On Saturday 20 November 2010 a huge group of us went to Malalotja for an overnight in celebration of our dear friend Michelle’s time in Swaziland. She’d been here working with Baylor for 3 years and made a lot of friends during her stay; therefore, it was a big, fun group. As you’ve seen on our blog before, Malalotja is one of our favorite places to hike. We’ve also stayed in their cabins once before for an overnight during our second weekend in Swaziland. On Saturday, we all gathered at the new restaurant that just opened in the park for a braai. Some people just came for the day; while others stayed overnight in the cabins and went hiking on Sunday morning (we were part of the latter group).
Table for two with bent shovel seats and Swazi baskets as decorations
Teena (PAC Doctor – Mozambique), Nick (TechnoServe), Erin (PAC Doctor – Swaziland) and Maya (Clinton Foundation)
Peter’s Mom, Peter (USAID) and Stephanie (PAC Doctor - Swaziland)
Piluca, Lucia, Doug and Michelle (all PAC Doctors in Swaziland)
Laura (Clinton Foundation) and Keri (Consultant, Special Education)
Erin, Stephanie, Michelle, Terry (PAC Doctor – Swaziland) and Solomon (Terry’s son)
The three Alison’s and Calista/Peter’s little girl, Aviva
The event was planned as a potluck, so there was not a lot of work and plenty of time for hanging out and holding babies (a favorite pastime).
Asher is Jessi and Uri’s little boy (a little lug of a 4 month old and so precious)! I try to kidnap him every chance that I get.
Sometimes, I’m forced to share him with Erin
Tao and Uri were doing some of the grilling. The piece of meat on the braai in this picture is called a ‘Texan.’ Literally, that’s the name on the package when you buy it in the grocery store. Oh how our American stereotypes travel far and wide…sigh.
There was also a little ‘American football’ action as dusk loomed
After the braai, the day visitors went home and the rest of us piled into our respective cabins in preparation for an early morning hike.
On the window ledge of one of the cabins there was a bird's nest with tiny, little eggs
And the mom wasn't even scared away!
We awoke on Sunday morning to hike to the ‘potholes’ which are a series of pools flowing from a stream and waterfalls in the park. Doug had hiked to the potholes once before, but it was my first time. It was a piping hot day so it was a perfect day for a swim. I am pretty sure I’ve never hiked with this many people! Rumor had it we were 28.
Hikers
Scaling the wall to make it to the first pothole
Pothole!
View of the gorge
Tao grew up in Swaziland and has been hiking to the potholes since he was 3 years old; therefore, when he took a flying leap off of the 30 foot ledge, nobody was surprised.
Duane jumped second and being a representative for the Commonwealth Games we expected some acrobatics out of him
Then, there was me (plugging my nose). I was the third person to jump and apparently (as I was later told) I was the person who opened the flood gates to all of the ‘normal’ people jumping. Great, thanks.
Doug also jumped as a trio with Duane and Tao, but I clicked the picture a moment too soon!
Peanut gallery cheering on the jumpers
The water was freezing, but on such a hot day it was a good place to be
The hardest part was actually getting out and climbing back up the rock face!
After a dip in the first pothole a group continued on to the second pothole while a smaller group turned back. Fortunately, everyone made it back safe/sound (even though some were sunburned and exhausted having bit off more of a hike than desired in venturing to the second pothole).
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