Backpacks on a plane

I would like to take a minute to congratulate REI on their impressive progress towards world takeover. My plane from Amsterdam to JRO could have been easily mistaken for an REI pop up shop. It was packed to the brim with excitement, Keen hiking boots and Osprey backpacks. One of the larger groups that I met was traveling to hike Kilimanjaro for multiple myeloma, another for African aid, and still others for bucket lists, various causes and organizations. 

Our flight was delayed over an hour because of an intense ice storm that forced the airport to shut down all but one runway. There was no questioning this decision after watching large metal cargo boxes be blown around like they were tissue paper. 

I was lucky enough to sleep for most of the flight. When I was not sleeping I was being served food.  After 2 meals and 3 snacks I have decided that KLM is synonymous with dairy products. So. much. cheese. 

In addition to cheese there was a lot of dessert. The Flight attendant when serving our dinner repeatedly pointed at the dessert as he handed out meals and said  "very sweet." (He also occasionally added "calorie bomb" depending on who you were.) I asked him what it was. He looked at me and again said "very sweet". This turned out to be an understatement. I was initially intrigued. I am well recognized sugar junky (cake for breakfast? I am in). One small bite of this still unknown inedible concoction and I wondered why 9th grade science doesn't use this to teach the concept of crystallization.  Crystals formed palpable lattices in my mouth unable to stay in their super saturated state. 

Upon arrival in Tanzania immigration was quite easy: 100 dollars plus a super close picture and then you pretty much walked right out. I had a moment of pause when I exited and saw tons of men holding signs with names. Eventually after a phone call I found my name and met Joseph who would drive me to the place where we were staying. He loaded me into a real live safari truck and off we went. 

The ride from the airport was just under 40 km but took about an hour because of the conditions of roads and the other traffic. Joseph let me sit in the front and then gave me a bunch of information about Tanzania, Arusha, and several local tribes. 

At the hotel, which was down an unmarked dirt path, I was greeted by delicious pineapple juice, some very cute dogs, a happy birthday sign, a beautiful room to stay in (with electricity and hot water) and with happiness and excitement that for me has already colored this country.