Have arrived in Kampala. Getting into the country was uneventful, except for the fact that I couldn’t get a multiple entry visa at the airport, or a visa for longer than 90 days. I’ll have to figure out how to change both of those things once I’m a bit more settled. The hostel last night in Entebbe was fine. The power went out a few times this morning, but it’s not so hot that fans are necessary — at least not early in the morning. I got a taxi from the hostel into Kampala, with a nice driver named Daniel. The opposition leader Kizza Besigye returned to Kampala yesterday, and apparently the road into Kampala from Entebbe was full of roadblocks and the military fighting, as the presidential convoy met FDC supporters. The road was clear today, but there were TONS of men in military uniform and big guns standing along the side of the highway. It was definitely a noticeable presence, and more than a little bit intimidating.
The drive from Entebbe to Kampala confirmed what I already knew — Uganda is significantly less developed than South Africa. The sights in urban Uganda are things you would only see in rural South Afirca — bicycles carrying loads and loads of plantains, goats and cows tied up on the side of the highway, women walking with jugs of water on their heads, etc. It was hard to tell when we actually entered Kampala; we didn’t go into the “downtown” area, and the area I’m in (Old Kampala) doesn’t seem much more developed. The roads are TERRIBLE — huge potholes all over, the likes of which I’ve only seen in rural Eastern Cape South Africa. And this is the capital city.
The room at the hostel is fine — nothing except a bed, really, but it will do for a few weeks. There doesn’t appear to be anyone else checked in, but hopefully other people will come soon. There’s another hostel that’s more popular with backpackers a little farther away from downtown Kampala, which I might move to after the week at Tuhende Lodge. We’ll see how things go. Maybe the other hostel has a bed fan -- it's not as sweltering as I was promised, but it is warm.
When I emailed my boss and Emily, the girl whose puppy I am going to live, Emily emailed back right away and asked if I wanted to meet her at a big mall called Nakumatt Oasis to buy a phone and get lunch. I thought that sounded like a good idea, so I had one of the staff at the hostel flag me down a boda boda to take me there. Boda bodas are sometimes referred to as "flying death traps" -- they're moped taxis where no one follows the rules of the road or wears a helmet. However, they're much easier than the minibus taxis: you just tell them where you want to go, and they take you there. With the taxis, you have to make sure you're getting on the right route, and you have to know where you're going, so you can tell the driver to pull over. They are apparently less expensive than boda bodas, though. Here's a picture of a boda boda from Wikipedia (in other words, I didn't take this photo):
So I got to Nakumatt Oasis and met Emily, who took me to get a phone. It's just a cheap Nokia, but it's nice to have one anyway. I feel more connected to the universe. Then we got lunch at an Indian place on the top floor of Garden City, which is a giant mall next-door to the other giant mall (go figure?), with nice views of the city. According to Emily, Indian food in Kampala is really good for some reason. I don't know about all Indian food here, but the place we ate was delicious. After lunch, we went to buy an Orange "dongle"... it's a USB stick that provides internet access wherever the Orange network has coverage, which is basically everywhere. I'm currently using it from the hostel, which doesn't have its own internet.
After I finished buying all my technology, Emily and I jumped on another boda boda together to go to the office of the organization where I'm working. I met some of the people in the office, including the lovely woman who interviewed me and with whom I've been in touch over email. They were all really nice, and seem to be looking forward to me starting on Monday. After a brief visit, I parted ways with Emily, got on my own boda boda, and headed back to the hostel. I played around on the internet for a while to make sure the dongle works, and then I ventured out to get dinner. I didn't venture very far, to be honest... just downstairs to the restaurant in the hostel. They served me a three-course meal for less than $10, which was good and very filling. I'm now back up in my room, killing time before I get tired and go to bed! I hope I won't have trouble sleeping without a fan. It's cool at night, but for some reason it's fairly warm in my room.
Anyway, that’s all I have to report — other than the fact that I heard a minibux taxi blasting the Macarena on the way into Kampala, in a truly multlcultural moment. Welcome to Africa, Katie.
The drive from Entebbe to Kampala confirmed what I already knew — Uganda is significantly less developed than South Africa. The sights in urban Uganda are things you would only see in rural South Afirca — bicycles carrying loads and loads of plantains, goats and cows tied up on the side of the highway, women walking with jugs of water on their heads, etc. It was hard to tell when we actually entered Kampala; we didn’t go into the “downtown” area, and the area I’m in (Old Kampala) doesn’t seem much more developed. The roads are TERRIBLE — huge potholes all over, the likes of which I’ve only seen in rural Eastern Cape South Africa. And this is the capital city.
The room at the hostel is fine — nothing except a bed, really, but it will do for a few weeks. There doesn’t appear to be anyone else checked in, but hopefully other people will come soon. There’s another hostel that’s more popular with backpackers a little farther away from downtown Kampala, which I might move to after the week at Tuhende Lodge. We’ll see how things go. Maybe the other hostel has a bed fan -- it's not as sweltering as I was promised, but it is warm.
When I emailed my boss and Emily, the girl whose puppy I am going to live, Emily emailed back right away and asked if I wanted to meet her at a big mall called Nakumatt Oasis to buy a phone and get lunch. I thought that sounded like a good idea, so I had one of the staff at the hostel flag me down a boda boda to take me there. Boda bodas are sometimes referred to as "flying death traps" -- they're moped taxis where no one follows the rules of the road or wears a helmet. However, they're much easier than the minibus taxis: you just tell them where you want to go, and they take you there. With the taxis, you have to make sure you're getting on the right route, and you have to know where you're going, so you can tell the driver to pull over. They are apparently less expensive than boda bodas, though. Here's a picture of a boda boda from Wikipedia (in other words, I didn't take this photo):
So I got to Nakumatt Oasis and met Emily, who took me to get a phone. It's just a cheap Nokia, but it's nice to have one anyway. I feel more connected to the universe. Then we got lunch at an Indian place on the top floor of Garden City, which is a giant mall next-door to the other giant mall (go figure?), with nice views of the city. According to Emily, Indian food in Kampala is really good for some reason. I don't know about all Indian food here, but the place we ate was delicious. After lunch, we went to buy an Orange "dongle"... it's a USB stick that provides internet access wherever the Orange network has coverage, which is basically everywhere. I'm currently using it from the hostel, which doesn't have its own internet.
After I finished buying all my technology, Emily and I jumped on another boda boda together to go to the office of the organization where I'm working. I met some of the people in the office, including the lovely woman who interviewed me and with whom I've been in touch over email. They were all really nice, and seem to be looking forward to me starting on Monday. After a brief visit, I parted ways with Emily, got on my own boda boda, and headed back to the hostel. I played around on the internet for a while to make sure the dongle works, and then I ventured out to get dinner. I didn't venture very far, to be honest... just downstairs to the restaurant in the hostel. They served me a three-course meal for less than $10, which was good and very filling. I'm now back up in my room, killing time before I get tired and go to bed! I hope I won't have trouble sleeping without a fan. It's cool at night, but for some reason it's fairly warm in my room.
Anyway, that’s all I have to report — other than the fact that I heard a minibux taxi blasting the Macarena on the way into Kampala, in a truly multlcultural moment. Welcome to Africa, Katie.
You sure know how to get acclimated in a new place in a hurry, don't you? What's the main language spoken?
ReplyDeleteMost people speak English, but the main African language is called Luganda (rhymes with "Uganda").
ReplyDeleteGeez...You're making great inroads already! An Indian meal (yum...your uncle and I love Indian food), a cell phone, a mall! It all sounds so interesting. What's the time difference there? PLEASE wear a helmet if you take one of those boda boda things! (I know...what an old lady I am!) xoxoox
ReplyDeleteAs your faaaaather, I must object to the boda-boda transport. The one from Wikipedia MUST be the safest, cleanest-looking one available. So what you were riding is worse! They sound convenient, but I hear from a good source that they are accident-prone!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, it's amazing how fast you got into things -- good for you!
Did the restaurant in the hostel live up to its reputation?