On the ground seeing the local Uganda from the inside out

Uganda, a land of “poverty” but also a land full of potential.    There are lots of organisations endeavouring to help the many children who are either abandoned or orphaned, in the way of children and babies homes, and I have had the chance to visit several of these, from a rural village home for orphans, to a home and school for HIV+ children that would not otherwise be cared for. I have seen throughout the developing countries I have visited, a great need for people to be empowered to change the world they live in.  And Uganda is no exception with an unemployment rate of over 80%.  Rather than just giving money,  putting jobs, training, skills, education and opportunities in the hands of people would go a long way to helping this nation to help themselves.   Talking with my friends here on the ground in Uganda, and seeing their heart to find strategies to do this is so inspiring.  Change is not something that happens overnight, especially with a problem so complex as this, and I commend them for their long term commitment to the community they are working with.

I also had the opportunity to join a small but dedicated group of people who go into the Burns Unit at the local city hospital, giving out food and bandages that family members would otherwise have to provide and pay for.  We were able to pray and encourage these folk, and sing songs to both lift their spirits and connect them to a God who loves them, and let them know that they are not forgotten.  There was no nurse or medical staff on duty and the wards were full with the overflow out the door on mats in the corridor.  I couldn’t get over the large number of children that were there with large degree burns due to falling into fire or pulling hot water or food over themselves, and to see women severely disfigured with loss of sight due to acid been thrown in their faces and over their bodies was shocking.  The smell of this place, and plight of these patients touched my heart, especially when one woman in particular, an acid attack victim, got off her bed and shuffled across the room so she could be by us and take part in praise and worship.  What a humbling and moving experience, and what a wonderful act of compassion this team of people are showing to choose to love and care for those others turn away from.

These experiences are etched into my mind, and have given me the chance to see Uganda from the inside out.  A month has raced by, and it is time for me to once again board a plane to travel to my next destination .......

at the well pumping water

playing duck, duck, chicken ... and I'm it

lunchtime .... rice and beans

Charlotte on a trip to the Reptile Park

Part of the garden dug ready for seed planting

watering the new garden ..... or am I watering myself!!!

Local housing

Typical Ugandan road

Back street shop

Entebbe housing

rural scenes

me and the Caldwells

Touchdown Uganda, the Pearl of Africa

Here I am, hanging out with the amazing Gordon family, at their new home in Entebbe.   My time has been spent mixing home school teaching with interior wall painting, digging gardens, sightseeing at the zoo and botanical gardens and surrounding area, a visit to the local market, and a couple of trips to visit projects in the area.  It hasn’t been as hot here as I thought it would be, so is a welcome change from the heat of Europe and South East Asia.  A good 4 hours of rain made the flower garden preparation for the girls so much easier to dig, with the soil here red clay- hard and dusty when dry, heavy and sticky when wet.  Still wet was the better option, I could put the pick away!

camel riding at the zoo

The Gordon family

Uganda's national bird, the grey crowned crane

Helping Lily with her schoolwork

walking through the park ... and this is a really good road by Ugandan standards!!!

Termite hill

Zebras at the zoo

mum and her baby at the botanical gardens

And onto another continent ......... Farewell Europe, hello Africa

There was a notable difference as the bus went from the roads of Romania to the roads of Hungary, smooth and without potholes, and then journeyed through into the early hours of the morning to Austria, where Vienna was my next stop.  The city is beautiful, friendly and a place where I felt, as a solo female traveller, safe.   A short train ride into Germany took me into Munich, where I ventured out to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle and the Dachau Concentration Camp. as well as the centre city sights via a walking tour.  Definately a way to find out some interesting details and local insight into what the city is all about.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Biking out for a swim in the alpine lake, Neuschwanstein, Germany

Monument at Dachau Concentration Memorial, to remember, honour and to learn from.

St Stephens Cathedral, Vienna

Garden area at Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna

Vienna Riding School future stars

Schoenbrunn Palace Gardens, Vienna

Back to Austria to the small alpine village of Schlitters, where I joined up with an Oakhall Christian Tour Group, and explored the mountain areas, the Zillertal valley and city of Salzburg, famous for the making of "The Sound of Music" movie.   Was great to share the experience and hike the trails with other people, and spend time making new friends.  An 18 hour bus trip which included travelling through the Euro tunnel by  train (double decker bus and all!) brought me into the U.K. where I stayed at Oakhall Manor in the Kent district.  This was my first taste of Britain, and I enjoyed visiting the city of Canterbury and looking over the many hillside and forest trails in the surrounding area.

Then onto Heathrow Airport, back on a plane, and off to Uganda for a month.  The adventure continues .......

Edelutte, Mayrhofen

Lake Achensee

alps above Fuggen, Zillertal valley, Tirol, Austria

Lake and Mountain views, Zillertal Valley

Lake Achensee

Bottom of Krimml Waterfall

Schlitters neighbourhood

mountain hike, Mayrhofen, Tirol

Krimml Waterfall

The Sights of Romania

Having spent most of my time in Tirgu Mures, I managed to take a few shots of the local iconic buildings before travelling on the bus on some roads that needed some serious repairs, to the beautiful town of Sibiu.   Luckily we headed off early in the morning, because with no air conditioning, a crowded bus with people standing, and an extremely hot day, the three hour trip could have been long suffering!!  Instead it proved interesting and very scenic, with views of Romanian cottages dotting the road sides through villages, fields of crops like corn and sunflowers growing, and areas of forest trees with patches of windy roads up the hillsides; a very beautiful display of Romanian countryside.
Sibiu shows itself to be another example of amazing historical buildings that fill European countries, with the Old City cobbled streets lined with buildings and churches dating from the 13th Century and the Astra Open Air Traditional Folk Civilisation Museum showing buildings prior to that.

It would have been nice to have had time to see more of the Transylvanian area, and the forests, mountains and seaside areas that are also part of this beautiful country.

Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tirgu Mures

Tirgu Mures city building

Sibiu, in the old town area

Ceiling in entranceway to Orthodox Church, Sibiu

part of the remaining fortress wall, Sibiu

Some great renovation projects in the old city, Sibiu

Piata Mare

Bridge of Lies, Sibiu

Windmill at Astra Traditional Folk Civilisation Museum, Sibiu

Shed for farm wagons

Tradional housing

Astra showing traditional housing

Tirgu Mares on the side of the road into town

fields of sunflowers