Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Back in the 60's we had the hippies (or flower children) who practiced a doctrine of "make love, not war". Many of them lived in communes where they planted gardens and lived off the earth. They lived simply. A lot of them also lived a lifestyle that included free sex and and a lot of drugs. They peacefully demonstrated against the Viet Nam War (or conflict, as it was called back then). While their basic tenets were sound, they carried things to extremes. They lost credibility because of the excesses they practiced.

When I think back to those days, I wonder what would have happened if the hippies had lived more moderately. Would some of the beliefs they held have spread and affected a larger segment of the population? Is there anything wrong with showing our love for one another, or focusing on the beauty of this earth rather than on a stuggle to make more and more money? Could we all live more happily with fewer material goods?

Obviously the hippies weren't "zoned out" all the time. A lot of what they said made complete sense. What is the most important thing in our lives? Is it living together in peace and harmony or is it joining the rat race so we can buy more, and more, and more stuff?

We buy stuff that we don't have a use for, some of which we don't even want. Why do we buy it? Is it to look prosperous to our friends? Is it to improve our own self-image? Why have we become a society of procurers of stuff? Buying things that are meaningful to us is one thing ~ buying things just to achieve or maintain a certain status is another.

I hate to say it but we've become a society of materialistic snobs. We look down on someone who drives an old, beaten up car or who doesn't dress in the current fashion. We judge people by how much they have, not by who they are.

I think all of our possessions have crowded out our common sense and surely a lot of our humanity. When we see a homeless person on the street we automatically consider him or her a loser; someone who has no ambition, a derelect and probably an addict. We seem to think he or she has chosen that way of life. Do we stop to realize that the only thing that may separate us from them is a "pink slip"?

Some homeless people were once just like us. They had families who loved them, they held jobs and supported themselves, they lived like you and me. But then something catastrophic happened. Maybe one lost his job and couldn't find another. Maybe another tragically lost a loved one and couldn't deal with the loss. Maybe someone else was horribly mistreated by people whom she loved and trusted. We don't know their stories.

Neither do we know the stories of the middle aged man who drives a battered up car and dresses in ragged clothing, the young woman who struggles to raise her child alone, or an elderly couple who has grown embittered with life. But we have a name for all of them, don't we?

Instead of labeling people, what if we did something to try and help them? Maybe we have no more to give than a pleasant smile and a warm greeting or maybe we have time to volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe we could visit the lonely souls whose families have forgotten them . . . you can find them anywhere. We could donate to a food pantry for the poor or support a charitable organization that makes a difference. It doesn't matter how much or how little we have to give ~ the important thing is that we give.

And just maybe, we should think about the old adage "there but for the grace of God go I". A basic truth in life is that no one is guaranteed that the comfortable lifestyle he lives will last forever. In the blink of an eye we, too, can be poor, alone or homeless. Maybe we should think about that the next time we're out shopping for stuff and come across someone who is less fortunate. Maybe we won't be so quick to judge.

Next time you go on a shopping spree, consider the amount you've spent on things you don't need. Think about how much that money would mean to a man who doesn't have enough to eat, a mother who can't buy her growing children new clothes, or the family who can't pay their electric bill. Then tell me who deserves to be judged.

Maybe the hippies had a point when they proposed that we all love and take care of one another.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Back in the 60's we had the hippies (or flower children) who practiced a doctrine of "make love, not war". Many of them lived in communes where they planted gardens and lived off the earth. They lived simply. A lot of them also lived a lifestyle that included free sex and and a lot of drugs. They peacefully demonstrated against the Viet Nam War (or conflict, as it was called back then). While their basic tenets were sound, they carried things to extremes. They lost credibility because of the excesses they practiced.

When I think back to those days, I wonder what would have happened if the hippies had lived more moderately. Would some of the beliefs they held have spread and affected a larger segment of the population? Is there anything wrong with showing our love for one another, or focusing on the beauty of this earth rather than on a stuggle to make more and more money? Could we all live more happily with fewer material goods?

Obviously the hippies weren't "zoned out" all the time. A lot of what they said made complete sense. What is the most important thing in our lives? Is it living together in peace and harmony or is it joining the rat race so we can buy more, and more, and more stuff?

We buy stuff that we don't have a use for, some of which we don't even want. Why do we buy it? Is it to look prosperous to our friends? Is it to improve our own self-image? Why have we become a society of procurers of stuff? Buying things that are meaningful to us is one thing ~ buying things just to achieve or maintain a certain status is another.

I hate to say it but we've become a society of materialistic snobs. We look down on someone who drives an old, beaten up car or who doesn't dress in the current fashion. We judge people by how much they have, not by who they are.

I think all of our possessions have crowded out our common sense and surely a lot of our humanity. When we see a homeless person on the street we automatically consider him or her a loser; someone who has no ambition, a derelect and probably an addict. We seem to think he or she has chosen that way of life. Do we stop to realize that the only thing that may separate us from them is a "pink slip"?

Some homeless people were once just like us. They had families who loved them, they held jobs and supported themselves, they lived like you and me. But then something catastrophic happened. Maybe one lost his job and couldn't find another. Maybe another tragically lost a loved one and couldn't deal with the loss. Maybe someone else was horribly mistreated by people whom she loved and trusted. We don't know their stories.

Neither do we know the stories of the middle aged man who drives a battered up car and dresses in ragged clothing, the young woman who struggles to raise her child alone, or an elderly couple who has grown embittered with life. But we have a name for all of them, don't we?

Instead of labeling people, what if we did something to try and help them? Maybe we have no more to give than a pleasant smile and a warm greeting or maybe we have time to volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe we could visit the lonely souls whose families have forgotten them . . . you can find them anywhere. We could donate to a food pantry for the poor or support a charitable organization that makes a difference. It doesn't matter how much or how little we have to give ~ the important thing is that we give.

And just maybe, we should think about the old adage "there but for the grace of God go I". A basic truth in life is that no one is guaranteed that the comfortable lifestyle he lives will last forever. In the blink of an eye we, too, can be poor, alone or homeless. Maybe we should think about that the next time we're out shopping for stuff and come across someone who is less fortunate. Maybe we won't be so quick to judge.

Next time you go on a shopping spree, consider the amount you've spent on things you don't need. Think about how much that money would mean to a man who doesn't have enough to eat, a mother who can't buy her growing children new clothes, or the family who can't pay their electric bill. Then tell me who deserves to be judged.

Maybe the hippies had a point when they proposed that we all love and take care of one another.

Climbing the Maasai Mountain of God - A Journey to the Top of an Active Volcano

The Maasai call it "the mountain of god", for not only do they believe their ancestors descended from it; they believe God lives atop it. It rises sharply and proudly out of the Great Rift Valley with jagged edges and carved angular slopes - as regal as is ominous, as beautiful as is rare - we call it Lengai. "Lengai" [pronounced: ling-eye] rolls trippingly off the tongue while conjuring images of mythical lands and far off places. It is, in actuality, a volcano - an active volcano at that; and the only active sodium carbonate volcano in the world.

Lake Natron

Lengai is situated in one of the most spectacularly jurrassic and underrated areas of Tanzania. Lake Natron is a natural alkaline soda lake that, from a distance, looks like a great, expansive puddle that covers the valley floor and glistens in the sunlight. The environment, however, is hostile; temperatures of the mud can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius and the alkaline level can reach a pH of 9-10.5!

Natron's edges are dotted in a pink tinge created by the thousands of flamingos that migrate there annually. They are some of the only creatures who can thrive in these conditions, the caustic environment actually acting as a barrier against predators. The fringe of the valley around it is composed of emerald green hills and slopes that create scenery unrivaled anywhere else in the world. Among this naturally pristine spectacle sits Lengai.

Setting up Camp

We arrive at the riverside base camp dusty from the hours of rambunctious 4 x 4 off-roading (no other type of vehicle could possibly make it out here). The campsite is minimalist complimented by the grandiose of the looming mountain that overlooks us. That is what we're going to climb tonight?? A few meters walk from where we set up our tents is a small river winding its way out of a canyon. We are told it leads to water falls, so we decide to take the short hike to cool off in the mid-day heat. After about 30 minutes of trekking in and out of water along the rocky ledges we reach the fall. Situated between two cliffs, it is blanketed in moss and flora. The noon sun makes rainbows in the mist and we swim and baske lazily on the shore like sirens. The scene is something of enchantment.

The Climb

The hike begins at midnight, the reason being we are to get to the top in time to watch the sunrise. As our vehicle clamors along the pocked earth to her base we can just make out a faint tableau in the moonlight. Our minds begin to wonder and we all sit silent with our doubts. We start trekking and immediately the effects of the 45 degree slope are felt. Our legs burn and shake with uncertainty beneath us. We laboriously climb higher through different elevations of vegetation: aromatic fields of mountain heather, dense grasses, rocky crevasses, and burned bush. We rest intermitantly to break our sweats and catch our breath. As soon as we stop moving however, the chilled wind penetrates our jackets forcing us to continue on our way, only to sweat again in minutes. It is virtually impossible to find a level of temperate comfort between the cold wind and the body heat generated by the climb.

As we near the top the landscape changes from difficult to hostile; the earth is covered in jagged rocks and loose volcanic debris. The slope continues to get steeper still and parts of the climb are having to be done on all fours. Whose idea was this?? Moments when one has to catch themselves from a stumble are often thwarted by a giant blast of cold air that wails down the incline like a banshee. We continue despite the innate urges to turn back - and suddenly the top comes into view in the blue-haze of daybreak. We lob ourselves over the side and all sit back in exhaustion and amazment as the African sun rises in the East.

From the distance, Lengai looks like her peak is exactly that, a peak. In reality, however, her ashen and barren cavern is vast and plain-like. The summit itself is lunar covered in a white molten crust with towering individual peaks (formed by mini-eruptions) that jut out in sharp, sporadic disarray. As you wander its vastness you feel a sense of tremendous accomplishment negated by a certain sense of unease. In certain areas, your feet crack through the crust setting free sulfurous smoke that rises out of the footprint as an eerie reminder that while Lengai may appear to be stable to the eye, she is anything but.

The wind is a constant force at this elevation; clouds fly past your face and seem to fall down the side of the mountain with no hesitation as if they're being poured like milk out of a carton. A trip to volcano's edge offers a spectacular view: a sweeping panorama of the entire region and beyond. Kilimanjaro, Meru and the lesser mountains are seen in the distant haze. The Serengeti lies just on the horizon. The sloping Great Rift slips effortlessly into the valley and from this vantage point looks like a massive green velvet curtain rippling to the floor. Summiting Lengai offers some of the most beautiful landscapes the eye can behold and is definitely a unique and worthwhile endeavour.

That is, until you start down!

Interested in climbing Lengai or planning a Tanzania Adventure? Combine this climb with a Crater Highlands Trek for a real "Out of Africa" experience! Contact Tropical Trails - The Tanzania Adventure Specialists at:

info@tropicaltrails.com

www.tropicaltrails.com

Climbing the Maasai Mountain of God - A Journey to the Top of an Active Volcano

The Maasai call it "the mountain of god", for not only do they believe their ancestors descended from it; they believe God lives atop it. It rises sharply and proudly out of the Great Rift Valley with jagged edges and carved angular slopes - as regal as is ominous, as beautiful as is rare - we call it Lengai. "Lengai" [pronounced: ling-eye] rolls trippingly off the tongue while conjuring images of mythical lands and far off places. It is, in actuality, a volcano - an active volcano at that; and the only active sodium carbonate volcano in the world.

Lake Natron

Lengai is situated in one of the most spectacularly jurrassic and underrated areas of Tanzania. Lake Natron is a natural alkaline soda lake that, from a distance, looks like a great, expansive puddle that covers the valley floor and glistens in the sunlight. The environment, however, is hostile; temperatures of the mud can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius and the alkaline level can reach a pH of 9-10.5!

Natron's edges are dotted in a pink tinge created by the thousands of flamingos that migrate there annually. They are some of the only creatures who can thrive in these conditions, the caustic environment actually acting as a barrier against predators. The fringe of the valley around it is composed of emerald green hills and slopes that create scenery unrivaled anywhere else in the world. Among this naturally pristine spectacle sits Lengai.

Setting up Camp

We arrive at the riverside base camp dusty from the hours of rambunctious 4 x 4 off-roading (no other type of vehicle could possibly make it out here). The campsite is minimalist complimented by the grandiose of the looming mountain that overlooks us. That is what we're going to climb tonight?? A few meters walk from where we set up our tents is a small river winding its way out of a canyon. We are told it leads to water falls, so we decide to take the short hike to cool off in the mid-day heat. After about 30 minutes of trekking in and out of water along the rocky ledges we reach the fall. Situated between two cliffs, it is blanketed in moss and flora. The noon sun makes rainbows in the mist and we swim and baske lazily on the shore like sirens. The scene is something of enchantment.

The Climb

The hike begins at midnight, the reason being we are to get to the top in time to watch the sunrise. As our vehicle clamors along the pocked earth to her base we can just make out a faint tableau in the moonlight. Our minds begin to wonder and we all sit silent with our doubts. We start trekking and immediately the effects of the 45 degree slope are felt. Our legs burn and shake with uncertainty beneath us. We laboriously climb higher through different elevations of vegetation: aromatic fields of mountain heather, dense grasses, rocky crevasses, and burned bush. We rest intermitantly to break our sweats and catch our breath. As soon as we stop moving however, the chilled wind penetrates our jackets forcing us to continue on our way, only to sweat again in minutes. It is virtually impossible to find a level of temperate comfort between the cold wind and the body heat generated by the climb.

As we near the top the landscape changes from difficult to hostile; the earth is covered in jagged rocks and loose volcanic debris. The slope continues to get steeper still and parts of the climb are having to be done on all fours. Whose idea was this?? Moments when one has to catch themselves from a stumble are often thwarted by a giant blast of cold air that wails down the incline like a banshee. We continue despite the innate urges to turn back - and suddenly the top comes into view in the blue-haze of daybreak. We lob ourselves over the side and all sit back in exhaustion and amazment as the African sun rises in the East.

From the distance, Lengai looks like her peak is exactly that, a peak. In reality, however, her ashen and barren cavern is vast and plain-like. The summit itself is lunar covered in a white molten crust with towering individual peaks (formed by mini-eruptions) that jut out in sharp, sporadic disarray. As you wander its vastness you feel a sense of tremendous accomplishment negated by a certain sense of unease. In certain areas, your feet crack through the crust setting free sulfurous smoke that rises out of the footprint as an eerie reminder that while Lengai may appear to be stable to the eye, she is anything but.

The wind is a constant force at this elevation; clouds fly past your face and seem to fall down the side of the mountain with no hesitation as if they're being poured like milk out of a carton. A trip to volcano's edge offers a spectacular view: a sweeping panorama of the entire region and beyond. Kilimanjaro, Meru and the lesser mountains are seen in the distant haze. The Serengeti lies just on the horizon. The sloping Great Rift slips effortlessly into the valley and from this vantage point looks like a massive green velvet curtain rippling to the floor. Summiting Lengai offers some of the most beautiful landscapes the eye can behold and is definitely a unique and worthwhile endeavour.

That is, until you start down!

Interested in climbing Lengai or planning a Tanzania Adventure? Combine this climb with a Crater Highlands Trek for a real "Out of Africa" experience! Contact Tropical Trails - The Tanzania Adventure Specialists at:

info@tropicaltrails.com

www.tropicaltrails.com

Rock Climbing Basics

Rock climbing is an exhilarating sport and one that is growing in popularity. Today, people of all ages are taking up this fun but physically demanding activity. Many aspects of rock climbing appeal to those partaking in this sport, but one thing which stands out most is that this is an activity that can be done both indoors and out.

Man-made rock climbing walls are perfect for training and for when the weather conditions outside are less than desirable. Indoor rock climbing walls are a great way to learn the various rock climbing techniques while being under the careful watch of more experienced rock climbing professionals. Because they're made to resemble the characteristics you'd find in a natural rock environment, many rock climbers never even venture outdoors. But for those who do, the outdoors experience is truly unique and awe-inspiring.

Countless rock climbing opportunities await those who do venture outdoors. Not all rocks though are optimum for the rock climber. First in importance is whether the rock face can be traversed horizontally or vertically. Equally important is that the rocks chosen for rock climbing must be solid rocks and they must be stable. Also look for locations where the weather is predictable, and where trails already exist.

Although this is a relatively safe activity if undertaken using the proper rock climbing equipment [http://www.climbinghub.com/rockclimbingequipment.html], rock climbing can be a dangerous sport, especially for those who venture far off the ground and away from more densely populated areas. It's one thing to want to climb in an uncrowded area, but should an emergency situation develop, being close to others could mean the difference between getting timely help and not getting the help the injured party needs to survive.

Many people mistakenly believe that the majority of rock climbing injuries result from falling. This belief might simply result from the fact that rock climbers who fall get more attention from local authorities, rescue squads and even the media. However, most rock climbing injuries occur to the hands, tendons, elbows and shoulders and are caused by straining and overuse. Although these types of injuries are not preventable, their occurrence can be reduced by taking time to properly warm up and stretch out these body parts. Using the right rock climbing equipment for the journey ahead is also advisable.

Rock climbing shoes are a must and help ensure a proper grip on the sometimes slippery surfaces. Helmets, which unfortunately aren't worn by many climbers, are a good way to prevent serious head injury. A rock climbing harness that is in excellent condition with no frayed or worn out parts, climbing ropes, webbing, karabiners and belay devices are other essential pieces of rock climbing gear.

Keep the above rock climbing basics in mind before venturing out on your next rock climbing adventure and you'll hopefully keep rock climbing accidents to a minimum.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

Back in the 60's we had the hippies (or flower children) who practiced a doctrine of "make love, not war". Many of them lived in communes where they planted gardens and lived off the earth. They lived simply. A lot of them also lived a lifestyle that included free sex and and a lot of drugs. They peacefully demonstrated against the Viet Nam War (or conflict, as it was called back then). While their basic tenets were sound, they carried things to extremes. They lost credibility because of the excesses they practiced.

When I think back to those days, I wonder what would have happened if the hippies had lived more moderately. Would some of the beliefs they held have spread and affected a larger segment of the population? Is there anything wrong with showing our love for one another, or focusing on the beauty of this earth rather than on a stuggle to make more and more money? Could we all live more happily with fewer material goods?

Obviously the hippies weren't "zoned out" all the time. A lot of what they said made complete sense. What is the most important thing in our lives? Is it living together in peace and harmony or is it joining the rat race so we can buy more, and more, and more stuff?

We buy stuff that we don't have a use for, some of which we don't even want. Why do we buy it? Is it to look prosperous to our friends? Is it to improve our own self-image? Why have we become a society of procurers of stuff? Buying things that are meaningful to us is one thing ~ buying things just to achieve or maintain a certain status is another.

I hate to say it but we've become a society of materialistic snobs. We look down on someone who drives an old, beaten up car or who doesn't dress in the current fashion. We judge people by how much they have, not by who they are.

I think all of our possessions have crowded out our common sense and surely a lot of our humanity. When we see a homeless person on the street we automatically consider him or her a loser; someone who has no ambition, a derelect and probably an addict. We seem to think he or she has chosen that way of life. Do we stop to realize that the only thing that may separate us from them is a "pink slip"?

Some homeless people were once just like us. They had families who loved them, they held jobs and supported themselves, they lived like you and me. But then something catastrophic happened. Maybe one lost his job and couldn't find another. Maybe another tragically lost a loved one and couldn't deal with the loss. Maybe someone else was horribly mistreated by people whom she loved and trusted. We don't know their stories.

Neither do we know the stories of the middle aged man who drives a battered up car and dresses in ragged clothing, the young woman who struggles to raise her child alone, or an elderly couple who has grown embittered with life. But we have a name for all of them, don't we?

Instead of labeling people, what if we did something to try and help them? Maybe we have no more to give than a pleasant smile and a warm greeting or maybe we have time to volunteer at a shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe we could visit the lonely souls whose families have forgotten them . . . you can find them anywhere. We could donate to a food pantry for the poor or support a charitable organization that makes a difference. It doesn't matter how much or how little we have to give ~ the important thing is that we give.

And just maybe, we should think about the old adage "there but for the grace of God go I". A basic truth in life is that no one is guaranteed that the comfortable lifestyle he lives will last forever. In the blink of an eye we, too, can be poor, alone or homeless. Maybe we should think about that the next time we're out shopping for stuff and come across someone who is less fortunate. Maybe we won't be so quick to judge.

Next time you go on a shopping spree, consider the amount you've spent on things you don't need. Think about how much that money would mean to a man who doesn't have enough to eat, a mother who can't buy her growing children new clothes, or the family who can't pay their electric bill. Then tell me who deserves to be judged.

Maybe the hippies had a point when they proposed that we all love and take care of one another.