Not wanting to sit around the hotel for my last weekend here, Ben and I decided to take up the manager’s offer of a 6 hour hike, including a stop at a waterfall. We were unsure at first, but figured for ten bucks, even a mediocre hike would be worth the cost.
We were told that a guide would take us on the walk. When the guide, James, arrived, he told us that we would be joined by 8 students who were studying to become tour guides.
The hike began by walking up a pretty steep hill towards Mt. Meru. Ben and I quickly realized we were out of shape, but it wasn’t as tough as the challenge we would be facing later in the day. We got up to a foresty area, and it seemed as if we would just be walking through a typical woods the whole day. Nevertheless, the scenery was magnificent. But not long after that, we began a pretty deep descent. For some reason, I am very good at going up steep inclines…but awful at declining. Everyone in the group had to wait for me as I took my grand ole time. I felt so old.
When we got to the bottom, we found ourselves in a creek. We walked along the creek, passing a couple of mini water falls and jumping across the water numerous times, assisted by what seemed perfectly placed stepping stones. After about 20 minutes we finally approached a 130 m high waterfall. Ben climbed up to the highest possible point that you could get to. Knowing of my troubles getting down into the valley, I decided not to push my luck climbing on wet, slippery rocks in an area completely removed from any emergency access. The area the waterfall fell into was pretty much a cylinder, 220 m in circumference at the top. We spent a good amount of time by the waterfall until making our way back down the creek.
We ascended the valley on the opposite side we had come down. I have never walked up such a steep incline in my life, and having taken longer maneuvering around all the stones, I was a good distance behind Ben and the other half of the group. So I decided to climb as quickly as possible. I finally caught up to him, but was dead exhausted. Everyone’s legs were jelly by the time we got 75% of the way up. That last quarter of the ascent was brutal… but I guess that’s what I get from not having worked out for the past month.
After getting up, we took a long break to eat our lunch. We had an amazing view of the surrounding area and Mt. Meru (though the peak was cloud covered). After regaining some energy, we continued our hike. We soon came across scattered Massai homes, and continued to pass them during our descent.
Now this descent was quite steep, and I have a very difficult time walking down even simply sloped hills. But this was an hour descent down dusty and slippery paths. When I was younger, my family went skiing. Liz, my older sister, was not a fan of one particular slope and would cry out “The mountain is trying to kill me!” This memory came to mind as I did my best to get down.
The most amazing thing of the whole day though was the women and little boys, who would walk down the same paths, passing us, while carrying a bundle of firewood on their heads…barefoot. I understand they’ve been doing this their whole life, but still awe inspiring.
When we arrived back at the hotel, we just hung around the hotel, had a nice dinner, and passed out.
This morning we woke up and went to a Pentecostal Service. Last week, Ben went to this church’s English service (it was quite early and I failed to get up). So he wanted to experience the Swahili service. It began with an hour of praise and worship. Now, all of it was in Swahili, but it was amazing to see the entire Congregation dancing and singing along. The next two hours which followed were very confusing, especially because I did not know where the praise and worship ended and the mass began. I also have no idea of what the Pentecostal Religion is like, so I just sat and listened as best as I could. At the end of the praise and worship (I think), there were about 7 children around 11 years old who processed in, singing a song. They stood at the alter and sang for about ten minutes, then were joined with the rest of the children in the church, and then all processed out.
Once the singing was over, a few people gave some talks. (Probably where the service began). There were many times where the preacher would go to the alter and read a bible passage. Everyone in the congregation brought their own bibles and read along. There was another point where about 8 members of the congregation went up to the alter, kneeled before it, we all raised our arms out to them, and the preacher went on a ten minute shouting prayer, and two of the people kneeling began shaking and one eventually fell down. This was pretty powerful.
The last hour consisted of one man giving a homily. Near the end, he really got into it, got loud and emotional, and began chanting the same words over and over again, with the congregation repeating everything. After about fifteen minutes into this, while everyone in the church was exhausted from chanting, the preacher looked at Ben and I, asked if we spoke English, and told us to repeat after him, and continued to chant for about 1 minute in English. It was “I am washed in the blood of Christ”, (a few more, I am forgetting them right now though).
At the end of the service, all visitors where invited to the altar to introduce ourselves and explain why we were there. Everyone was very welcoming and many came up to shake our hands while up there. We were then walked out where we were given a couple of crackers and juice, and talked with some of the parish coordinators.
Afterwards, Ben and I went out for lunch, then walked around Massai market for some last minute shopping.
Tomorrow is nanne nanne, a national holiday for farmers. The way Daniel explained it sounded a lot like an events fair at college, where you can see all the groups and activities at the school, except for different businesses. It seems like it will be pretty cool, and since we dont have any work to do without power, we will probably attend. We are also trying to meet up with Zakeria to give him our chair.
As I enter my last week here, I wish I could stay longer, but at the same time I continue to get more excited to be able to get home. I hope I can make the most out of my time left here!
You can see the photos from my hike on facebook, linked under the photos tab.
Hahaha, I remember when you skied you only went straight down full speed. You center of gravity was a bit lower to the ground then.
Would have loved to have seen you navigate these hills!!! Coach won’t be happy with you if you are this out of shape!
you’re a jerk. the mountain may have been trying to kill me, but i recall very vividly that you and michelle were trying much harder
I love siblings =)