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Issue 00422 |
June 3 - 9, 2006 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Tourism |
 The
mystery of ArushaBy Elisha Mayallah It was on 28th May, my tenth week in Dar es Salaam I woke up disoriented, not knowing how I may continue living in this kind of weather. The heat was unbearable, so unbearable that even the sweating awoke me. Caged between a set of white sheets, I lay comatose gazing at the air- condition whipping air against my body. Being away from Arusha, my home town has never met my romantic expectations since I came to this wonderful city of Dar es Salaam , several weeks ago. To me Arusha has always been a romantically mysterious place. A friend once told me relocating never meets anyone's expectation. Loneliness is the word: away from the family, away from friends, away from neighbours and the list is long! But, despite my disillusions, all comforts, and conveniences of Dar es Salaam , I miss my Arusha dearly! My daughters and young Dennis don't get it. They just don't get it as they are trying to come to terms with the reality. They often ask me why? Why stay away from us. Sometimes I ask myself the same question. Being away from the children, I have noticed, provides opportunities to rediscover the spark in the father-to-children relationship. While consoling myself in a flow of words, revealing myself to my only companion: my laptop. And as I write this piece I am down with malaria, the common illness in Dar es Salaam . I did not leave Arusha for the comforts and conveniences of the Dar life can provide, but, I left Arusha in search of new prospects, wanting to see how other people live and become part of them. This is why I am in Dar es Salaam . If you have not been to Arusha, here is the brief about the growing city, popularly known, until recently – A town. Arusha is a destination not to be missed with its unique combination of history and culture married spectacular scenery and an excellent tourism infrastructure. As a matter of fact, many people who have visited Arusha give spurious impression that it is near a paradise. The culture of civility and integrity is apparent in both the business places as well as the person in the street. The north [Arusha] is generally green and rugged, with more national parks, and heavy Eurocentric influence, while the coastline [ Dar es Salaam] is longer, more overgrown, delicious and offers a Swahili culture. Weather-wise, Arusha should ideally be visited all-round the year with June and July providing the winter-like weather. The natural beauty setting of the tourism wonderland has been instrumental in hosting many tourists and to become a tourism hub of Tanzania. In fact, one of the best things about Arusha is its closeness with Nairobi. While in Dar recently I met a friend and after exchanging greeting pleasantries he told me he travelled out of the country. I was curious to know which country he visited. " Nairobi, Kenya" he said. It amazed me and I had to explain to my friend how an Arushan ear would find it difficult to connect between Nairobi and the saying - out of the country! Nairobi is just four hours drive away from Arusha, and considered a city in the neigbourhood. Whenever I try to forget about the daily stresses of Dar es Salaam city life with unending traffic jams, I lay back, close my eyes and picture a cosmopolitan town. Not just any town, but a town with contemporary vibe, greenery and clear blue skies. It is weather-friendly with a host of nyama choma joints, able to satisfy every craving bud. Never once did I think that my dream destination really existed, but, after a long-stay in Arusha, a dream became reality! For, here I am hoping to live the life I never dreamed of, that of a traveller, that of a writer and that of hotelier!
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