Going home tomorrow

I am tired of writing, and so have done none over the past week. I spent last night and will spend tonight in Kampala. Here at the hotel the security is fierce. All cars are checked a block before entering the compound. When entering the compound on foot, guards check purses and backpacks and scan you just as is done at the airport. No photos are allowed of the outside area of the hotel. One must pass through magnatrometers like airports have before entering the front door. The Sheraton Kampala is surrounded by the Sheraton Kampala Gardens which is at least a block on each side. (Very beautiful). There is a sign that says the gardens are closed today through the 14th. Soldiers are at all of the doors to make certain you dont wander into the gardens. I must assume there are some mighty important people staying here. Besides me:)

Went to speak to a group of HIV/AIDS counselors this afternoon and had to take a boda back through Kampala rush hour traffic. Bodas are faster than cars and trucks because they ride BETWEEN them. Several times my legs actually brushed against cars and trucks. When one must stop, the bodas all crowd in front of the 4 wheeled type vehicles, putting themselves first to turn. When we started up again, there were always 40 to 60 motorcycles turning at once at high speed. I started off being very frightened. Half way through it became great fun. Sort of like a manic motorcycle rally in a third world country. Perhaps the exhaust fumes and the heat warped my brain.

Since I have high speed, below you will find a few photos. Even these took a couple of hours to load, but hey--I am sitting in air conditioning on a real bed, stomach full of real food and a coke WITH ICE--so the wait has been pleasant.