Off to Highview (July 16)

Off to Highview

We left Arusha around 10 in two safari vehicles. Cathy, Doug, Liz, Theresa and Nancy (from Zara) were in a black Land Crusier with Limo as their driver/safari guide. 

Tashoy, Yajaida, Ashley, owen and I were in the vehicle below with Richard. 

We found that we wouldn't be doing any safari today, just driving out to Highview in the Maasai area.  Before leaving we decided to stop at the Arusha Museum and Culture Center.  It was a pretty cool area with a multi level art gallery, ancient artifacts including furniture, masks and Maasai beaded items. 

There was also a sculpture garden outside.

 I got a kick out of the dung beetle sculpture! 

Next we stopped at the same picnic/shopping area as last time for lunch. This is a typical boxed lunch that we would be eating over the next few days.

Owen and I usually trade items his chicken for my watermelon or cucumber and bread, etc. 

This was the first time the girls saw the inside of a hard boiled egg- the yolk is white instead of yellow, yet it tastes exactly the same! 

We had a conversation about the chemicals and hormones used in our foods. The chickens are much smaller here.  Below is a standard juice box with an egg and a chicken LEG.

On our way to Highview we passed some cows.  

We asked Richard why the cow had humps.  He replied that it is normal for cows to have humps. All cows have humps....at which Yajaida yelled out "then what is wrong with OUR cows??"  Haha.  Owen speculated that American cows don't need to store fat and water like they do in Tanzania. 

We stopped at more shops and a beautiful overlook.

We arrived at the Highview Hotel mid afternoon. 

  

Cathy had talked about what a spectacular place it was. The view was nice, but for some reason, I thought we would be looking over the crater or Lake Manyara. The rooms were nice but small and there wasn't much to do once we got there.
   

The sunset was beautiful!

What was great was this is the location with a Maasai shop that is part of Zara charity. Mama Zara told Cathy that TAFCOM could sell some of their items from the tailoring program in the shop. That would be HUGE for them.  The following morning Tashoy and Cathy sat down with the two women that sold items outside and showed them the reusable sanitary pads. They were so grateful to receive a supply to bring back to the women in their village.  

Before we left we all bought some of the beautiful beaded items they made. Then they offered each one of us a gift. It was so nice!

Owen received a necklace as a gift

Next stop, the Maasai school!