Day 8 – Friday, December 20
Today we left our hotel at 7 a.m. to catch a bus to Moshi.
As soon as we arrived at the bus station area, we were surrounded with many
people who wanted to take us on their bus. I bartered for 3000 each, which is
what we were told to pay (about $2). The bus was the standard type we have in
Uganda where you have four seats across the row. They stopped several times
along the way until we reached Moshi about two hours later. I was so happy to
see my luggage still on top of the bus. We quickly retrieved our luggage and
got a taxi. The taxi driver again wanted to charge us more, but we knew the
ride should be about $5, which is 8,000 shillings. He wanted 20,000, but I
offered 10,000 and he settled (about $6). We arrived at Honey Badger Lodge and
were greeted with an orange juice drink. Our room was not be ready until 2
p.m., so we hung out by the pool and used the free wifi. The lodge is so nice
with a fully stocked bar, free wifi, and a resort-like pool. The room was worth
the wait, with three large beds in a huge room. There is also a separate shower
and toilet with a sink in the middle. Everything is eco-friendly with solar
power and utilizing recycling. There is hot water, well, when everyone does not
use it and a very friendly staff. We had planned this day just to be relaxing
and catching up on our sleep before we set off for a quick climb on
Kilimanjaro.
Day 9 - Saturday, December 21
Today we headed out early to get bus tickets and then meet some other people at a hostel to go to a waterfall on Mt. Kilimanjaro and a coffee plantation. Things are so much cheaper when you can go with more people. We decided to take the Dar Express.
The ticket was 20,000 TSH ($18.75) and then we headed up the mountain. The first stop was at a coffee plantation. I love that we went with a local instead of a company. Then, the money we pay goes directly to the family. I could not get over the process of making coffee.
1. You grow it. I can't remember how long it takes to grow or how often you harvest, but I know they had just harvested it. You harvest it when the berries are red.
5. You separate it from the shell and roast the beans.
Day 10 - Sunday, December 22
Today was our long journey to Dar es Salaam. We had heard anywhere from 7-11 hours for the journey. Ours took 9. I thought there would be frequent stops along the way, but they only stopped once for about 15-20 minutes. The rest area along the way was very much like a rest area from home. I was so surprised that they only stopped once. The buses are very much like airplanes with a "flight attendant" and movies. The movies were in Swahili, but some parts had subtitles in English. The journey was long and hot, but we arrived into Dar about 4:30. It was easy to get a taxi and we headed to The Holiday Inn. We were greeted with juice and fabulous air conditioning. I love that tradition! After getting settled in, we had dinner together and then slept like the dead!
