Today, I have twelve days left in my contract here in Burundi. This chapter is coming to an end and I'm ready for the next. I really enjoyed my time in Burundi, living in shipping containers, participating in some Community Work initiatives, visiting the market and learning from some veteran geologists.
These last dozen days, I'm not going to soak it all up any more than I already am. Because I almost feel too anxious to move on to the next chapter to truly soak up more on my last few days here. I know I'll regret it if all I spend my last twelve days counting down and focusing on the adventure that awaits ignoring the one I'm on at the moment, so I won't.
What is there to soak up? I won't know till I leave. Giving myself these dozen days to soak up a summer of impressions, experiences and interactions isn't fair to myself and this country.
I'm going to instead spend these next twelve days like I spent this summer, go through the motions and know I'll have soaked it up all summer.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Chutes de Karera
When I first heard we were going to "Les Chutes de Karera" I wasn't sure I would be able to attend given few days left in my contract and the amount of work I have to accomplish. In the end, I didn't get ahead but I was caught up and could sacrifice the day. We cooked some chicken and had it dressed and chilled, brought some baguette, 2 cases of beer and a round of cheese. Picnic essentials ready we were ready to hit the road to see burundi's Porsches. I think I'm still the only one who finds that funny.
The journey took us through Gitega, a central province that we pass through whenever we go to Bujumbura. This time we stopped in Gitega's centre and strolled into a shop for some snacks and drinks. Chez Karine sold everything! The store of Indian descent sold Roti, Chapati, Samosas and other yummy treats. At the back I saw guitars up on the wall, I approached a sales rep to inquire. The guitar was a Lucky Star, for 90 000 FBU, a little steep in my opinion so I passed.
Back on the road we drove for another hour or so, South East into the province of Rutana. In Rutana we started to see the signs for the Waterfalls, none for Porsches as I pointed out to my colleagues. Still the only one laughing eh? We arrive at the falls and instantly forget we drove 3 hours to get here. The usual tourist things ensue; pictures by the falls, pictures under the falls, pictures alone, pictures in groups, silly ones and happy ones. My colleague Chris and I looked at the columnar jointing, the plateaus that had naturally been carved into the facade and thought to ourselves, we HAD to climb it. So we walked to both sides of the falls looking for a dry area to climb. I climbed about halfway wearing my boat shoes, polo and khaki shorts. NBD, but getting down from there without a rope or proper equipment was the largest deterrent from going higher. We climbed trees and snapped pics, swung on branches and had beer in the trees.
Some stairs were observed by a few others and we raced up them, reaching the top we took a path back towards the waterfalls. We were at the top, where the river flowed to the cliff, having already climbed up and down the dry side of the first quarter of the cliff and understanding that going down would be the hardest part... We instantly began jumping down plateaus to get to where the water was flowing, we knew we could climb back up! Knowing we could see the wide plateaus to jump down on it was a no brainer. A few Americans were there and commented on us being Crazy, one even stated he didn't understand how we'd get back up. We just chalked that up another win for Canada over the USA.
Took some more pictures, went exploring the river that flowed perpendicular to the falls and climbed up another side to discover a second set of falls just a few metres to the side of the initial falls we were on. After our hunger for climbing and adventure was satisfied, we climbed back down using the stairs. We watched the waterfall from the base, slightly damp from walking through shallow parts of the plateau river waterfall system we'd just explored.
It was then that we decided we were going to climb the wet side of the waterfall. It wasn't too high and it wasn't too hard. In no time at all we were on the first plateau on the wet side of the waterfall. What a rush! The water was ice cold, the view we had and the sense of accomplishment coupled with that adrenaline made us laugh uncontrollably the entire time we were up there. I went up to another level and the Burundians below all begged us to come down, we took some more pictures and we stepped down. Again satisfied and looking for something else to do, only now we were drenched.
Some locals explained to us that our other colleagues had gone to visit another set of waterfalls a few hundred metres away down another path, we decided we'd try and join them.
We ran into our colleagues while on the way there, only they had decided they were hungry and were going back to the trucks to feed. We continued to the falls with a 9 year old fearless Burundian, he climbed barefooted and didn't slow down! What a champ. We climbed took pictures and sat on the falls again.
Feeding time came and we had our dressed cold chicken with cheese sandwiches, delicious.
More beer and I bust out the disc! We start tossing and drinking, laughing; generally having a great time.
The day was absolutely spectacular, we laughed so much that my abs are sore today, we climbed so much my calfs and my triceps are sore today. I also have a bump on my head where I slipped and bumped right around my eyebrow. Something to remind me how unsafe it was to climb the wetside of a waterfall without any equipment.
Today, marks my 16th last day in Burundi. I'm glad I got to go to Karera and see the Waterfalls, only slightly disappointed there weren't any cars going over the edge.
The journey took us through Gitega, a central province that we pass through whenever we go to Bujumbura. This time we stopped in Gitega's centre and strolled into a shop for some snacks and drinks. Chez Karine sold everything! The store of Indian descent sold Roti, Chapati, Samosas and other yummy treats. At the back I saw guitars up on the wall, I approached a sales rep to inquire. The guitar was a Lucky Star, for 90 000 FBU, a little steep in my opinion so I passed.
Back on the road we drove for another hour or so, South East into the province of Rutana. In Rutana we started to see the signs for the Waterfalls, none for Porsches as I pointed out to my colleagues. Still the only one laughing eh? We arrive at the falls and instantly forget we drove 3 hours to get here. The usual tourist things ensue; pictures by the falls, pictures under the falls, pictures alone, pictures in groups, silly ones and happy ones. My colleague Chris and I looked at the columnar jointing, the plateaus that had naturally been carved into the facade and thought to ourselves, we HAD to climb it. So we walked to both sides of the falls looking for a dry area to climb. I climbed about halfway wearing my boat shoes, polo and khaki shorts. NBD, but getting down from there without a rope or proper equipment was the largest deterrent from going higher. We climbed trees and snapped pics, swung on branches and had beer in the trees.
Some stairs were observed by a few others and we raced up them, reaching the top we took a path back towards the waterfalls. We were at the top, where the river flowed to the cliff, having already climbed up and down the dry side of the first quarter of the cliff and understanding that going down would be the hardest part... We instantly began jumping down plateaus to get to where the water was flowing, we knew we could climb back up! Knowing we could see the wide plateaus to jump down on it was a no brainer. A few Americans were there and commented on us being Crazy, one even stated he didn't understand how we'd get back up. We just chalked that up another win for Canada over the USA.
Took some more pictures, went exploring the river that flowed perpendicular to the falls and climbed up another side to discover a second set of falls just a few metres to the side of the initial falls we were on. After our hunger for climbing and adventure was satisfied, we climbed back down using the stairs. We watched the waterfall from the base, slightly damp from walking through shallow parts of the plateau river waterfall system we'd just explored.
It was then that we decided we were going to climb the wet side of the waterfall. It wasn't too high and it wasn't too hard. In no time at all we were on the first plateau on the wet side of the waterfall. What a rush! The water was ice cold, the view we had and the sense of accomplishment coupled with that adrenaline made us laugh uncontrollably the entire time we were up there. I went up to another level and the Burundians below all begged us to come down, we took some more pictures and we stepped down. Again satisfied and looking for something else to do, only now we were drenched.
Some locals explained to us that our other colleagues had gone to visit another set of waterfalls a few hundred metres away down another path, we decided we'd try and join them.
We ran into our colleagues while on the way there, only they had decided they were hungry and were going back to the trucks to feed. We continued to the falls with a 9 year old fearless Burundian, he climbed barefooted and didn't slow down! What a champ. We climbed took pictures and sat on the falls again.
Feeding time came and we had our dressed cold chicken with cheese sandwiches, delicious.
More beer and I bust out the disc! We start tossing and drinking, laughing; generally having a great time.
The day was absolutely spectacular, we laughed so much that my abs are sore today, we climbed so much my calfs and my triceps are sore today. I also have a bump on my head where I slipped and bumped right around my eyebrow. Something to remind me how unsafe it was to climb the wetside of a waterfall without any equipment.
Today, marks my 16th last day in Burundi. I'm glad I got to go to Karera and see the Waterfalls, only slightly disappointed there weren't any cars going over the edge.
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