Good-bye to an Old Friend in Arusha

The Everest Chinese Restaurant and Inn has been my home in Arusha for the past number of years. And not just my home, but others, too. Canadian Directors, sometimes TEMBO staff from Longido, even some visitors with Travelling with TEMBO have stayed here.

Nicely set back from the street behind a wall.

The Everest Chinese will be closing this weekend after nearly 15 years in operation. What a loss for me - I know everyone might not share this sentiment - the accommodation is very basic and no where near 5 Star. Okay, it's closer to 2 Star. Still it's clean, central, safe, has internet access, electricity, running water, and it's quiet. Good Chinese Food, too.

Most of my visits have been spent in Room 1, located at the far end of the strip of 6 rooms, away from the activity. I've written a lot of reports and blog posts in that room. I have seldom turned on the TV.

Met a lot of interesting travellers here.

Mr. Liu Songfu is the Chinese-Canadian owner from Toronto. He and his family have taken turns managing the Everest over the years, including his mother, now in her 80's, in China. Liu says Arusha is changing and the world economy is playing a bit part. The economic crisis in Europe is causing people to cut back on travel or spend less when they do. The Arusha War Crimes Tribunal, once a large employer of many people from around the world, now has only a skeletal staff. The Arusha-Nairobi Road is now complete after being under construction for - what? - 6 years. A lot of Chinese and their families were here for that big road project, too. Now only a handful remain to take care of road problems that might occur over the next 3 years.

Luckily, Liu says he has managed to secure jobs in other hotels and restaurants for his current staff. If Liu is right about the Arusha economy going into a period of decline, there will be many Tanzanians negatively impacted for the next few years. Liu sees the signs and is choosing to leave before the situation worsens. Given the luxury hotel boom around Arusha, it seems not everyone sees the situation the same way. Time will tell. It always does.

Many dinner guests served  at welcoming tables over the years.

Thanks to Liu and his family, and all the staff at the Everest Chinese, for their warm hospitality...and for giving me a space where, from time to time, I could not only shower off the Longido dust, but also feed my soul.