We had never encountered a leech before

30/4/11

Being cost concious (the marking term for tight gits) we had been asking all guestes at the guest hours wether they planned to go to the waterfalls. This was not an act of generiousity or designed to ensure they got the most out of their trip but pure economics...six people sharing the cost of a tuck tuck is far cheaper then two sharing!

So on the morning of the 30th we had amassed a group of five people and set off towards the caves. Fortunately on of our fellow tuck tuck travelers had a GPS machine and became aware that we were traveling in the opposite direction of the waterfall. With a luck of dread and embarrassment (not something that often afflicts me) I realized that I had asked for and negotiated a price to the caves and not the waterfalls. I tried to explain to the driver that we wanted to go to the waterfalls using the international hand gestures for waterfall as he spoke no English. Evidently he did not understand hand gestures either as he turn round and took us back to the tuck tuck station.

After a quick swap of tuck tuck and a re-negotiation of price we were off again this time in the right direction. Despire our clality we were still some of the first to arrive at the waterfalls and what a spectacualr saigh they were. I have posted a phot but it does not do it justice. The water was turquoise, the trees luch and green and the leaches black and wiggley.

Yes leeches. We had never encountered a leech before but when a small black thing attached its self to my leg i was in no doubt that it was a leech. After the first attack I pulled my socks up to the level of my 3/4 length shorts and proceeded in the fashion. James had no socks to pull up but was some what reticent about the presence of leeches. That said none attacked him whilst four made there way onto my legs and one into my underpants. All together not a pleasant experience.

After an hours walk we reached the top of the waterfall. In order to go down on the other side we had to cross 50meters on calf deep water. James looked decidedly unsure but as we were with a group and never wanting to miss out I gamely agreed to carry James on my back across the water. It was worth it for the hilarity and photos it caused and to know that I am James knight in shiny armer (I even resisted the temptation to drop him in the water?!!!