Day 4 10/15/10
I am typing this entry at 8 p.m. local time from my Besotho hut (rondavel). 
This morning we left from Semonkong at 9:00 to start our pony trek to Ketane Falls. Our guide Joseph made sure we had everything we needed packed in saddle bags, (food, sleeping bags, clothing, etc.). The journey took us up one side of a mountain and down another. The horses were sure footed and I am glad for that because in some places the trail was narrow, steep, and rocky. I am very proud of Will this was his second time on a horse and it was a 5 and a half hour ride.
Along the way the scenery was breath taking, mountains and valleys, village after village each with a certain uniqueness to them. We were also privileged to pass by one village in particular. All the boys were being taken to the mountain as a right of passage to become a man. They were following a bull they had adorned with green branches and bundles of grass. All the adults esp. the women were cheering and singing and calling out to them as they left the village. We started our journey off in sunshine, then it rained, sleeted, hailed and snowed! When we finally arrived at Kaheng Village, Chief Matthias and his wife Georgina greeted us and showed us to our rondavel, which also serves as the preschool. 
We waited out the rain and hail before we started on our half hour hike to Ketane Falls, the hike took us down mountain trails and down a rocky slope but it was all worth it. As we stood perched high above the falls looking down into the valley it made the journey all worth it. 
When we returned Will and I started dinner. There is no electricity or gas so we used a propane stove to cook our dinner, and then boiled water to clean off the dishes so we could reuse them. Joseph our guide showed us how to cook pop, it is like grits/polenta only you eat it with milk. He made too much so we took what was left and brought it to Chief Matthias and his wife Georgina. There is also no toilet but there is an outhouse and using it for other then well let’s just say standing was not in the picture. There are also no beds so we are sleeping on what look like the mats that were used for gymnastics when I was in high school gym class. Also FYI the floors are made from mud which is mixed with cow manure and spread smooth by hand, which I am told is a woman’s job. Don’t pass judgment on the blogger I am just blogging like I was told. The same mixture of mud and cow manure was also spread on the inner walls and then painted. It is now time to try to get some sleep as we leave tomorrow at 7 a.m. we are taking a different trail home but it will still take five hours or so to get back to Semonkong! Good night!
This morning we left from Semonkong at 9:00 to start our pony trek to Ketane Falls. Our guide Joseph made sure we had everything we needed packed in saddle bags, (food, sleeping bags, clothing, etc.). The journey took us up one side of a mountain and down another. The horses were sure footed and I am glad for that because in some places the trail was narrow, steep, and rocky. I am very proud of Will this was his second time on a horse and it was a 5 and a half hour ride. 
Along the way the scenery was breath taking, mountains and valleys, village after village each with a certain uniqueness to them. We were also privileged to pass by one village in particular. All the boys were being taken to the mountain as a right of passage to become a man. They were following a bull they had adorned with green branches and bundles of grass. All the adults esp. the women were cheering and singing and calling out to them as they left the village. We started our journey off in sunshine, then it rained, sleeted, hailed and snowed! When we finally arrived at Kaheng Village, Chief Matthias and his wife Georgina greeted us and showed us to our rondavel, which also serves as the preschool. 
We waited out the rain and hail before we started on our half hour hike to Ketane Falls, the hike took us down mountain trails and down a rocky slope but it was all worth it. As we stood perched high above the falls looking down into the valley it made the journey all worth it. 
When we returned Will and I started dinner. There is no electricity or gas so we used a propane stove to cook our dinner, and then boiled water to clean off the dishes so we could reuse them. Joseph our guide showed us how to cook pop, it is like grits/polenta only you eat it with milk. He made too much so we took what was left and brought it to Chief Matthias and his wife Georgina. There is also no toilet but there is an outhouse and using it for other then well let’s just say standing was not in the picture. There are also no beds so we are sleeping on what look like the mats that were used for gymnastics when I was in high school gym class. Also FYI the floors are made from mud which is mixed with cow manure and spread smooth by hand, which I am told is a woman’s job. Don’t pass judgment on the blogger I am just blogging like I was told. The same mixture of mud and cow manure was also spread on the inner walls and then painted. It is now time to try to get some sleep as we leave tomorrow at 7 a.m. we are taking a different trail home but it will still take five hours or so to get back to Semonkong! Good night!
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