Today in Arusha, we watched the Labor Day parades and celebrations. Then we visited a Maasai tribe and their village. This tribe is still practicing their true culture in Africa. I arrive their on a camel. The camel had a rope around his neck and was lead by a Maasai tribe man. My stubborn camel broke the rope and went trotting off in the opposite direction. The Maasai man began beating my camel with a whip, which only caused him to stomp his feet and wildly bite at the air. I was trying to suggest to the Maasai man that perhaps tough love was not the best discipline method when I am sitting on the camel. The Maasai people are famous as herders and warriors, once dominated the plains of East Africa and are now one of the few practicing tribes still in existence in Africa. The elder of the village I visited had 8 wives aged from 28 to 78 years old and he had 50 children. The youngest of these 50 children were very glad to visit with us. They were beautiful and sad at the same time. Their stomachs were swollen, their skin was so dirty it looked like mold was growing on it, they had no shoes and their feet were crusted with cow manure. The flies landed on them all over even right in their eyes but yet they did not seem to be bothered. They were so happy to hold your hands and get their photo taken, especially to see themselves in the LCD screen. They lived in mud and grass huts and the animals lived inside their hut with them. Their style of dress involved lots of beaded Jewelry such as necklaces, headbands, bracelets, rings, earrings that are so big they create huge ear holes and drooping earlobes. It was a very interesting culture and nice people. Journal Entry Arusha Posted On: 5/22/2005