Today we got up earlier than usual. Preparations done we went to climb Damota. I’m sure most of us didn’t quite know what was expecting us there so there was a lot of excitement. Merle told us that we have to climb seven mountains, some more and some less steeper. The beginning was nice and we started going. The road was in some points very steep. The same time we were heading up a bunch of locals came down. They all were on their way to the market. They had all the goods(and not small packages) on their head or back. They looked at us like miracles and wanted to shake hands with us.
The first two mountains were quite difficult, but the 3rd was already easier. The 4th was super steep, at least we went by the short cut and this required the help of our hands and legs.
At that mountain the members of “the local gang” were trying to blackmail us and get some money. Otherwise we would not have paid attention to them, but they had sharp edged knives and something that looked like a baseball bat. They wouldn’t let us through or take any pictures, before we paid them. They were saying that there is a new law which compels everybody to pay for the climbing. Has to be a mind to come up with such nonsense. They wouldn’t leave us alone and one of us already paid them. We wanted to investigate that “new law”. Fortunately things ended well, we got our money back and we could continue our journey. Here’s still an unwritten rule to try to get as much money from the white people as you can and use all kind of goofy stories for that…
The 5th mountain wasn’t that difficult but the view from up there was stunning!!! The view to the town, surrounding mountains, small houses, false banana trees…In such places you just loose your breath.
Joosep who had his camera and was hunting for burds, made the view even more exciting. There were big black ravens circling around there. The complete union of men and nature.
On the 5th mountain we met the local children who were running towards us, they don’t see white people often. On this mountain lives already a woman we know from the past trips- the buna-Lady aka the coffee lady. Merle has visited her a couple of times before. Great was buna-lady’s happiness when all of a sudden 8 white people stood in his yard, surrounded by many local children. We left her some food and went to climb the last 2 mountains. The view from the 6th mountain was again very stunning. This time we saw the village houses, their gardens, children sitting outside, playing and living their everyday life.
On the top of the 7th mountain, there is an orthodox church and that was our final destination. We had our Bible study lesson here in a cool shade. The whole trip took from us with resting and waiting about 5,5 h and the sun had not been merciful to us. We were hot and red from the climbing and staying at the sun, but still happy that we managed to achieve our purpose. We felt like Šmigun after crossing the finish line and falling in the snow.
On our way back we went again to the buna-lady, who had prepared us some food. We had regular potatoes and sweet potatoes with the local corn bread. I don’t think they use any salt up in the mountains.
Going down we met the same people who went to the market in the morning. They had new goods with them now. They were very cheerful and eager to chat. Locals told us that it was because of narcotics they had used town in the city. They thought this will give them more power to climb the mountain.
Climbing down was an achievementon its own. There are many rocks and you have to be careful not to slip or fall. All the way down we remembered how we had gone up.
We had our last stop at a very lovely family who lived close to the mountain. They had prepared us a very nice meal. It was one of the best we have had here. A few minutes before we got home, it started raining and we had a very nice surprise back at home- the tab water was back! Could life get any better?!
On this trip we had with us our local friends who were willing to carry our bags, push or pull us up the mountain, they were eager to give a helping hand and a shoulder. Taking care of fellow mates is one lesson they have learned very good.
This is a good example we should learn from.
ANNIKA
