Friday, August 17, 2012
As previously mentioned, Stef and I are sharing a tent. We are pretty like-minded about certain things, so we usually have a good laugh. Last night was no exception. We headed to our tent for an early night and then proceeded to chat for a good bit. At one point, the conversation stopped being serious and went something like this:
Stef: Did you just fart?
Mel: Nope.
Stef: (after careful consideration and some prolonged sniffing, in a panicked voice) Oh my god! I think it’s just me.
I am not sure if it reads as funny as it was, but even while sitting here typing, the two of us are practically wetting ourselves laughing. Maybe you had to be here. I think it was even funnier due to the fact that she had just returned from what she called “a mini-whore’s bath” where she wet-wiped her feet and armpits, claiming they were the issue. The smell eventually went away so perhaps it was one of the neighbouring tents.
I haven’t really felt clean much of this trip. Cold showers just don’t get through the layers of sunscreen, bug spray and dirt. Sometimes I marvel at my tan only to mope a little when the wet wipes remove it and make me pale again. Needless to say, no deodorant, perfume or any other scented mask seems to make any of us smell good. I can’t wait to have a good hot shower where I can scrub away the layers of dirt and actually get the soap out of my hair.
We made an extensive list of all the snacks we wanted to buy at the “supermarket” before heading to Lake Bunyoni where we would be for the next four days. I believe it included: chips, chocolate, candy, cookies, wine and poppers (drink boxes, to all you non-Aussies). I am sure our mouths hung open and the look of disappointment on our faces was apparent when we pulled up to the “Royal Supermarket” in Kabale. It smelled a little funky when we entered and they didn’t have much of anything on our list, not to mention the prices were outrageous. A couple of bags of stale chips, a bag of maltesers and the cheapest (I’m guessing they will be flavourless) cookies and we headed out.
Pics of our campsite at Lake Bunyoni:
My sunglasses broke yesterday and I wasn’t able to fix them. I was a little desperate and was hopeful I would find a pair in the “supermarket”. The only pair there were authentic Ray Bans which Muna hinted cost a fortune so I left without. When I asked Muna (the shopkeeper) if there was somewhere else in town that sold sunnies, he said no, those were the only pair. I went next door to the café to use the toilet and to get a drink and asked the server if he knew of a place. He told me he would have to take me there.
So, dragging Stef along we headed off the main street. Dodging the motorbikes and bicycles to cross the street was a challenge in itself. We had to work hard to keep up to the café guy but followed closely, right in to a CD/movie shop. There on the counter were two turn racks with about 10 pairs total of sunglasses. Not much to choose from but I finally narrowed it down to a pair of glitzy (Gu)cci (The GU had rubbed off on the side) and a pair of DG. They were the smallest, least flashy of the lot. I settled on the DG and forked over my cash. At this point, I would probably have paid a ridiculous amount considering I can’t imagine being without sunnies, and because we were in some little shop amongst all the locals depending on our new friend, the café worker, to bring us back to our tour bus. Turns out they were a staggering 8000 USh which translates to $3.29 CAD at today’s rates. Not too shabby! I’m sure going to look fine for those gorillas tomorrow!
The drive from Kabale to Lake Bunyoni was great. I am amazed at the red dust that comes up from their dirt roads. The trees and everything along the side of the roads have a layer of red dust on them. Their lungs must be full of the stuff. Once lunch was finished, (pasta salad with tuna and fresh pineapple for dessert), Wilson and Steve headed out with Tusker, our truck, because there are problems with the truck. Hopefully everything will get sorted!
I think the Ugandans have a hard life. The mountain roads were lined with people working. There were tons of people making gravel from rocks, by hand. Children can be seen everywhere carrying water to their homes, in the fields tending crops, herding animals and just working hard. Life in Africa is hard, but the people are lovely. Our drives are long and tiring but I love watching the people and seeing what daily life looks like. Often times people wave, particularly children. It’s great to hear the screams and see them come running to get closer to the road so they can wave at us passing by. Women seem indifferent, and I am sure they see many overland trucks passing by. It’s not like we are the first. Some children call out to us and men seem to be angry; some have made rude gestures as we pass by. Sometimes all it takes is a smile and they eventually wave to us. Every now and again I manage to sneak a photo.
I must get my stuff ready for the gorilla trek tomorrow. We are heading out early and could be trekking for as long as 9 hours to find the gorillas. I am up for a good trek but am hoping our family is a little closer. This is what I have been working towards!
WWT: Look out gorillas, here I come!
