rwanda was extremely clean, orderly and polite. across the border in burundi things are different. it was easy to get a transit visa, but i was instantly approached by men, women, children looking for handouts. i changed a bit of money and then we were all quickly back on the bus and heading to bujumbura. in buj i dumped my stuff at a hotel and set off for a walk to get my bearings, as i had left my city map behind in rwanda. muzungu, muzungo hello hello. one guy was grabbing me aggressively wanting to shake my hand. i backed off, turned around, waited, then continued. a little further along a young guy missing lower limbs jumped at me. again i pulled away, then continued on. but a few moments later looked down, and ah no, i was missing my little change purse. i keep a change purse in my front zip with just enuf money for the day, and altho this day i happened to be carrying a bit more cuz i was wanting to change $10USD, it only amounted to $25 total plus 3 pair of earrings. my fault, uganda and rwanda were quite relaxed and friendly and so i had relaxed. i hope it was the last guy who got my donation ... i went back and he was gone, so maybe he ran off with his jackpot.
next day i took a motobike taxi to 'Bora Bora - beach lounge food experience'. very nice, but too early for lunch so took a stroll down the beach. found a place to sit and soon enuf had a companion. typical chatter... what am i doing here, he can't find work, he would like to be able to leave his country if he could find a sponsor like me, life is very difficult here, if he could go to a rich country like mine then he could get money and then get a girlfriend... whoa!
after lunch i took a moto back to town. i paid 1000fr this morning, but this guy wanted 1500fr to get back. but madam fuel is very expensive. we settled on 1200fr and he said he knew my hotel. as we got going he asked where my hotel was, if canada was next to california, or was it the capital?* enroute he pulled over and gave me his helmet cuz it was very windy. once we arrived he asked if i would take him with me to america.
around dusk as i was heading back to the hotel a bat shat on my shoulder.
at the visa counter in nairobi the guy was telling me i had to fill in a white form. i had already filled in a yellow form and a blue form. why do i also need a white form?? please. i held out my $25 for the visa. he flipped thru my passport, saw my previous visas for kenya, waved away my money, and stamped me in. nice to be back.
*do you know where Burundi is?
15.12.10
4.12.10
Paradise
I wanted a decent shower, some peace, and a good sleep. And while searching for some decent food I came across Paradise Malahide and decided it was time to treat myself. I went back the next day to this beautiful little resort, located on a peninsula on Lake Kivu in a small fishing village. I had an extremely relaxing stay.
At dusk as I was walking out to take photos of the sunset I walked thru the parking lot and saw a very showy white Audi convertible. Quite a sight in these parts. This must be a popular place for sunset drinks. I settled onto the rocks and watched the fishing boats going out for the night... then heard footsteps behind me. He asked if he could join me. Of course (darn). He sat, flicked his butt into the lake, and drank his whiskey. Then along came his friend. Now we were three. Intros and conversation began. #1 was from Oman visiting #2, his brother. #1 loves Africa, has 2 houses in Kigali, a yellow Hummer, and is staying at the Serena Hotel in nearby Gisenye. Africa is sleeping, he says, while he is making money.
Then he said don't think I came here to see the lake. He pulled a small bag of uncut diamonds out of his pocket. I put out my hand, he gave me one, I looked at it and gave it back. Diamonds from the Congo (10km away across the lake).
He told me to take a drink, any drink, he wanted to order me a drink. I took a lemon soda. He took another whiskey.
They both remarked that I must be rich when I said that I travel. I chuckled and said that I don't normally stay at places like the Paradise... I don't normally meet diamond-dealing Omani's in the places I stay.
I did for a moment think of asking for a place to stay in Kigali.
He asked why I was staying alone, why don't I come dancing in Gisenye?
I was much more interested in enjoying my only night at Paradise Malahide. I laid on the mattress, oh my, I hadn't slept on anything that comfy in a long time.
I regretted that I would be leaving in the morning.
At dusk as I was walking out to take photos of the sunset I walked thru the parking lot and saw a very showy white Audi convertible. Quite a sight in these parts. This must be a popular place for sunset drinks. I settled onto the rocks and watched the fishing boats going out for the night... then heard footsteps behind me. He asked if he could join me. Of course (darn). He sat, flicked his butt into the lake, and drank his whiskey. Then along came his friend. Now we were three. Intros and conversation began. #1 was from Oman visiting #2, his brother. #1 loves Africa, has 2 houses in Kigali, a yellow Hummer, and is staying at the Serena Hotel in nearby Gisenye. Africa is sleeping, he says, while he is making money.
Then he said don't think I came here to see the lake. He pulled a small bag of uncut diamonds out of his pocket. I put out my hand, he gave me one, I looked at it and gave it back. Diamonds from the Congo (10km away across the lake).
He told me to take a drink, any drink, he wanted to order me a drink. I took a lemon soda. He took another whiskey.
They both remarked that I must be rich when I said that I travel. I chuckled and said that I don't normally stay at places like the Paradise... I don't normally meet diamond-dealing Omani's in the places I stay.
I did for a moment think of asking for a place to stay in Kigali.
He asked why I was staying alone, why don't I come dancing in Gisenye?
I was much more interested in enjoying my only night at Paradise Malahide. I laid on the mattress, oh my, I hadn't slept on anything that comfy in a long time.
I regretted that I would be leaving in the morning.
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