Le's travels: Seychelles

Kilimanjaro Club member Le Huynh, a native of Vietnam, is a globetrotter and has traveled to the farthest corners of Earth. He normally sends reports of his travels, this time from Reunion in the Seychelles.

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Mentioning La Reunion to a non-French person and you'll either get a blank stare or something like "what meeting point are you talking about?" Be that as it may, La Reunion holds a special place in the heart of the Vietnamese for it was here that one of our emperors mysteriously met his tragic end.



Mafate: A UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 1907, emperor Duy Tan was only 7 years old when he became the 11th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty of Vietnam. Unwilling to live a life in luxury as a puppet emperor for the French, he tried to organize a rebellion to liberate his beloved country. Unfortunately he was betrayed and captured by the French authorities in 1916.

Since executing the young emperor would turn him into a martyr and spark a revolt, the French sent him into exile to the most remote corner of their empire: the island of La Reunion.




The green field of tamarind trees.

During World War II he joined the Free French Force to resist the Vichy Regime and became lieutenant-colonel under General Charles de Gaulle. It was said that General de Gaulle talked to Vin San, the ex-emperor about returning to Vietnam to reunite the country for possible independence (similar to Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia). Unfortunately his plane disappeared on his way home to Vietnam in 1945 and the great hopes of many died with him as the country once again was torn apart by a senseless war for the next 30 years.




Beautiful black sand from the volcano.

The first thing a visitor to Reunion will notice is how green it is: all kinds of shades of green undulating as far as the eye can see, lined up countless flowing angel hair waterfalls, accentuated from time to time vivid red or pink flowers...a multicolour diamond necklace glittering under the sun.




The highest point of Reunion (3,070m).

White clouds dot the horizon, moving leisurely across the sky, stopping here and there to visit the surrounding high peaks. Suddenly, a sweet yet delicate fragrance perfumes the air, stirring long dormant memories of one's youth as whole fields of frangipanier flowers came into view, revitalizing the already pure air with musky almost honey taste. A symphony of singing birds greets the visitor at the end of the day or early in the morning.




Le poses at one of the popular points on the Mafate trek.

Indeed, the best impressionistic tableau can only by painted by mother nature: no mortal artist can have access to such a palate of infinite shades of that colour of life. Surprisingly one is never saturated by so much stimuli to all of one's senses. On the contrary, your body and soul are soothed by a feeling of deep satisfaction as you relishingly immerse in such beautific surroundings, so much that you may never want to leave....

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http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/03/les-despatches.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/10/pose-with-crocodile-i-pass.html

Jim Whitney, the latest member of the Kilimanjaro Club



Jim Whitney, left, aims the camera at Jim Becket, right, during the last day of the climb.

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

I am in awe of anyone who climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro with the additional task of carrying a video camera, limiting other tasks to only one hand, most of the time.

During my September 2011 climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro Jim Whitney carried a video camera and when most of us were concerned with negotiating the next obstacle, he had the additional task of finding a suitable spot for shooting a memorable scene.

He becomes the 12th member of the Kilimanjaro Club. The complete members’ list is:

1.       Markus Geiger

2.       Madaraka Nyerere*

3.       Le Huynh

4.       Gerald Hando

5.       Notburger Maskini

6.       Jaffar Idi Amin

7.       Mary Kalikawe

8.       William Rutta

9.       Jim Becket

10.   Andrea Wobmann

11.   Steve Kamau

12.   Jim Whitney

*I add my name in this post, having forgotten that I also belong to the Kilimanjaro Club.

Andrea Wobmann is a member of the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people who have climbed to Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me on my annual Mwalimu Nyerere/ Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Andrea Wobmann joined me on last year's Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb. We reached the summit, Uhuru Peak, on the morning of 26th September 2011. The updated list is now:1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huyhn
5. Jaffar Amin
6. Mary Kalikawe
7. William Rutta
8. Steve Kamau
9. Jim Becket
10. Andrea WobmannSent from Samsung Mobile

Jim Becket is the senior member of the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Jim Beck is the elder member of the Kilimanjaro Club. When I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with him and a group of other climbers from the United States, Uganda, Switzerland, Kenya, and Tanzania in September 2011 he revealed he was 74 years old. By the time we completed the climb he was 75.


Jim Becket, left, at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

He is the reason why I tell everyone who hesitates to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (especially younger people) that there are very few people who have an excuse not to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The updated list of the Kilimanjaro Club is:

1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huynh
5. Jaffar Amin
6. Mary Kalikawe
7. William Rutta
8. Steve Kamau
9. Jim Becket

Steve Kamau conquers Mt. Kilimanjaro and becomes a member of the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Steve Kamau normally books Kilimanjaro climbs for visitors. He works for Zara Tanzania Adventures the company that has organized all my climbs.

It was while I was sitting with him discussing details of one of the climbs that I suggested to him that he should consider climbing Kilimanjaro himself. A few months later he did just that and joined me on my fourth climb in September 2010.



On the second day of the September 2010 climb, Steve Kamau takes a short rest between Big Tree and Shira One camps.

He is the latest member of the Kilimanjaro Club. The updated list is:


1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huynh
5. Jaffar Amin
6. Mary Kalikawe
7. William Rutta
8. Steve Kamau

Another member of the Kilimanjaro Club, William Rutta

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

Ever since he joined me for the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb in 2010, William Rutta has shown keen interest to return to Mt. Kilimanjaro for another challenge.

William Rutta at Uhuru Peak.

He is the chairman of BUDAP an NGO based in Bukoba that provides assistance to the disabled by providing skills training to its members.

The updated membership list is:

1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huynh
5. Jaffar Amin
6. Mary Kalikawe
7. William Rutta

Mary Kalikawe, member, Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb. 

Mary Kalikawe joined me on my third annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb in December 2010. She reached the summit on a day that had considerable snowfall.

Mary Kalikawe is the Managing Director of Kiroyera Consulting, a tourism company based in Bukoba which opened a branch office in Mwanza in 2010. She joined the 3^rd Annual Mwalimu Nyerere.

The updated Kilimanjaro Club list:

1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huynh
5. Jaffar Amin
6. Mary Kalikawe

Jaffar Amin is also in the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual the Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

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I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro with Jaffar Amin in December 2010. Our guides were Yahoo, Solomon and Ludovick.

During the 2010 climb: the team's cook, Pantaleo, poses with Jaffar Amin, seated, at Karanga Camp at 3,963m above sea level. Pantaleo decided the weather was ideal for having breakfast in the open.

The updated Kilimanjaro Club membership is:

1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huynh
5. Jaffar Amin

Le Huynh should have been the first member of the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

 

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I overlooked inducting Le Huynh into the membership roll. He accompanied me on my first climb in 2008. He is an experienced climber, having reached Mt. Everest's base camp, climbed Mt. Kenya, and Mt. Meru (Tanzania).



Le during a visit to the Manchu Pichu Inca site in Peru.

The updated list is:

1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando
4. Le Huynh

Notburga Maskini and Gerald Hando belatedly join the Kilimanjaro Club

The Kilimanjaro Club lists people I know who have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere/Mt. Kilimanjaro Charity Climb.

 

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Notburga Maskini and Gerald Hando climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro last year and should have been inducted into the 'Kilimanjaro Club' last year. The Kilimanjaro Club lists people who climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with me every year, and others whose information of their ascent reaches me.



Notburga Maskini, right, during last year's climb. In the middle, Gerald Hando of Clouds FM, and behind Gerald, the author of this post.

Members of the Kilimanjaro Club:
1. Markus Geiger
2. Notburga Maskini
3. Gerald Hando

Update: Notburga Maskini

Notburga Maskini has been elected the only candidate from Kilimanjaro Region, representing workers organizations under Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), under the special seats reserved for women members of parliament. The regional conference of CCM's women's wing, Umoja wa Wanawake wa Tanzania (UWT) elected her on 28th July by 443 of the 467 votes cast.

The number of special seat parliamentarians for each political party is determined by the total votes that each party wins in the general elections.

She is still in the running for the Rombo constituency seat that is currently held by incumbent Basil Mramba. If she wins the constituency nomination she will give up her special seat nomination.

Notburga is a member of the Kilimanjaro Club, whose members have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro either with me or whose ascent has been communicated to me.

Posts related to this one:
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/07/notburga-maskini-picks-up-nomination.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/notburga-maskini-and-gerald-hando.html
http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/02/notburga-maskini-to-challenge-basil.html

Notburga Maskini picks up nomination forms

Notburga Maskini who recently announced her decision to challenge former Minister for Finance Basil Mramba for the Rombo constituency parliamentary seat, recently collected nomination forms from Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to seek her party's nomination as the candidate for Rombo constituency for October's general elections.

Mwanaidi Mbisha, CCM District Secretary for Rombo hands over nomination forms to Notburga Maskini, right.

She collected the forms from the CCM party secretary for Rombo district, Mwanaidi Mbisha. Party primaries will decide the candidate for the constituency and nominees will be announced on 1st July.

Notburga is a member of the Kilmanjaro Club, whose members have climbed Mt. Kilmanjaro either with me or whose ascent has been communicated to me.

Posts related to this one:

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/07/update-notburga-maskini.html

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/12/notburga-maskini-and-gerald-hando.html

http://madarakanyerere.blogspot.com/2010/02/notburga-maskini-to-challenge-basil.html

The Kilimanjaro Club

I am beginning to post information on people I know who have scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro, including those who join me every year on the annual Mwalimu Nyerere charity Climb.

The first entrant is Markus Geiger (top, right), a Swiss national who works at Musoma. He climbed Kilimanjaro last year with his son who visited from Switzerland and is seen on the photo above, left.

Markus told me they were the last to leave Barafu Camp on the final trek to Uhuru peak but were the first to reach the summit having left other climbers behind.

Despite that evidently rapid ascent, Markus still had the energy to blow his Swiss horn after they reached the top.