Tuesday February 3rd my colleague Douglas and myself headed off to Entebbe to spend the night in a hotel in preparation for our early morning flight to Nairobi the following day. After having a leisurely dinner I turned in at midnight for bed. I then woke the follow morning at 3:30 am to get ready for the flight. We were booked on the first flight out of Entebbe to Nairobi, the 5:30am flight. At the airport we met up with our boss as well as an employee from CFI USA.

The flight to Nairobi was short as usual. After getting a visa and changing some money we headed off to the hotel. We arrived to find out the booking I made was messed up by the attendant who thought we were coming the next day and not the day we arrived. Douglas, my boss Charles and myself ended up having to share a triple room. After sorting out the rooms we dropped our bags at the hotel and headed off to the office of the organization we were to conduct the needs assessment at.

The day went well with this organization as they were highly professional and knew what they wanted. For lunch Douglas, Charles and myself went to a mall near by our office and ate in the food court. That last sentence really doesn’t sound like we were in a developing country did it, well Nairobi in some ways is miles ahead of Kampala. It actually blew me away in some ways how developed Nairobi was compared to Kampala. It’s amazing how much a war can hold back a country.

After work Douglas and me headed back to the mall to explore things a little more thoroughly. After we got bored we headed back to the hotel where we indulged in T-bone steaks. Let me just say it was the best steak I have had in Africa. After the steaks we eat got some ice cream for dessert before being join by Charles and a friend of mine who stays in Nairobi. We chatted up the night until finally the sleeplessness of the night before caught up with us and we headed off to bed.

The next day went as smooth as the first, mostly accredited to the organization we were working with. For lunch we dined in a cute little Italian restaurant downstairs from the office. It was quite delicious actually.

After work Douglas and myself headed off in a cab to another mall in town. This one was close to the Presidential palace, which was well quite cool to see. At the mall there was a really cool fruit shop where I got a whole bunch of fruit that is hard to find in Uganda (strawberries, plums, kiwi, grapes). We then found ourselves a pretty shady cab and had him take us back.

After another nice meal at the hotel it was time for us to leave. We caught a cab to the airport where we caught the late flight back to Entebbe. We arrived back in Kampala around 11:30, I was finally in my bed around 2am. Quite an amazingly packed 2 days, but overall a highly productive trip, in addition to being somewhat of an eye opener to see how other developing cities looked like.

A week and a half after that trip I was presented with a nice visit from Murad who was on his way back from Cairo to home. Since his flight originated from Entebbe he had to fly back to Uganda before heading home to Canada. Regardless it was cool because I got to see the guy one last time before he head off back to the hinterland.

Murad arrived on the 15th of February the day after Valentines Day. I spent Valentines Day with a couple of our neighbors here in Kamwokya. It is amazing how big a celebration this day is in Uganda. I think since the day is so new here everyone takes it really seriously. It was amazing to see so many couples in Kampala all dressed up and going out. Every place we went was fully stuffed with people. Quite amazing indeed. Anyway after a good night out I finally retired at 2am (much later than I had wanted).

I woke early the next day and was picked up on time by a taxi driver I know. He took me to the airport where I waited with a plethora of Muslims outside the terminal. The reason there were so many Muslims was because it was the time of year where in the Muslim faith you are to take your pilgrimage. Thus all those Muslims who did the pilgrimage to Mecca were now returning (through Cairo). Anyway after a bit of a wait at the airport I finally met Murad and we departed back home.

We decided that we would relive old times and head out to Kabalagala and eat some tasty Ethiopian food. We indulged in some nice roasted meat before going shopping for that night. JP and myself had planned a bit of a party at our house that night.

Anyway that night we had the party, which turned out really good. We had the right mix of people and everyone seemed to have a good time. Afterwards we headed off and danced off the rest of the night.

The next day was spent lounging around our house in the shade relaxing eating delicious pineapple. We also had a little visitor, actually he was just some kid who was a cousin of someone we knew. He was actually quite a funny kid, see the picture of him trying to be Bob Marley in the photo gallery.

That night Murad and myself headed back to Kabalagala in a quest to eat some more Ethiopian. Seems like we arrived too late though and had to settle for eating a chapatti egg, 2 pieces of chicken and chips. What a bunch of pigs we are.

Next day I was off to work, yet met with Charles (Canadian Charles not my boss!) and Murad for lunch. After work I found a packed up Murad at my house. I found him a cab and sent him on his way to the airport. Short visit, short visit indeed.

Well that’s all of interest of late. Other than work I really haven’t been up to too much. Granted next week will be a big weekend as it is Meddie’s Introduction ceremony to his future wife Honey. This is a very traditional event, heck I even had to have a tradition outfit tailored for me to go to the ceremony. The weekend after will be the actual wedding. Anyway I plan to take a lot of photos and to give you a full report on the event as it is one of the more traditional events here in Uganda!

I have finally got a few pics of my house up for you to see. As well as some pictures from the party JP and me had on the weekend, and then the day after relaxing in the sun. Expect a write up soon...

Just wanted to let you all know tomorrow I will be off to Nairobi. Catch the 5am flight, then be back the next day on the late flight. I think after these 2 days I am going to be one tired person!