The time count is now going to get confusing. This is 11 July – and really from my count the first day of the tour since it is when we start going and doing. Our group consists of 10 who were on the pre-trip to one of the Kenyan Game preserves, one who flew in from South Africa (she just finished the Safari George and I did in March), three who arrived from the US and me. The Kenya crew didn’t arrive till 0200 in the morning and the three from the US are pretty time zone whacked.
Shanga
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Heading out by bus
Our Bus
our first stop was the Shanga Workshop. Started by a Dutch woman, the organization provides training and jobs for those who are deaf/mute and/or physically handicapped.
Our first stop was one of the teaching areas where we were afforded the opportunity to learn a bit of Sign in Swahili. Besides a number of basic words/concepts – there is the alphabet
Seating at Shanga
Swahili Sign Language Chart
Currently employing 47, the workshop sells in their shop the things that are made with an eye to having everyone being self supporting.
Everything is made from recycled products (well except for the woven fabrics) including glass beads and objects, jewelry, fabric objects, blown glass ….
From there we moved on to River House at Arusha Coffee Plantation where the Chef demonstrated a number of Tanzanian dishes (and gave us a recipe book at the end)
I would have taken pictures of all the food, but frankly I was too busy eating.
Finally we walked out among the coffee plants –
which are cut back every year and produce up to 70 years. The picking season is May – Oct and all here is picked by hand.
red ripe berries, green berries, raw beans, roasted beans, parchment (after fermentation)
We looked at shops and people along the 40 minute drive back while discussing culture and tribes. Kilimanjaro was faintly visible in the distance – with clouds and a lot of imagination.
The more pictures the better, whenever you can post them–fascinating, all of it!