yirol.
Tribal woman, impressive scars to say the least.
A rare sweet moment in that war torn country... there were a few kids on that airstrip in Aweil
, all dressed in an interesting fashion and more than happy to pose and check the results on the screen.
Guess what some airfield lousy little chief of whatever (you know the kind with a few pens in his shirt pocket and black sunglasses) gave us a show of abuse of authorities, trying to make me delete my pictures under the name of security...kids, a dirt strip, one aircraft wreck, one old hangar, scorched earth as far as you can see, you get the picture...
some smartphones are great to fool those photo idiots. If you don't open the phone with your password but open the camera function, it shows "no picture no video in this folder" coz they are stored somewhere and one has no access without the password. This guy didn't know that and I fooled him.
When there are no official public transport...
Hard work for this woman.
Notice how nobody stepped out to lighten the car...
This Masai lady uses an umbrella obviously not from the rain nowhere to be seen but from the scorching sun. Temperatures can come close to 50C at the bottom of the Rift valley.
A dust storm or dust devil passing by. Pretty harmless except for a slow and low flying plane. Very common near the equator.
Kids are the same everywhere!
Kids are the happiest in the rain season which only lasts a couple of months.
A special welcome in Pibor, a bit surprising when I landed…
A man on water duty.
A patriotic woman.
A female soldier, I haven’t seen many.
we were used as guinea pigs by a friend who had hopes in mountain biking treks. For a weekend like this, a truck would carry all the camping supplies and we’d meet at the end of each day.
resting with a view.
don’t know what to do for your next holidays? Grab a bike and go…
Ok we had a Land Rover 101 to carry food and camping gear and the cook for the weekend…
Africa does that to the traveller sometimes, the track just disappears…
funny how a scenery like that helps everybody to wake up early…
locals and expatriates or even tourists have many grudges against Arusha but I like to grab a camera and keep an eye open. Interesting sceneries happen.
“Boda boda”, the local nickname for motobike taxis. Only for people wish a death wish or a certain level of unconsciousness… These riders seemed to have jumped straight from bicycle riding to these. Here I got spotted by this pretty girl, she just smiled, didn’t ask for money.
Mobile fruit stand. Not so many around are that elaborate with a roof.
On a Sunday, shops are closed usually but other entrepreneurs squat the front pavements for their own business, usually selling crap Chinese goodies. Pleonasm I know and Africans were quick to notice that too after just a coupla years of invasion.
Umbrellas against the fierce sun. Common sighting lately, even in the bush.
The road used to be awful but has just been resurfaced last year. So the trip is now smooth, for now as cracks on the surface already appear. Thanks to Chinese quality… The scenery is pleasant but the real show happens nearby villages and towns. I always check the names on shops, bars, hotels etc. Originality and the no fear no shame concept are common. I’m sure diplomats would love this place.
Karine loves to drive herself, so I just keep my camera handy and snaps away.
The Kenyan cops could be nicknamed Starsky and Hutch...for the age of their cars. This is a picture from last week but that venerable Peugeot 504, station-wagon, has been on the roads for much longer. Kenya used to manufacture various Peugeot models under license after Peugeot stopped the by-then current model. So this one must be from 1980?
How many 20 liter containers on this cart? This man doesn’t need a gym membership.
A mentally challenged woman, she was behaving strange on that main road.
Elections in Kenya are planned for the 4th March. Let’s hope we will not witness the same violence as in 2007.
Masai man in white sneakers watching life goes by.
At the border post, Namanga, that’s where the show is. Seriously I could spend hours there just watching. Various business places, various people like Somalis, a lot of activity, bright colors hardly cover the poverty. I’ll make a special post on Namanga soon.
More names: why beehive for this highly 'hygienic' butchery? Another common scenery: those carcasses hanging on a hook. We also were so sad to miss a chance to sip a cup of tea in that lovely tea room.
We spotted 2 of these cyclist within a week, on the same road. I was a bit drooling, remembering my own bicycle trip from Arusha to Cape Town some 10 years ago. My bike looked like this one but I was not sporting the same funny outfit. The face was entirely covered too, maybe a Japanese biker, but we think it was a she. And alone on the road.
The second biker was cycling on a dirt track towards Amboseli park, very isolated so we stopped for a chat, gave him water, a newer map of East Africa, some fruit. We were heading to a nice lodge, he was planning to camp under the starry night. We could give away our reserve.
Arushan traffic jams gives some time to observe the urban jungle out there. Here is a little bit of various scenes or fashion and colors.
typical colorful coach. Taste was optional…
Rare pigs. Many Tanzanians are Muslim but still in minority as opposed to Christians. But pigs are rare nevertheless. In swahili, a pig is kiti moto, which means hot seat. Don’t ask me why.
Japanese second hand bus. The original marking haven’t been sprayed over, not unusual. Bob Marley is still fashionable in Africa….
not like the cops always on the prowl for a bribe.
Trendy grandpa.
Posters, rugs, calendars, maps, science diagrams, religious portraits are the usual things these guys sell. What a life, spend your day with arms up….
Cool dress!
So typical….
some road sides in Arusha.
even the crappiest hand-cart, like coaches or dala dalas might show some slogan or motto. “Serengeti”…I’d like to see this guy crossing the Serengeti for sure and see what happens….
The pictures below are always that great but while ‘m stuck in traffic jam or driving slowly, Arusha street life keeps me busy. There is always one detail, one funny feature catching your eye, well for those who can enjoy that activity.
Colors don’t always match perfectly, but colorful it is out there. Many vehicles in Africa show a motto related to religions. Some can be scary like “God is my co-driver”! I’m always concerned the driver might be busy picking his nose a bit too long and rely too much on his so-called co-driver…
For once a smart motto.
Wooden hand-carts are numerous and have to be taken into account in the jams.
Colors! Sometimes you better wear strong sunglasses!
This guy overestimated his own weight but is getting helped. The neighbor is busy loading a huge crate of tomatoes, maybe a second one on top later, on his piki piki (small motorbike in swahili) and then will probably drive like crazy as usual.
And cyclists know a few things too about riding overloaded….only bread but still.
That’s it, some of the pictures I collected on one morning drive to the airport… better than a jammed European highway!
while operating a Cessna 206 for Flying Medical Service in the bush, like here in Monik on lake Natron, an unusual ‘highway’ type bush strip, I’ve got time to walk around, meet people and get a few snapshots.
Another common way to carry a cumbersome burden is to place the strap on top of the head.
McMinus visiting the Tanzanian bush, here on lake Natron with volcano Lengai far back.
safari car in Ndutu area during the wildebeest migration ( la migration des gnous).
home made anti theft on a truck rim.
incredible the variety and weight of goodies that can ferried on the back of a bicycle!
Arusha on a Sunday. Shops are closed and street traders have found good use of the gridlocked shops.
ferry in Dar es Salaam. as opposed to many other places in the world like Congo and Asia, naval accidents are pretty unheard of here.
an old Land Rover that deserve some rest by now.
my Land facing the volcano Lengai on a cold lava flow.
another Land, a bit overloaded. I say a bit because there is room for potential passengers on the outside of the frame.
the Clock Tower, Arusha city center.
youths hanging on a wreck that probably won’t ride again. There are still some parts to salvage though, Loliondo village.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
