5 policemen on murder for killings at Kalerwe Somali attack Ugandan troops, 47 killed Besigye trial: Govet star witness jailed Confusion as Zambia president feared deathPlans to oust MuseveniPolice arrest 45 students over boarding school fireFood and Mouth deisease breaks out in MbararaPolicemen killed in city drug war
•20:47
For the first time after having been to Kampala, Uganda for the thrid time, I get to do some shopping. And by that, I mean shopping for souvenirs. I was glad that Helen was on board this time and she knows Kampala at the back of her hand! She took me to the souvenir market behind the cultural center and I just lost myself there. Although the souvenirs are pretty similar to those in Asia, wood craving of animals, scarf, cloth bags, the detail elements is somehow very different.
I stumbled upon something new (new to me at least): soap stones where they use extensively to make jewelry boxes, animal cravings, chess sets, bowls and etc.
Equipped with only 15 Euros in my pocket, as it is always advised to bring no bags with you while you are walking on the street, I thought I could buy the entire market. I was so wrong. 15 Euros went by in a blink of an eye.
I withheld from buying alot of items as I was preparing to buy them when I shift to Nairobi. However, we stumbled upon the Mukisa clay. I went on a shopping galore and selected a whole teapot set and in the end was forced to put back half of my selection due to financial constraint. What attracted me was the natural look of the items and the fact that it keep warms the food or drinks it held for a longer time and in fact it keep cool drinks cool. The fact that I know my money will go for a good cause, i didn't really bargain but my 15 Euros got me only the tea pot, the sugar bowl and the creamer container. Of Course, eventually i went back there for my tea cups.
http://www.mukisa-uganda.com/
I stumbled upon something new (new to me at least): soap stones where they use extensively to make jewelry boxes, animal cravings, chess sets, bowls and etc.
Equipped with only 15 Euros in my pocket, as it is always advised to bring no bags with you while you are walking on the street, I thought I could buy the entire market. I was so wrong. 15 Euros went by in a blink of an eye.
I withheld from buying alot of items as I was preparing to buy them when I shift to Nairobi. However, we stumbled upon the Mukisa clay. I went on a shopping galore and selected a whole teapot set and in the end was forced to put back half of my selection due to financial constraint. What attracted me was the natural look of the items and the fact that it keep warms the food or drinks it held for a longer time and in fact it keep cool drinks cool. The fact that I know my money will go for a good cause, i didn't really bargain but my 15 Euros got me only the tea pot, the sugar bowl and the creamer container. Of Course, eventually i went back there for my tea cups.
http://www.mukisa-uganda.com/
•21:31
I ordered a sunny side up egg for my breakfast today and was surprise to see how light yellow the colour of the yoke is! Can't really see from the picture but in reality is was as it the yoke is mized with milk to lighten its color.
I had the opportunity to visit Kampala again. This time I had no fever and I landed at Entebe (Uganda International Airport) in the day light. Indeed, the landing was incredible, it was as though the plane was landing onto the water of Lake Victoria. The waking sun was beaming it's light through the fog that was resting above the field casting shadow on the trees. The scene was incredibly serene and breath-taking. I was captivated. For the first time, I see one of the African Nation in real, not through the dummy box.
I was glad that this time, I had some "locals" (other expats whom I know) to bring me around and lunch time no longer last 2 hours as it did the last time. One of the best discovery was the African Coffee, being a non coffee drinker, I was totally shocked that the Cappucino was excellent. It was indeed the best I have tasted, not even those in Italy could beat it! It was smooth, non bitter and the aroma was purgent in a positive manner.
Having the luxury of being invited to their home for dinner, I discovered that seafood is indeed abundant here and they come in XL size. It was fresh and taste really good even when it's just boiled without seasoning.
Great weather, great food, great coffee and great company...the only lacking remedy to the heavy workload there was a great spa.
I was glad that this time, I had some "locals" (other expats whom I know) to bring me around and lunch time no longer last 2 hours as it did the last time. One of the best discovery was the African Coffee, being a non coffee drinker, I was totally shocked that the Cappucino was excellent. It was indeed the best I have tasted, not even those in Italy could beat it! It was smooth, non bitter and the aroma was purgent in a positive manner.
Having the luxury of being invited to their home for dinner, I discovered that seafood is indeed abundant here and they come in XL size. It was fresh and taste really good even when it's just boiled without seasoning.
Great weather, great food, great coffee and great company...the only lacking remedy to the heavy workload there was a great spa.
Gliding few thousand feet above the African continent heading towards Uganda, fever was the last thing I wished to have on me. As much as I wished to express my excitement in visiting an African country for the first time, I was totally drained out by the time I arrived at Entebe, the International Airport of Uganda.
Anticipating the heat and humidity that will embrace me when I arrived, I was quite surprise to find that the weather was particularly pleasant, 22 degree Celsius without the humidity. That night, the sky was cloudless, revealing millions of stars which decorate the heaven and mesmerize anyone who lay eyes on it.
It is absolutely difficult to miss the fact the poverty is written all over this place. Street light is sparse and there were a lot of shops along side the road which was poorly lighted with only 1 candle. I could hardly make up what goods they carry in their tiny space.
There were however, a lot of people and it seems like it was a busy night with a lot of trading activities going on. I was overwhelmed by the sight of life in Uganda. Being pampered with easy access to luxury shopping malls, it got me wondering about the simplicity of life in Uganda.
I admit that I was so relieved with we arrived at the hotel. With a 5-star environment and the smell of mint that greets you as you enter into the hotel you would have totally forgotten that you are in Uganda at all.
Although this is a short business trip, I was exposed to some of the African culture, at least from business point of view and one notable thing about Africa is hard to be missed: I would call it the relax culture and it didn’t take long before it got on my nerves. Lunch time in Uganda is never a half an hour affair, not even a one hour affair. It is usually at least a 2 hours affair. Agenda: Order – WAIT – eat, the WAIT portion takes up 80% of the duration of the entire affair. According to my colleague customer meeting can be equally annoying as it usually never on time and always being postponed and it didn’t take long for me to experience that as our meeting was postponed 2 hours. Perhaps it’s their relaxing culture that gives them such a cheerful heart. Sometimes I wonder what is it that they have which keeps them smiling and light hearted all the time!
Word of advice for Shoe lovers: Forget about wearing your best shoe there, you may end up having it covered with red mud, so flat plastic/pvc shoes are the best.
Anticipating the heat and humidity that will embrace me when I arrived, I was quite surprise to find that the weather was particularly pleasant, 22 degree Celsius without the humidity. That night, the sky was cloudless, revealing millions of stars which decorate the heaven and mesmerize anyone who lay eyes on it.
It is absolutely difficult to miss the fact the poverty is written all over this place. Street light is sparse and there were a lot of shops along side the road which was poorly lighted with only 1 candle. I could hardly make up what goods they carry in their tiny space.
There were however, a lot of people and it seems like it was a busy night with a lot of trading activities going on. I was overwhelmed by the sight of life in Uganda. Being pampered with easy access to luxury shopping malls, it got me wondering about the simplicity of life in Uganda.
I admit that I was so relieved with we arrived at the hotel. With a 5-star environment and the smell of mint that greets you as you enter into the hotel you would have totally forgotten that you are in Uganda at all.
Although this is a short business trip, I was exposed to some of the African culture, at least from business point of view and one notable thing about Africa is hard to be missed: I would call it the relax culture and it didn’t take long before it got on my nerves. Lunch time in Uganda is never a half an hour affair, not even a one hour affair. It is usually at least a 2 hours affair. Agenda: Order – WAIT – eat, the WAIT portion takes up 80% of the duration of the entire affair. According to my colleague customer meeting can be equally annoying as it usually never on time and always being postponed and it didn’t take long for me to experience that as our meeting was postponed 2 hours. Perhaps it’s their relaxing culture that gives them such a cheerful heart. Sometimes I wonder what is it that they have which keeps them smiling and light hearted all the time!
Word of advice for Shoe lovers: Forget about wearing your best shoe there, you may end up having it covered with red mud, so flat plastic/pvc shoes are the best.
I was a little disappointing when I did not get to see the silhouette of Giraffe by the runway when we land, so when I was informed about the Marabous in Uganda, I was all set to search for it. Apparently you don’t have to look for it, however, I didn’t know why I didn’t see them at all until it was pointed out. These birds were scavengers according to Helen, my dear colleague. They eat not only garbage but dead bodies as well. Having the “vulture” characteristic, these birds usually position themselves high above the ground: on top of buildings, trees and lamp post. One gets easily intimidated by its size and looks (quite awful looking). 
