Friday 1 June 2012

Mosquitos and Insomnia

So its the second last night here in Moshi before the climb


Here is my leg in full tropical attire (tons of mosquito bites keeping me indoors whenever not on a day tour or hike...its feels worse than it looks btw). I got a whole bunch more when I sneaked out late tonight (after taking this picture)  for an easily-prepared dinner of toast with tomato and cheese. Quite a few climbers that are coming to the hotel tonight, others leaving tomorrow are  braving a bottle of beer or two outside as well. Wonder what they'll be thinking tomorrow, same time? 


What I should have been wearing are my gators and socks. day in and day out -all week long



As for my battle with Insomnia this week...


Most of the day I would hear the call to prayer which would resonate loud and clear for a good km sq.  In the wee hours of every morning, chanting started precisely at 4am straight through to 5:45am. What is interesting is that there are about 3 chants going on at the same time in this random unison. Two chants are so calming, but one chant usually becomes more of a strong delivery of words and not melodious at all, sort of a paternal command so unless I was dead tired from a full day hiking off the slopes of Kili, I would be tossing and turning, not sure how else to fall asleep. I'm a super light sleeper which means, when I hear the occasional cockerel cock-a-doodle-doing thing happens or there is talking or chanting,  I could never sleep through it.So that's the way it went for most nights, eyes staring up at the ring that joins the seam of the mosquito net so it can stream down and around my bed.
 But, on the upside, those sorts of nights would be soon forgotten the very next day because I'm back in bed after breakfast for a full day of daylight sleeping, all while others are tanning or reading leisurely by the poolside. But at least I'm not having more visitors that want to bite me during the day :-) 


 Somehow I dealt with the tropics, culture shock brilliantly this week but what I really need now is to get on with the show!!! Tomorrow I'm going to find out who's I'm sharing a tent with so that I can have first say which side of the tent I'll be sleeping on. 


What I think I use to be (sorry dad but...)




What I think I'm suppose to be (my mom is going to just love me!)



Super good and feeling fine. Time to go kiss the sky.





Ndoro Falls -Marangu, Tanzania


ENTRANCE TO NDORO FALLS




Located at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the beautiful countryside of surrounding Marangu.
Lush landscapes of Chagga land takes you to the entrance of a hidden waterfall - the Ngoro Falls. 
Once we passed through one of the entrances to one of many falls in the Marangu area, we had a short hike through a stunning forest. 







The falls can be accessed by foot and requires us to go 'pole pole' or 'slowly slowly' down some many simple steps sometimes steep. Banisters consisting of thick tree branches which have been edged into the hill and zigzag toward the bottom for another stunning view -the cascading waterfall. 




pole pole with Shingo




I decided against the swim but did enjoy a lovely picnic with my guide while sitting on a rock facing the falls, taking in the view of this beautiful valley.



getting refreshed before lunch

Flora
(Fungi -resembling tiny red mushrooms)