Rainforest

Translation to Estonian follows.

1. February 2010

Yes, morning wakeup was early. Small breakfast and then we started or hike. Really cool.. as we would have went few hundred years back in time. At first there were wide paths going into the jungle and in some places even the way signs, but soon paths started spreading, getting narrower and finally completely hard to spot. In some places our way was completely blocked by bushes or fallen trees. On one open field in the middle of the rainforest we wandered around by paths that probably were created by animals. At least none of these took us anywhere. For some time it felt we are a little bit lost and some even considered that we should go back the same way we came, but after some time we found our way to the river. The same we found last day. So logically, if we go upstream, we should again get to the falls. Just to get ahead a bit, I can say that it was best idea, as we probably wouldn’t have found any better jungle paths and views anywhere else.

When we got to the river, we made a stop. We ate some weird triangular bread, dipped our feet into the stream, and just rested a bit. I of course decided to try to cross the river. It was full of slippery stones and in the middle water deep and the stream pretty strong. First time crossing it, I even managed to remain dry, but when going back, I chose another place where bottom seemed sandy and water more shallow. But when I got to the middle, situation changed suddenly. Again there were slippery and in some cases loose stones. Water got deeper very suddenly and stream was even stronger, as now I was at the beginning of small rapids. Many times I was about to fall, but finale happened just near the riverbank. I already thought that I had safely crossed it, when because of some loose stones I really lost the balance. For the disappointment of others (as they didn’t get good photo) I didn’t fall, but as I struggled to get back the balance and had to put hands into water, I got a little bit wet.

Ahead by the riverbank, path turned really wild. It ran up and down, turned around gigantic trees and impassable coppice, and in most places slope to the river was high and steep. From above the lianas fell to the path. At one place there were really tall palm trees. Near the river we finally also saw white colobus monkeys. Last day we saw some black ones and guys said that we also saw some blue monkeys. At the final part of the trail, Sarah and I were running again. It was a good cross country.

When we got back to the camp we were extremely hungry and thirsty. So we ate and prepared to leave (as we were only allowed to stay in the reserve for 24 hours). But we still decided that before going we have time for short walk. Mykolas, Carlos, Sarah, Justas and I went to viewing platform that was on a little hill. Rest decided to go to so called monkey trail. Monkey trail my ass! We had fun of climbing some cliffs; admire beautiful view to the entire forest; to see lots of colobuses, etc. But coolest thing was when we walked back that one big family of baboons had come to the road. Carlos got very good photos of them. And for conclusion I found a very nice eagle feather, what I set to the head of Sarah and took a very good picture of her too. I want to print it in a proper size to the photo paper. It would be good portfolio photo and nice gift for Sarah. Actually I also did a nice photo of Kristi. Now I would like to make a perfect portrait photo of Kate too.

So, for conclusion, even though this trip was expensive, it was absolutely worth it. Rainforest is great. Of animals we saw at least three different species of monkeys (in Kenya there were supposed to be 7 or 8 species.. therefore good achievement), countless beautiful butterflies, including the dead one, ants that traveled in wide lines, very weird dead bug, a green forest giraffe and of course the pink panther. Some birds also but nicest one we encountered actually when we already had left the reserve.

Drive back to Eld was again in a matatu packed full of people. At the beginning there was really big local mama sitting beside me, and when she went out, one man and one woman replaced her. Even less space. Especially freaky was that when this man finally went out, this woman still stayed tightly against me, although now there was lots of room to take it little bit easier. I guess I was so warm and softy then. In matatu Love and I listened music from my mp3 player. He said that he has lots of such kind of music that I probably like.

Twiga - giraffe

Kima – monkey

Punda - donkey

Kipepeo – butterfly

Siafu – ant

Vihmamets

1. veebruar 2010

Yes, hommikune äratus oli varajane. Väike hommikusöök ja alustasimegi oma matka. Päris lahe. Nagu oleks sattunud paarisaja aasta tagusesse aega. Metsa sisenedes olid algul küll laiad rajad koos mõnes kohas asuvate suunaviitadega, kuid üpris varsti hakkasid laiad rajad hargnema, muutudes kitsamaks ja lõpuks päris vaevumärgatavaks. Mõnes kohas takistasid noor võsa või langenud puud meie tee täielikult. Ühe lagendiku peal ekslesime tükk aega mööda radu, mis ilmselt olid hoopis loomade tekitatud, sest kuhugile välja need küll ei viinud. Vahepeal hakkas tekkima tunne, et oleme juba eksinud ja tuleks sama teed tagasi minna. Lõpuks siiski ringi ekseldes jõudsime jõe äärde. Selle sama, milles me eelmisel õhtul ujumas käisime. Seega ülesvoolu liikudes peaks sama koseni jõudma. Veidi ette rutates tahaks öelda, et see oli parim idee, kuna paremaid radasid ja džungli vaateid ei oleks ilmselt kusagilt leidnud. Jõe äärde jõudes tegime väikese peatuse. Sõime veidi, kastsime jalad vette ja puhkasime muidu. Mina loomulikult katsetasin, kas suudan läbi jõe minna. Põhi oli libedaid kive täis ja keskel oli sügav ning päris tugev vool. Esimest korda jõge ületades jäin siiski päris kuivaks. Tagasi minnes valisin ületamiseks aga uue koha, sest see paistis madalam ja liivase põhjaga. Jõe keskkoha kantis aga olukord muutus. Jälle libedad ja mõnes kohas ka lahtised kivid. Ja sügavaks ning tugevavooluliseks muutus jõgi ka väga järsku. Seal oli vool isegi vist tugevam, kuna tegemist oli väikese kärestiku algusega. Mitu korda tahtis mul jalad alt tõmmata. Aga finaale juhtus hoopis päris kalda lähedal, kui ma olin juba üpris kindel oma turvalises kaldale jõudmises. Veerevate kivide pärast kadus tõsiselt tasakaal ära. Siiski päris vette ei kukkunud (teiste pettumuseks, sest nad lootsid head fotot saada), aga tasakaalu taastamiseks rabeledes sain siiski parajalt märjaks.

Edasi mööda jõekallast muutus rada eriti metsikuks. Jooksis üles-alla, keerutas ümber hiiglaslike puude ja läbipääsmatute tihnikute. Enamustes kohtades oli jõekallas järsk ja kõrge. Puude latvadest rippusid üksteise ümber väänduvad liaanid. Ühes kohas kasvasid eriti hiiglaslikud palmid. Lõpuks nägime ka valgeid koloobus ahve. Eelmisel päeval olime näinud mustasid ja teised ütlesid, et nägime ka siniseid ahve. Raja lõpu poole hakkasime jälle Sarah’ga jooksma. Mõnus maastiku jooksu rada oli.

Laagrisse tagasi jõudes olime ülimalt näljased ja janus. Seega siis sõime ja avastasime, et üsna pea peame lahkuma (sest kaitsealal tohtisime olla vaid 24 tundi). Siiski enne lahkumist otsustasime väikese ringi teha. Mina, Mykolas, Carlos, Sarah ja Justas, läksime vaateplatvormile, mis asus väikese mäe otsas. Ülejäänud otsustasid nii-öelda ahvirajale minna. Monkey trail my ass! Me saime järsakul väheke ronida, imetleda imelist vaadet kogu metsale, näha hulka mustasid koloobuseid ja kõige lahedam oli, et tagasi tulles avastasime, et meie teele on roninud suur paavianide pere. Carlos sai neist väga häid fotosid. Tipuks leidsin ma kotka sule, mille ma Sarah’le pähe seadsin ja temast väga laheda foto tegin. Loodan, et saan selle siin kuskil paraja suurusega foto paberile printida. Oleks hea portfoolio foto mulle ja kink Sarah’le. Kristist tegin ka kena foto. Nüüd tahaks vaid veel Kate’st täiusliku portree saada.

Niisiis kokkuvõtteks, kuigi nii sõit kui reservaadi külastus olid kallid, oli see täielikult seda kulutust väärt. Vihmamets oli ülivõimas ja austust äratav. Loomadest nägime vähemalt kolme eri liiki ahve (Keenias pidi neid kokku olema 7 või 8.. seega päris hea tulemus), lugematult erinevaid üliilusaid liblikaid, kaasa arvatud üks surnud, laiades ridades rändavaid sipelgaid, ühte väga veidrat surnud putukat, rohelist metsakaelkirjakut ja muidugi roosat pantrit. Mõningaid linde ka, kuigi parima otsa juhtusime alles väljas pool kaitseala.

Tagasi Eldi sõit oli jällegi rahvast puupüsti täis matatus. Minu kõrvale istus muidugi ilgelt suur kohalik mammi ja kui tema maha läks, tulid üks mees ja üks naine asemele. Veel vähem ruumi. Eriti imelik oli see, et lõpuks kui see mees maha läks, siis naine istus ikka tihedalt mu külje all edasi, kuigi ruumi nüüd ju oli, et veidi vabamalt võtta. Ju ma siis nii mõnusalt soe ja pehme olin. Matatus kuulasime Love’ga minu mp3 mängijast muusikat ja ta ütles, et tal on hulganisti sellist kraami, mis mulle ilmselt meeldib.

Twiga - kaelkirjak

Kima – ahv

Punda - eesel

Kipepeo – liblikas

Siafu – sipelgas