THE NEW ROSE CAFE, BUKOBA, TANZANIA

One of our favourite places in Bukoba is the New Rose Cafe. Whenever we are in town, we stop there for a plate of Pilau with M'chicha (spinach) and a cup of Chai Marsala.

Recipe for Chai Masala

Ingredients:  

3-4 cups of cold water

3-4 cups of milk (you can vary this according to preference)

5 teabags

2 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger

2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder

Sugar to taste. Traditionally Chai Masala is very sweet, so it is best that you determine your preferred level of sweetness.

Method:  

Place teabags, ginger, cinnamon, sugar and water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Turn heat down and add milk. Raise temperature again and watch saucepan as you will need to remove the tea mixture from the heat just as it begins to boil. Allow bubbles to disappear and return saucepan to the heat. Again watch for the tea beginning to boil before removing it from the heat. Strain the tea before transferring to a teapot and serve.

If you would prefer to enjoy the flavour without the effort, ready made blends are available. I am unsure of how the following taste but I liked the quaint  images on the packaging.

                                                      Hope you enjoy your tea.

BUKOBA HAIR SALON ARTWORK

On the way back to the village one afternoon, I saw this sign and of course it reminded me of the beautiful Kemilembe, who is at home in Sydney. So I just had to have a photograph. 

As photography is not one of my talents I enlisted the aid of a local photographer, Faustine Ruta and we spent an enjoyable Saturday afternoon taking photographs of some of the artwork that decorates the numerous hair salons in Bukoba town. He used his considerable charm to obtain the permission of salon owners wherever possible.

The next two signs are for nail artists. The  signs say "We paint nails."

This image was painted on the side of a clothing store, but we took the photograph anyway because we both liked it. What was interesting to note was the considerable Western influence on the styles depicted in the artwork, although this was not typical in the styles worn by many women who continue to wear elaborate braided hairstyles which are quite magnificent.

And so the menfolk don't feel like they have missed out, where else would they go for a haircut, but to the Obama Cutting Salon. Yes we can!

On a similar theme Simon Weller, the author of  South African Township Barbershops and Salons has some great images on the website African Lens: Telling the Story of Africa which captures various aspects of everyday life on the African continent. 

You may find the following books, Hair in African Art and Culture and Black Hair: Art, Style and Culture interesting to read. 

WELCOME TO BUKOBA

The husband and I arrived in Bukoba, last Friday afternoon. I love everything about Bukoba and would happily live here forever.

Bukoba is situated in North-Western Tanzania on the shore of Lake Victoria. The scenery is amazing: all green hills, rocks and magnificent lake views. Please excuse the quality of the photos - a photographer, I am not!

And While I love our little house in the village, we are surrounded by banana trees, banana trees and more banana trees! Somehow the view just doesn't compare.

The population of Bukoba region is a little over 100 000 people and it seemed all of them were at the bank last Saturday morning. The lovely husband went to the CRD Bank in Bukoba to exchange some money for me and that was the last I saw of him for five hours. Not because he was waylaid or did some other errands before returning home. It was all spent in a queue in the bank! Unbelievable!! We arrived at the bank at 10.30 a.m. and I dutifully stood beside the husband, waiting. However, after an hour and a half of looking decorative and feet beginning to tingle just a little, I decided that I might sit in the car and read my novel (Michael Connelly - The Reversal) after all he couldn't be too much longer, or so I thought numerous times as I waited and waited and waited. Imagine my relief when he finally emerged a little after 3 p.m. Fortunately the novel was a compelling read making the wait not too strenuous on my part. For the poor husband, who needed several cold beers to recover, it was another story entirely. Unfortunately, prolonged waiting is a fairly typical banking experience for many Bukoba people on any day of the week. 

Although just one degree south of the equator the Bukoba climate is pleasant. At the moment we have a light quilt on the bed at night and long sleeves are advisable, if outdoors of an evening. 

That's it for now