Iamsterdam

Despite all the snow in Detroit, KLM got me to Amsterdam early. My friend Zhou Jian who is studied at the U of M with me for several months and his girlfriend and another Chinese friend picked me up from the airport.

We drove into the Amsterdam city center and walked, and walked, and walked, but we saw so much in short amount of time. The amount of bikes is unbelievable, the people need it though, their food is pretty fattening. For example, mayonnaise on french fries, enough said.

We went to lunch at a Cantonese style Chinese restaurant in the Chinatown area, my friends ordered something in Chinese and I just waited. I learned 2 things from this experience:

1.) I don't like chicken feet

2.) I don't like intestine

Other than that the food was really good.

After lunch we made our way around all the hemp bars, and the Red Light District. All I can say is, "WOW!" It was funny seeing these conservative Chinese girls asking me if I wanted to go smoke and walking with Jian and I by windows with ladies trying to lure us inside.

After that we walked by the Iamsterdam statue in front of the Rijksmuseum, as well we saw the royal palace in Dam Square and Anne Frank's house. Following this we wondered along the canals back to the spot where we parked. It was great to see so many people on bikes but they scarier than all the cars.

We then drove to Delft which is 40 minutes from Amsterdam near Der Haag and Rotterdam. It is an amazingly beautiful city! I wish I had more time to explore here. I think it is in the 1000 places to see before you die, if I am wrong it should be.

We we looked at the old leaning cathedral and the new 500 year old church in the main square. Dinner was at a chain here called Billy Beer. Its "Dutch Style Rib" restaurant. The food was good, having Heineken so close from the source was even better!

Tomorrow...Uganda!

Africa! Can you feel it?

I can feel it!



My buddy Pete sent me this to get me pumped while studying for finals. Hopefully this is not in too bad of taste!

The Itinerary!

Lauren and Jon just sent this!

Sun., Dec. 21: Matt arrives!

Mon., Dec. 22: Matt rests, We explore Kampala.

Tue., Dec. 23: We explore Kampala

Wed., Dec. 24: Explore Kampala. Christmas Eve dinner out with some friends. Dad and Cliff arrive in the evening.

Thurs., Dec. 25: Sleep in, eat a Christmas brunch as prepared by J & L. Celebrate Christmas however we feel like it. Dinner out, probably at our favorite steak place, Tuhende, OR Indian food, OR La Fontaine, another favorite restaurant.

Fri., Dec. 26: Wake up early to leave for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Arrive in the park at midday. Lunch at Mweya Lodge (the nicest lodge in the park, good food, but we won't be staying there). Boat trip on the Kazinga Chanel, viewing hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, lots of birds, and possibly even lions, from the water. Drive to Jacana Lodge, where we're staying, settle in, eat dinner and go to sleep.

Sat., Dec 27: Game drive in the morning around the park. Chimp trekking in the afternoon at Kyabura gorge. Head back to Jacana, for a sunset dinner on a boat on the crater lake. Sleep!

Sun., Dec. 28: Game drive through the park. Travel to Ishasha Wilderness camp. Game drive around Ishasha, look for lions in trees. Dinner at Ishasha.

Mon., Dec. 29: Pack up our stuff, game drive around Ishasha for the morning, head back to Kampala in the afternoon. Stop by Papula Paper and the Equator on the drive back to Kampala.

Tues., Dec. 30: Free day around Kampala. Relax and re-pack for trip to Mbale.

Wed., Dec. 31: Take the Elgon Flyer bus to Mbale town. Visit JJ Keki and other farmers during the day and evening. Hopefully, hang out with JJ for new year's eve! Stay at Mount Elgon Hotel in Mbale town.

Thur., Jan. 1, 2009!: Visit with more farmers, learn about the coffee cooperative, and visit Mbale town. Head up to Sipi Falls Resort in the late afternoon. Dinner and relaxation at Sipi Falls Resort.

Fri., Jan. 2: Hike around the four waterfalls of Sipi... it's a more intense hike than you'd expect, but not TOO intense, and beautiful! This will take pretty much all day. Dinner, and last night at Sipi.

Sat., Jan. 3: Travel to Mbale to catch a bus back to Kampala. Return to J & L's place.

Sun., Jan 4: Whatever we feel like doing! Probably a trip to Uganda Crafts for Matt. Possibly dinner and watching traditional dancing for the rest of the group while Matt goes back to the airport. :(.

Mon., Jan 5: Dad, Cliff, Jon, and Lauren take Kampala by storm.

Tues., Jan 6: More Kampala, and we say goodbye as Dad and Cliff travel back to the US!

Some links:
Sipi Falls Resort: http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/sipifallsresort/index.html
Mount Elgon Hotel: http://www.mountelgonhotel.com/
Jacana Lodge: http://geolodgesafrica.com/jacana_safari_lodge.htm
Ishasha Wilderness Camp: http://www.wildfrontiers.co.ug/ishasha.html

Now time to go study!

Only Finals and Research Stands in the Way!

Welcome friends and family to my travels to Uganda. This blog is for you as much as it is for me! In the next few weeks I will keep you updated with pictures and events from my travels abroad. Just so you know where I will be here is my itinerary:

Dec 19 - Detroit to Amsterdam
Dec 20 - Amsterdam
Dec 21 - Amsterdam to Kampala
Jan 4 - Kampala to Amsterdam
Jan 5 - Amsterdam to Detroit

I will spend a majority of time in Kampala at my good friends Jon and Lauren's apartment. Her father Dan and Uncle will join us on the adventure. We will make two major excursions: One excursion is to Mbale in the east to a coffee cooperative and Sipi falls, the other is to Queen Elizabeth National Park in the west for a safari.

Below are some what I call "In case" links:

In case you don't know where Uganda is:


View Larger Map

In case you want to a quick reference about the country and its history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda

In case you want to know more about the conflict with the LRA in the north:

http://ugandarising.com/home.html

In case you want to know more about Mirembe Kawomera, a fair trade and interfaith coffee cooperative in Mbale:


In case you want to learn about Lauren's work and Ugnadan crafts:

http://www.ugandacrafts2000ltd.org/

In case you're intrested in Jon's work and the Refugee Law Project:

http://www.refugeelawproject.org/

In case you want to know what Sipi Falls looks like:
























In case you want to learn more about Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP):

http://www.uwa.or.ug/queen.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_National_Park

In case you want to see some movies about Uganda rent:

The Last King of Scotland - A story of Idi Amin

Mississippi Marsala - The story of an Indian-Ugandan family in the Southern U.S.

Finally, just in case people are worried about my health or diseases. I have gotten poked with so many needles and have a few prescriptions. I feel like no disease is too much but, just for you I will still be careful.

Please keep in touch, I will update as I get closer to hittin' the road!