Wow you never really know how dependent you are on electronic
devices until you don’t have one! I think
I need a 12 step program – first step is admitting you have a problem… I need
my iphone! Yikes two weeks without
it. Can’t communicate with our travel
buddies, can’t set an alarm to wake yourself up, etc… just have no idea how dependent
we have become to our electronic devices.
Thankfully I have my laptop!!
Ok time to fess up… Not only did we lose my iPhone, Gina
also lost her prescription eyeglasses!
Didn’t want everyone to think that these four aren’t going to make it
through the 2 ½ weeks. Now the good news
we found the glasses. Here is the
incredible story, Kim and Gina were in Yosemite earlier this year, Gina lost the
glasses in rocks in the icy cold water.
She looked for them until her hand froze… had to give up. They went back the next day to find them and
decided to use Kim’s hiking poles to find the glasses… and they found
them! Now jump to yesterday… we were
getting out of a taxi, Cheryl saw a glass case fall out of the taxi, it looked
exactly like her case, she picked it up and put it in her backpack. At this point we had no idea that Gina
couldn’t find her glasses… this went on all day. After dinner Cheryl and I were getting ready
to pack, she emptied her backpack and pulled out her Sunglasses… but what… No
sunglasses… Gina’s prescription glasses… Holy Crap these glasses have some
luck. We called Kim and Gina to give
them the good news… I asked if they had my iPhone… :^(
A few more pictures from Dubai:
Dubai beautiful skyline!
Up early for our 9:20am flight to Uganda, the Dubai airport
was incredibly busy this morning, although they are extremely efficient! Going through security at Dubai is great, the
scanners that you must put your carry-on through is automatic… little bins pop
out from under the belt and are waiting for you to fill them… then at the other
end you take your stuff out and the bin disappears under the conveyor belt back
to the front.
Checked
my email and received this from STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)
U.S.
Embassy Kampala, Uganda
Security
Message: Potential Disturbances Surrounding Presidential Inauguration
May
6, 2016
The Embassy in Kampala alerts U.S.
citizens residing in or traveling to Uganda of the possibility of sporadic
disturbances in the run-up to and during the May 12 swearing-in and
inauguration ceremony of the President, which will take place in Kampala
(Kololo Ceremonial Ground). U.S. citizens are urged to exercise caution and
remain aware of the evolving security situation during this period.
U.S.
citizens are advised to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the
vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.
Demonstrations could devolve into clashes between police and protestors.
It is possible to be unexpectedly caught in the middle of a potentially violent
incident or victimized by criminals looking to take advantage of demonstrations
Wow – arriving in Uganda is an experience!!! First stop was confirmation that we had our
Yellow Fever vaccination certificate… well it was a huge crowd with two women
trying to control the situation and look at each person’s certificate… well
that didn’t last long people just started walking right past them… including
us. Next up immigration… this went
fairly well $100 for East African Visa, gets us into Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya… next
up getting out of customs… huge line making everyone scan their luggage to
leave the airport REALLY. Well we didn’t
want to wait in that line so Gina asked if we had to wait and the guy said no,
go ahead and go around… REALLY. Finally,
off to go exchange US $$ for Uganda Shillings… well this should be easy hand
them US $$ and they give us Uganda $$... nope we had to haggle for the exchange
rate… Holy Crap they don’t make this easy.
Luckily Kim’s friend gave us really good advice and a really good idea
what we should get for an exchange rate… and we got it! Traveling to Uganda is clearly not for the
faint of heart!
Finally out of the airport and our very nice guide Judith
met us and brought us to the Boma Entebbe where we will stay for the next two
nights. A lovely little place close to
the airport, very safe with a very nice staff!
Seriously we are safe and and have not seen anything that
would cause us to be concerned.
I don’t know what has gotten in to me… I’m talking to
strangers on this trip… I’m a little chatty box!! Met a doctor UCSF, who has been here for two weeks.
LOVE BEING BACK IN AFRICA!!!
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