From the wilds of Africa.

 Well, a long long time between drinks - so to speak.  I have no excuse except for having lots of things to think about.  It is now spring here and beautiful warming weather after a rather nippy winter and after complaining about the rain for the last four years, a little drop or two would now be nice.  Lawns are drying out and  I have even seen some sprinklers out.  Took me a while to register what they were!

Now to the business of uncurling, unfurling and living.  I have had lots of jaunts away and I will go back as far as Easter to my trip to Roma in Queensland which I spent with an old friend.  Roma hosts a rodeo weekend and the numbers swell, the pubs are full and folk come from near and far to enjoy the festivities.  It was a 7 hour drive for me so set out early in the am - I am at my best in the morning so that made sense.  The drive is so pretty and fortunately uneventful.  We stayed in an old pub right in the middle of town, close to the action and just a set of stairs to the bar.  My friend was living there so she was able to take me far and wide to see the sights.  The bullriding was as usual, loud and exciting.  If you have never been to a rodeo, treat yourself.  The atmosphere is always exciting, family oriented and seeing Troy Cassar-Daly rocking the stage was great fun.  We enjoyed a beer at the Mukka Pub and gazed at Lake Neverfill (good name). The town hosts a good old fashioned parade and everyone lines the streets to clap and encourage.  Such a nice atmosphere and the weekend was a wonderful way to spend Easter.  We even went to church and partook of a cuppa with scones, jam and cream whilst clearing a path to Heaven!  

So that takes me to my next adventure which was to Rwanda in Africa for my final program with Orbis, the flying eye hospital I have worked on for 20 years.  The lead up was all abit dramatic as Trump decided to bomb Iran not long before I left and as I was transiting through Doha I watched the news closely every nigh. Luckily all was peaceful by the time I left and I arrived unscathed..Kigali is the capital of Rwanda and what a beautiful country it is.  The people are so warm, quietly spoken and welcoming.  Kigali is a hilly place and is 1567 metres above sea level which makes for a very pleasant climate. It is also very clean and one Saturday morning a month, the people get out into the streets and clean up, help each other and keep the city sparkling!  The shops don't open until this is done.  What a great initiative.  The local language is French and alot of people don't speak English. 

We stayed at a nice hotel ...The Park Inn by Radission and each morning saw a group of us walking or running (me walking) in preparation for the day. I think it is wise to continue your exercise program even when out of routine and in another country. And you do get to see lots of things not seen by a car.

We did a simulation program that week at the local Eye Hospital teaching the trainees in their chosen fields, from Theatre, to recovery to Central sterilizing.  They were eager, willing to learn and the interpreters were very useful in translating for us. I was in Sterilizing and I can say I cleaned and wrapped alot of instruments for sterilization, with the aid, of course, of the Rwandan nurses. If  you have skills and would like to volunteer anywhere! do so.  It is rewarding, stimulating and fun.  It can be in your own town, city, area, state, county, country.  It doesn't have to be far afield.

Us girls ready for a days work.

Some of our trainees 

The day before I started work I was fortunate enough to play a game of golf at the Kigali Country club with 2 of the other staff members.  I had booked it before I left Australia.  The club house was very flash and a lovely course.  We had caddies.... a first for me.... they did everything!  I just had to walk and hit and I played quite well so maybe that is what I need.  If you are in need of a hobby in "old age", golf fits the bill very nicely for lots of reasons. Exercise, companionship, the great outdoors, the animals and birds you encounteer, the joy of a good shot and finally the 19th hole for a post mortem and a cold drink.

Me and my caddy and some shots of the course

We did some very nice eating that week, particularly at a very high end restaurant where we were treated to beautiful African dancing, loads of delicious Rwandan influenced food and endless glasses of wine.  The Professor of the hospital treated me to a lovely gift pack as a thank you and a send off for my retirement.  She gave me a very large dress and said the African women wear it over anything and go to church, shopping and visiting.  I could have fitted 3 of me in it!  I was very touched and honoured.  My own plane group also presented me with a delicious cake, a chance to say a few words and lots of love and hugs.....how I will miss Orbis.  They have been my away family for 20 years and the friendships formed are both strong and precious.  I also have lovely contact with lots of people world wide who I have met and worked with on my journey with Orbis and I thank everyone for their support and interest.  Another page turned in the book of life!

Here come the food photos and whilst I am not sure of the names of most of the dishes, I know they were delicious.  Rwanda has great coffee and peanuts.....and they like their chili.

One of their local beers shared with one of my South American comrades!

So Rwanda brought great weather, spectacular sunrises, a very emotional visit to the Genocide museum which left me with tears streaming down my face, the obligatory market visit which, like all market places, was full of yelling, bustling, eager to make a sale people which left visitors clutching their bags to their chest and politely saying no to various useless garments and items.

And now the Fait Accompli although not sure if I am using that phrase in the correct context.........The Gorilla Trek.  OMG, what an adventure, probably one of the biggest in my life.  I was picked up at 3.30am by a small African man named Michael and we set off for Uganda in the pitch dark hurtling along the not so well kept roads, passing an amazingly large number of people walking to who knows where at that hour.....but they were.  The border into Uganda was full of shadowy figures, wads of money passing hands and lanyards describing the officials positions.  I felt I could have easily disappeared, never to be seen again and was glad to be on our way.  The road up to the Impenetrable Bwindi Jungle was something beyond description.  It was a dirt road, as wide as one car, not a 

guardrail to be seen and 4 wheel driving like you would not believe...with the most stunning scenery to behold.  2000 metres we climbed and eventually ( 5 hours later) arrived at the beginning of the gorilla trek.  I was breathless just walking up the slight rise to the group!  I just don't have enough red blood cells to cope with the high altitude!  We set off and were greeted by the porterss - a group of strong Ugandan men who handed us bamboo walking poles with a sharp point at one end.. Our rudimentary walking poles!!!!

The path down into the jungle was narrow, slippery, rough and pretty well perpendicular.  OMG------ I thought I would never get to the bottom in one piece. The trackers there carry rifles to fire over the heads of elephants, should they stampede.  However we never saw them and cautiously made our way through the jungle, with the trackers hacking through virgin forest with machetes, looking for the silver back and family . 

AND then we saw them.  The family of gorillas..mum, dad and two wee babies.  For the next hour, we were mesmerized, snapping a million photos and stumbling over rough, uneven ground as they moved from spot to spot.  Dada would decide when it was time to move and off they (and we) would go, to the next bush which looked tantilizing and tasty to them.  We were required to wear face masks, speak quietly and not look them in the eye.  Their eyes however to me, looked vacant and abit  "oh no, more humans".

The trek back through the jungle was difficult as we were all short of breath and of course, the perpendicular track was still to be navigated again, upwards this time!. The porters helped and supported us and prevented us from rolling down a 60 metre drop and it was wonderful to be back onto the road. I was glad I didn't leave that bucket list wish much longer so if it is on your agenda, do it before you turn 73!  However, it was amazing and that jungle sure is Impenetrable!!!!!!

So firstly there is him and her.  He lies back and eats constantly, she looks cross and wishes he would be abit more active.

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Then there were these two - swinging off vines and in general annoying the mother even more.  If that was possible!!

You can see one of the walking poles........

And the guns to fend of the elephants

And then there was him and I in a mexican stand off, not looking at each other and pretending neither of us knew the other was there.

The trackers and porters always happy for a photo and the jungle at its best.  Such a beautiful, wild place.

Oh happy days.......

So that takes me to the end of Africa, such an amazing continent and full of astonishing people and animals. I have been there 5 times now and have never been disappointed by anything.....go if you can.

So finally on the way home I called into Doha,being en route home with Qatar Airlines.  Trump was done with bombing Iran so my day there was peaceful and very interesting. An amazing city with 2 airconditioned streets (open air streets) I may tell you.  Well, power is cheap.  My hotel-and most others there-was dry and of course the weather at 40C.  I did a lovely day trip with a guide which included all the place had to offer.  Much evidence still of the FIFA world cup held there in 2022, the souk, a hearty lunch, me learning to play a board game, a gold thumb???? and a sunset cruise.  I ate an amazing risotto in the most beautiful hotel I have ever been in on my last night - it had to end on a food note of course.

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So that folks, is my latest journey in an attempt to remain interested, mobile, educated, stimulated and connected to this great place we call EARTH.  It isn't always possible to totally follow our dreams but try to see and do as much as you can while you can.  It is rewarding and although I know we all have different wants and needs, do try something new now and again.. You will be surprised at how much joy it brings you. My next blog will reveal interesting stories about a weeks golf in Northern NSW and hopefully it won't take me so long to compile.  Until then, I will have a red for you all.  Slainte!!