Further ruminations on the mounatin and its ramifications

Above is a deceivingly serene shot of Daniela in the midst of our first day anti-acclimitized slog taken at around 7PM (after 8 hours and 9,000 feet of elevation gain). The mountain was just starting to sock in and the rain beginning to fall. Below is a more representative shot of me and my dismal state of mind

Now it's been a couple of solidly relaxing and gastrointestinally comfortable days back in Nanyuki town and my demeanor is notably less agitated. In fact, I'd say I've almost let it all go; the mourning for the dead dream, the self recrminations, and the lingering angst toward everyone involved in the ill fated mission. I think I neglected to mention that a further complication to the climbing trip was the scambled state of my bowels which crept up on me the day before we left. This was obviously the result of my initial openness to African street foods and generally eating any old fried food, octopus, bbq beef, and the like.

But alas I have returned to my slightly more discerning and happy self. One big push that sent back toward the happy belly state was yesterday's lunch. Before the safari, Mr Wa, Daniela, and I drove about 15 minutes out of Nayuki to dine at the Trout Tree restaurant. This place is named as such because (1) it is a trout hatchery and (2) it is a restaurant built in a tree. The tree is a 125 year old fig tree that is the centerpiece of the entire operation of 15 some odd trout pools all gravity fed and operating smoohtly. Colobus Monkeys swing through the trees above while happy eaters enjoy various delicacies made of the most delicious trout I have ever tasted. And I'm not just saying that. Needless to say, we all left feeling entirely satiated. The special and unique feeling that Daniela pointed out was that we actually felt full and good as opposed to full and sick. In the photo below, Peter Wa and Daniela stand contentedly in the entranceway to the treehouse restaurant. Two trout ponds are swirling below and monkeys are swinging in the trees to the right.


Right now, everything is settling. Daniela is leaving to go back to Tanzania tomorrow morning and I am heading out to stay with a Masai family in their "boma." This the circlular aray of round thathced huts in which one man houses his several wives. Yup I'm going to live with one of the wives for the night. Get your mind out of the gutter -- this is strictly a cross cultural experience and besides Daniela tells me most likely she'll be closer in age to my grandma. In the boma at night also lives the young cows and goats. We all, humans and livestock, sleep in one bed, or at least that's the impression I've been given. Alas, there's only one way to find out what the actual reality will be. After I get back on Saturday morning, I'll take the matata bus to Isiolo and start the long haul north to Ethiopia. And just like that, another phase of this journey will have begun at the very moment that the current one becomes comfortable and deeply appreciated.