Day Three 27th June 2010 – Before Sunset

Still in TZ – Swahili is well and truly a challenge, excerpt from a conversation at a local petrol station

McCrutch: Jaza tank

Attendant: Itingishwe? Apana

McCrutch: Inakuja pesa ngapi?

Attendant: Elfu arobaine na tatu mia kenda sabini na sita nukta nane tano

McCrutch: Ehhhhh?

Attendant: Elfu arobaine na tatu mia kenda sabini na sita nukta nane tano

McCrutch: Ati atia?

Attendant: Elfu arobaine na tatu mia kenda sabini na sita nukta nane tano

McCrutch: Kwa kizungu?

Attendant: Kimombo sifahamu kuja ujisomee hapa kwenye dial

For the record it was Tshs. 43,976.85

Toyota Crown Country – I guess all the Toyota Crowns ever designed were shipped to TZ the place is full of them, other Toyotas simply don’t exist here. We have done 1500kms in TZ and we did not spot a single Premio, Carina, NZE, Allion even a VITZ!!!!!!

Toyota Crown Galore

Mbeya, Tanzania - 0830hours and we need new brake pads after traversing this country in Rift Valley like terrain, we went up and down the escarpment in darkness (yes the rift valley also exists these sides) too dark to take pictures must have been a lovely view but we will on the way back.

Rooms facing the “beach” at Mbeya, TZ

McCrutch updating the blog…finally got a decent connection

You see….we are only taking coca-cola and biscuits

Bridge at Mbeya - find the advertising here weird with competitors such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola advertising at the same spot. For the record TZ is a Pepsi country.

Finally at the border…chap in the picture ended up been our broker for border crossing madness

Traffic jam of Trucks at the Tunduma border

Border crossing brokers...total madness

Ugali (sima) is served in three's here

Finally crossed the border now we set off for Lusaka....or so we thought

Beautiful sunset in Zambia

Quote of the day - Huwezi endesha chombo cha moto bila leseni - TZ Highway Cop...He actually meant chombo cha motor aka motor vehicle

Driver of the day - Michael 'Schumacher' Kiarie for evading 131 potholes