On our first day in Mori, we hiked all afternoon in what is considered the foothills of the mountain but definitely felt more like the mountain itself! There were streams and springs of fresh Kili mountain water running alongside the paths everywhere, so we could always hear the sound of bubbling water no matter where we went. Characteristics like that always make me smile because I can just envision it dancing happily over rocks and falls, laughing as it makes its way down the mountainside (forgive me for the flowery language, but with four literature courses I just couldn't help myself...). :) One stream was flowing just outside our window, so it sounded like it was raining all the time.
The houses are nestled in tightly amidst thick, brilliantly green vegetation. Each morning, the mists rolled in above our heads and made it difficult to differentiate the fog from the woodsmoke rising from homes as people awoke to prepare the morning meal. The hikes we went on throughout the duration of our stay were all breathtaking in every sense of the word. Vistas that overlooked giant ravines circled the village as well as paths that run right along the rim of these beautiful thresholds. Due to the thick forests of looming banana trees and other vegetation, it was tough to see very far, but turning each corner was like a new surprise that took my breath away and opened up to even more displays of God's stunning creation.
One afternoon, Chris and Stacey and I went on an adventure as we explored the chimcham area in search of hidden waterfalls that supposedly existed shortly beyond the Macha's spring. Unfortunately, we never found them but were lead deeper into the tropical-feeling forest following the water as it flowed farther down the mountain. With the vines hanging down from the trees, mossy rocks, birds calling, butterflies and other strange-looking bugs, sunshine filtering through banana tree leaves all under the protection of the high ravine slopes, the excursion made us feel as if we were the Lost Boys in Neverland, with the exception of me being in my ankle-length skirt - definitely not Neverland attire. Let's just say it made climbing back up the ravine REALLY interesting :)
*Picture was taken from the path we hiked overlooking one of the many ravines. You can almost the city of Moshi, which means "smoke" in Swahili, in the upper left corner of the photo, though the haze clouds the view. Look closely to find the houses and farms amidst the vegetation, but disregard Allan, Mama Macha's nephew, who accidentally made it into my photo but I suppose is helpful for a point of reference in depth perception...
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