Most memorable day of my life! Blog Homework

18

What is a moment in time that you can look back on and say "That was an amazing day!"

There are so many memorable moments in my life that I think about or look back on and instantly a smile forms on my face. This weeks @bloghomework set by @lyxzen @missy @rambo is a hard one, purely because I'm only choosing 1 moment in time.

Over the last 5 years there has been one experience in my life that stood out among the rest. One that I found utterly eye opening and changed my views and opinions forever. I came away from this experience with a new lease on life and a new found love for what I have at home.

In 2014, right in the middle of the big Ebola break out that was happening in West Africa, I went overseas to East Africa. A lot of people were worried for me, but the danger areas effected were a long way away from where I was going to be traveling.

I traveled around Africa for over 2 weeks and those who read my blogs will have seen the novel length one I wrote when I came home.

The moment in my life that is quite possible the most memorable and it was a whole day! Trekking Gorillas in the wild in Uganda, Africa!!

Below is some writings, taken from my travel journal. And yes, I take a travel journal with me whenever I go overseas on my own. Photos can only hold so many memories. I want to be able to read how I was feeling when I experienced things.

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G day!! We woke up at 4:30 in the morning on the day of the Gorilla Trek. Early morning starts where something I became quite used to in Africa having to wake up super early to take tents down and pack up. Not on day 8! Everyone was brimming with excitement, gear all ready, lunch packed, cameras fully charged we set off. We had two taxi's take our group of 10 to the location in which we'd embark on the Gorilla trek.

We stopped a few times on the drive and it was on the first stop that kinda took my breath away. My very first African Sunrise! Sun just peaking over the mountains, hills rolling in the distance. Absolutely breathtaking!

They don't call it Gorilla's in the mist for nothing. Winding down the steep mountains the thick forrest where we would be trekking was filled with mist and fog on the tops. Unlike the Chimp trek the Gorilla trek is guaranteed to see Gorillas. The park sends out trackers an hour in advance to you leaving and then radios in there location after they've found the night befores nesting location and fresh morning tracks and the Gorillas themselves.

Our group of 10 had been split up to trek different family groups. I was with 2 other girls from the 10 and the other 7 all trekked a family on there own. I was sad at first that my friend and I had been separated but after hearing how crazy difficult there trek had been I was kind of glad. Each person had been given a giant walking stick and had the opportunity to hire a 'Porter' which if anyone out there is doing a trek i highly recommend! My porter saved my butt! He literally pushed me up the mountain at some points. The ground was slippery and he had my hand, helped me across steep bits and even carried my bag and gear!

It was 2 and a half hours before we had any radio contact that our trackers ahead had found the Gorillas and we had plenty of time to get to know the rest of the 5 people that had been trekking with us. Most of them ranged in there 40's-early 50's (hence how lovely the walk at the beginning of this trek had been) not to worry though because as soon as that radio call came in we started using a machete to cut into the mountain and creating our own path up and over!

Another hour trek and we where there! I was so glad to hear that out of all of the 5 family Gorilla groups that had been tracked that day ours was the one with the youngest baby! Ahhhhhhhh!!! He was 1 and a half and the cutest little thing! <3

He put on a show for us the whole hour we where allowed to sit with them, swinging from branches and beating on his chest. Being an absolutely cheeky little man! <3

At the morning briefing we'd been told that we would get 5-7m away from the Gorillas but that wasn't the case when we finally found them. Our trackers and guides kept urging us forwards and had us sitting less than 2m away! You could have touched them.

They share over 90% of the same DNA as us and for few minutes I just sat there and watched. We saw 4 that day. The Silver Back, an adult female, an adolescent and the baby. They're so human in there movements and the way they look at you it's almost scary.

That 1 hour that I spent on that mountain sitting with such amazing creatures will be with me for the rest of my life. What an experience!

One interesting fact about this meeting was that our trackers had to ask the Silver Back his permission before we entered the territory. Making a guttural almost throat clearing noise and if he responded in kind we where allowed in. Fascinating and amazing to witness!!

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So that, ladies and gents is the most memorable day of my life thus far.

If you wanted to read my whole blog on my African adventure it can be found Here!!!

What is one memorable moment in your life?

Kettle

Xx

VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
mortis322:
Breath taking views!! That would be so awesome to experience!! 
big_volts:
You can spend so many $ on fancy materialistic things in your life, but those memories are the real treasures you have for the rest of your life. Good on ya  mate!

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