Traveling to Kigali, Rwanda

Yesterday morning we got up and met Phidelis and James to drive to Kampala. We needed up leaving a bit late since Phidelis had to wait for some documents to arrive to bring to the GHU office in Kampala, but we were able to get on the road by 9am. Partway through the drive James told Phidelis he had to go to Kayunga to pick up two of our friends, which Phidelis had not been told about by James of Phidelis's boss. It turned into a very uncomfortable argument and put me in a bit of a bad mood, but there wasn't much I could do about it. We went to Kayunga anyways and picked up our friends and made it to Kampala in time for lunch.

At lunch I had some chicken schnitzel with potatoes and a piquant sauce and it was so good. Really nice to have something different than we get every day in Tororo. We hung out at the restaurant Faze 2 for a while and then walked to the African Craft Market where we did a bit of souvenir shopping. I bought a few things at the market (and now get to carry them for the week-ish that we are traveling, oh well) and then we relaxed at a coffee shop until it was time to get our bus. I got a really good passion guava slushie at the coffee shop which was called 1000 cups and had a minute to charge my phone. Speaking of my phone, the outlet is different here in Rwanda so I cannot charge my dead phone. Bummer. Anyways, we took a special hire to the Jaguar bus station and met up with our final friend before getting on the bus to Kigali. 

The bus was fine. There was sufficient leg room and my backpack fit overhead so that was nice. I was able to sleep a bit, but I also had many restless moments. We made a stop in Mbarara to use. The restroom and it was awful. The restroom was just a room where you went on the floor. So disgusting, but it was our only option. Once we got back on the bus I slept until we got to the border. The border crossing is quite a process. Everyone gets off the bus and brings their carry on luggage with them. We all went to the Ugandan side and filled out exit forms and got an exit stamp and then walked across to the Rwandan side. Once on the Rwandan side of the border we had to fill out Rwandan entry forms and go through immigration there where we got an entry stamp. After all the stamps everyone got all there luggage, even checked bag which I didn't have, and went through a bag check where they basically took any plastic bag anyone had since they are illegal in Rwanda. Once through that checkpoint we waited to load the bus again. While waiting I had to use the toilet but I didn't have any Rwandan francs, but I looked sad enough that they let me use the toilet anyways. It was a squatty,but at least better than the room with no hole in Mbarara! 

Once back on the bus is was a smooth ride into Kigali, or I assume it was I was mostly asleep. It was kind of cold, but not so bad that I was miserable. When we got to Kigali we got off the bus, changed a little bit of money, and took a taxi to the Okapi Hotel where we are staying tonight. The lodging is fine, but getting rooms kind of sucked. There are five of us and I am definitely playing fifth wheel to two sets of good friends, which kind of makes me feel left out. Seem of them are also quite keen to take motorcycle taxis around town, but without a helmet I just am not comfortable riding on a motorcycle, especially since it is literally the only rule our program gave us. It's so frustrating that I am made to feel bad for following our safety precautions. I just don't understand why paying an extra 25-50 cents each to take a car together is that big of a deal. 

Anyways, right now we are all just relaxing for a bit so we aren't tired for the day. I am having a hard time sleeping so I turned on BBC World News, which basically only shows all the bad stuff happening in the world and that is sad. I'm hoping we have a great day here in Kigali today! The city looks much cleaner than Kampala and the infrastructure looks more developed as well. It will definitely be interesting to explore and I can't wait! I may have to buy an extra sweatshirt though, it's a bit chilly here in winter south of the equator haha.