Metropole Hotel Kampala

... other than a top of the range cordless drill (German of course.. Bosh) the other couple Nic and Ian are travelling the same way into Ethiopia that we are intending, the other two are heading down.<br><br>We intend to meet up with Ian &amp; Nic in Nairobi once we get our visa sorted then head up via a remote border crossing at Banya Fort.. I am not holding my breath as I do not really think a fort will be there. Thus the traversing of the troubled lands will be completed in convoy

... mattered to us anyway because we wouldn't be trekking the Gorillas. $600 to spend an hour with the Gorillas was just a bit beyond our budget at this late stage in our travels. We may come back some day and do it, if they are still here that is! What did matter to us though was that our truck was now full to capacity so the long drive to Kabale in South West Uganda was uncomfortable to say the least.<br><br>While most of the people in our group went and saw the Gorillas over 3 days we ...

... truck which I enjoy because it is a little dangerous on the roof and provides a little bit of exercise. Other jobs include cleaning the inside of the truck, fire maker, safe key custodian, and a few others. We also all rotate on food prep duties which only happens once every six days. We basically help the cook set up and down for meals including peeling and chopping vegetables. After a few days we are all pretty automatic on what to do each time something ...

Uganda was described by Churchill as the 'pearl of Africa', although I'm not sure Kampala has ever been represented so poetically. We had a long drive to get here - the border crossing gave the main problem, with Claire desperately trying not to cough or sneeze at the Swine Flu checkpoint, but after that we settled down to watch the lush scenery roll past the window. The presence of Lake Victoria so close by means there is plenty of water around ...

... we called it a day early as we were both pooped, hardly any sleep as there were a lot of overlanders in the campiste last night, no peeps in our dorm compared to tuesday night when there was al the other students, but there was a guy from pakistan whose been in the congo for 9 months working for the UN so ye you do get to meet the most randomist of peeps with quite interesting jobs. its quite fun to see whos going to arrive next!! off for a chipati byeeeeeeeeeeeeee

... the first class, he actually told the next classes we went to that I do not speak English, but only Luganda. So, I inntroduced myself in Luganda with my Lugandan name and then they wanted to ask me questions...which I clearly did not understand. I tried to fake it, but they were some cheeky kids. Yet, the surprise on their face when I spoke their language was so cool. One class went to their teacher after I had left and said: 'Eyy ...

... Our last feeding observation on Sunday afternoon, was not as pleasant. There was a dominance struggle between the 2nd and 3rd tiered males. This caused both Pasa and Billy to hide out in a tree. The other chimps would eat, but Pasa seemed to cry from the tree. A few times, she came down and sat next to another chimp who was eating an avocado. When they finished, she picked up their peel and ate the leftovers. But the second anything happened to indicate hierarchy struggles she would go ...

... a ride in a matatu in a direction I've never gone, get off and try to find my by walking back. As I walk I dodge bullets as boda-bodas speeding towards me-they own the roads in this country. <br><br>Needless to say I am over Kampala and ready to get out to the city. Thankfully today I depart for Gulu, where I will live/work for the next 6 months. From what I hear, I will be just another face among the staff of close to 300 NGO's based in Gulu. Should be interesting

... to canonize him St. Phillip as our newly found Catholicism badly needs a place of worship. Nothing happens on Sundays in these parts so we dutifully stayed with St. Phillip for most of the day! I'd been watching the locals drink the local home made banana spirit for a week and no-one had gone blind so decided to give it a try. Apparently it's up to 80% and it really anaesthetizes your mouth as you drink it - pretty horrific stuff all in all!