Snippets from Kampala, Uganda (01/31/01)

If nothing else, you are learning the names of all the capital cities in Africa!

I'm afraid that I probably won't do this journal justice until I return home. I have lost several half-done entries to power failures. Actually, Africa is a lot like the U.S. (especially California) -- questionable election procedures and power failures!

Below is a rehash of what I sent on the moonride email list (www.egroups.com)

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So, yes, I'm in Uganda, where Idi Amin once reigned terror, and where Ebola occasionally breaks out in the north, and you can see gorillas in the south.

Yet, so many travellers and Kenyans told me that Uganda is a lovely place with great people, so I went for it--and everyone was right.

I am way behind on journal entries please forgive me.

The quick update:

* Riding from Tanzania to Kenya, a pickup truck loaded with people in the back turned over directly in front of me. It was pretty horrible, but unfortunately not uncommon in Africa

* Saw a Maasai convention near the border -- what a sight. I had no camera :-( (I bought a cheap one in Kenya, so photos will be coming)

* Nairobi was too good. They say it is quite dangerous, but so far I have had very good experiences.

* Drove to the Kakamega Forest where for the first time I dumped the bike (remember with the goat I kept the bike up). Planted it in massive mud and it took 5 of us to raise it up.

* In Uganda, the taxi drivers are viscious -- no other word for it. I call it BMR -- Biggest Man Rules. The taxis pull out to pass or even to avoid a pothole, and they don't budge. I was run off the road 4 times on the way to Kampala.

* Arrived in Kampala at rush hour -- ALWAYS A MISTAKE. It was the scariest driving I have seen. Other travellers have told me the only place that is worse in Africa is Lagos.

* Watched the Superbowl at the Marine House in Kampala. There were 15 weary Americans trying to stay awake while we talked about the food we missed. The game started at 2:30am local time. I learned when I arrived there that 3 bombs had gone off in Kampala that night--and me at the Marine House, a prime target!!

* Have been shown around by some local friends who have gone to great lengths to show me the local culture. Went to a Car Rally (won by a very popular American living in Uganda -- Chipper Adams).

* Saw the Afrigo band, Uganda's best

* Two hours after I bragged to my moonride buddies that I had not had a puncture the whole trip, I got a flat on the rear.

* The flat seems to be fixed and I'm off to Fort Portal. I don't plan to see the gorillas -- even though they only take groups of 6, I think the beasts are better left alone than having daily visits from Mzungu like me.

* I stayed at the Backpackers www.backpackers.co.ug -- this is a great site to learn about Uganda, and has plenty of photos in lieu of my own.