2/14-15/14: BUSARA DAYS TWO AND THREE

 2/14/14: BUSARA DAY TWO PLUS SHOPPING

Great breakfast at the hotel and we took some stuff for lunch as well.  Day was spent first wandering around to look at special buildings, art exhibits and such.  First stopped by the clove factory where we saw large gunny sacks full of cloves for export.  Went into a building that was originally built as a hospital that has never found its rightful use but there's a restaurant in the top.  The Palace Museum is closed for repairs, and that was a disappointment for Yehudah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But, of course, in each location, arts, crafts and clothing are being sold.  The sellers beginning prices are much higher than where we have been before, but you can bargain them down.  So many people are selling the same stuff and there is an overload of everything.  Busara has brought in tons of tourists, both Africans and tourists, all of whom are considered Muzungus.

We decided to buy two serving trays, one of Masaii women and one painted with Safari animals, called Tika Tika, with dots reminding one of Australian aborigine art.  Yo bargained hard and got the price down to something reasonable.  The rest of the day I, Joanie, looked and looked for a dress and another pair of over-the-knee pants but looks like no one makes these here.  Sorry I didn't get another pair in Lamu.  I have been basically only wearing these pants, changing the top occasionally.  The dress I like has a change in height at the bottom.  I am not a great shopper, so the day was hard and long.  The few designer shops sell stuff up to $125 and are gorgeous but spendy.

We returned to our room about 4 pm and, lucky for us, we were inside when it poured, this time briefly, for perhaps a half hour.  After the rains and a nap we got ourselves ready for another night of Busara. This time I wanted to walk around more, dance some, then go sit in the bleachers.

I forgot to mention that I met a guy from Kampala, El-Seed, who, via CouchSurfing, had invited us to stay at his house and go to a New Years Eve party, but we opted to meet another CouchSurfing host to go to Queen Elisabeth Park.  And here he is selling his art at Busara!  Once I figured out he was the same guy we hugged and became friends.  We talked a lot about all he is doing.  He will be going to Vancouver, BC for an art show and to raise funds for a month and he is looking for other possibilities. He raises money for his program which provides art education for street kids in Kampala.  We need to figure out something of his to buy.

Anyway, we got some really yummy, inexpensive street food, vegetarian and large pieces of cake with nuts and coconut for dinner.  The music was great, each group outstanding.  We lasted until about midnight.  Music went on until about 4 am, including an after performance party.  The place was teeming with young people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forget to mention that it started raining during the performance, perhaps around 9 pm, so we took out our umbrellas and just sat.  The rain lasted only maybe 20 minutes, then the sky cleared up.  It is full moon, a great time for a festival.

2/15/14:  BUSARA DAY THREE

We have had breakfast and it is 10 am.  We are about to go out. Yehudah didn't sleep well last night and so slept in.  He says he got up and investigated what we can bring through customs as the Australians said they cannot bring back any wood.  Looks like no problem bringing back the trays and carvings as well as the raw coffee beans and even some mangos which are in season right now and are better than any we've ever tasted. 

We are having problems downloading photos because the machine is maxed out but all the photos are uploaded to google plus and the blog, so we need not worry and just delete them to allow the next bunch - especially since we have such good wifi at the hotel, but we are still uneasy about deleting anything. 

I am writing on the next day,  We just had breakfast during a torrential downpour, which seems to have ended.  This rain means the beginning of rainy season, so the hotel prices should be going down.  

Yesterday we wound up being successful on several fronts.  First, Yehudah found the coffee company he was looking for and purchased another kilo of raw beans.  The young Swiss manager took us for a tour of the building which has been restored and turned into a hotel. Each room is named after a different coffee drink and is decorated with classic coffee pots. The manager introduced us to the barista, gave us a freshly roasted bean to chew on, and had a shot of espresso made for Yo. Delicious! It was disappointing to learn that there is very little of the liberica bean, grown only in Zanzibar, available, so won't be bringing any home. The blends have only about 5% in them and sell for too much money. 

We explored a few other interiors, rich in history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joanie played hide and seek with these two kids in a box!

 

 

Went for a tour of the slave quarters at the Anglican Church. There's a statue memorial to all the slaves who perished. The church is under repair. These efforts take a huge amount of time totally disproportionate to the amount of work required. No doubt this is a combination of inefficiency, hand labor, and just the pole-pole (go slow, go slow) culture here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hair Salons are called "Saloons" - wonder who first made that error?

 

While Yehudah was finding his coffee, Joanie sat out in the street, watching a European woman distribute sturdy little cars to several children, including a 2 1/2 yr old on his father's lap.  I struck up a conversation and the fellow, an artist from Arusha, taught me the meaning and words to the tourist song sung all over the place - Jambo.  Have to get the words written today.

(I wound up going online and found a video teaching the song.  Here's the link: 

Decided to commission the art piece I have been looking for from this fellow, Jackson, of 3 figures - 1 man and 2 women - jumping in Masai style.  We are paying him $30.

Started finding more pants, but still nothing like what I want.  Found a red dress, very wild, with women printed full, bought it after bargaining down.

Ate again at same restaurant, conversation with Dar fellow who represents an African  car and truck manufacturer.  Everyone wants to exchange emails.

Busara - AMAZING!!!  We got there at 5 pm and left at 1 am.  Highlights: OY, NILE PROJECT, several fusion groups, a Puerto Rican group did a dance drama with conquistador and liberation, Muslim women Taarab ensemble from Zanzibar spoke about women's power, against child abuse and domestic violence.  We heard that the last act might have been rained out, so maybe the guy will be back today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OY

OY

OY