Field trips

During training, we went on two field trips: one to Thaba-Bosiu (Mountain of Night) and one to Tsehlanyane (The Little Yellow). Thaba-Bosiu is an important Basotho historic site, where King Moshoeshoe set up camp to defend his people from Shaka. From Thaba-Bosiu, you can also see the mountain that gave shape to the Mokorotlo (the odd-shaped Basotho hat). When we got to the point overlooking the hat mountain, we were somewhat surprised to see that all of our LCFs (Language  & Cultural Facilitators) had green plants sticking out of their noses. They explained that these were mint leaves, to clear the sinuses. I tried it, and it was a pleasant enough sensation. I highly recommend sticking mint sprigs up your nostrils if you get the change. Here's a picture from Thaba-Bosiu.

I am on the left. The hat mountain is on the right.

Tsehlanyane is a national park in the Butha-Buthe district, and was very beautiful. We went for a short hike, then stopped by a swimming hole which was freezing but very needed, and then we had a cookout. King Letsie III was rumored to be visiting, though I did not see him. Here are some pictures.

Me on a bridge at Tsehlanyane. The top of my backpacking bag can be worn as a messenger bag, which is, in fact, fashionable.

One of the somewhat creepy forests we walked through. I think you will agree it does not take much imagination to picture those black-cloaked riders from the Lord of the Rings storming through and kidnapping your hobbit friends.