Zanzibar - Under Water

What can be said about Zanzibar, except….Paradise! We had a wonderful week long holiday with 3 full days of diving and 2 days of snorkeling. You couldn’t get us out of the bright blue water! It was some of the best diving we’ve had so far (particularly the North East Side of the Island off of Mnemba Atoll). Thousands of fish, sting rays, octopus, even dolphins! It was wonderful! It seriously made us both reconsider our jobs in international development and think about becoming dive masters and living off the beach in Zanzibar diving every day!

For more pictures of Zanzibar go to my photo site.

Zanzibar – Above Water

For more pictures visit my photo site!

Kenneth and Lake Mburo National Park!

On our trip back from Ibanda to Kampala we met up with my long lost friend, Kenneth and took him on a game drive through Lake Mburo National Park. For those that might not know, Kenneth was a friend of mine at my first site in Sembabule. He took care of the 60 goats I lived with, and really helped take care of me too. After I moved from Sembabule to Kisubi, my aunt, uncle and parents helped sponsor Kenneth to get his driving permit. In the past 4 years, he moved home to his ancestral land out west, married, had two kids and has had numerous different driving jobs. He’s done quite well for himself!

Our visit to Lake Mburo was a first for all of us. Uganda has some very accessible and amazing wildlife and scenery. We had driven past Lake Mburo so many times on our trips to and from Ibanda during PC but never had the opportunity to go there. Having our own vehicle and driver made it possible! Lake Mburo is a cute little park, it doesn’t have any predators, just lots of Zebra, Antelope, Ugandan Kob, some Water Buffalo, and a Lake full of Hippos with a couple crocs. It was a fun little game drive in the middle of our trip. Here are some of the pics, to see more go to my photo site.

Back to Ibanda

We made the 6 hour trek out west to Ibanda (passing the equator!), although we did not need to go to the extent of PC reminiscing to use the bus. We rented a vehicle and driver for 3 full days. Oh how nice it is to not have to travel by public transport!

It was great to be back at Paul’s site, many familiar as well as new faces. Paul’s neighbors Benin and Maud had their second child 2 years ago and the third is due any day.

Baker, Paul’s counterpart during PC, is still in Ibanda and it was really fun to see him again. The primary school Paul lived at has had many new improvements, a new library, computer lab, and additional dorms for the boarders. It was great to see the school doing so well.

Benin and Baker welcoming Paul after 4 years

The resource room - exactly the same as when Paul left

At the Kosam's new house

Ibanda Town

For more pictures of our trip to Ibanda visit my photo site.