Six days of  hiking on the machame route up Mt. Kilimanjaro was by far the hardest accomplishment of my life. Ever. You know when you hear about those “guts and glory” stories? I signed up for an experience that unknowingly put me face to face with my own mental courage and willpower. It was a ‘what-the-hell-was-I-thinking’ sort of adventure that I can only say in the present moment, makes me smile.

9 hungry ladies ready for a challenge. Missing a few hands here.

The trees are receding and flowers are blooming below the blue sky.

The thistle, a common flower en route to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Post-hike celebratory local brewsky.

Many hands touched these rocks. Sort of brings you back to the Stonehenge days.

Rainforest hiking on day 1 of 6 on the machame route. We were not without rain. A couple hours into the hike we unloaded our rain gear from our bags: ponchos, umbrellas, waterproof jackets and pants. Best bet for rain:poncho as it covers your backpack too.

If you are contemplating conquering Kili ask yourself this before you go:

Am I crazy? KIDDING! Well, I think either you might be a little bit or you just don’t know what you’re getting into or you’re a sucker for extreme sports and/or adventure. I fall into all of these categories.

Are you physically fit? Do you exercise regularly?  Ultimately the reason most people don’t make it to the top is because of altitude sickness but you should prepare yourself a couple months in advance by exercising and even hiking.

Before ascending Kili I was in great cardio shape running regularly and practicing yoga, which can not only increase your lung capacity but help develop a greater awareness on your breath.

Barranc0 wall. I climbed YOU!

Utensils. Soup was served almost every lunch and dinner. Various sorts of vegetable, chicken and cream of chicken.

Porters and our guide Raymond in blue shirt with umbrella.

Moss and crooked trees.

Self-portrait amongst the greyness. Oh wait, this photo is when I was visiting planet Mars.

We had glimpses of the peak at Barranco camp.

Did you check-in to camp? With every arrival to a camp you have to sign your name and which tour group you’re traveling with.

Actual sunset at Shira Camp. I took at least 50+ shots to get the one I wanted. It was super cold this night. After dinner I went outside into the blackness and with one look up became awestruck at the sight of the starry sky. It was dream-like. With no other city lights around, thousands of stars are visible, including the milky way and other planets. It is hard to say that a picture of this could ever capture the essence of space.

It took 3 hrs for me to hike down to Barafu camp after reaching Stella Point. This was the view on the way down.

More sunshine please!

Barranco camp.

One of our amazing guides John. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it to Stella Point.

Stella Point, Mt. Kilimanjaro 18,828ft. Early morning photo around 7:30 or 8:00am. FREEEEEZINGGGGGGG and no one cared about taking a photo! LOL. Me in Red.

Director Casey Neistat creates a short film for Nike.

safari mobiles

We had three days out on the bumpy and dusty roads in a hefty Landover driven by our awesomely knowledgeable guide Jeremia, who, by the hour was texting other guides as to the goings on of the neighborhood. Safari is like the opposite of a zoo, because it’s us humans that remain in a cage the whole time, unless of course you absolutely must use the bush toilet. Then, you have eyes in the back of your head like the zebras.

the new animal print

My fascination with going on safari was no doubt influenced by my Father, Grandmother and Grandfather who endlessly watched animals of the Serengeti on Nat Geo and collected video cassettes of Marty Stouffer’s Wild America. Maybe the love of the wild just runs in my paternal family, we are after all, descendants of the Vikings.

congregation

There is a peaceful yet primal feeling lurking on the landscape. I don’t have the slightest bit of dread that at any minute my last breath is just around the corner. For that reason, the peacefulness you feel on this endless plain is only something one can have if you are at the top of the food chain. I.e. You’re a super powered lioness. All others, especially the skittish zebra seems to have eyes in the back of their heads and always on alert.

guiding lights

We planned our trip to Tanzania during The Great Migration,  where over 1 million wildebeest transverse the plains following rain for water and new grazing land. They happily congregate with zebras on their quest and some of the other herbivores such as the gazelle and impala who righteously so, remain in tight packs.

vervet monkey

Sneaky and suspicious, they spend hours a day grooming.

wing art

The chickadee, the tufted titmouse, the robin, the blue jay, the red-tailed hawk, the finch, the cardinal, the peregrine falcon. Somehow when you learn the names of birds at 2 years old they stick with you even in your thirties. My Grandma Ginna taught me all names of all the birds in the bird book when I was a toddler and every now and again she tells me “Daynakins, when you were two you knew every bird in the bird book!”. I totally think this is cute. I hope this comes in handy if I live in a deciduous forest again. One of my favorite birds visiting Tanzania has to be the white-bellied g0-away bird named as such because when you get close they just go away!

serious airport food for $8US

This fried chicken and curried tomato sauce was insane. Surprise, surprise. Airport food can be good.

preventative measures

I’m not really a medicine gal. I don’t like to take pills so instead of malarone, I opted for a ridiculous forty-five day regime of doxycycline. Once I returned to the states however, I stopped taking it. I know, not good.

wildebeest on parade

We had a bag lunch at this tourist center one day on safari. They sold soda, chocolates and other goodies. Like clockwork, all of my girlfriends and I craved chocolate EVERY day before, during and after meals.

the lion’s den

Hunt. Eat. Sleep. Play. Repeat.

zebra luv

into the unknown

What I love about some of these photos is that they are so true to the way it looks out there. It’s just stunning to say the least. Life exists at a much slower pace then the rest of the world. It teaches you to slow down, relax and be.

lonely or independent?

The giraffe lives a more solitary life and is usually found with few cohorts lingering near by. Here is a closer look at regional fur patterns. The giraffes we saw in Tanzania were of the Masai species and munched on tree leaves heavily guarded with thorns.

i spy a crocodile

I was hoping for a Battle at Kruger moment.

tippity top

boarding passes optional

It is almost certain if you visit Africa there will be some death defying car ride. I know this because we had several in a two week period. Probably not coincidental. It’s common for cars to pass each other on a typical two lane street. This was the first time I had experienced a three lane street. I didn’t see any speed limit signs and therefore we cruised around 85 with 6 people in a small civic sized car, jammed packed luggage and all to make our flight from Arusha to Zanzibar. The beach was calling our name. Somehow the flummoxed Italian airline operator put us through sans boarding passes. I was still trying to catch my breath from the intensity of our taxi ride.

rolling hills, wildebeest and zebra

love birds, literally

a.k.a. rastafari birds.

Nairobi made printed fabric

Curtains at the Springlands Hotel. Eye-catching. I bought a bunch of different batik fabrics in Moshi to play with.

un elephante – iphone4S + camerabag

from above iphone4S + camerabag

three’s company – African elephant

don’t mess with me – African buffalo

definitely not a cowardly lion

Tina Turner hair. We were so close to this lion and lioness as they were sleeping under the tree. After 10 minutes of snapping photos Simba started stretching and got up. (Everyone gasps from excitement) He walked slowly through the opening between Landrovers and off into the distance. His lady quickly followed.

a bird’s paradise – the marabou stork

our cage

Our perma-tents were top notch with comfortable beds and mosquito nets, a private toilet and a sprinkling cold shower. At night we fell asleep to the whinnying zebras and laughing hyenas, all which felt like they were right at our doorstep. Quite a difference from dreaming to the melody of cicadas during east coast Summertime.

post rain

topography iphone4S + camerabag

sunrise breakfast

Daily: scrambled eggs, beans, toast and honey, sauteed tomatoes, pineapple and coffee.

the foulest animal alive – iphone4S + instagram filter

If you don’t know now you know. One  hundred hippos in a small pool of water creates an utterly disgusting experience for the tourist. It’s confirmed. They are huge, lazy and dirty. Eeeeek!

The good kind of graffiti…Venice Beach, CA

Reflection….Venice Beach, CA

Hare Krishna….Venice Beach, CA

Art…Venice Beach, CA

• colorful…in Newport Beach

• pearly words…Los Feliz