Kilimanjaro

This weekend I'm staying in Monduli, but last weekend was my Kilimanjaro weekend which was wonderful. I did a day's hike from Marangu Gate at about 6,000 ft. to the first huts where people stay called Mandara huts at about 9,000 ft. It was a great hike through rain forest most of the way with the tall canopy trees with loads for moss hanging from the branches and ferns and other greenery. It was very beautiful with lots of streams and a few small waterfalls coming down the mountain. There were blue monkeys and colobus (black and white ones that remind me of skunk). As we got higher, we entered "afro-alpine moorland" or upland grassland. There were no longer tall trees. We went even higher (beyond the 9,000 ft.) and came to soft looking grasses and low bushes and some very nice flowers. From there one could see a plain far below and if it had been clear, one could have seen Kilimanjaro. I only had a few glimpses of the mountain the entire weekend. The hike wasn't too challenging, but it was definitely hard, and left me tired and with sore legs the next day. I was with a guide who carried my day pack with lunch, water and rain coat. Dozens of people were coming down the mountain and then later on, going up. 125 are allowed up each day. There are 4 other routes, I believe. There aren't many who just do day hikes. When people hike to the summit, there are 3 porters per person - strong young men with handsome bodies.


I hiked on Sunday, on Sat. I visited various places in the town of Marangu which is where the Chagga tribe lives. We visited several waterfalls, a blacksmith, a place where they prepare and dry hides, a home brew place (beer made from a kind of millet and bananas). It costs 10 cents for a large gourd full. A taste was enough for me. We also visited the wife of a deceased leader.


It was very green there, much more tropical than here. People own small farms which look very nice. they grow small sweet bananas, coffee, and of course maize. There is also pineapple. The avocado were to die for (3 large ones for 50 cents). The cows and goats don't wander all over, like the Maasai allow theirs to do. People instead cut and gather grass for their animals and they are kept at home. It was a great weekend and I got to see a different part of the country and a different culture.


Driving home that night was the first time that I had been on the road at night. Wow! We left Arusha to return to Monduli at about 7:30; the sun sets at about 7 so it was dark. All sorts of people were walking, talking, visiting shops, bars, buying roasted corn , fish and other foods. Cyclists weave in and out among the cars and trucks. The overloaded passenger vans called daladalas stop now and then. There is little shoulder and lines along the shoulder and middle of the road have all but disappeared. In one area there were about a dozen women with candle lit low stands. I'm sure they were all selling the same thing: tomatoes, bananas, and mangoes. Besides the traffic to watch out for, there are pot holes and speed bumps that you only know about from experience. I don't need to be out on the road too often at night.


You have probably seen all the pictures of Bush here, and of course there was lots of press about that. All the roads around Arusha were closed for the day which wasn't terribly convenient for people. His visit was a big hit - especially since he brought lots of aid.


One thing that the press did not like was that he didn't visit the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. I did on Wed when there were lots of meetings at school. I rode a daladala into town - 23 people where squeezed into a 12 passenger van. At least I wasn't in the back of a pickup with the Maasai and their goats...

It was fascinating at the UN. Lots of security to get in, of course. There are lots of hearings going on at the same time in different sections of the building. I listened to the American ambassador to Rwanda at the time. I didn't stay long, but it was interesting (I was probably lucky). Lots of time was taken up with clarifications of documents and numbering the documents and giving them exhibit numbers. The salads at the cafeteria were great and I even met a court clerk from MN.

Today I'm having luck at the Internet place here in Monduli. Not so last week. I continue to enjoy the school, the girls, the country side here. I have figured out the perfect place and time to walk to view the sunset. Big bonus the other night with a full moon. Life is good. I miss you all, however.