Detour to Jinja

Nathan arrived a few hours late on Friday night which alleviated the hunger-killing, stomach-knotting stress I had been experiencing wondering if and when he would arrive.

Seeing him was great! Seeing him in Africa is amazing! We made it back to our hotel by midnight after a hairy car ride in the dark.

The next morning, as we had no bags, we started with some shopping for a few new shirts and shorts so he wouldn't overheat in the jeans and long sleeved shirt he arrived in. We met Patrick, Isabelle and Sami who drove us to the village where Patrick farms. Nathan thoroughly enjoyed meeting a group of school children who had been practising for a Christmas concert. They also really loved meeting him and posing for pictures in front of his camera. He even let them take a few photos too, which they thought was a blast.We also saw pineapples fields and the foundation for a clinic Patrick is slowly building, before returning to Mulago Hospital where Nathan and I walked around so he could see the sites with his own eyes. That evening we had dinner with Dennis, which was lovely and packed with intense political conversations about the conditions in Uganda.

Pineapple fields... still about 1 year from maturation

Nathan's newest friends

All smiles! How can YOU not want to smile when you see this little guy?!?!

Poor Sami did not like being out of the car. The ducks and turkeys did not impress her one bit!

The next day, as the baggage department at Entebbe airport told us Nathan's luggage would only be arriving on Sunday's plane, we could not leave for Fort Portal as planned. We decided on going to Jinja, a town 80km East of Kampala, sitting at the mouth of the Nile. This town used to be the site of significant economic activity as there is a dam here generating electricity from the Nile's raging waters. Imin of course, put an end to that, and the town is slowly waking up. Sundays however, the town seems to continue on sleeping. We engaged in a true African experience Sunday, by making it to Jinja on matutus as all other buses were not running. We also did this while navigating through Kampala's MTN marathon. By foot we explored the main town and stopped at a hotel on the Nile for a drink. We then  used a boda-boda to get to the water falls just north of the town. Despite being a little nervous, we felt like Che Guevera and his uncle on their road trip in "The Motorcycle Diaries" exploring new countryside on two shabby wheels. The falls weren't particularly impressive, but the white water served as a great view as we sat under a grass hut eating whole fried tilapia, my new favorite, and drinking cold beers.

Kampala's "Old Taxi Park". You can see the matutus for MILES! They are unbelievable organized by destination once you get down there. And even more surprisingly, they seem to leave relatively frequently and do not fill them beyond the number of seats. For our 80 km/2 hour trek, the cost was 18 000 Ush return trip for both of us, or, 5USD! It was a good bargain! Especially since our 20km of boda-boda riding was the same price.

Grasshoppers anyone? They come right to your taxi window!! Come oooon!!!!

The Nile above the dam. It has flooded the river in a placid waterway from Lake Victoria. Underneath where you are looking, is the old spot of the Ripon Falls where the first European, Speke, is said to have discovered the source of the Nile realising that it is the same river found 6500km north in Egypt.

The underwhelming Bujagi Falls downstream from the river. Although less exciting to look at, these rapids (note crazy Kayaker) have become Uganda's largest tourist attraction.

Sunday night we returned to Entebbe and retrieved the bags successfully. We will be delivering the donated medical equipment for three surgeons I have met along the way today, and then will head off to Fort Portal for our originally planned journey. We may not have internet until Rwanda but we will try and keep you posted best as possible.

Love to all,
Maryse