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Our trip to Griffin Falls.
After our suprise that Benny had actually come to stay with us for the weekend and Finn to join us the next day - although this didnt quite go to plan due to some ATM in Kampala finding Finns cash card so tasty it didnt give him it back - we (well Benny) decided we should go to Griffin Falls, it said in our trusty guide book that Griffin Falls Campsite was situated a short boda boada rides out of Lugazi. We asked the boda boda men if they knew where it was, and of course not wanting to miss out on three muzungus money, they majority of them said yes. So Molly and I hopped on the back of one and Benny on the other and we got on our merry way to Griffin Falls.
The boda boda ride was soooo good! Plus with the added amusement of what turned out to be noone knowing where we were going made it all the more fun. Not to mention the road bumps made ut feel like we were on some kind of space simulator! After around 40 minutes (it took so long becasue we had to stop at every sign post and question the direction we should go in) we arrived at a hut. Just a hut. Where on earth where we? Moments later a woman with a set of keys and a man with a crate ful of fanta appeared, the women turned out to own the hut and the man was our 'guide'. It cost us 3000USH each casue we convinced the lady we were still at school - sneaky sneaky! We then hit a slight problem in our plan. We hadn't figured out a way to get home...and we were pretty much in the middle of no where. BUT our trusty boda boda men came to our rescue! They said they would wait for us and take us back, how lovely! And being the kind, considerate girl i am - haaa - i bought them each a drink. Thennnn, our boda boda men bond became stronger as they decided to come with us on our tour! We thought this was hillarious! So, Molly, Benny, the guide, the 2 boda boda men and I began our treck. And when I say treck i mean walking with not too many major obsticles to tackle...so it was pretty much a stroll, but it was still rather toasty in the rainforest-jungle-ish-type-thing we had found ourselves in. On the way our guide was telling us a lot of information about where we were. Apparently, the Ugandans and Indians had fought near Griffin Falls...in 2007?!?! Hmmm.
When we reached the opeing at the falls it was beautiful! I've never seen so much untouched land, perfectly placed where nature intended it to all be. It was soooo green, the trees went for miles across and miles up above our head. There were some aloe vera plants, seeing them reminded me of my mum putting on a silly accent every time she says 'also vera'. haa funny. But yeah, it smelled a bit strange - i couldnt decide if it was nice or not as it was a mix of forest green smells and the smell of waste that was being chucked in the river. Nice. The falls themselves weren't too spectacular, there are bigger 'falls' in edzell, but the fact they were in Uganda made them a tad more special then the rapids I use to fly down in the summer time.
We all stood for a while, taking everything in, it really was the most peaceful place. On our way back the heat began to hit us majorly - I was pretty much on fire. We were waling along the path when our guide pointed above our heads to three red tailed monkeys, yeah thats right...i saw fricking monkeys!! This made our little trip all the more spectacular. I thought the first time I would see proper African wildlife was when we were travelling, on a safari or something, but no no, it's just 30minutes outside my door.
When we finally got back, one of the boda boda men claimed he was too tired to drive and told Benny to drive - oooh dear! But luckily he managed to regain enough energy to drive them back. My boda boda man was a bit of a comedian: he said he would go faster then the others so they would get dirt in their faces! What a gentleman! On our way back we were met by a herd of cows running towards us, Molly nearly lost an eye due to how close the horns were to our faces! Back in Lugazi we paid our new friends and went to have a well deserved ice cold drink.
Not bad for our first proper Ugandan sight seeing :)
Things that have happened this week...
- I won contract wist, much to Benny and Mollys dismay.
- I had the joy of listening to Molly and Benny talking to each other...in their sleep.
- I have now been branded the 'fat one' pretty happy about that! haaaa
- We made gnut soup...looked awful but tasted awesome!
- Paul (our host) gave us so much coffee and i got so hot i actually thought i was the sun and then due to how late it was i was on a cafine high and struggled to get to sleep..
Things i keep forgetting to mention...
- In all my 17 years of living ive never met another Justine at home and it turns out the matron at our school is calld Justine and Justine is a pretty damn common name here!
- Molly dropped her torch down the long drop. The funniest thing she has done to date.
Well thats all from Uganda just now guys!
Miss you all!
Peace.
Justine xxxxx
- comments
Lucy Birks Justine I have been reading your blogs and they are very amusing :D. Glad your having a fab time babe! Rather jealous of the monkey moments :D Keep safe xx
Auntie Kirki hey Justie B, glad to hear that all is going ok. We miss you loads. Weather awful here and cold so enjoy the warmth as much as you can bare. Its lovely to find out what you are doing, makes you seem a lot closer to us back home. Be good, have fun and teach all you know. love you. xxx
shona Gnut soup, i dont even want to know whats in that lol xx
Katrina MONKEYS?! FRICKIN MONKEYS?!?!?! Jealously level has hit an all time level!!! xxxxxxxxxxx
Katrina MONKEYS?! FRICKIN MONKEYS?!?!?! Jealously level has hit an all time highl!!! xxxxxxxxxxx
Alison E You make everything appear so vividly in my mind - wonderful stories! It all sounds so exciting.....life here now seems grey! Take care.