We have stories to tell, stories that provide wisdom about the journey of life. What more have we to give one another than our 'truth' about our human adventure as honestly and as openly as we know how?
- Rabbi Saul Rubin
When traveling, sometimes the earth decides to throw a twist in your direction. Unlike most days this one started out sunny and i was rather high on an energy drink. i was feeling really really good and energetic and i swear the sun was smiling at me ...... i am free to imagine things ...(smiles). So we head out to this place beyond Nyeri hill. Its new and am not going to send my clients to places i have not been in myself ...they would probably have all the fun. Lo and behold ...okay after a matatu ride all the way up there (its fun when you do it this way by the way) we alighted in the wrong assistant chiefs camp but am glad we did.
He was being very informative and i especially loved the way he put across the story of Dedan Kimathi as if they were together all of their lives. But we moved beyond history and briefly got into how men and women of the day were. Kikuyu's as it turned are an interesting lot. Once upon a time when aids and jealousy had not visited upon the great land it was common to have your best man friend visit your other third wife and happily produce a litter on your behalf. The man had no problem with that and it was a way of making sure that they had a breed of kids who maybe were free from a certain disease or could not be bewitched.----ah we were staring at this point considering one or two of us has heard the old men say we are not supposed to be married or get a wife from a certain location....no wonder so many people look like each other...maybe those guys who do DNA testing that leads you to know your ancestors should like come down here. They would have a fiel
After this very interesting history including the fact that colonial villages still exist, we proceeded to our intended destination on a motor bike as cars here seem to travel in prescribed hours. That was the coolest motor bike ever (though later we were to realize it wasn't as cheap)....here i am this one from the other gender sandwiched between two guys and am having one heaven of a time as the wind is in my face...my hair is blowing backward and i am seeing the most beautiful sceneries ever (a convertible would probably be cooler but it would not survive this roads or it would have to be a jeep but it would not give the authentic experience of the common man). I am still high on my energy drink and i am thinking all kinds of romantic thoughts and there is the general feeling i want to hug somebody....(i know what you are thinking..the driver of the motor bike was too .....vilage i guess and he would not cross my mind and my travelling companion is a no go zone) did i mention that we are riding on the motor bike all three of us large human beings...its supposed to be a dangerous thing but i suppose its would not wash with people who have some serious adrenalin rush and want to enjoy life to the fullest.
Let me put it this way. Gakanga valley has got to be the most beautiful place i have seen with my own two eyes. from the river down there, to the green vegetation, to the fact that it is full of mau mau caves, to the hills that are beautifully carved to the fact that at the end of the trail there is an elephant haven. Animals have been populating this valley.
According to the locals apart from the small 'dik dik' there has been sighting of a larger antelope that is as big as a human, all small creatures , beautiful birds and a hyena from time to time. I mean what then is to stop a man or woman from wanting to take the hike of a life time in the hidden gems of our little valley...beats going to the rift valley as this is untapped,untamed and unexplored.
i feel the feeling that you get when you fall in love for the first time...its close to teary. This is a place i will dream of and that will make me smile for quite a while. Its not exaggerated, its not over visited ...its just beautiful. it makes me feel happy and it is lifting my spirits way up there above the clouds. A true inspiration.
I have learned that sometimes a journey can take you to a place that is not on any map just like life.
I was reminded, and overwhelmed, by the beauty, richness and wonder of the country we live in. This i am confident may eventually inspire artists or even writers. Did i mention that at some point there is a big hotel coming up and that we will have
spot fishing? Did i mention that we also have a waterfall where .....well you would have to be very bold to swim in all that cold, clean and pure water from the heart of the Aberdares.
you can visit this with and enjoy an authentic experience of what makes us African and sooooooo Kenyan!!!!
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