A Whirlwind Trip to Kampala

This past weekend I made the long (and I mean 12 hrs long) trek to Kampala (the capital of Uganda) with two fellow expats. The first: a nomadic ex-marine/hair dresser/physical therapist from New York. And the second: an Austrian/ intended psychology student/teenager who is traveling for a year before she begins university. The Austrian apparently also looks like my twin sister, at least according to the Mukigas (locals). But heck, they think all Mzungus (white) look alike.

Our plan: 

- See a movie at the theatre, preferably Eat, Pray, Love.

- Eat a cheeseburger with Heinz Ketchup and Mustard from Steak Out.

- Wander aimlessly through the air-conditioned supermarket and purchase exorbitant amounts of refrigerated items that are unavailable in Kabale.

- Find a deliciously cold iced coffee made from real Espresso (not the instant Nescafe that I choke down every morning)

- Take a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) to an "Irish" pub called Bubbles O'Malleys. 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. 

Stopping for some Street Food

So excited for our Cheeseburgers!!

Boda Bodas (Motorcycle Taxis)

In short:

Drinking cups of yogurt while still in the grocery store is completely acceptable when you come from "the village."

Bubbles is like Disneyland for Mzungus. Imported Guinness, Mojitos with real mint, European music, an outdoor beer garden and the promise that no one will stare at you. Imagine that.

Sitting in decade-old theatre seats to watch a horrible movie and munch on burnt, unbuttered popcorn will still result in pure bliss. With no TVs in Kabale, our standards are pretty low.

If you drink imported beer as though it is water, you will inevitably dance on the velvet couches and even give out your number to Mohammed, Muhammed, Ahmed and Steve 25.

If you arrive at the bus depot at seven for a bus that is scheduled to leave at 8 am, which is then postponed to 9:30, it won't leave until noon. And in twelve hours, you will only be allowed one bathroom stop. This could explain the slightly-nauseating smell that got worse by the hour.

And while the weekend was fun and slightly ridiculous, when the bus finally rolled into Kabale, it felt like home. :)