Today has been amazing, despite the 4am start! Morning devotions preceded a very early departure to visit Green Valley High School, which Eryeza started 5 years ago. It seems to be market day everywhere in Uganda, which is fortunate for starving travellers. We stopped for amazing breakfast of chapati and beans, my favourite dish here. Locals call it Kikomano, whilst Chapati and omelette is Rolex.
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Eating breakfast with Safina on our way to Albert Valley
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| From left: Esau, Mr Wamala, Grace, me, Mr Kaya, Mrs Kaya, and Annette Marian in front |
We saw baboons by the roadside, and incredible views as we travelled through the rift valley. Albert Valley hot springs is a place of outstanding beauty. There are two lakes where the temperature reaches 99 degrees. They are popular for tribal ceremonies, medicinal cures and of course, cooking! There were at least two types of monkeys dangling in the trees, though we didn't see any aardvarks. The male springs were not as exciting as the female ones (insert your own joke here) but there was a hut where one local tribe carry out annual rituals, and our excellent guide, Patrick spiced it up with the threat of leopards - sadly unsubstantiated.
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We were in Semuliki
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| Grace by the female springs |
Patrick was patient and well-informed. He told us a lot about the healing properties of local plants, allowed us to leap about for perilous photos and was happy to share our picnic of boiled eggs. At one point I think he said he speaks to monkeys. I'm not sure whether this was a joke, a boast, or a cry for help. Though life in the rift valley is a bit isolated, the hot springs seem busy, with tourist trips or locals using the cooking facilities. As we left there was a steady stream of people with provisions to make lunch.
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| Mr Wamala, Esau and Grace on the ricketty walkway to the centre of the male springs |
And so, to Albert Valley High School. We had time for a quick tour of the school, Mr Kaya, Safina and I gave short but punchy motivational speeches to the parents and students before they departed for the short summer holiday. Another excellent but overwhelming lunch, with rice, matoke, goat stew, baby aubergines and shredded cabbage. From now on I will try to document my meals with photos. Unfortunately, after the adventure at the hot springs I'm out of battery.
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| Mr Kaya with the Rubik's cube |
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| Cracked it! |
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| Albert Valley is lush and green |
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| Super positive variations on the usual shop mannequins |
Grace is one of the kindest bravest most pragmatic people I've ever met. On my first night, when we found a rat sitting on the long drop toilet (as if we had interrupted him) she calmly closed the door. On Sunday when I buckled under the pressure of facilitating circle games for 75 children she took the reigns. She washes all our clothes by hand. She seems much wiser than her 21 years, and I am very grateful she is with us.
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