The last time i had stayed in Stone Town i was at this nice little cheap hotel with a few quirks, but overall nothing too alarming. When i came back i decided to stay in the same place, but this time they put me in a different room. All within the first 24 hours i was slightly electrocuted 3 times, got a small second degree burn, and found ants in my bed. The electrocutions happened because for some reason this one room is outfitted with three pronged outlets, but they are circular instead of square, the latter being the standard in East Africa. There is a nice little mini fridge in my room which allows me to keep some food in my room so that i don't have to eat out all the time, hence the ants. but once i plugged in this handy little fridge i realized that ever time i touched a metal surface on the fridge i got a slight shock. So i don't touch that anymore. the burn occurred when i went to plug my hairdrier in and it caused a slight little fire in the socket itself, so when i pulled it out it was burning hot, and it accidentally touched me, but no worries i am fine. Although i am quite shocked that this little hotel is still standing, and hasn't burned itself down by now.
Another interesting things that doesn't have anything to do with the cheapness of the hotel, but simply the culture, is using the toilet. In all of the hotels i have stayed in, in Tanzania as well as here, there have been little hoses, like you would have in your kitchen sink, next to the toilet. When i first saw these i thought maybe they were just put there to assist in cleaning the bathroom, but have since come to realize that they are for washing ones self after using the toilet. In the Muslim culture they do not use toilet paper. i don't really understand this because if you use water you are still wet, just a different kind of wet, but still uncomfortable. oh well, i am trying to embrace new things.
The staff at this hotel are so hospitable and kind that i have a hard time contemplating leaving. This might be because i am the only resident, but i still very much appreciate the kindness they are showing me. Maybe because this is such a tourist town, but many locals are not super willing to sit down and have a nice chat. These people have enthusiastically helped me find the right daladalas (minibuses, what they call matatus) and explained the more in depth aspects of their faith and Ramadan when the language barrier allows. When i travel these are the most interesting things to me, people and culture, so if i have to put up with a bit of inconvenience when it comes to my room, i will gladly do it if it means i can better understand the culture i am living in at the moment.
well that is it for now, short and sweet! Right now i am waiting to see if i can get a train ticket to Zambia, so i am waiting on that to make my next decision. I don't have a ton of time left, so if i can't get one, i might just head back to Kenya. love to you all! and yes, i am safe and happy! (this is for you, mom and sue).
xoxo suzanne
Another interesting things that doesn't have anything to do with the cheapness of the hotel, but simply the culture, is using the toilet. In all of the hotels i have stayed in, in Tanzania as well as here, there have been little hoses, like you would have in your kitchen sink, next to the toilet. When i first saw these i thought maybe they were just put there to assist in cleaning the bathroom, but have since come to realize that they are for washing ones self after using the toilet. In the Muslim culture they do not use toilet paper. i don't really understand this because if you use water you are still wet, just a different kind of wet, but still uncomfortable. oh well, i am trying to embrace new things.
The staff at this hotel are so hospitable and kind that i have a hard time contemplating leaving. This might be because i am the only resident, but i still very much appreciate the kindness they are showing me. Maybe because this is such a tourist town, but many locals are not super willing to sit down and have a nice chat. These people have enthusiastically helped me find the right daladalas (minibuses, what they call matatus) and explained the more in depth aspects of their faith and Ramadan when the language barrier allows. When i travel these are the most interesting things to me, people and culture, so if i have to put up with a bit of inconvenience when it comes to my room, i will gladly do it if it means i can better understand the culture i am living in at the moment.
well that is it for now, short and sweet! Right now i am waiting to see if i can get a train ticket to Zambia, so i am waiting on that to make my next decision. I don't have a ton of time left, so if i can't get one, i might just head back to Kenya. love to you all! and yes, i am safe and happy! (this is for you, mom and sue).
xoxo suzanne
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