At the border coming to Kenya from Tanzania

I took some photos on Monday

Mom and daughter Masaii selling beaded necklaces. As soon as I started negotiating more and more people came to sell.  

More women selling jewelry.

while on the shuttle from Tanzania and Kilimanjaro back to Kenya.  Tanzania seems to be poorer than Kenya - jobless rate is over 50% and Kenya's is down to 43%.  At the border I bought some beaded jewelry from the Masaii women.  Once you show any interest you are absolutely mobbed by many people and you have to ignore them completely if you want to be done.  Interesting....I love what I bought.

They also don't like to have their picture taken unless you pay them.  The two ladies standing in front of the van let me take their photo because I bought something from the momma.  They momma was chewing on a reed and looked very worn but she sure was a persuasive sales woman - even tho she spoke only the few English words needed to make the sale.  I bought the necklace from her because when I was going to buy from her daughter she got upset and I'm a softie.

Cool experience....they are great salespeople who make beautiful beads.  They actually make the beads by hand and then create the necklaces and earrings.  

Sales were brisk!  These women were beautiful but very persistent.

Visit with Amos - our former driver & guide

Today I got to visit with Amos and go to his home to meet his wife, Mary Ann, and their 10 month old son, Adriel.  It was fabulous for me.  Mary Ann cooked the best meal I have had in Kenya - a beef stew with carrots, rice, cabbage, and potatoes.  For dessert we had bananas, avocado, and oranges mixed - really good.  

Then Mary Ann wanted me to walk around the neighborhood with her so she could introduce me to her friends.  She is high spirited and very fun!  It was so wonderful for me to be in their flat and see their neighborhood and meet friends.  Their place is very small by our standards but they do everything they need to do in the space and they are happy.

The baby is a doll and Amos's niece who is 2 was there also.  It took her almost an hour of staring at me to decide she could get a little closer.  Finally she was sitting on my lap and holding my hand.  Kids are just so sweet.  What a wonderful day!

Now I'm at a swanky hotel in Nairobi - leaving with the safari group in the morning.  No one is here yet but me.  Will meet everyone in the morning when we leave.  Hakuna matata.  

Our delicious lunch. The kitchen is very small so eating is in the living room. Mary Ann is a fantastic cook!

Amos, Mary Ann, and Adriel

Amost on the roof of his building with Adriel and niece Zima (?) not sure on the name but she sure was sweet.

Amos's building. He is on the 4th floor - no elevator. All laundry is done by hand and air dried.  Small shops are all around on the streets. 

Some reflections on the Kilimanjaro experience.

First, thanks to my friends who got me in good shape so this was possible. We saw so many people being rescued (which means getting them down to lower altitude asap) - this is one tough endurance test.

We had total confidence in our guides and team within the first day.  Your life is literally in their hands, so feeling good about them is essential. We struggled just to keep walking up with our day packs on.  They carried our gear plus their gear plus food, water, and more - we were constantly amazed.  Day 1 we hiked through rainforest and then it got more open with views and less vegetation and stayed at Mandara huts.  Day 2 was drier, colder, and windier and we stayed at Horombo Huts.  Day 3 had lots of wide-open expanse with a view of Kili most of the way - in the clouds and not much air up there. We stayed at Kibo Hut - about 16,000 ft. altitude.
Day 4 we got up at midnight and started hiking to the top in the dark, then daybreak, then after summit started back down to Kibo.  You then continue down to the next lower hut to recover - so 10 hours up & down to Kibo plus another 3 hours down to Horombo. My body was so confused, hungry, hurting, tired.  Then I woke up the next morning & was ready to go! Day 5 we hiked all the way down to the entry gate - about 20K or 12 miles.

Matt got sick on day 1 evening but recovered well.  Bonnie got sick on day 3 and I don't know how she made the summit but she did. Paul decided not to try - he was spent at the final hut.  Their daughter Cheri made it to the first peak.  Our guides spent a great deal of time & care getting Bonnie & Cheri off the mountain because they were so exhausted.  The guides held them while they slept a bit on the steep descent, put sunscreen on them, wiped their noses, fed them, took photos for them and took as long as they needed to get down to Kibo hut.  

The guys, Matt & John, were strong  throughout.  Altho every hike was long, slow and difficult, I never felt like I couldn't keep moving except for a couple of moments on that final ascent when I was questioning my sanity (and that of those above and below me).  And on the descent to Kibo that seemed to never end.  I just wanted food, water, warmth, and some sleep so badly.  We were all so glad to see the hotel, a hot shower and a warm bed.  The guides and some porters came for dinner & our certificate party and we were one happy bunch of campers!

I learned a lot about Tanzania and the lack of jobs and why the porters are willing to do strenuous hiking carrying many pounds for years and years, sometimes 3 or 4 times per month. It's the only job in northern Tanzania so they are grateful to have the jobs and never seem grumpy.  I practiced a lot of Swahili with them and it seems to be fun for them (laughing at me) as well as for me. 

Next adventure for me:  Safari with Overseas Adventure Travel group.  I meet them on Wednesday here in Nairobi. Hakuna matata  (no worries).

 

More Kili pics

My hiking mates, Bonnie & Paul with daughter Cheri, Matt, John, me, and our guide Juma.  Can't say enough about our guides, cook, porters, and the entire team.

At the highest peak, Uhuru, with John.  Matt was struggling but did get in a photo with us before we started doing the 3.5 or so hours down that steep mountain back to the huts.

So happy to get my official certificate to show I summited from our guide, Juma, back at the hotel and after a hot shower!!! Woot woot!

More pics from Kilimanjaro

Hiking up to the last hut - suprisingly wide open with clouds going past. Kili in distance. At about 15,000 ft.

The last hut before getting up at midnight to climb to top in the dark, freezing.

My hiking companions & hut-mates, John & Matt from the UK.

Pics from Kili climb

at start - ready to go. Never wore shorts again, too cold!

One of the 3 hut camps we stayed in

At Zebra Rocks with Juma and Abdullah - a 7 hour hiking day

Success on Kilimanjaro! !,

Just a quick post to let you know I did it!  Beautiful,  amazing experience,  very exhausting.  Tonight we are back at the hotel for dinner and to tip our awesome guide and  porters.  Hungry, tired, but tonight I am clean amd warm.  Yeah!

More tomorrow. My little group of 6 is so happy right now.  We all leave Moshi tomorrow for various places.