First Stop: Manda Hill
My guidebook said that Manda Hill was one of the biggest shopping areas in the city. What was is it really...? A strip mall! Very strange to see, but nice to know that it's available. Globalization at it's best. Denver peeps: Gotta be honest on first approach this place looked strikingly similar to the strip mall that contains Casa Bonita. Much better part of town though and no Family Dollar.
Manda Hill contained many things including two book stores, a blockbuster, a bakery and a few other stores. My mission here was the ShopRite. I figured since I have a mini fridge in the room, I could do some grocery shopping. I was expecting just a few more things to be available than the BP, but when I walked in I realized that ShopRite=Zambian SuperTarget. Awesome! I can buy everything from oranges to a blender.
A few key indicators to remind you that you are still in Africa...#1 an entire wall of Corn Flakes.
But you can still buy the local brand "Maize Flakes"
I haven't seen any advertisement for food on TV, but if Jungle Oats had a commercial I think they should have "Jungle Boogie" as the background music. Either that or "Eye of the Tiger" I had these on Tuesday morning at the breakfast buffet and they are really good with honey and raisins.
Oh yeah. This is proof that there is a legit Subway at Manda Hill as well. I didn't go in to see if there were weird Zambian equivalents to the usual sandwiches, but the normal Subway smell wafted out of the door. Weird.
Last but not least, proof that there is an Irish Pub everywhere. See Ed, I told you. Again, weird. Probably the best place to get fish and chips though. I might have to check it out. I wonder if they have Guinness.
Anyway, I left Shoprite with about $35 of groceries that should avoid me having to eat $30 dinner each night at the hotel. My favorite finds were: cheese! (Imported from France or Ireland means it's pasteurized and therefore, I can eat it. Huzzah!) and Ramen. I have a tea kettle in my room that can boil water and coffee cups. Do you need anything else? Really. Yeah, yeah I have per diem each day, but I see no need in blowing it all on overpriced hotel food, when really all I want is a cup of soup. While we're on the subject of food, I ordered a Caprese Sandwich for lunch at an Expat Cafe. Should have known better. Their version of "pesto" was seriously chopped cloves of raw garlic and onions made into a paste with olive oil. Oh well, I tried.
I also walked a few blocks to a handicrafts store called the Ababa House. Most things were overpriced, but they were pretty high quality. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading and hanging out by the pool.
6 comments:
I love this blog! I feel like I'm there with you: I can totally see you saying, "Huzzah!" as you read the cheese. (be aware though: not sure about Ireland, but the French do not always pasteurize.
How right you are about the ubiquitous Irish Pub. They are everywhere, which I've always found a little odd. What makes an Irish pub fun is the Irish people! However, you can't really look down your nose at an opportunity to have fish & chips or shepherd's pie.
Worst pesto ever. Ugh, garlic and onions. Just add some mayo and I am in hell. so excited you found the Zambian version on Target. Perhaps they have a $5 t-shirt there that says MEOW. Please stock up on a African kitty shirts ala Shoprite
There was an Irish pub in Estonia too, and my Irish friend flipped out. Wait till I tell her about the one in Zambia.
Don't have to worry about pasteurization if the cheese is aged more than 60 days, btw.
Word. Manda Hill is interesting too boot.
My tips?
(1) Get food from the embassy commissary, like a real bottle of Heinz ketchup, snack packs, and yummy cookies. And they have samosas in the morning every now and then that are killer.
(2) Order off the kid's menu at the hotel to save some cash or get someone to go with you to the fab indian place a few blocks away.
(3) That breakfast is killer, but also the reason I gained about 10 pounds in one month. Perhaps my fault for eating like I'd never eat again (they used to run out of food at the embassy so I ate as much as I could in the morning since I probably wouldn't eat again for another 12 hours...)
(4) Subway in Africa is g-rody.
(5) Jungle oats are g-rody. Try them at breakfast. Blech. And that's not me being picky.
(6) Friday nights are Shoka Nights at the hotel. You should definitely plan on seeing it one weekend you're in town as the food is interesting and the dancing incredible.
Christy: Yay! I'm glad you like the blog. It encourages me to keep updating with comments like that. No worries on the cheese I read to make sure that it was pasteurized. :) New post regarding more details on the Irish pub coming soon.
Julia: mayo here has a weird yellow tint to it. I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
Erika: I didn't know that! Thanks. Noted for future purchases.
Oh Miss Valerie - You forget that you are so much more a picky eater than I. I happen to like the Jungle Oats, thank you. However, I learned that they are prepared in a not so healthy way, so I'm back to eating fruit and yogurt for breakfast again.
Commissary moved away from the embassy and it's slim pickin's right now. But I did find Heinz in the grocery store. Thanks for the tips on the kids menu and Shoka night. I also found out that CDC has a neogotiated price menu. Who knew?
Post a Comment