Horseback tour (left) and Bushmen paintings(right)
View from our rondavel (left) Inside our rondavel (right)
Lesotho has a chill, relaxed attitude that began at the border. As we handed our passports to the official, before he looked at them he asked us how we were doing with a big smile. This is a very poor country and reminded me of Central America (i.e. donkeys along the highway, corn and sorgum fields along the hillsides, people dressed in wool blankets, etc.) 30% of the population has AIDS. There are several small children and only a few senior citizens. The unemployment rate is 45%. Arriving in the Liphofung Cave Historical Site down a dirt road where we stayed in a rondavel (pictured above). No electricity. The san bushmen paintings are up to 8,000 years old (pictured above). The next day we went on an amazing 4 hour horseback ride with our guide, Mohau. He grew up in this village and his father was a sheepherder. Many people smiled and waved at us. Some asked our guide if we could come closer just to look at us. They all seemed so peaceful, content, and happy. It didn't seem to matter that they are so poor (i.e. washing their clothes in the river, no toilet, no electricity, limited diet, etc). Just sitting here thinking that the children only get a free education up to primary school. However, the government provides a free education for orphans through high school. The money comes from diamond mines and water export to South Africa. This is such a lovely place to travel.
No comments:
Post a Comment