The Journey to Kampala and Baboons

Top: Fields of emerald green on the road between Kenya and Uganda

Middle: The Ugandan immigration office in the border town of Malaba, very official

Bottom: Happy passenger in a flatbed truck on a Ugandan highway and more green lush-ness

The roads in Kenya are severely battered by the constant, massive trucking traffic, which create deep ravines in the pavement and make for a bumpy ride. I didn't notice it much though, my attention was glued on the breathtaking landscapes and fluorescent green of banana leaves and tea plantations along the way, a continual feast for the eyes.

It took 5.5 hours to travel 200 km, due in large part to the condition of the roads. We crossed the border about 2 hours after we started. Just before the border, you are swarmed by men holding wads of cash called 'brokers'. They help you cross the border and offer to exchange your money, which by the way is one the biggest conduits of disease here, which you don't doubt for a second when you see the bills. They resemble something from the set of Pirates of the Caribbean, tattered and discolored but cashmere soft from handling. We got through relatively quickly and soon crossed the majestic Nile River. The mouth of the Nile lies in the Bujagali Falls in Uganda, which I am desperate to see though it's a bit off-track at this point; we might make it to the Equator on Wednesday!

We passed through the protected rain forests just beyond Busia (pronounced Booo-seee-uh), Uganda where Ebrahim and I (Oliver was napping in the back) saw two Baboons with hot pink faces emerging from the forest, only to look very surprised and turn back in, not before they were spotted by a group of children who chased them into the emerald thicket. We stopped at a roadside cafe for some fried chicken , spicy sauce and a mountain of rice, which I inhaled.

A few hours later after arriving in Kampala I realized that chicken weren't right. I have been hotel-room bound all day and only made it out to blog! I have taken everything I can and should and can't stand the fact that I missed one whole day of the experience and the beginning of our meetings with Living Goods. Tomorrow I shall persevere! Bathroom urgency or not, I want to see these deals through and can't wait to see more of Kampala, which by the way looks more like a resort town, it is so developed!

'Til next time,
Hilaria