A few hours from now I’ll be leaving Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Although I have only around 4 days here, this very limited time didn’t hinder me from appreciating the city and its people as showcased the very rich culture of the country.
The locals are in a way like Filipinos – amiable and hospitable. Smiling faces and greetings of karibu will always meet you at every place you visit. At one point, we asked a local if it was safe to walk around the city and his reply was a resounding “Yes! Yes! The city is full of love and peace.” Most of the locals we met also have a relatively good command of the English language.
The infrastructure aren’t that different from the Philippines. The airport recalled memories of Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo. The city streets reminded me of Cebu. The traffic jam and the street vendors almost made me forget I wasn’t in Manila.
The food is great as well. On my first night, the hotel (Movenpick) restaurant (Serengeti) was having a “crab night”. The crab soup and paella crab were delicious. I also tried their local beers (Kilimanjaro, Safari, Tusker, and Serengeti). Although I have low tolerance for alcohol, I didn’t have a hard time downing a 500ml bottle of Kilimanjaro, which I think, as most of the locals do, is the best local beer.
In a few hours I’ll be leaving this city. I can’t say I’ll miss it but I’ll definitely won’t forget it. Asante and kwaheri Tanzania, until the next time you greet me karibu again.
