Okay, for those of you now living in Toronto but who were born and raised in Arusha, Tanzania, you may take issue with my promoting the war-torn African stereotype by posting a photo of an army van full of solidiers who happen to be towing a large anti-aircraft gun.

In my defence, I can only say that this was one of the more interesting sights during my first day here in Arusha.

Countdown to Kilimanjaro: Two Days

I absolutely hate to travel.  I hate to fly.

My biggest worry is that I’ll get bored, as silly as that seems.

But you know what?  I got through the 25 hours of travel like a pro!

Eight hours to Amsterdam, a four-hour layover, and then another eight hours to Kilimanjaro.  Factor in the waiting around at Pearson and the travel time to Arusha, and we’re talking just over 25 hours.

That’s alright.  We certainly caught up on our sleep.

My Dad and I had a contest to see who could sleep longer.  Every time I rolled over and checked the clock, I figured he would say, “We should probably get up!”

Nope.

Try 16 straight hours of sleep!  Now I know what it feels like to be a “true” University student.  Or, one that just finished University and is in their first two years of pretending to look for a job…

It’s rather interesting getting to know your parents at this age.

My Dad spilled his Metamucil all over my passport.

And I’m pretty sure he took my NHL Yearbook into the bathroom with him.

My Dad has no problem drinking a bottle of wine at night to “wind down” but I’m a little concerned about the elevation and the potential for dehydration.

Maybe he’s going to RUN up that mountain!  Maybe he’ll leave me in his wake!

Two days until the climb.

I’m anxious, but not nearly as much as I assumed I would be.

This afternoon, Subash arrives from Nepal.

Four years ago, my Dad, my brother, and myself went to Mount Everest and met a very nice young man named Subash.  He was our guide for the better part of two weeks, and we took a very kind liking to him, as he did to us.

My Dad was in tears at the airport when we had to say our goodbyes, and we all promised to stay in touch via email.

Normally, that’s just something you say.

I’ve met dozens of people in my travels whereby we’ve exchanged contact information and promised to stay in touch.  It usually fades out within a few weeks.

But Subash was different.  He was just such a genuine, caring, joyful person who always put a positive spin on things.  It was just in his nature.  I wanted to stay in touch with him, and once back in Toronto, I sent him about a 2,000 word email all about life in Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs, my condo….and he wrote my Dad back and described my email as “interesting”…

I exchanged emails with Subash for the rest of 2006 and well into the New Year.

Then, he announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer of the larnyx – ironically, the exact same cancer that my Dad had contracted, and successfully defeated.

This only gave my Dad more reason to stay in touch with Subash, and as an expert on cancer of the larnyx, my Dad guided Subash through the process and told him exactly what to expect.  Subash was well-prepared for the treatment and the physical and mental anguish, and he beat the cancer in 2008.

Subash returned to work as a sherpa in Nepal and guided dozens more expeditions to Mount Everest.

I should mention here, before we get carried away, that we only hiked to base camp at Mount Everest.  Anything further than base camp is a death-wish, plain and simple.  Look it up on Wikipedia if you have time…

When the subject of climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro first came up a couple years ago, it was suggested that we bring Subash with us.

I know, I know – it sounds nuts, and perhaps a little posh.

“Oooooh yes, dahhlings, we’re flying in our very own sherpa from Nepal!”

It’s not like that.

Subash has never been out of Nepal/Tibet in his entire life.

My brother once asked him, “Subash, if you could go to any country in the entire world, where would you go?”

Subash replied, “India.”

Of course – right next door to Nepal!

So how about this – how about we fly Subash all the way to friggin’ AFRICA!

How about we take Subash with us to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro!

Subash will be accompanying us on this great journey, not as our guide, but as our friend and guest.

Both my parents are great people, in my eyes.

I’ve watched how my mother spends her days in her retirement – she teaches music and art at the Craiglee Nursing Home, she volunteers to look after babies with the Victorian Order of Nurses, and she has her own sweat-shop wherby she and my grandmother knit blankets, hats, mittens, and booties for babies to be donated to the home for unwed mothers.

My Dad has always taken a liking to good “character” people that he comes across in his life.  My brother and I joke that he has five sons across the world, and in some ways, it’s true.  My Dad is more than willing to donate his time and interest for the right cause.  After all, he coached my hockey team for eleven years when I was a kid, even though he was working eighty hours per week as a criminal lawyer.

My parents have always given back, and they motivate me to do the same.

I’m so proud of my father for bringing Subash to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with us.  I think it’s amazing, and I’d gladly see him spend a couple grand on Subash’s first and only trip out of Nepal, and forego the yearly Toblerone-bounty that I receive at Christmas…

This will be the “trip of a lifetime” for my Dad and I, but can you even begin to imagine how this will feel for Subash?  I don’t think “trip of a lifetime” even begins to explain it.

His whole life, Subash has guided tourists up the mountain in Nepal & Tibet only to have them go home and show pictures to their friends and family.  Now, it will be Subash that will return to Kathmandu in September and show his wife, Sharmila, photos of his trip to another continent.  And one day when his son, Supi, is old enough, he’ll regale him with tales from his travels.

Now my Dad and I have to spend the afternoon looking for the craziest African restaurant so we can really overwhelm Subash with culture shock when he arrives tonight…