krismasi katika tanzania

December 27, 2011 by Deb Marshall 2 Comments

sometimes plans do not work out as you think.  and sometimes that’s okay.  why i say that now, is because our ‘original’ plan was for f2a staff  to spend christmas at pangani or mombasa (on the beach /indian ocean).  now….christmas on the beach with people i truly adore is my idea of perfect african christmas.  plus i was happy that no matter what i wasn’t going to face the american version of christmas – the big meals, lots of temptations of goodies, and all that. along with all the hectic commercialism that i’ve become accustomed to, but no longer enjoy.  of course, i was going to miss the love and the time with my family and close friends back home!  but  just sayin’…the rest of it, i wasn’t going to miss.  lol

but, for a variety of reasons, the beach plan just didn’t work out.  and i knew myself well enough to know that i needed to have a change of scenery, and i wanted the day ‘not’ to be just another normal day, or i might not be my usual happy self.  i could feel this emotional energy rising up (if ya know what i mean) and i was a bit concerned that i might be a bit depressed on christmas if i did not come up with a plan.  so i decided had to find a place to go, something inexpensive, fairly close,  a place i could feel okay going alone.  through some internet searches i stumbled upon mt kilimanjaro view lodge and i don’t know – i just immediately felt this ping when i found the website that this is where i should go.  so on friday, i sent an email and made arrangements and on saturday i was there!

oh yes.  the ping was a good one. on saturday just after noon, i arrived to cooler mountain air, the smell of eucalyptus (omg, wonderful), banana and coffee trees lining the road, and then!  an awesome landscape of mt meru, mt kilimanjaro and the town of moshi in the valley.  the lodge was designed to give guests an experience of the chagga tribe culture, with a mix of a few modern amenities.  while they do not have electricity wired there, during the evening hours the generator provides power to the huts.  hot water is provided through a boiler system.  no tv.  no internet unless you bring your internet modem.  the staff is absolutely charming and the food is delish, cooked outside over coals.  you can order drinks, and they will be cooled if you request, in the cold water running down the mountain.  it was a lovely pleasure to sleep without mosquito nets (none of these creatures at 7000 ft) and under a couple of blankets for a change (as down in moshi town, temperatures linger in the 90s).

there were a few of us in the lodge over the weekend, all from the US.  climbers of kili, some on a mission trip, various reasons.   in the meantime, just sitting on the deck watching the sun set, viewing the mountains, walking the trekking paths around the lodge property, listening to the various brooks trickling down,  bird watching – all soothing to my spirit and soul, calming to my mind.  no internet, no computer.  just quiet.  just perfect.

what did i do on christmas day?   woke up about 7:30, enjoyed the morning air, and a great view of kilimanjaro.  walked up for breakfast and chatted with the guests that arrived in the night.  the rest of the morning was spent just walking around the lodge, enjoying the view, doing a bit of reading. after lunch, julia from the staff and i trekked off down the mountain road to the village.  we pick a passion fruit along the way and i enjoy eating (and spitting seeds) while we walk.  a light rain and a bit of thunder pops up…we pause under a tree till it passes over.   it’s a bit tricky – the road is steep, the little rocks means it’s easy to slip, so pole pole (slowly slowly).   we wave and speak to the villagers along the way, many are out in their nice clothes on this christmas day.  i am told that they are not used to seeing many mzungu, so some are a bit shy but many will shake my hand or fist bump. one of the first stops, per our agreement, is at a shack to try banana beer.  i have heard about this the entire time i’ve been in tanzania but haven’t actually tried it.  sure!  of course!  i want to try it.  this is probably akin to the moonshine, btw.  lol.  they make it in a little shack, and who knows how sanitary.  or not. we order a small (kidogo) beer and they bring out this HUGE cup of beer.  O.M.G.  between the two of us we make a couple of sips, take a couple of photos, pay the 500 TSH (about 30 cents) and hand the cup off to whomever wishes to drink it and away we go, giggling about the experience.  well, i have that out of my system. and no longer have a hankering to try the banana beer.  we agree that when we get to the main village we’ll drink some real african beer like kilimanjaro or serengeti.   ha

when we do get to to main part of the village, we are greeted by friends of julia, who invite us into their ‘shop’ for the beer.  the ‘shop’ is a small, no, make that tiny, room.  the walls are lined with cardboard boxes.  there is a small table.  and the doorway is a curtain.  what is this i ask?  this is the shop.  uh, okay.  we sit, and they bring us the beer.  cheers!   a couple of beers (about .90 each bottle)  and some bubble gum later 🙂   it’s time to head back UP the steep road.  it’s about (i think)  2km each way; or about 2.5 miles round trip.  on the way back up, we give out pieces of gum, and chat with the kids, take a few photos, and stop and rest a few times.  i didn’t think that it was too bad, actually until we take the ‘shortcut’ as julia and zecharea tell me.  shortcuts are becoming synonomous with  difficult.  it was REALLY steep and the last 30 minutes there was no talking, just heavy breathing and a few pauses to ask, are we there yet?  lol  but we caught a magnificent sunset on the way along that shortcut.

monday morning, the sun rose to showcase kili in a gorgeous light.  i had to return to moshi (and the heat) that afternoon, but i will be returning to this beautiful area when i can, for a pause, for some coolness, for some rejuvenation, and to enjoy that hike (great workout too).  the world is abundant with many beautiful places; back home in america we have so many fabulous landscapes and wonders.  but the beauty and wonder that i’m enjoying in africa along with the beauty and grace of her people is such a gift to me.  i hope that those of you that are intrigued by africa will soon come to experience it for yourself.

if you haven’t already enjoyed the photos on my fb page, here’s a link to the scenes….

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2942060753485.149930.1320191966&type=1&l=2a5091d272

as we move into the new year,  i wish for each of you, for all of us, for the world:  peace, love, joy.  i read a quote recently.  when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.   i hope that in the coming months and year, we will continue to discover simple easy ways to celebrate the power of love, to live from the heart, to change our communities, our countries, our world.  shine our lights into the darkness and be love.

thanks for being part of my life, i love you all.  i am so blessed to be here, and daily i ask god for guidance of how i can serve and fulfill his plan of why i’m here…in this life, and here in africa.

happy. new. day. happy. new. year. be. happy. be. love.

you.are.loved.