It could be worse.....

...and for your viewing pleasure I have uploaded a picture of the outskirts of Ngaramtoni where I am working for the next few months.

Last night I attended a farewell gathering for a fellow charity worker who has been looking after children in a remand centre/prison just outside of town. We met for a couple of drinks in a locals bar near the charity office and then headed off to grab some food.

The staple diet of the people in and and around Arusha is rice and beans with bananas, tomatoes, onions and avocados being the standard fruit/veg on offer it would seem. The beans are normally stewed and if you can afford it you can have a beef stew in a rich sauce to compliment the rice. Last night however we were treated to some of the best street meat I have tasted anywhere in the world.

Mr Khan runs 'Khans The Garage' by day from a back street premises fixing cars and motorbikes with his helpers but, by night, he shuts up shop and opens 'Khans The Restaurant'. I have never had supper outside a garage before but I can highly recommend this place. Mr Khan puts up some tables on the street at around 18:00 and brings out his BBQs to start preparing whole marinated chickens and delicious lamb kebabs for any and all who have heard about his culinary skills. There is a buffet of lovingly prepared salads and chopped vegetables to appease your appetite whilst the meat is slow cooked over the hot coals and once you have your food you take a seat at the roadsid and devour with a fresh pint of mango juice.

Today I was browsing information on Arusha and I came across a reference to Mr Khans in the Lonely Planet guide to Tanzania. What I also discovered during my research was that The Lonely Planet has a top ten list of the worst cities in the world. This should be examined by any would be traveler and used accordingly. I only wish I had seen it before I left home. Yes, Arusha makes this top/bottom 10! Sitting firmly at number 8 in the list of 'places to avoid', a lot of the comments about the place are along the lines of "Things to do in Arusha? Leave as quickly as possible" and one of my personal favourites, simply, "Shit hole".

Now I think this ranking a little unfair and I can't agree with a lot of the comments I have read because there is a certain charm about the place, the people are amazing and where else in the world can you dine at a garage?

I am also constantly reminded that things could be a lot worse for these people and for myself because sitting at number 5 in the list of worst cities in the world is Wolverhampton (England). I am only glad the charity posted me to Arusha!!!