{"id":487,"date":"2011-01-09T02:41:37","date_gmt":"2011-01-09T08:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thespicytexan.com\/travel\/?p=487"},"modified":"2011-01-09T17:14:32","modified_gmt":"2011-01-09T23:14:32","slug":"kampala-day-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thespicytexan.com\/travel\/kampala-day-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Kampala Day 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Day Two in Kampala was lovely. \u00a0 I made it out of bed at 7:00 AM to go meet my wonderful Winnie the cook here at the guest house. \u00a0We could not have been happier to see each other! \u00a0She remembered what I love and began cooking. When I came back to my room, Livingstone, the manager of the guest house greeted me with open arms. \u00a0 He said he was so happy to have my friendly way back in Uganda. \u00a0He’s been sick with Malaria, and you can tell he’s lost some weight.<\/p>\n

My breakfast was two pieces of toast, a fingerling banana, plum jam and a scrambled “white” egg. \u00a0 Now when I say white, I don’t mean egg whites. \u00a0 The eggs here are a bit of a \u00a0\u00a0phenomenon,\u00a0\u00a0having no color in the yolks whatsoever. \u00a0 They are very fresh and taste perfect but they are only very slightly pale yellow when scrambled. \u00a0 Once you take a bite everything seems ok with the world though. \u00a0You really don’t realize how you associate color with foods until you eat something that isn’t quite right in the food color wheel you are used to.<\/p>\n

You’ll read a lot about my food journey, as I am a foodie. \u00a0 I love to take photos of food, blog about food and hopefully describe it so you can imagine tasting it.<\/p>\n

I had Farouk (my amazing driver) take me to Mango Tree, which is an educational company serving children throughout Uganda. \u00a0They paint learning charts and informational charts and games on white fiber charcoal sacks. These are durable and hold up well in outdoor classrooms and will be perfect for the little bush orphanage. \u00a0 \u00a0I bought the ABC’s, numbers, parts of the body, and letter-word associations. \u00a0I’ll take them to Northern Uganda with me to the children.<\/p>\n

I’m here at the guest house planning, arranging meetings and errands and shopping before I travel to Jinja this next week to start my real work. \u00a0 It is a good thing these first few days aren’t so busy because I think my feet need that rest. \u00a0 My first stop there will be a lovely orphanage that we are working with. \u00a0 I can’t wait to get those children in my arms. \u00a0 I have arranged for two volunteers to work there and I’ll meet them on Monday night and we will travel to Jinja Tuesday together. \u00a0My volunteers Stephanie from Texas and her mom are seasoned orphanage volunteers. \u00a0 They will have the time of their lives there I know.<\/p>\n

I went to Garden City mall and got my USB modem reactivated. \u00a0The service is with Orange and it really is pretty good. \u00a0 Service for the highest monthly rate is only 150,000 Shillings ($64 USD). \u00a0 \u00a0I can use the computer in the car even. \u00a0The service is supposed to be for a month or whenever you run out. \u00a0 Last time I was here in June, Orange service didn’t reach Kitgum in the North but as we were leaving we saw them laying fiberoptic cable so \u00a0I understand now it is working there quite well.<\/p>\n

I also went and bought a case of water. \u00a0 I was so dehydrated from the plane and I’m\u00a0re-hydrating\u00a0these first few days. \u00a0 This trip is less stress and laid out better than my last. \u00a0 I have a few days to adjust to the climate, to get my airplane legs going again and to make plans and just relax. \u00a0 Ahhhh Africa.<\/p>\n

I haven’t said much about Uganda. \u00a0Last night Farouk drove me by the EthiopianVillage \u00a0Restaurant that was a terrorist bombing target<\/a>, and as I remembered it is just right down the road from me. \u00a0What had been a football party for the Finals of the World Cup Soccer in July, \u00a0turned into a sea of chaos. \u00a0This happened right after I had left Uganda in June. \u00a0I remember the sadness I felt at this event. \u00a0 In the aftermath, what has happened is at least a more secure, at least in thought and effort, \u00a0Uganda.<\/p>\n

Today going into the mall, our car was searched for bombs and guns. \u00a0 I found it amusing to see and hear the interchange with my driver and the guard. \u00a0 “Greetings ssebo (sir), please do not forget to find the bomb I keep here in the car inside my glove box for you.” \u00a0 Hilarious laughter\u00a0ensues… “and here the other bomb on this side in the back…also do not forget this one!” \u00a0Bomb humor, who would have known? \u00a0 In the states I assured Farouk we might have been arrested for such banter, but here Farouk says, “It keeps them feeling they are working hard and doing their great job for a purpose.” \u00a0 Interesting!<\/p>\n

We ate at Le Petit Village. \u00a0Again the search for bombs by security, and mirrors under the car and the usual bomb jokes…ha. \u00a0 I don’t dare yet but I want to.<\/p>\n

The menu was expansive lots of wonderful meats and kabobs etc. \u00a0 I was elated. \u00a0 I chose grilled tilapia. \u00a0 \u00a0I just cannot begin to explain how delicious the tilapia is here. \u00a0 They usually pull it right out of Lake Victoria, and cook and serve. \u00a0 So you are eating the daily catch. \u00a0This was served with a buttery sauce with sauteed oyster mushrooms and chips. \u00a0 Probably the most delicious fish I’ve eaten to date. \u00a0Here we had fresh french hard crust bread with a vegetable\u00a0medley\u00a0of carrots, peas and broccoli. Everything cooked to complete perfection. \u00a0We didn’t wait long for our meal, which is sometimes unusual, and the wait staff was so wonderful. \u00a0 Huge rave for this restaurant. Photos of our meals below, Farouk had “Tilapia Fingers” loves that fried fish! \u00a0Really who wouldn’t?<\/p>\n\n\t\t