...ameobas again. I could have at least got some new ailment this time. Luckily only on medication for three days so will be able to drink when I turn 23 on Tuesday. Having said it's boring, however, I do also have a mild fungal skin infection, and Vende had to cut a jigger out of my foot last Friday in Dar (a jigger is some kind of big white flea egg thing - it's very pretty).
Anyway, as I was saying the other day, been in the Usambaras (leaving tomorrow for Tanga), which are absolutely gorgeous. Luckily, Ilona and I came on Saturday, and got a few days of sunshine and clear views, but Althea and Hannah only came a couple of days ago so it hasn't been quite so impressive for them - today is misty and wet, but mostly it's been cloudy.
When we got to Lushoto we used a guide called John, who only opened his office a couple of weeks ago, having worked for the official tourist office beforehand. He's really nice and helpful (he is very enthusiastic and does try to help rather too much), and told us all about his plans for the business.
Today he showed me where to go and get tested and then on the way back someone told him some wazungu he'd seen before were still around. Apparently these guys had come the day before yesterday from Tanga by taxi, which must have burnt a serious hole in their pockets. John approached them, but they followed the guide book advice of not accepting guides who approach you on the street, as they may not be official. So he showed them where the tourism office is, and they were so scared of encountering anyone dodgy, they were even wary there, and haven't actually done anything since arriving, despite having parted with a fortune to get here.
"So I thought to myself," said John to me, "if only Philip was here so he could tell them I was okay, because wazungu listen to each other's travel recommendations."
Ah, I thought, this will be me returning the favour.
"They're staying just up here, in the Sun Hotel."
By the time we got there, I was actually looking forward to trying to convince these wazungu that John is perfectly safe to go hiking with. Unfortunately, they'd buggered off somewhere, so I missed the opportunity. Never mind, I told him that if he sees them, and I'm around, I'll talk to them.
On Monday we went to spend two nights and Muller's Mountain Lodge, outside Lushoto, which was very exciting indeed. Welcome mat at the door, board games and a log fire in the lounge, fresh sheets on the bed every day, hot baths, afternoon tea, and a hole in my pocket. Many more exciting things (not least of which were toilet seat covers), but no tme now so will elaborate at some future opportunity...
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