October 28 2001 - Shira Plateau Camp (11,300')

Today I was greeted (woken up) with my first "wake up tea." Ignas (the cook) knocked on my door with hot water, tea bags, and a mug. What treatment! Our camp was in the forest, and the morning light made it beautiful. Our hike started in the rain forest again, but soon we were in low vegetation that had apparently burned a few years ago. Clouds moved in, and when we were within an hour of camp it started raining. We all pulled our jackets and ponchos out, but it definitely changed the character of the experience. The dampness isn't fun of course, but at the same time I feel the urge to raise my spirits and have fun to compensate for the foul weather. All-in-all, I can't say that I mind. (Not that I don't want the sun to come back out :-). Most of the porters don't speak English, so we've been learning a lot of Swahili.

jambohi mzunguwhite person
asante sanathank you very much wazunguwhite people
karibuwelcome / you're welcome babafather
tafadhaliplease mamamother
magiwater havarihow are you
magi motohot water msurigood
hapanano tacobutt
ndioyes poli polislow