In Kiabakari area (and in the whole Lake Zone region it seems as well) most common solution to transportation problems would be infamous Bodaboda (bicycles first carrying passengers on the back carriers clad in a fancy cushions; then two-stroke Chinese motorcycles arrived, ruling supreme now and causing noise pollution and major scare on highways, roads, dirty tracks, everywhere it can pass, bringing a lot of revenue to local dispensaries and health centers taking care of casualties of all kinds, as most of those lads riding bodaboda pikipikis (motorcycles) have no driving license, just undergoing a rudimentary, a couple of hours training, then given the bodaboda to make money fast - thus having no idea what traffic rules are and in the consequence causing all sorts of nasty accidents as they have no respect for other people on the road, they have no idea what speed they are riding and most of all - they are always surprised that motorcycle won't come to full stop from 80 kph in a matter of 5 meters! Shame!
But the most popular and cheapest means of transportation (though not allowed in Dar City Center as they can cause havoc by their sheer insubordination to comply with traffic law) are bajajis made in India (I think - the name bajaj on their front). In Mombasa they call them tuk-tuk and they are made in Italy (Piaggio is written on the back door). I prefer bajajis as they are smaller than tuk-tuk and make less noise. Those tuk-tuks are so noisy! Both types have a nasty tendency to flip over when in sharp bend or rapid turn in high speeds. So beware before you board one of those! Below are the pictures of bajajis (first one) in Dar and a tuk-tuk in Mombasa:
Ok, I found a short clip on YouTube how it feels inside one of those bajajis:
I found also this clip below. Looks like those bajajis are a menace to traffic laws not only in Tanzania! But such a blessing to commuters even it is an risky means of transportation but friendly to customer's pockets. Now what to do?
Well, if you are chicken-hearted, then maybe the safest option to get somewhere in your own peace of mind would be infantry style - your own feet.
Definitely sticking to Shank's mare .No tuk-tuk's or bajajis for me . Nice to get a flavor of the South African transport not to mention the world cup hype - this World Cup is like an addiction ; that is until your favourite team doesn't win !
ReplyDeleteWojciech , I am glad you are back safe and sound in Kiabakari and hope in reasonable good health. I just want to say goodbye for a while as I am going on a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotunda and onto Assisi. I will remember you there as Assisi has special memories for you being the shrine you visited in 1990 before going to Tanzania for missionary apostolate.Also St.Frances as the patron saint of your class makes Assisi holy ground for you. I will catch up with the blogs later -maybe I will get to internet somewhere along the way.
ReplyDeleteThat is so kind of you, Lena! Thank you so much! Yes, I am back home, still not well, overdosed with drugs and with trying to recover slowly, I know it will take time as the whole body is soaked into antimalarial drugs I took plus my normal daily stuff for other troubles. Anyway, I am so relieved I was able to go somehow through Sunday schedule with two Masses in the shrine in Kiabakari and one in the outstation. I will pray for your safe pilgrimage and for its abundant fruit for you and for us too. Thanks again for keeping me and my intentions in your generous prayers. God bless you much!
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