not learn. Every time we use the lonelyplanet to take a decision on the trip, we were wrong. We are doing our last safari in Kenya and we have entrusted our asses to Safe & Ride, one of the companies recommended by the Guide's most famous and best-selling worldwide. And that we were lucky because, at least, this company is for real. The remaining outstanding by LonelyPlanet were being mere intermediaries between traders and tourists to increasing the price and ensure that the jeeps are going to burst.
Not that we care that the van in which we will be in the 70s or dust from the ton for each slot. Neither Richards, the driver, ignore us when we talk and then change to be able to ask $ 80 delivered. All this is immaterial. The worst thing is every time we stopped and tried to start again. A down and push. And that would not be so bad if after we do not metiéramos among lions chasing puppies. Because that's the style lleva en Kenya. A las carreteras y a las señales, ni caso. Cuando ven un “gato”, se meten en línea recta y se acabó. Si no le pisamos la cola a cualquier leona fue porque el señor de las bestias no quiso. Y si no se nos caló el coche en medio de la sabana fue porque el dios de los humanos no nos castigó, a pesar de merecerlo.
Eso sí, al menos cuando empujamos la camioneta, no lo hacemos solos. Vamos con una pareja de hermanos suecos tan encantadores como diferentes. De Christine nadie diría que es especialmente guapa hasta que sonríe. Entonces su dulzura contagia a todos. Andrew, en cambio, a pesar de tener 20 recién cumplidos, parece que lleve a cuestas bastantes más. Escondido bajo mantas Maasai necklaces and when he speaks, he looks with admiration Christine sister and mother concern. Although not without reason. After a brief career as a professional poker player, living in 5 star hotels and traveling around the world, this "bully" of the tournament, winning bored or tired of stress, even he knows, he decided to retire. For he chose one of the most unique tribes throughout Africa. The Maasai. In the morning help at school teaching English and mathematics. In the afternoon patrol around Kilimanjaro, to frighten away the few poachers who are here. The ivory trade is so haunted that is no longer profitable and leopard skin out of fashion, so the business is now in game meat. Dismember animals and fish fillets sold like cattle.
And that wealth is measured in these places as well. Many cows you have, so rich you are. And not that it is important as a matter of status. It is a question of supply and demand, women in particular. The price of a wife is in 7 cows and you can have as many as you want. There is only one requirement. You must be over 30 years. Among the Maasai, the career is more clear than in an audit. At 5 years began to work as shepherds until they are considered men. This happens at some point between 12 and 20 years when in a grand ceremony, all the Maasai of one generation become warriors. But not for long because at 30 and retire to join the "Elders." Tribal elders whose only job is assigned pompous titles copied from the West. In other words, it is women, as in many other places, maintain the family and type while their husbands play all that nonsense.
However, Andrew has grown fond of them, much as we need them. His body by simple mimicry, every day is more like a Maasai. Tall, thin, skinny legs and teeth apart. Just pierced ears would lack enough to bend on themselves or that mark the cheek with a hot iron, a sign that still carry many Maasai so that they can distinguish if the kidnaps another village as children. That and the famous Maasai stick, just a stick with which to stir the men won and they always carry with them. The Maasai are a nomadic tribe who actually came to Kenya and Tanzania just 200 years ago looking for the cool grass of the Great Plains, as they do every year, antelopes and buffalo in their famous migration. From the Serengeti discovered the Ngorongoro Crater the largest in the world and its wonders. When they could overcome their high walls, they found a fenced area naturally where thousands of animals living in an eternal paradise. As much as you look, it does seem like a dream, a painting by magic hands. Kilimanjaro
Like a majestic vastness which rises almost 6000 meters in the desert to be crowned with perpetual snow. A mirage in the very Ecuador, whose continuing thaw keeps an ecosystem around it, with elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and all kinds of animals. So no wonder that our Swedish friend decided to stick around, just like they did before the Maasai. Even if it were not for oneself and others go with the phone in hand, it seems that are not real. They really are travelers of the past, con sus túnicas y sus sandalias. Fantasmas de la sabana que en cualquier momento puedes ver salir de la nada y desaparecer en la bruma, con su andar rápido y su correr lento, flotando más que rozando el suelo, como si no quisieran despertar a las bestias que les rodean por fuera o persiguen por dentro.
Not that we care that the van in which we will be in the 70s or dust from the ton for each slot. Neither Richards, the driver, ignore us when we talk and then change to be able to ask $ 80 delivered. All this is immaterial. The worst thing is every time we stopped and tried to start again. A down and push. And that would not be so bad if after we do not metiéramos among lions chasing puppies. Because that's the style lleva en Kenya. A las carreteras y a las señales, ni caso. Cuando ven un “gato”, se meten en línea recta y se acabó. Si no le pisamos la cola a cualquier leona fue porque el señor de las bestias no quiso. Y si no se nos caló el coche en medio de la sabana fue porque el dios de los humanos no nos castigó, a pesar de merecerlo.
Eso sí, al menos cuando empujamos la camioneta, no lo hacemos solos. Vamos con una pareja de hermanos suecos tan encantadores como diferentes. De Christine nadie diría que es especialmente guapa hasta que sonríe. Entonces su dulzura contagia a todos. Andrew, en cambio, a pesar de tener 20 recién cumplidos, parece que lleve a cuestas bastantes más. Escondido bajo mantas Maasai necklaces and when he speaks, he looks with admiration Christine sister and mother concern. Although not without reason. After a brief career as a professional poker player, living in 5 star hotels and traveling around the world, this "bully" of the tournament, winning bored or tired of stress, even he knows, he decided to retire. For he chose one of the most unique tribes throughout Africa. The Maasai. In the morning help at school teaching English and mathematics. In the afternoon patrol around Kilimanjaro, to frighten away the few poachers who are here. The ivory trade is so haunted that is no longer profitable and leopard skin out of fashion, so the business is now in game meat. Dismember animals and fish fillets sold like cattle.
And that wealth is measured in these places as well. Many cows you have, so rich you are. And not that it is important as a matter of status. It is a question of supply and demand, women in particular. The price of a wife is in 7 cows and you can have as many as you want. There is only one requirement. You must be over 30 years. Among the Maasai, the career is more clear than in an audit. At 5 years began to work as shepherds until they are considered men. This happens at some point between 12 and 20 years when in a grand ceremony, all the Maasai of one generation become warriors. But not for long because at 30 and retire to join the "Elders." Tribal elders whose only job is assigned pompous titles copied from the West. In other words, it is women, as in many other places, maintain the family and type while their husbands play all that nonsense.
However, Andrew has grown fond of them, much as we need them. His body by simple mimicry, every day is more like a Maasai. Tall, thin, skinny legs and teeth apart. Just pierced ears would lack enough to bend on themselves or that mark the cheek with a hot iron, a sign that still carry many Maasai so that they can distinguish if the kidnaps another village as children. That and the famous Maasai stick, just a stick with which to stir the men won and they always carry with them. The Maasai are a nomadic tribe who actually came to Kenya and Tanzania just 200 years ago looking for the cool grass of the Great Plains, as they do every year, antelopes and buffalo in their famous migration. From the Serengeti discovered the Ngorongoro Crater the largest in the world and its wonders. When they could overcome their high walls, they found a fenced area naturally where thousands of animals living in an eternal paradise. As much as you look, it does seem like a dream, a painting by magic hands. Kilimanjaro
Like a majestic vastness which rises almost 6000 meters in the desert to be crowned with perpetual snow. A mirage in the very Ecuador, whose continuing thaw keeps an ecosystem around it, with elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and all kinds of animals. So no wonder that our Swedish friend decided to stick around, just like they did before the Maasai. Even if it were not for oneself and others go with the phone in hand, it seems that are not real. They really are travelers of the past, con sus túnicas y sus sandalias. Fantasmas de la sabana que en cualquier momento puedes ver salir de la nada y desaparecer en la bruma, con su andar rápido y su correr lento, flotando más que rozando el suelo, como si no quisieran despertar a las bestias que les rodean por fuera o persiguen por dentro.
PD: una semana después, nos encontramos a Andrew en la cola del avión que nos debía llevar a Etiopía. El destino le había obligado a escaparse de su cárcel voluntaria. Un carterista le robó la mochila con toda his life and the temporary passport that gave only served to return to their country immediately. Without being asked, we gave a few euros so he could eat and take a taxi to arrive. He also spent the mail Dolly, the owner of a lodge in the Amazon, his next destination. If you go to Iquitos and you see a white boy dressed up as Indian, give us memories!
0 comments:
Post a Comment