Oct 5, 2012 Kisoro, Uganda

Oct 5, 2012 - Kisoro, Uganda

We are being spoiled since there are only 3 of us on this leg of the trip.  Twice now Henry has found a way for us to upgrade from the tent to an actual bed and room! Tonight we cooked steaks for dinner.

The last few days have been very chill.  We gradually moved closer and closer to Bwindi, the Gorilla park/jungle area. This morning we visited an orphanage just down the road from our campsite.  Oh, and yet again, the campsite was set in a beautiful landscape right on lake Byunyonyi.  Our tent went up right next to the water.

The orphanage was a lot of fun.  We got to sit in on the classes where the kids are learning english and math.  The class rooms are very simple buildings, basically wood slats with a roof. No doors.  The chalk board was a piece of plywood that had been painted black.  When the teach asked a question all the kids were eager to be the ones chosen to get up and write the answer on the board. And they LOVED the visitors.  As soon as you walked into the classroom little hands were grabbing your hands and they didnt want to let go.  During there recess the children sang a few songs for us. The children also braided all the women visitors hair. I was looking pretty stylish!

After recess each child was given a plastic mug full of poridge and they all sat in the grass and talked with us for a while.  My watch also seemed to be fascinating to them.   After the orphanage we drove to Kisoro, Uganda.  We did our daily shopping for breakfast and dinner food at the grocery/mini market. We also stopped by the local market for cheap veggies to go with dinner.

After dinner some local kids sang and danced some typical african dances.  That was very entertaining. They looked like they were having so much fun and I smiled a lot.
They got all three of us up to try the dance.

Another thing, people and especially the kids stare at us like they have never seen white person before.  Its kinda funny, but you feel really awkward with so many eyes following you.  Though I will say, everyone has been very very nice.  You are always greeted with a "hello" and a "how are you. The small children will wave at you when you pass by in the car.

We go on the Gorilla trek tomorrow.
Permit fee: $500, this goes towards gaurding the gorillas from poaching and from being trapped and other conservation efforts.
Trekking Fee: $60, this is for the transportation and the guide to find the gorillas.

What I have learned:  The steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car and they drive on the wrong side of the road.  That takes some getting used to.