MIVOAKA: 16.01.2017
On Wednesday we visited a coffee plantation located about 15 minutes bus ride from our university.
It was very interesting to see that we Germans had to pay much more for the entrance fee compared to others, but we are slowly getting used to it.
First, we entered a small house where we were greeted and given a brief introduction by "MR.Coffee," as he called himself.
Although we knew in advance that we would have to walk a lot, we were not prepared for a three-hour hike up a mountain.
As we started walking, we encountered small children asking for money, food, or drinks.
The others told us to simply ignore them, but it's not easy when malnourished children walk beside you and beg for help.
The first ascent was tough, climbing up the unpaved paths. And of course, the sun was shining bright, so we were all sweating profusely in no time.
Fortunately, after the first climb, things got better as we reached the plantation. Here, the guide explained the coffee cultivation and harvesting process at different stations. It was fascinating to see thousands of coffee plants and learn about the hard work involved in their cultivation and harvest.
When we reached the top, another employee had prepared a small fire with a pot on it. The guide brought some coffee beans, and we roasted them together. It was a much-needed break before we climbed further to another part of the mountain. The view became more breathtaking with each step.
Finally, the guide led us to a part of the mountain with tall rocks that everyone climbed without hesitation. The guide talked about kings and other things, but honestly, I was too busy taking in the view and taking pictures to fully understand.
Thankfully, the descent took a different path on the other side of the mountain, as the ascent route would have been dangerous to go down.
When we reached the bottom, we came to a house where several machines needed for coffee roasting were located. Since it was only March to June, the harvest season, we could only see the machines in idle mode.
After that, we walked through the village back to the original house, where we were offered coffee - which unfortunately tasted a bit weird! :D
But that was probably because there was no milk, and I don't like strong, black coffee!