Travelling

I'm in Nairobi now. I've been travelling around Tanzania for a while with an American girl I met called Hillary. I crossed part of Lake Victoria, and spent some time in Mwanza, which is just south of it.

I met some cool Tanzanian guys, and they really looked after me. I was a bit suspicious of overly friendly Africans who had just met me, but they turned out to be genuinely nice friendly people. They showed me round the town, and insisted on buying me drinks, and paying for things. They also help me get a cheap second hand camera, as the one I brought to Rwanda was stolen the first week i was there, and i wasn't able to get a replacement anywhere in Rwanda. A

nyway, after that i went travelling with Hillary. we took a train together to Dar, and spent a day on Zanzibar island. We also went to Kilamanjaro Park, and did a day hike together. Anyway, I've left Hillary now, and have just been persuaded to go on a safari. I did see a lot of animals, but it was a bit of a nightmare. I mean, we got to see all big game, and I’m sure the pictures will be impressive, but we crammed into a tiny jeep minivan, and the temperature was ridiculous.

The people i was with were really cool, and i got on very well with two Israeli girls, and a French bloke called Jerome. We camped out in the bush, and had excellent time round the campfire. I'm now back in Nairobi, and its pouring it down with rain. I'm debating whether or not to take the night bus today or tomorrow. I'm having a great time, but i have very little time, as i always seem to be rushing round everywhere. I don't think I have had two consecutive nights in the same place for a week. I have seen some amazing things.

Half way through

I'm half way through my time in africa at the moment, and it all seems to have gone so quickly.

One of the blokes has an electric razor, and I got one of the girls to give me a mohican. I get an absolutely crazy response every time I walk down the street now.
You have to remember that being white marks you out like being a celebrity does in the UK. Every where you go you get literally hundreds of people asking you what your name is and "how are you?".

One of the girls woke up to find a rat in her hair the other night. Which was nice. We decided to name him "Roland", as he was in our house somewhere and couldn't find him, although eventually we did manage to find and kill him.

Last weekend was good. We went out on saturday, got back at 4 and then had to be up again at 7 to be at work. I think we must have still been drunk or something, because we don't normally work on sundays, and we're not even getting paid.

Anyway, work is going well. Looking forward to finishing the project, and doing a bit of travelling.

Arrival

Have arrived safe and well in Huye, Rwanda, (eventually!)

We had 7 hour overnight flight to Dubai, stayed in airport for 5 hours then another 7 hour flight to Entebbe, bus to Kampala arriving 10pm, then got up at 5am for 18 hour bus ride.

Eventually arrived after 3 days travelling and a total of 4 hours sleep! Its very dusty, reasonably hot (about 20 degrees).

The bus ride was madness. There aren't any motorways, only one lane roads, and buses just honk their horns whilst travelling at around 70mph so that people walking along, or buses going towards them go out of the way!

All the Rwandan students are really friendly. We went out to a party on the first night we were here and had a blinding time.

So far we are doing ok, but the place we are staying in has no running water or electricity. Internet access is available here at the university, about an hour and a half's walk from where we are staying. Everything is a really big effort. To cook a meal takes about 3 hours after you have collected water,
boiled it, etc.

Anyway, am having cool time. The scenery is pretty amazing. It isn't uncomfortably hot despite being on the equator because it is at such a high altitude.

Preparations

I'm stressing a little bit about my trip. I'm told we
may be having armed guards at our sleeping quarters,
because of the civil unrest in neighbouring Congo and
Uganda

I've had over 25 injections in total because of
various possible infections, and I still have a 3%
risk of contracting malaria. Nice!

Bizarrely I won't have a tv, phone or running water,
but will have internet connection.

Hope you all have an excellent summer

Mike