Dr. Parker - Medicine Woman

A warm welcome on the train into Dar Es Salaam
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Leaving Southern Africa we have now arrived in East Africa, more specifically Tanzania. An over night train (7 hours late of course) took us from Mbeya to Dar Es Salaam. Dar Es Salaam was a pleasant surprise as it has an unfavourble reputation as being unsafe but from our experience (albeit 3 days) was great enjoying the conveniences of a large city.

Once again Africa got the best of Alisa - of course this was less a hassle than a point of entertainment for Matt. Alisa has had a problem with her eyes (itchy, bloodshot... all said, very attractive) since entering the tropics. After a month of this we finally decided a trip to the hospital was in order. We decided the best place for Alisa to get medical help would be at the University hospital as we would likely have a better chance of finding English speaking doctors. This sounds easy but after arriving at the wrong hospital we quickly re-thought our assumptions and prepared for a long day. Once at the University hospital we realised the hospital was actually a number of identical buildings with little or no English signage anywhere. We spent the next half hour following directions to different buildings until we finally ended up in a waiting room for the blood lab - Not the correct place to find a G.P. We were lucky enough to find a person who spoke some English and she directed us to a newer looking building. The entrance to this building was filled with about a hundred people sitting/standing waiting around a small desk where a man was was sitting. He explained to us that he would be able to help us out with our enquiry. Alisa told him "I would like to see a doctor" to which he replied "the the-atre?" Alisa - "No, I would like to see a doctor". So the man told us to go downstairs to find what we were looking for. Dowstairs we find ourselves in the X-Ray waiting room greeted by another man (who was dressed very much like a doctor) who asked what we needed. Alisa - "I would like to see a doctor", to which he replied "Oh... you are a doctor?". Alisa - "No! I would like to see a doctor! .... For my eyes!" (as Alisa said this she pointed to her eyes). "Yes of course, I understand" he replied and he quickly ushered us down the hall and pointed us through some doors. Now Alisa walked right on in but I noticed the English sign on the door and tried to stop Alisa prior to her entering the room (the theatre) which would have allowed us to watch a surgery in progress (This of course being a result of Alisa being a doctor - I dont know why people study so hard to attain that designation when it took Alisa less than an hour). Luckily a surgeon stopped us on his way out of the theatre and asked us what we were looking for. Finally sent in the correct direction we spent the next two-and-a-half hours going from one waiting room to another before Alisa finally decided to self diagnose herself and demand medication from a pharmacist (I guess the doctor thing went to her head). Unsuccessful, we finally gave up and took a taxi back to the hostel.

I tried to stop Alisa prior to her entering the room which would have allowed us to watch a surgery in progress.

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Zanzibar was our next destination and it did not disapoint. We spent a few days soaking up the sun from our beach front bungalow (Thanks BCAA HR group) on the beautiful soft white sand along the warm tourquoise water of the Indian Ocean. It was spectacular. Another highlight was definitely Stonetown, a town that oozes with Swahili culture and history. Getting lost amongst the winding narrow lanes allowed us to enjoy the intricate doorways and windows of the shops/houses/hotels. Finally, we couldn't leave 'the spice island' without taking a spice tour (Thanks again BCAA HR group), which allowed us to see how a variety of spices (Pepper, cinnamon, tumeric, vanilla, cocoa, nutmeg, etc...) are grown as well as tastings right off the plants.

Bite me! ... Mosquitos
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Next stop... Arusha and a visit from Matt's parents... can't wait!