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Oeganda

Marie, 1 oktober 2009
Oeganda , Kampala

Vodka for breakfast

I m back in Africa! Only for a week, but more than enough to get all these memories back and to be surprised over and over again about all the funny/ creative things you see along the road and the no worries mentality of the people.

The trip started at the airport where I expected total chaos and where I found a very organised structure, clear lines, clear baggage drop bands,.. but also, while everybody is in the queue, travelagents would just go to the officers, give them a bit of money and let their clients jump the line to go first.. and so I knew, back in Africa..

First impressions are that the people are really friendly, open minded, the city is quiet clean and the food is goooooooood!
The hotel is really great, although I was very surprised to see Vodka at the breakfast buffet.. thinking that people really exaggerate when they start their day with a vodka, but when I checked with my collegues it turns out that bottle has been there for the last year or so and nobody touches is.. its just if you really feel like it, its there.. (maybe they are preparing for the Russians to come explore the Uganda Market.. haha).

A nice example of the no worry mentality is when we rented a small boat to explore the area, a lady was washing her feet and shoes in the canoe we rented, as she didn’t move out, we asked her if she was going to join us, which was for her already an evidence.. so on our trip this lady continued her washing, like nothing was going on.. but when we asked her on the area, she was just giggling..
On the way back, as expected somehow, the motor went down, but luckily some fishermen came to help us straight away.. but not before they could take some pictures of me with their cellphones, I think it was a first in their lifetime experience to come safe a white woman stuck in the middle of the Victoria Lake. And I m getting quiet used to the picture taking.. and always take a picture back ofcourse, so its becoming a nice collection..

Today during one of our hikes in the bush I was standing on some rocks when some local guys came running to us, pointing at the rocks. Turned out they were from the local community and I was standing with my boots on their holy place, they showed me that the rock had the same shape as Africa and that for them this place was the inspiration for God to create Africa the way it is. So I stepped off nicely and than one of the locals stepped on, barefoot, because on top of the rocks they get answers from God, telling them where to find water, where to find food, but only barefoot.. And you know, they way the people where telling their stories they looked soo serious, but on the other hand laughing with themselves that they believed what they were telling us..
Amazingly enough their english was really really good! The more I get convinced that Africans really have a talent for languages!
A nice little fact is that I was only the 3rd white person (muzunge) to be on that holy spot (tjutju)..

Tomorrow night I m invited for a Belgian mussel night here in Kampala. Fresh mussels will be flew in by Brussels airlines, don’t know if they also bring Belgian beers, but I m sure it will be a nice experience! (other option was dinner with Ugandas most famous singer, but you can't have it all..).

Cheers!
Marie

Foto's bij reisverslag

Vorige

Volgende

overview

huts

cola

people are just everywhere

fruitmarket

family watch garden

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