My Easter Weekend Adventure -Part I - Getting there!
I started my travels on Thursday as I escorted Louise, a young girl staying at our center and her son to Rwanda. She fled the genocide in '94 and went to the Congo and two years ago came to Uganda as a refugee. When she got pregnant her guardian rejected her and we were unable to find a home in Uganda for her. Her guardian connected us with a cousin in Rwanda willing to take her in, but I didn't want her to travel alone so I went with her.
We arrived in Rwanda without any problems and some "family" were waiting for her and my friends (Brad & Kiki Burnfield) were waiting for me. I gave her some more money for food and transport and we said goodbye. I was sad to say goodbye. Even though I can't communicate much with Louise, she is a sweet gentle girl whom no one wanted to say goodbye to. Her son Joshua is such a good baby, not fussy at all and has the same gentle spirit.
So Brad and I immediately try to book me on a bus for the next day, unfortunately they are all booked (Good Friday, everyone is traveling). So I have to go on taxi bus to the border, cross over and get another taxi on the other side to Kabale (where I would meet up with friends at a resort outside of that town). We were advise to arrive at the taxi park early, in case the taxi's fill up.
After figuring that stuff out, we go out to dinner. It is Brad, Kiki, me and their friends and co-workers Fawn & Mike with their two adorable girls. We enjoy some pizza, calzones - you know traditional Rwandese food ;-)
We arrive a bit past 6:30 am at the park the next morning and the taxi to Gatuna is full but this turns out to be a blessing because there is another taxi that is going - so I get the best seat on the taxi, the front seat! I just have to wait about 30 minutes for it to fill up and endure all the people sticking phone chargers, belts, tissues, and water among a few things in my face as I wait.
Now, I am not so sure how the whole taxi to Kabale will work but I overhear a conversation in back about how this guy is going to Kabale and this is the cheapest way to go and all you have to do is pay a few thousand shillings... All this is in english, which is unusual but I consider this an answer to prayer. The guys talking is a tall Indian guy, so I decide to keep an eye on him at the border to see if I can hitch a ride with him or just see where he goes for a lift.
It took FOREVER at the border! After an hour an a half and a lecture from a Ugandan official about how I need a work permit, 'yes sir, I know sir. I am filling out the paperwork now sir' He said 'I'll give you a 30 day pass', 'can you give me a 60 day pass?' I asked -although i wanted a 90 day one but thought that would be pushing my luck.
Finally done with the officials and I see my tall Indian friend negotiating with some special hires, so I tap him on the shoulder and ask if we can go in on the taxi. I let him negotiate the price and along with another lady we are off to kabale - for only 6000 Ush about $3. I left Kabale about 8am Uganda time and arrive in Kabale around noon.
I decide to have lunch, during which I saw a Good friday procession of youth singing hymns, it was quite a site with hundreds of kids holding these big crosses. Unfortunately no pictures since my camera was in my suitcase with my roommate. I then went to an internet cafe to check emails and then I asked the manager on how to get to Lake Bunyonyi. He arranged a motorcycle boda which dropped me off at the dock where I take a boat to the Bushara Island Camp.
It must have been market day, because there were a tone of people right there. I wasn't even off the bike and there are 3 guys asking me where i am going. I would have walked around and checked out the market but I didn't want to have people following me around while I do it! It was really confusing, which boat do I take? It is supposed to be free. Eventually, I figure it out. they were only trying to be helpful but they just got in the way! It was a 10 minute boat ride to the island, I shared the ride with the general manager of the camp-Patrick.
That is all the time I have for now.... more later
I started my travels on Thursday as I escorted Louise, a young girl staying at our center and her son to Rwanda. She fled the genocide in '94 and went to the Congo and two years ago came to Uganda as a refugee. When she got pregnant her guardian rejected her and we were unable to find a home in Uganda for her. Her guardian connected us with a cousin in Rwanda willing to take her in, but I didn't want her to travel alone so I went with her.
We arrived in Rwanda without any problems and some "family" were waiting for her and my friends (Brad & Kiki Burnfield) were waiting for me. I gave her some more money for food and transport and we said goodbye. I was sad to say goodbye. Even though I can't communicate much with Louise, she is a sweet gentle girl whom no one wanted to say goodbye to. Her son Joshua is such a good baby, not fussy at all and has the same gentle spirit.
So Brad and I immediately try to book me on a bus for the next day, unfortunately they are all booked (Good Friday, everyone is traveling). So I have to go on taxi bus to the border, cross over and get another taxi on the other side to Kabale (where I would meet up with friends at a resort outside of that town). We were advise to arrive at the taxi park early, in case the taxi's fill up.
After figuring that stuff out, we go out to dinner. It is Brad, Kiki, me and their friends and co-workers Fawn & Mike with their two adorable girls. We enjoy some pizza, calzones - you know traditional Rwandese food ;-)
We arrive a bit past 6:30 am at the park the next morning and the taxi to Gatuna is full but this turns out to be a blessing because there is another taxi that is going - so I get the best seat on the taxi, the front seat! I just have to wait about 30 minutes for it to fill up and endure all the people sticking phone chargers, belts, tissues, and water among a few things in my face as I wait.
Now, I am not so sure how the whole taxi to Kabale will work but I overhear a conversation in back about how this guy is going to Kabale and this is the cheapest way to go and all you have to do is pay a few thousand shillings... All this is in english, which is unusual but I consider this an answer to prayer. The guys talking is a tall Indian guy, so I decide to keep an eye on him at the border to see if I can hitch a ride with him or just see where he goes for a lift.
It took FOREVER at the border! After an hour an a half and a lecture from a Ugandan official about how I need a work permit, 'yes sir, I know sir. I am filling out the paperwork now sir' He said 'I'll give you a 30 day pass', 'can you give me a 60 day pass?' I asked -although i wanted a 90 day one but thought that would be pushing my luck.
Finally done with the officials and I see my tall Indian friend negotiating with some special hires, so I tap him on the shoulder and ask if we can go in on the taxi. I let him negotiate the price and along with another lady we are off to kabale - for only 6000 Ush about $3. I left Kabale about 8am Uganda time and arrive in Kabale around noon.
I decide to have lunch, during which I saw a Good friday procession of youth singing hymns, it was quite a site with hundreds of kids holding these big crosses. Unfortunately no pictures since my camera was in my suitcase with my roommate. I then went to an internet cafe to check emails and then I asked the manager on how to get to Lake Bunyonyi. He arranged a motorcycle boda which dropped me off at the dock where I take a boat to the Bushara Island Camp.
It must have been market day, because there were a tone of people right there. I wasn't even off the bike and there are 3 guys asking me where i am going. I would have walked around and checked out the market but I didn't want to have people following me around while I do it! It was really confusing, which boat do I take? It is supposed to be free. Eventually, I figure it out. they were only trying to be helpful but they just got in the way! It was a 10 minute boat ride to the island, I shared the ride with the general manager of the camp-Patrick.
That is all the time I have for now.... more later
posted by jessica-dawn at 3:00 AM
1 Comments:
Did you get the 30-day or 60-day pass?
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