Kilimanjaro - Success and a Surprise!

Hello everybody! There will be a more detailed post to follow (Couldn't update earlier due to no reliable internet connection in Tanzania and I'm currently battling traveler's "sickness").

In the meantime, I wanted to very briefly share two of the most important events:

Summit to Kilimanjaro was a success

Then... my amazing boyfriend proposed at the top of Africa! (after a grueling midnight start/9 hour trek up, while battling freezing cold and major altitude sickness... Well I had AMS. He was the strongest one in the group of 11)

Here is a video to the amazingly epic proposal :)

Ok - I will be updating about the rest of the trip and ALOT more details very soon!

PADI Scuba Certification - Hikes on hold

I haven't been able to train for Mt. Kilimanjaro for a while now. Life has continued to be very very busy!
Still adjusting to my new job, 90 mile RT commute (at least now I'm part of a vanpool - I highly recommend it!), family weddings, and PADI scuba certification!

Here are some pics from my first open water boat dive. I finished my PADI certification with a beach shore dive yesterday but it wasn't very practical to bring my phone/camera.

The boat dive was my first open water experience. I was a little nervous but I seemed to do well and passed all the tests. They're not overly difficult. The main thing is to always breathe and don't freak out.

The boat dives are extra (I paid $115). they are an awesome luxury. I wish I could've done both my dives with the boat but that was just an extra $230 I could spend on gear or something. If you have back issues or other serious physical problems, I would recommend it because I was carrying almost 50% of my weight on my back. It was HARD! I had to walk a few blocks and several flights of stairs.

On a boat dive, they bring everything for you, help you put on all the gear, and have snacks and food for you in between dives.

I went with Beach Cities Scuba from their groupon/living social deal ($200). I'm pretty happy with it! I bought my scuba gear from Sports Chalet with the help of my boyfriend. I saved some money and got the gear quality I want.

I highly recommend everybody at least trying it. It's pretty amazing being able to breathe underwater and watching fishes swim up to you in curiosity. I wish I had an underwater camera but I will post pics when I go recreationally :)