Farewell to our friends

Morning day six.... 6:30 we woke up and washed, packed by 6:45, breakfast for 7, and then everyone got together to say their farewells. Traditionally all our guides, assistant guides, porters, assistant porters, cook, mess waiter... all gather to be presented with their tips... there is a hierarchy for who gets what and with the guidance of others and our help Jean-Luc had worked out which group would get what and presented these formally so that there would be no internal wrangling later... we also left anything we did not need, walking sticks, snacks, mattresses, clothes and these would be shared out amongst themselves... but just before all this happens, Joseph explains it is traditional for everyone to sing us the Kilimanjaro song and so he get the proceedings going.

It was touching... we had made great friends, they had looked after and cared for us and helped us reach our goals... this from a society which subsists on almost a $1/ day...