Cry, my beloved mother!

Bomb blasts on the bank of my “Old Man River”! Life has no value. It used to be the most peaceful place on earth I knew as a child. Most of us had very little, but there was abundance of natural beauty, love, compassion, care, and honesty. Things have changed. Now it is filled with wealth along with disparity, hatred, violence, corruption, selfishness, and shameless politics. The natives are losing out, getting frustrated, and fighting with their own brothers while outsiders are pushing them out of their own homes. Politicians and “public servants” are willing to sell their mother to stay in power and to enjoy the luxuries of life. The banks of my “Old Man River” are becoming stranger by the day.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. These are not aberrations. These are the outcome of prior actions, howsoever heinous the reactions may be. Why do people kill people, why are the indigenous people getting frustrated, why is there obscene wealth or poverty, why are people becoming more corrupt in the last few decades, how did hatred substitute love – these are questions needing answers. Only after root cause analysis, only after proper diagnosis, one can apply the right medication. Band-aid does not work for a chronic illness. We head for the moon, but cannot take care of our people on earth. India - where 70% still toil for basics while Bollywood, Cricket, and “Brown Sahibs” rule – I no longer understand.

I made it to the top

I am totally exhausted, but alive and well and glad to be at sea level again. We did not surrender to the harsh mountain , but I do have a new respect for Kilimanjaro. Here are some pictures. Top to bottom: The Magnificent 12, Red River w/ Kili Backdrop, Red River at Uhuru Peak, & Red River at Gillman's Point w/"Gamocha" around the neck.

Time is now

Finally, tomorrow I leave for Kili - aiming for the summit and for a fistful of dollars for the hungry children.