My Tuesday Was Better Than Yours

These days, people use a similar hashtag/status for fairly basic things (no judgment, just saying); however, this experience truly is worthy of such a title.

The beginning of our walk down the mountain.

On the second day of holiday, instead of being in school, I accompanied the two American med students to a clinic for a bit and then assisted Inno in a tour of Moshi for a Japanese couple.  My morning clearly was not 'my Tuesday was better than yours' worthy.  However, after a great lunch with my "Tanzanian family" (Teddy and Inno), the five of us headed to one of the most magical places I have ever been.  The Materuni, also known as Mnambe, is a150 meter (that's 450 feet for all of you Americans) waterfall.  Of all of the waterfalls whose water source is Mount Kilimanjaro, Materuni is the largest.

A view as we made our way to the waterfall.

After reaching the outskirts of Moshi, we drove for at least a half an hour up an extremely bumpy dirt road into the mountainside. The ride itself was beautiful, but only an appetizer to what would come.  Once we parked (read: stopped the car on the mountainside because the path was not longer wide enough nor safe for vehicles -- see above), we walked down to the base of the mountain. We walked for an hour or so with two impromptu guides, without whom, we would not have been able to find our way to the waterfall.

I continue to be in awe of the warmth, kindness and hospitality of the Tanzanian people.  Teddy and Inno have made this journey multiple times for the sake of their American guests (which is quite a treat as this waterfall is not an advertised tourist attraction).  The path to Mnambe is long and treacherous.  And let's not forget that you also have to walk back.  It has not even been a week yet, and I am already forever indebted to my Tanzanian family, and I have no doubt that this is only the tip of the iceberg of gratitude that will exist six months from now.

First complete view of Mnambe!

The day was unforgettable. I could have stood frozen in time at the place where we first could see the waterfall it all its glory. Once the waterfall was in view, it was about a seven minute hike to the pool at the base of the waterfall. We carefully navigated over the rocks leading to the pool at the base of the waterfall, and dipped our toes into the water. Freezing. Absolutely freezing.  But, there was no way I was passing on the opportunity to be one with the waterfall, and thankfully neither was Jean. At least there were two of us wzungu kicha (crazy Americans).  We stripped down, much to the enjoyment of the local teenage boys, and began to splash, laugh and swim as is only right in such a situation.  As Teddy, Inno, and Nick watched, Jean and I soaked up, literally, as much of this experience as possible.

"Rainbow". Jean and I basking in Mnambe's beauty.  

It is hard to envision that amongst such beauty one photo could rival another. However, the view from the center of the pool (particularly right at the water's edge) captures Mnambe in all its glory, strength and beauty unlike any other. While floating in the center of the pool, Jean and I lamented for several minutes about our mutual desire to capture this view -- and how risky it would be to do so.

My inner daredevil, however, couldn't resist. Jean and I decided we would use my iPhone to capture this view.  Getting this picture was a team effort.  Nick supplied a plastic bag, which had been storing his sunscreen and bug spray.  It would now become the armor for my iPhone. The entire bottom of the pool consisted of jagged and uneven rocks, which makes it no easy feat to keep one's balance while making one's way to the center of the pool. Jean and I carefully passed my phone, "safely" inside of Nick's

"Surface Level". January 2014. 

plastic bag back and forth to each other after securing our footing on the rock bottom from the edge to the center of the pool.  Finally we made it to the middle where the real challenge presented itself.  I had to take my phone out of the bag, keep it dry from the massive amount of falling water and its residual mist, lower the unprotected camera to the surface of the water, keep my hand steady to capture this one of a kind photo.  Risky, yes, but be the judge for yourself of whether or not it was worth it. No damage to my iPhone, in case you were concerned.

Jean and I could have floated around in that pool for quite some time, but the less kisha Teddy, Inno and Nick were patiently waiting for us back on shore.  We took our last glances from the pool and carefully made our way back to our friends.  We began the hour hike back to the car just as the sun was setting.  What more could you ask for?  By the time we got back to the car, we all had laughed until our stomachs hurt and Jean and I were dry.  The sun had just set and Kili, what natives call Mount Kilimanjaro, was waiting to bid us farewell and send us on our way.

"Farewell".  A picture perfect ending to a remarkable afternoon. 

What did you do this last Tuesday?  No offense, but bragging rights like these don't come around often.