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Issue 00453 |
January 27 - February 2, 2007 |
issn 0856 - 9135 |
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Tourism |
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Rewarding 110 days in Marangu I found the place full of people with warm smiles and open hearts
By Elisha Mayallah The sun has not yet risen over the sprawling villages of Marangu as I stumbled sleepily outside to catch the early morning bus to Moshi. Minibuses were already ferrying passengers in the purple predawn light. I boarded the bus and safely stored my luggage. It was good to be in a public transport again, I relaxed as I sat properly contented to watch the Marangu countryside fly past in a blur of green fields, waterfalls, rivers and scenic hills. When I headed off on a journey to Marangu, 110 days earlier, I had no clue how it would all turn out. All I had in plan was to spend 90 days away and dash back home in time for the start of the New Year 2007. Admittedly, I found Marangu, the town of Mount Kilimanjaro, full of people with warm smiles and open hearts. It is worth pointing out that the surrounding countryside holds a quiet beauty, which rewards the explorer. No wonder, a friend once remarked: Northern Tanzania and in particular the Mt. Kilimanjaro surrounding areas offers one of the best and timeless tranquillity of its own in the neighbourhood. With the placid existence and natural attractions, there were no real reasons for me to leave this fairytale countryside which stole my heart away. On my departure, I realized a stay at the countryside answers one of the most intriguing questions raised by exotic travel - one that pops in your head when you catch the eye of local people in a remote village, and just before a city-life sweeps you away. You wonder the kind of life that is! At the foothill town of Mt. Kilimanjaro you get an answer - it makes for funny, expectant, touching and rewarding stay. And for me it lasted with memorable memories of the vast forest full of towering banana plants and coffee trees. And the vegetation of the mountain slopes is amazing the way it blends from all types of trees around. The drawback that I noticed in Marangu is the banking services. There are no bank services in the reputable town, which attract thousand of tourists, yet it holds, many prospects for the prospective investor. Until I arrived in Marangu I was under impression that villages appearing out of nowhere were the stuff of dreams and light-hearted musicals. But, in Marangu I found my only little heaven full of surprises and the really feeling of being 'out there!' And if you are looking for peace, relaxation, and beauty this place is hard to beat! My base was Marangu Kyalla, where I drew back the curtains each morning not, as is sometimes the case, to the sight of a parked car or office block, but to the ever changing view of the mountain forest vegetation looming out from the foot of the rooftop of Africa. Himo and Holili rocked. The journeys did me good. It was warm in this part of the country, I forgot all about the 'winter' in Arusha – out of sight, out of mind! Himo is hot and it has the most unpredictable weather as it gets chilly and windy in the night, and coupled with the most beautiful star-packed sky you ever saw. However, Himo didn't live up to the type that I was once told. Himo is a main junction with roads leading to Dar-es-salaam, and Marangu and Holili on the other. Surprisingly, the junction commonly known as 'njia panda' was nowhere as good as the town itself, Himo. Holili was next, the border town to Kenya . A gentle drive to Holili through hills yields memorable views of lush fields and sweeping hills. It looked exactly the opposite of Namanga border town. I found Holili still struggling with limited facilities unlike Namanga. The highlight was however, of the many clearing and forwarding agencies in the small-town. The strategic Marangu Mtoni was just perfect as it offers on eclectic day and night scene with global trekkers meeting and getting to know one another. Well, not really, they also just want to know the world affairs better! The food is just downright grand and interesting. For me, the highlights of this short stay but eventful was briefly about meeting the many locals during the market days and through my walking. It was both educational and inspiring. The simplicity of the area is what makes it so appealing, and it is the kind of place one would go to spend a few days but end up staying their whole vacation. Feeling of connection, adventure, freedom and joy overwhelmed me as we bounced along the tarmac road winding way over and between many vehicles moving on both directions - as we motored away. All too soon, the joyous ride all long was nearly over as we passed the famous Kiborloni market. Moshi, the main town and administrative centre of Kilimanjaro region, is never overran with visitors. Unlike many towns, Moshi is built on well-planned areas, and therefore remains largely unspoilt. This may explain why Moshi looks super clean, all year around! Seeing surroundings of varied vegetation, we arrived in Moshi amid the Christmas shopping spree. The town was awash with customers of different pockets milling around in supermarkets, shops, banks, restaurants and many other areas. The bus station was fairly calm. After a short break, I was in another bus heading to Arusha. The journey was one of my most interesting part of the day. Arusha was calling as we motored away. And after exchanging greeting pleasantries with a co-passenger I quickly learnt that he was a newspaper seller doing his business at Himo, travelling home to see his family. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I have been reading your articles and it's always good to read them, " he smiled cheerfully.
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