Another weekend paddling on the White Nile. Last weekend I did the "easier" D2 section. Today I would be going down the main raft section, with the raft trip. The rafts do 30kms in a day. Luckily we cut out most of the flatwater at the top by putting in at the campsite, just a couple of hundred meters above Bujagalli Falls, a class V. I do get a warmup Class III and II in the water leading up to the falls. Bujagalli Falls is a long slide with a nasy wave on river right, or it is two drops on [View Full Entry]

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Friday, sneak out of "work" early. Head home and pack quickly. Catch a lift to Jinja. Set up camp and then hit the bar. Hang out with the raft guides, rafters, kayakers and what what. Watch rafting video from the day, listen to music... no bluegrass but sometimes country. Mostly pop for the dancing 20 year olds (not even 20 somethings). Saturday, no gear so hang out. Look at Bujangali Falls, watch people raft and kayak it. Sunday gear. Do Day2 section. Mostly class 3 and 4 big water. Lots of big exploding waves.... no keeper holes. Just big waves and [View Full Entry]

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Day 3 of substitute teaching has ended better than the other three. I always knew that substitutes had it hard, but I always thought, all they really had to do was babysit and keep order. Which is still sort of true if you have lesson plans and something to teach. But... I was asked on Friday if I could teach Math on Monday. I actually thought this was a bad idea. Not that I minded teaching but the students had a teacher and I thought with language and what what that they should keep the same teacher if they could. Turns [View Full Entry]

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Well it is getting time to leave Rwanda. I first arrived in Rwanda from Burundi 2 weeks ago. In that time I’ve traveled around Rwanda and even into Congo. Now I’m in the capital, Kigali. In Rwanda I’ve been to Genocide memorials, met good friends, saw Colubus monkeys and seen some spectacular countryside. I like this country. It feels good and safe. Last night in Kigali we walked back from the restaurant in the dark… that never happens in Africa, but in Kigali it is safe. Rides from Hell Here I am sitting on the side of the road outside Nyungwe [View Full Entry]

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Every have a 200+lb animal reach and want to touch your leg? Ever share a tent with a man with an AK47 at his feet (Funk, I said AK47 not M16)? Ever walk on the moon? Well, these are just some of my experiences in DRC - Democratic Republic of Congo, and they were all good experiences. On the Moon My first introduction to Congo was the town of Goma. When I first got here I hated it. I think I was scared. Everyone warns you about going to Congo, and yet everyone also says it is safe. My experience was [View Full Entry]

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Well it finally happened; I had to pay my first bribe. I had to bribe my way out of Zambia. I had arrived at Mpulungu, Zambia on the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika. My plan was to board the passenger ferry MV Liemba and sail with it up to Kigoma, Tanzania. Nice, simple plan no problems. I was actually lucky the Liemba was going north this week. Last week it had stayed in Zambia and had shuttled Congolese refugees from Zambia back to Congo. I know some people who had planned on taking last weeks ferry and ended up having to [View Full Entry]

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Today I’m in Lusaka, Zambia. I seem to have traveled in a circle. Funny how stuff works out. Here in Lusaka I’m kind of taking a break from “Africa” and am spending some time in the westernized, expat area of Lusaka. Strange since I just took a vacation in Malawi. It was surreal almost for me to walk into Arcades the other day. Arcades is one of the large shopping malls in Lusaka. Last time I was there was New Years Eve and we went bowling late at night. I arrived here via a slight detour through South Luangwa National Park. [View Full Entry]

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The Candyman is this wonderful, old Malawian man. He comes into Mayoka every night. He sets up his chair and little bench with chocolate and candy and snacks which he then sells to the people hanging out in the bar. What makes this man such an icon to me is not that he sells candy but his look. The picture I took of him was in his “Sunday go to church clothes” (my line). But the first few days he was dressed all in purple, purple socks, purple shorts, purple shirt. Best of all is the hat. He has this purple, [View Full Entry]

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My last day in Mozambique turned into one of those rare, unique days that you could never plan. I awoke early, with the sun, as you do camping in Africa. That was ok; it is a beautiful view from my tent. Today I had a very “busy” day. Actually I had no idea how I was going to fill the 24 hours until the ferry arrived. After all, I was the only mazungo in Metangula and as far as I knew in the whole of Niassa province. I thought I might wander the 8ks into town and shop at the market [View Full Entry]

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Tonight: Nampula Tomorrow: Train to Cuampa, then Lichinga Wednesday: Metangula and Lake Malawi But in the last week or so I've been around Ihla de Mocambique and Nacala. The short story is the Ihla was the original Portoguese capital of the region. As it stands now it is a very run down town with lots of historical ruins. Walking around the streets you can easily see the Portoguese influence and architecture. The old fort is still standing, barely. The original chapel, which is believed to be the oldest European structure in the southern hemisphere is in good shape. One thing that [View Full Entry]

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