And now we go backwards in time (how cool is that?!) to trips in Uganda. I’m completely awful and I’m going to guess at most of the names. However, I don’t think there’s anyone who can gainsay me anyway!

Right – so in no particular order.. Dad and I went to Kibale national park where there are chimpanzees just waiting to be oogled at. It was kinda scary in a way as these boyos climb quite a way up the trees to eat fruit. Hard fruit. Fruit which, when dropped from 30m above would really hurt if it hit. Which it didn’t.. but still.. quite offputting really.

Then another weekend it was off to Queen Elizabeth National Park, beautiful. Stayed at a place called Mweya Lodge. The Queen herself has stayed there before and will be staying again when she’s next in Uganda for the Combined Heads of Government (CHOGM – much building going on for it). It was a ridiculously nice place – incredible service – for example, you’d come back from dinner to find your bedside light on and a corner of the sheet folded back so you could get in with ease. Crazy. Still, a lovely place to go so big thanks to mum and dad. Had to drive past the equator + obligatory photo op..

We also looked in at the site for the Mountains of the Moon University (dad’s project). Currently they rent buildings in town – but will be moving out to the new campus once the road is in and the buildings up…

Another day we went off to see a friend of theirs (Steve) place – who is making a new up market lodge kinda place. He has learned how to make log cabins out of a book! It’s really pretty damn impressive… He has hired local people and really made an impressive go of things – and he’s only my age too!

Another day it was off to one of the local schools that mum and dad have been helping. They’d bought them (with donations – esp thanks to Mhairi’s parents) a water tank, and also mosquito nets from my brother’s (Matt) parents in law.. so we went out to see the place. I 1/2 wonder if it wasn’t to show us that the wonderful new water tank didn’t actually have the piping in place to make it really usable. All fixed now though.

Finally – we went to a place called the ndali lodge. This place was really quite special. I suppose it is like what Steve’s place will be when it’s finished. I didn’t take a pic – but the guy who runs it – Aubrey – has the most incredible bachelor pad. Huge high ceilings, a bathroom which is raised and looks down over the lake – simply incredible

Finally just a few random pictures.. one of mum and dad in trad dress. It really was so special to be out there and see what they have managed to achieve in such a relatively short amount of time.

This comes from Sydney Airport. A free internet terminal. I had a lovely time in Uganda, and pictures will come when I get back to ChCh. Unfortunately only my pictures and not all the lovely ones that Dad took (of which I forgot to give him credit in the last lot). The reason for that is that the end of my trip to Uganda wasn’t the best.

Mum was having a going away party for her 3 years of work and there were lots of people about having a fun time, telling stories and generally giving her a good send off. This was Easter Sunday. Some Scottish folk arrived by taxi at the guest house we were using to host the party. The taxi had come from miles away. Which is why, we think, they decided to see what opportunities they could grasp. Unfortunately they did quite well, breaking into the car and stealing 2 laptops and 2 passports (not mine) and 2 sets of travel tickets. I, fortunately, had kept most of my important things with me – not trusting tooooo much, but mum lost the lot. I stupidly thought that my tickets weren’t too important – that they could always get reprinted. Wrong. Dad stumped up quite a lot of cash to get me back to NZ and I am just hoping that my insurance covers theft from cars. One wonders…

Mum should be on her way to the US (via UK) to be with my sister as baby #3 arrives.. but that will be delayed at best by a few days.

So, not the most amazing end to the holiday. Incredible airport security too. Quite insane. If you buy duty free they take it off you again!!! I’m quite glad I didn’t buy the bottle of bombay sapphire I had been eyeing up.

Anyways, me be quite ready to be home – or NZ – still trying to work out where home is sometimes! It was a thoroughly excellent time with mum & dad – good chats and just great to spend some quality time with them and see the really incredible work they have performed over the last 3 1/2 years.

On Friday we headed to Kampala for the pre-St. Patricks Day festivities in the Irish Embassy. Delicious smoked salmon on fresh brown bread – and as much booze as one could stomach was there to be enjoyed. Enjoyed, but not by me. I started feeling pretty rotten and by 9pm asked dad to take me back to the hostelyhotel we were staying in.

One traffic jam later and I ended up saying that I would just stay over at Fr. Alberts place. They were kind enough to take me in and give me a bed. It was one of the nastiest nights I’ve had feeling sick in a long time. Very hot (no fan) – ran out of TP by the next morning too!

Next two days were spent flat on my back in my room (mum and dad collected me the next morning) and not very far away from a convenient toilet :)

Anyway.. enough of my bowel woes :) I think it was from drinking Nile river water when we went rafting – but will prob never know.

Then on Tuesday headed to Murchison National park. It’s an amazing game reserve and we saw Lions, Giraffe, Elephants, Hippos, Crocs lots of birds and many deeresque creatures. Really great fun. It’s also a place where the Nile pours through a 9m wide cleft – which makes for an incredible waterfall. Pictures etc. will come soon hopefully.

So that has been the last week – not quite feeling back to my old self yet – but definitely on the mend :)

Thanks to Glynn for hosting these pics – blogger refused to upload them for me :(

From the Cape of Good Hope looking towards Cape Point. I think.

(uncle) Jonno & Sandra and cousin Katherine

intrepid explorer (jonno)

From Stellenbosh gardens looking up to Table Mountain with its tablecloth on.

Mum, Dad and Fr. Albert (of who’s brainchild the universtity is)

Jack fruit. Reminded me a (very) little of a custard apple fruit from OZ.

traffic lights (rarity)

Me at the source of the r.nile

Roadside stall.

Away to the Irish Embassy tomorrow for a pre-st.Patricks day pissup :) Then off to some national park for hiking and generally touristing .. should be fun – hopefully get some more pics!