Piles of smiles and other Random thoughts.

But first I just love Giraffes!!

Hey!!  can I get a lift to town.... I have a sore neck and the damned sunroof in the Mercedes is broken again!.

Hey can I get a ride - I'm buying a new bike and want to charge it.

Each day on the way home from work I get to see animals alongside the road. And this is right in the city making it even more weird and fortunate in my view! Now what I have come to understand is that the Lions don't really care for the sound of traffic so stay away from the fence-line. The animals have this figured out so hang there instead of ending up as dinner. Love it! There's a Rhino to the left (2 actually) and in the same view were Giraffe, Thompson Gazelles, Buffalo and Zebra.That's about $150,000 worth of Rhino horn right by the road. Clearly the Rhino haven't figured out that roads mean poachers. Did you know that an elephant if poached every 15 minutes in Africa.  Shame on us.....

Jesus Chris Super Star the musical

Someone from work brought Bananas!

I went to a really great performance of Jesus Christ Super Star last night. It was well performed and also took me back to my early teenage days when I played the trombone in a band that played these sheets.  Ahhh .....Andrew Lloyd Webber.... where did all this great music come from!!

I thought it funny... at the National Theater.... when I bought a beer after being assured good naturedly that it was just fine to take my drink in while I watched the performance. At the door, the Usher stopped me and said "Hey  where are you going with that?" Hmmm I thought and then said - "the guy just there said it's fine". "oh yes" said the usher..."he's marketing - of course he's going to say that" Ha! That's Kenya! Of course we drank it after the house lights went down. :)

There were some stand out performances particularly  Jesus and Mary Magdelene. In my view, looking at the social media, the wrong folks are being recognized for strong performances .... Hmmmm - is it just me? Don't know how to love him was absolutely brilliantly performed by Mary.....bringing me to tears! I'm a sucker for musicals...though thought I might get through this one with out a tear. Nope. 😂

Hmmm the box was on backwards and had to be turned...

Nice work by Mombasa Port to put this can on backwards so the doors couldn't be opened. Thanks guys.!!!!  The MSF work team had their sleeves rolled up to deal with this instead of having Easter dinner. On board are important life-saving vaccines and associated medicine that can never be left for later... another example of the MSF team devotion to getting shit done! Well done guys!!!!

Pure joy.... worth hanging on to.....

I also travel through the Kibera Slum each day on my way home from work. It's about 15 minutes of winding through narrow streets ducking and dodging kids, fruit stands, chickens, goats, cows, motorcycles and of course Matatus (the highway pirates mentioned previously). The river is highly polluted and stinks, there's mud everywhere, it's just a really rough crappy place and home to nearly half a mission.

For interest sake I watched to see the number of smiles and have to tell you that most people are smiling despite there obvious challenges in life. They smile as you pass, they smile broadly at one another and the kids are almost always laughing and playing. I'm not sure that would be the case traveling down Wall street... or many others paths throughout the developed world.

So the revelation for me is that my travels and work have exposed a serious flaw in my character (one among many would be more accurate 😄) and understanding of the world. It stems from Human Rights which are becoming increasingly more important as I continue my work in the humanitarian context. There is no question that it is challenging for the developed world to take an interest in the affairs of less developed countries. It's just not in your face.The level of suffering is as severe as it is largely ignored by many of us including myself until more recently in my life.

So that said, there must be rules that maintain a minimum level of humanity and dignity for fuck's sake. And unfortunately the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not binding nor does it reflect many of the basic cultural beliefs of the people it purports to serve. How do you reconcile North Americas need to harvest and manage the environment with South Americas need to protect it and nurture it.

My revelation is a greater appreciation for the First Nations people of my own country, Canada. My well developed attitude of scorn and derision now embarrasses me deeply. I'm very proud of my country. We get it right in so many areas but in this, we have failed in spectacular and magnificent fashion.

Thank for reading ....Layno!!

Men in Scarves

 

A Close Peek at the Peak of Mount Kenya

Damn!!!! We're going up there ..... it's high...and cold looking????? Having done a bit of hiking in the past I think I had a pretty good idea of what Mount Kenya would be like as did my hiking partners Andy and Chris. In the end, it was just the 3 of us attempting the summit though others had tried their level best to make the trip. It's not easy getting everything coordinated and spend4 days walking around in the mountains.

The peak pictured above scared the shit out of me me to be honest, but the route was planned as shown beside and we were both well trained and equipped. We went in on the Nanuki side of the hill and exited on the other side - Chogoria. The kms traveled, elevation gain and temps are noted directly below. These being all the technical aspects of preparation and execution of the climb. Not noted here or in fact considered is just how beautiful the trek is. The technical vs. the emotional.....

The first 2 days climb gently but steadily over 25 kms. The first day was just OK but by the second day we were enjoying beautiful scenery and long views that take in the spectacular and unique characteristics of the region. All 3 of us were content and enjoying the easy trek and companionship as we rolled along.

Duncan over at Xtrym Adventures had put the package together for us which included John... a most capable and affable guide and 5 support crew carrying bags, cooking and most importantly there to get you off the mountains if anything goes wrong.

That's Duncan on the right smiling cause all the money we paid!

Really we could not have asked for a better experience. The food was unbelievable and always ready just as we got to the next camp. When sore and tired and a bit chilly, there's little more appreciated than a hot cup of tea and snacks to revive you and your good humor. For me it's a cold beer but for the other two old guys... a nice hot cup of tea will do it!! 😋

Xtrym Adventures with Duncan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking more like the Village People than hikers - Mount Kenya looms ominously in the background. YMCA!!!!

Andy enjoys the view and catches his breath.... note that this smart guy brought runners and used them for the easy days.

Chris contemplates life and rests a bit while enjoying the valley stretching out seductively below us.

Closer now it's chilly and frightening for me at least., The other guys seemed cool ...  the orange scarfs seem to help :)

It's 2am and in the faint glow of the solar lights we make final preparations. Most of the prep was done the evening before and before darkness set. We rose in the bitter cold, all the gear was close at hand and ready. 4 layers top and bottom ..... you have to deal with the sweat - the cold and the wind and possibility of rain or snow. Toques, gloves and headlamps on, we settled down for a hot tea and biscuits before go-time at 3am. I'm nervous and while we are talking and joking, the combination of slight altitude sickness and fear are chewing away silently on my consciousness and confidence. I'm really anxious to get started. To begin the test.... to measure myself in this harsh and unusual manner.

Andy resting in the dawn light 50 meters from summit.....

Stepping outside it's cold - really cold.... back to the sleeping bag you think for a second... but it's time to take on the hardest part of the challenge. We'll have to carefully work our way through a marginally technical climb with sharps drops and slippery sections throughout. I note the frost and ice as we move to the trail head. Suddenly, and I think alerted by Chris we look up at the stars. Without comment we silently switch off our headlamps one at a time and stare at billions of stars twinkling invitingly above us. There is no light pollution. Very little atmosphere to obscure the view of what for me seemed more magical than possible.  This was the moment where I realized that the climb was not about the destination. It's not so much a test as an opportunity to float among the stars and witness natures splendor in a very intimate manner.

We summitted on time without incident and took our turns capturing the moment with our cameras. Each of us reading the summit sign though we already knew what it said. We were at the summit and now had incontestable and irrefutable evidence of our accomplishment on this wonderful morning. Each of us brought flasks of our favorite spirits and as we smoked cigars and drank cognac scotch and bitters the morning sun painted the sky with yellow pink purple and orange so vivid you could almost taste it. The wind blew cold until suddenly the sun popped above the horizon melting the cold,  bringing light and comfort to our chilled bones.Well the alcohol was already doing a pretty good job on that truth be known :)

Oh Canada!! ... and just ahead of the Vimy Ridge 100 year celebration. A good time to appreciate where you've come from.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my climbing partners whose comradery and assistance I am forever grateful and will be sure to never forget. Cheers to Andy and Chris!!!! There must be a few more mountains out there to climb?

Had to throw this one in... no other words necessary....

Thanks for reading..Layno!