Tent views at Isuna and on Mt. Kilimanjaro

There is no comparing this tent view (photo below) with the tent view near the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro (the next photo, below).

I recently accompanied Ross Methven on part of the Tanzanian leg of his epic cycling trip from Edinburgh to Cape Town and although we both carried sleeping tents, we had to use them only once. On other overnight stops we slept in guest houses or hotels.

Ross is raising charitable donations for UNICEF.

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If you want to donate to Ross' cause please follow this link:

http://fundraise.unicef.org.uk/MyPage/value-adder-to-vagabond

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At Isuna, close to Dodoma, the owner of a shop offered us a spot in front of the building housing his sunflower seed oil extraction equipment and we camped there for the night. Looking outside my tent in Isuna I saw sacks of sunflower seeds and the shops across the highway. From the tent on Mt. Kilimanjaro I had the breathtaking view of the Furtwangler glacier in front of me.

The sounds from the tent on Mt. Kilimanjaro were the wind and the gentle tremors of Mt. Kilimanjaro, a dormant volcano. The sounds at Isuna were the gentle rumbling of the sunflower extraction equipment which continued operating throughout the night and the sound of trucks passing along the highway.

The cold on Mt. Kilimanjaro was unbearable, at Isuna hardly felt.

Related post:
http://blogkili.blogspot.com/2013/07/riding-with-ross-methven-day-1.html

My version of the year 2012 in review: 6 December

I was on a Dar es Salaam bound flight from Mwanza. It was the first time I had flown in a budget airline. Fastjet launched its first flight in Tanzania on 27th November 2012.

The view oustide.

The inflight menu.

The view inside.

The flight was pleasant. The only novelty to me was having to pay for drinks and snacks on the flight.

Related posts:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-trouble-facing-fastjet.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/03/fastjets-cabin-crew-inexperienced.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2012/12/4-reasons-why-you-should-fly-with.html

My version of the year 2012 in review: 8 November

I discovered yet another elaborate cloud formation towards the east of Butiama. Did it transform

 itself into a rain cloud? I do not remember.

Related post:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/05/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-16-may.html

My version of the year 2012 in review: 9 October

During a visit to Kagera region, I arrived in Kamachumu and visited the Mshonge Museum where a traditional thatched dwelling of the Haya ethnic group has been built. The dwelling is called mshonge.

The house contains compartments including a cooking area, a living room, storage areas, and quarters for female children. The male children would sleep in the living room area.

Another post in this 2012 review series:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-29_16.html

My version of the year 2012 in review: 29 September

At the end of my 5-day Mt. Kilimanjaro climb with more than 20 students from Mwanza's Loreto Girls' Secondary School, we were met at the Marangu Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park by one of the teachers from Loreto, Sr. Poaline Boase.

In the photo, from left to right, Nusra Alkarim, one of only two students who received a certificate for this climb who reached Gilman's Point (the other student reached Uhuru Peak), Sr. Poaline, Samson Guloba from Loreto Girls' Secondary School, and Kilimanjaro guide Hamisi Mbewa from Zara Tanzania Adventures.

Another post from this 2012 review series:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-version-of-year-2012-in-review-25.html