Kilimanjaro 2010 Pictures Page 10

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Page 1: 15th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Approach (7)
Page 2: 16th August 2010 - Karama Lodge and Safari (77)
Page 3: 17th August 2010 - Trek Day 1: Start to Machame Camp (51)
Page 4: 18th August 2010 - Trek Day 2: Machame Camp to Barranco Camp (72)
Page 5: 19th August 2010 - Trek Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (110)
Page 6: 20th and 21st August 2010 - Trek Days 4 and 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp and Shabbat (91)
Page 7: 22nd August 2010 - Trek Day 6: Summit Day (53)
Page 8: 23rd August 2010 - Trek Day 7: Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp (58)
Page 9: 24th August 2010 - Trek Day 8: Mweka Camp to Exit (33)
Page 10 (This Page): 25th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Exit (10)

Total: 562 Pictures

Photos 25th August 2010 - Kilimanjaro Exit (10 Pictures)

I woke up early, but rested for a while before breakfast at 9AM. Soon after 10AM we had checked out, packed our bags on the vehicle and were on the move. First stop was the Blue Heron, where I bought some hand made tea towels with embroidered giraffss, elephants and zebras. Then we went to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre which for me was tedious and boring, with no useful gifts or much to interest me. A huge collection of artifacts from 120+ past and present Tanzanian tribes. Granted some of the sculptures were good. The hilight there was finding and photographing a lizard on a small elephant sculpture.

Eventually we moved on and then made a beeline for the airport. On the way, across the dusty fields to the south, there were a series of dust devils whirling away. Cool! These were marking strong thermals underneath their corresponding clouds. Some of the devils got pretty high up. As a gblider pilot this certainly intrigued me.

At the airport checkin and security was blissfully quick. Then we relaxed in the gate room until we boarded. While waiting I bought a fridge magnet or two to complete the souvenir set. Soon enough we boarded a 767 which was much cosier than the outbound one from Addis Ababa. The plane took off on time and soon we were on our way. On the way out we again got a good view of Kilimanjaro from above the crater this time. Although this time there was a lot of cloud shrouding it so we still didn't get a good view into the crater. But never mind. Just goes to show how lucky we were having such clear weather so we could clearly see the paths and the scenery around. I have hill walked in cloud before and know how disorienting it can potentially be. Much better to see everything around you, especially where there are hazards. Thirty minutes aftewr takeoff we had gone over the border and came down at Nairobi International Airport where we stopped for an hour. We stayed on the plane while additional passengers boarded.

After the Nairobi stop we were on our way to Addis Ababa. So much nicer not having to change planes. Unfortunately the Hermolis meal en route was horrible, being frozen solid and not really very edible. The main warm meal was just tepid and horrible. Atleast I managed to blag a banana from the stewardesses although they were rather unhelpful overall. Otherwise we got to Addis Ababa and had an uneventful wait. I would have used the internet café but it was too full.

Eventually we got onto the return 737 which was less comfortable than the outbound one but also on time. Atleast the meal was edible this time, albeit identical to the meal on the first flight except that it wasn't frozen solid. Soon after takeoff I watched the evening terminator approach as we crossed the equator. I failed to sleep (now getting late) as I was too uncomfortable, but had a great view outside with full moonlight illuminating the night time landscape below as we flew up the Sinai peninsula and on to Tel Aviv. Then a circuit out to sea, passing lots of fluffy cumulus, brought us round to land 25 minutes early.

Once back on Israeli soil, luggage was retrieved. Yedidya had ordered a taxi which was waiting for us. So I got dropped off fairly quickly back in Har Nof. After paying for my share of the taxi I bid the Fraimans goodbye, and given it was 5:15AM, I collapsed in a heap and to sleep.

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A lizard on a sculpture at the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre.		Observing Kibo from the 767 aircraft as we leave for Addis Ababa via Nairobi. We were lucky with the weather indeed. Look how cloudy it is now. Much more closed in than at any time during the trek.

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Observing ans descending past cumulus clouds towards			The approaching evening terminator as we cross the equator. Anticrepuscular rays (probably from a tall cloud in front of the setting sun) visible in the last picture.

TODO: Combine all the stats into one big table.

Total: 562 Pictures