Hybrid Solar Eclipse

On Sunday November 3, 2013 we were fortunate to have clear skies in Kampala and able to witness a rare hybrid solar eclipse.  This is a composite of the eclipse as it progressed through the skies above Kampala, Uganda.

A Night Away in Kampala

Kevin and I are weekend warriors and are constantly thinking of where we can get away for the weekend.  Recently a special occasion had us scratching our heads for a place to escape to.  Unfortunately time was not on our side and limited our options.  We realized that after 10 years of living in Kampala we had never spent a night in the city, so the idea arose to be a tourist in our own town for a night.  The idea seemed strange since we are usually trying to escape the madness for something more peaceful and relaxing; to find a place that will transport us far far away from city life.  However we decided to give the idea a try and chose to spend our night away at the Protea Hotel on Elgon Terrace in Kololo.  We had no idea how far away this one night would take us.

We checked in at midday and from the moment we arrived, we indulged in the luxury, pampering service and hospitality that the hotel offers.  After being shown our upgraded room we rode the glass elevator down to the ground level and entered the central courtyard around which the hotel is built.  Within the courtyard is the bar and the restaurant called Chapter One.

We walk through the courtyard to the restaurant and are seated at an outdoor table.  We order drinks which come icy cold and begin to peruse the menu.  It’s not long before we melt into our surroundings.  No indication of the hustle and bustle going on outside beyond the walls can be felt now.  We completely relax in this oasis next to tropical plants and fish ponds, we listen to the water splashing out of the fountains and watch the resident guinea fowl weave through the garden delighting us with the conversations they are having amongst themselves.  Soft music plays in the background while we savour every morsel of the food that we have ordered.

After lunch we find seclusion in our room and stumble across a movie starting on the large flat screen TV.  We get comfortable on the bed, adjust the air conditioning for our comfort and relax.  Ah, this really is the life, we could get used to this!

After sunset we return to the restaurant for dinner and find the atmosphere has transformed for the evening.  The guinea fowl are nowhere to be seen, presumably sleeping somewhere between the fauna.  The frogs have taken over the evening shift setting the mood with their chorus that sounds like hundreds of little chimes.  The area is softly lit with lanterns lining the pathways through the garden and once again, the food does not disappoint.  Kevin ordered a brandy steak which he tells me melted in his mouth.  I ordered a curry with some hesitation thinking that dishes like curries should be reserved for our next visit to an Indian restaurant but my presumption was completely wrong.  The prawn and mango curry was better than I could have imagined and I will definitely return to order that dish again.  We end our meal with Pavlova and fresh fruit.  Years before we had once come to Chapter One for the lunch buffet, which was excellent but had never really thought of it as a dinner option, but we will now.

The large bed absorbs us with its comfort and crisp white linens.  It is with great reluctance that we get out of it in the morning.  The room was so quiet, not a barking dog, a siren or a nightclub could be heard the whole night and it was bliss.  Before checking out we pay our last visit to the restaurant for the buffet breakfast which is included with our stay.  The choices on the buffet are plentiful and we enjoy a delicious breakfast with a few cups of good coffee, the makings for a great start to any day. We marvel at how relaxed we both feel after one night in the heart of Kampala.  We leave the hotel feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.  I will never underestimate the power of a night away in Kampala to ease my tensions, especially amidst such luxury and attention to detail that the Protea Hotel provides.  It's no surprise that the hotel has won the accolade as the winner of the World Luxury Hotel Award for 2010 and 2011.

Bookings and Reservations
Protea Hotel Kampala
+256 (312) 550 000
info@proteakla.co.ug
www.proteahotels.com/kampala

The Grass isn't Greener - It's Brown!

It wasn't long ago that most of Kampala was tired of the rain, we were all waterlogged, soggy and dreaming of that big yellow ball in the sky to shine it's little heart out.  Well, be careful what you wish for!  Kampala has been experiencing day after day of sunshine and high temperatures for nearly six weeks and is now hoping and praying for rain.  After over four weeks, today the city experienced a light shower.  It probably wasn't the heavy downpour that most people were hoping for but hopefully it was enough to moisten the plants and subdue the dust for a short while.  For those reading this sitting in cold climates, the hot sunny days may seem like a dream come true but really, the grass isn't greener.....it's brown!

Game Day…..Play Ball!

This story begins in July of 2011 when the Ugandan Little League team made history by being the first African team to win a place in the Little League World Series. The team knocked out Saudi Arabia to win the Middle East/Africa Division for 11 & 12 year olds.  The team was ecstatic about their upcoming journey to the Little League World Series in Williamsport Pennsylvania in August 2011.  Two weeks before the tournament and their first scheduled game which was to be played against the Canadian champs from Langley, British Columbia, little hearts and dreams were crushed when they found out that their visas to the United States had been denied for reasons of insufficient birth documentation.

Out of this adversity the Canada-Uganda Pearl of Africa Baseball Series was born.  The idea was to raise enough money for the Langley Little Leaguers to travel to Uganda to play the game that should have taken place months earlier in the United States.  So fundraising began and on Saturday January 14th, the Canadian team landed on Ugandan soil for the Canada - Uganda Pearl of Africa Series.  Today was game day, it was time to “play ball”!  Under the heat of the African sun the crowd of several hundred gathered.  The ceremonial pitch was thrown by Ruth Hoffman and then it was batter up! The Canadian team was first up to bat and the Ugandan team got onto the score board early with 1 run, ending the first inning in a 1-0 lead for Uganda. 

The second inning saw a couple of nice hits, Canadian Yi-An Pan #11 had a single in the top of the inning and  Uganda’s Jonathan Kizza #3 hit one out in the field for a triple.  With two outs for Uganda, Felix Barugahare #2 tried to steal a base and was caught out ending the inning. 

In the third inning Canadian Yi-Fan Pan #33 hit a beauty for a triple but by the end of the inning the score was still at 1-0 for Uganda. The real excitement was saved for the sixth inning when Canada went up for their last bat and got a run in to tie the game up to 1-1.  The Ugandan team wasn’t going to give up that easy and Felix Burugahare #2 hit a single and was safe on first.  Burugahare with the support of his team got himself to third base and with two outs, was desperate to get home. Augustus Owinyi #1 hit a single for the rbi and the walk off home run.  As Burugahare crossed the plate the Ugandan team and their fans erupted with cheers.  They were jubilant about their win and blew their vuvuzelas as they ran onto the field to congratulate the team.

The final score was Uganda 2 – Canada 1

It was an exciting game indeed and both teams played well.  The teams shook hands and then were all awarded medals to commemorate the day and the game that will be remembered for a long time.  As Canadians living in Uganda, it was exciting to watch a live baseball game, especially with a team from our hometown.  It is an event that we will remember forever.  Congratulations to all the players, coaches, umpires and their families as well as the organizers, sponsors and donors for a job well done!

A Furry Little Love Story

When we're not out exploring what's around us, we're at home in Kampala and naturally we need company.  As both of us are big dog lovers, a year ago we decided to add to our pedigree pack.  Stray dogs are pretty much ubiquitous on the streets of Kampala, so we opted to go and check out the local animal shelter to see if we could make a connection with a little soul in need of a good home.

We had agreed upon arrival that we were just there to take a look and may not necessarily leave with a dog in tow, although we had brought blankets and a few other necessary items just in case.  I clearly was not prepared for what I was walking into.  The shelter was housing a lot of needy dogs and cats.  Looking into their eyes and knowing that I couldn't save them ALL made me want to leave, but instead I wandered around.


Since our current situation was most conducive to getting a puppy, we focussed on the areas which housed several puppies all around 3 months old.  We had come in the late afternoon and it was feeding time.  As I approached the fence, one little puppy left her food bowl and came running over to me immediately.  Perhaps she thought that I had more food to offer her.  She began to nibble on my fingers and seemed to be very free spirited focussing only on me and not giving any notice to the other dogs or the food.

I gently pulled my fingers from her tiny mouth full of sharp little teeth and continued my exploration around the compound.  I found my husband and suggested that he come and see her as she really seemed to be interested in getting to know me.  As we neared the fence together, once again she came running over and greeted me again with the same hand licks and nibbles as before.  We were told by the shelter staff that her name was Mirembe meaning "peace", she had been rescued from the

Getting into the Christmas spirit

streets and brought to the shelter.  I felt like fate was taking it's course, she was after all choosing us!  How could we walk out of here and sleep tonight knowing that she was sleeping there.  So with that, we filled out the paperwork, covered the cost of her medical expenses to date and got in the car.  I was filled with a certain degree of anxiety as I was unsure as to how the other dogs would react to the new member of the family and was pleased that it all went off without a hitch.  It was as if we all agreed that Mirembe needed us and we would give her a place to feel comfortable and loved.  We decided to give her a second name and she is now affectionately known as Molly Mirembe.  Not a day passes that I don't think about where she was when first met her and where she is today and how happy I am for her.  In return, she fills our time together with excitement, her free spirit and unconditional love.

For more information on adopting a dog or cat in Kampala visit https://www.facebook.com/USPCA

Bye Mzungu Bye

"Bye Mzungu Bye" is a term we've heard countless times mostly from the mouths of children who usually jump and wave madly while singing the words with huge smiles on their faces eager in anticipation for us to respond.  Mzungu is a swahili word that means white person.  It is not derogatory in nature and is used simply to describe a a white person either male or female.  We can't quite work out why the children say "bye" and not "hi", maybe one day we'll figure that one out!

Today as we made our way across town battling the pre Christmas traffic and the heat of the midday sun, our eyes fell upon some graffiti that made us laugh.

We'd be interested to know what the artist was thinking when he painted this and if he truly thinks this is representative of mzungus in general.  One can hope it depicts only the one's he's met!

An Explosion of Culture

Overcome with a desire to do something different on a Friday night and an imminent power cut looming, we decided that we needed a little culture in our lives.  It was decided that Ndere Centre was the place to be!

The Ndere Centre is home to the Ndere Troupe who performs several times per week in an outdoor amphitheatre housed on 9 acres of well manicured gardens right in the heart of Kampala.  We arrive just as the day's last light is fading and enter the seating area and find a set to the sound of many large drums are beating, the vibrations penetrate our inner beings and we instantly feel welcome.

Ndere means flute and was chosen as the name for the troupe because of it's beautiful sound and for it's universal unity in every culture in the world.  The troupe was formed in 1986 and had very humble beginnings.  In the early part of the new millennium we often took guests to Ndere's weekly show at the Nile Gardens (which is now the Serena Hotel) for a nominal entrance fee of which I was told by Rwangyezi Stephen the troupe's founder was a hotel charge, the troupe was performing at no cost to expose their existence.  Their hard work paid off as they now they have their own cultural centre.

Throughout the performance we are taken to many regions of Uganda.  Every song tells a story of culture, wisdom and history in their traditional form of storytelling, singing, dancing and dress and are accompanied by traditional stringed, percussive and wind instruments.  The show is interactive with the audience which makes for a real explosion of cultures. 

The warmth and enthusiasm of the performers, the beautiful music and expressive traditional dancing which makes up the performance is not to be missed.  We leave with smiles and our faces.  The night has been a strong reminder to us why we enjoy life in Africa not to mention a great way to escape the darkness of a load shedding night.

Uganda is #1

Many people in Uganda have been buzzing this week following the exciting news that Lonely Planet has announced that Uganda tops their "Best in Travel" list for 2012.  The excitement stems from the fact that those of us who live in Uganda have known all along that it is a special place and we are excited and proud to see it recognized especially by the well respected Lonely Planet.  These are the reasons why Uganda is so special to us and why we fully agree that it’s #1.

THE PEOPLE

Ugandan people are incredibly friendly people.  It is so easy to get a wave or a smile from complete strangers.  As you drive down the road children are jumping up and down, waving and calling out mzungu (white person).  If approached, Ugandans are happy to share some time with you and have a chat.  They are incredibly proud people and have the right to be as they have an amazing home.

THE LANDSCAPE

It really is as all the travel brochures brag “gifted by nature”.  Uganda has a lot to offer including the source of the Nile River, beaches on the largest lake in Africa - Lake Victoria, the famed Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon), mountain gorillas and between it all lush green rainforests, savannah grasslands, tea plantations and a lot of really great people.

THE BIRD-LIFE

Uganda is home to 1061 bird species making it a bird watchers paradise.  You don't even need to leave Kampala to enjoy the bird-life, you can find over 300 species in the city and the surrounding suburbs.  Every morning you are guaranteed to wake to a chorus of song from the avifauna of Uganda.

THE WEATHER

With average daily temperatures of 21.5°C (71° F), need I say more?  Uganda straddles the equator but due to it's elevation it experiences moderate comfortable temperatures year round.  It has two seasons, a dry season and a wet season, each occurring twice a year.  Don't let the name wet season fool you though as the sun is generally out between the rains.  The tropical storms are amazing to experience with winds blowing, lightening flashing, thunder clapping, palm trees waving frantically and more rain falling from the sky than you thought possible.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT

Just when you think you've seen it all, you'll round the corner and see something that will make your jaw drop, make you laugh or just amaze you.  Uganda offers so much to see and enjoy every minute of every day whether you are on safari or making your way through the taxi's and boda boda's on your way to work.

We have had the opportunity to see a lot of Uganda and yet there is still so much we haven't seen.  Uganda has a lot to offer anyone who is looking for an exciting holiday.  

Congratulations Uganda on being number one, we're proud of you!

Why Uganda should be on your must-see list
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/uganda/travel-tips-and-articles/76859

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel: top 10 countries for 2012
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/uganda/travel-tips-and-articles/76856