June 21, 2015
Up early on Sunday morning (Father’s Day and Summer
Solstice) to make the long drive from Mbeya to Mbinga. Our original time quote
was 5 hours, then 7, then 9. In the end, it took a solid 10 hours on the road
and we didn’t even stop for lunch. Just a couple quick bathroom breaks.
Fortunately, we made it, but it started out very rocky.
We departed Mbeya and landed
in stopped traffic. We quickly learned it was a military check-point, and it
was not a calm or comfortable situation. We were ordered out of the car while
our driver was able to stay in the vehicle and was ordered to drive ahead. As
we got out, they told us to start walking single file and then they told me to
run towards the women check-point. Fortunately, Peter is Kenyan and speaks
Swahili so was able to help me understand. We continued to walk fast until they
began yelling at us “run, run, run”. So, I ran! I was then stopped by a group
of military men and women with AK-47s and searched. They went through
everything in my purse asking what it was and what it was for…literally
everything was taken out, examined, and I was questioned. Meanwhile, Eric and Peter
made it through a bit quicker and passed me while being searched and asked if
all was okay…I really didn’t know. They were not allowed to wait for me and had
to continue up the road. People were running with their hands up as if in some
sort of trouble. I was finally released and they shouted at me to run…so once
again, I ran. I was then grabbed by another man in military uniform with his
AK-47 and he asked me for my passport again. He asked where I was from and then
gave it back and told me to RUN…again. So I did. I finally saw Eric in sight
since he’s so tall (thankfully) and ran until I reached him. We then quickly
walked to where our driver was parked and jumped in the car, clearly shaken.
All in all, we probably ran/walked a quarter mile while be harassed by the
Tanzanian military. We heard this was practice by the military due to recent
attacks by Al Shabaab in a town several hours away that we had the luxury of
driving through during a “peaceful” demonstration. What an alarming way to start
the journey in Tanzania. I was pretty uneasy the entire drive which lasted 10
hours.
We made it to our hotel and grabbed a quick bite. Unfortunately,
we ended up with hundreds of ants on our backpacks but didn’t realize until
back in our rooms. Hundreds of ants covered my pack (and many were
on me as well). I got out my bug spray and rapidly killed those buggers so now
have a room full of dead ants. Oh well, what’s a few hundred dead ants on the
floor?!
With the ant situation remedied, we continued to wait for the
auditors to arrive as they’re staying at the same hotel and we’re traveling to
the mill in the morning. We were certain they’d arrive before us but now hours
had passed since our arrival and we were unable to get in touch with them.
Finally, around 9pm they showed up. They had gotten in an accident…they’re
driver hit a biker. The biker is okay but in the hospital and the ordeal
delayed them by 3 hours.
Off to the mill in the morning and hoping for smooth sailing
the next few days before the 10 hour drive back to Mbeya. Wish me luck!
Peace,
Jamie
No comments:
Post a Comment