Hardly surprising, as the diet here is pure carbohydrates, which because of work commitments and a cold last week, I haven’t been able to exercise off quick enough.
Lunch and dinner most days is boiled rice, with a side typically of brown beans, spinach, roasted banana or fish; cheap, cheerful and, I’m pleased to report, very, very tasty. Unpicky eater that I am, I am perfectly happy. Screw my hips, being 11 stone-ish (I estimate) has never tasted so good.
For when I eventually move into full half-marathon training mode (for the Kilimanjaro Half Marathon on 28 February 2010), I reckon it will be nigh-on perfect, as is Tanzanian brekkie, which is less carby, but by no means less tasty – very eggy and fruity (though I’m less sure about the local porridge, which tastes and looks like bread-flavoured Angel Delight).
~ ~ ~
An interesting exchange at the bus stop one morning this week.
Waiting for a bus to arrive in Sakila, I was approached by an elderly gent, dressed like a mixture between Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp and Miami Vice’s officer Tubbs, who hobbled towards me with the aid of a cane. He shook me firmly by the hand, took off his hat, said something incomprehensible in Swahili, and, after flashing me a gummy smile that revealed a single yellow tooth, treated me to a song.
While warbling away, my new friend strummed his cane like an imaginary guitar. After a minute or so, he stopped, said something else in Swahili, and looked at me questioningly. Keeping my hands firmly in my pockets and offering nothing more than a polite ‘Me no comprende’ shrug, Seasick Steve simply turned on his heels and wandered off.
My mate Moses, who was with me, confirmed my suspicions and told me he was asking for money. At least he didn’t try and whistle, although that would have been more interesting.
~ ~ ~
Finally, football tops.
The English Premiership has a fanatical fanbase here in Tanzania. On matchdays, cheering can be heard from all over Arusha when a match involving one of the Big Four is in progress, from groups of guys gathered round small TV sets. I hope I can find one next Saturday where I can watch the Japan-Scotland game, though I’m not holding out much hope.
Walking around, football tops – either fake or several seasons old – are everywhere. The most common are unsurprisingly Manchester United, though Arsenal are also very popular. However, barely a week after flying thousands of miles here from Edinburgh, this one caught my eye in Longido:
A Jim Jefferies (or perhaps even Davie Weir?)-era Heart of Midlothian top – one of only two Scottish tops I have seen so far, besides a fake Celtic one with Nakamura on the back. I did not ask the kid if he knew the words to “Hearts Hearts, Glorious Hearts”.
Anymore brilliant old non-Old Firm Scottish football tops I see, you'll see them on here.
Ross
No comments:
Post a Comment