Merry Christmas!

Stingray Rescue Christmas Eve 2012

I cannot begin to describe how beautiful Uganda is.

Rural Uganda. November 11.Equator Cafe, as I crossed the Equator for the first time on land. I asked the barrista if they had skim milk. She looked at me and said, "Our milk comes straight from the cow." Yup. Pretty sure this is the first latte I've ever had without pasteurized milk. Love the Tim Horton's mug!

Excellent Hotel

The R&R begins...

A little bit of Heaven. Kampala Serena Hotel. Saturday, November 10 - before safari

Gift I bought for myself in Uganda.

I've been so wonderfully busy on this trip to Uganda I haven't had time to post any pictures. Coming soon. Today I went through the district that has an Ebola outbreak. I did NOT have the driver stop!

Gift from my good German/UN Military friend. This is truly some of the best chocolate I have EVER had! I did share (some!). MUCH appreciated. Now to figure out how to source more....LOL!

Well, before I came to Juba I spoke with this nice woman who told me my clothes would only last 6 months. For some that has been true. These gumboots made it until now. Still, shows how hard life is here. These are (were) super well made gumboots....

Where I live in Juba (Old Town Tomping as Larry has dubbed it) is a swamp. No amount of superb UN Japanese Army Engineering can prevent flooding when it rains. This is my "street" corner, right beside my compound, after a late afternoon storm.

Another stuck vehicle, later.

I have made so much fun of Larry's old spatula. When I saw this new one, had to buy it!

One of the nice things about knowing some very sweet UN Military guys from around the world is they kindly give me gifts. So Sweet!

Cool collapsible cup. Swedish design!

Beautiful towel, already in use!

Thank you Michael!

Sitting by the fountain at Spices & Herbs. Waiting for Larry & 2 Brit Priests transiting through Juba after being in the Bush for a month. The sound of water at least makes it feel cooler.

Spices & Herbs Garlic Chips. Larry and I are trying to figure out the recipe. I LOVE these. So unbelievably good. With a cold Tusker - nothing better in Juba!

Thanks to a very nice friend of mine I got to tour the South Sudan Beverage Limited (SSBL) plant. Fascinating tour. And, their Club Beer, I am told, is beating out Uganda's in the blind samples sent to SA for testing. It was so interesting hearing how they do business with so many logistical challenges. Thanks to my friends who included me in their team building exercise. You have a great team!

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SSBL

Hops from Tanzania

Brewing process

Great end to a wonderful tour! SSBL

I see the moon, the moons sees me, God bless the moon, and God bless my baby.

Pictures from Hash #339. Starting with the end. It was one of the best Hash's I've been on. Great idea, Larrry!!!

Beautiful Sunset after a great Hash

Yes, those are sharp thorns on the bush.

Not sure this does justice to how hot it gets in SS.

More pics of the Hash Trail

Beautiful outcroppings of rock, Juba, South Sudan

Of course, the grass is taller than I.

Daily commute on foot...

Hanging on Friday Night

Beautiful Nile

Dinner on the Nile with good friends

Wreck on the Nile

In honor of his recent travels, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his 3rd wife H.H. Sheikha Noora bint Khalid Al-Thani. Taken at the Modern Museum of Art in Doha last April.

Travel and Tourism Agency in Juba. I love this sign.

Kitchen at ECS Guesthouse. Wouldn't mind one in my backyard in Old Town.

I am over this week and not particularly feeling the love with South Sudan right now. This week/country has claimed three lives near me, including my friend Brian who died of Malaria while on a hunting trip in Canada. Then this place tries to take me down and I end up in the clinic for the first time since I got here. What I thought were just spider bites turned out to be freakin' acid burns from a stupid Nairobi Fly. (For the faint of heart, please do not google.) Who needs tattoos when you can have acid scars on your chest? Woohoo!

You can see where the Nairobi Fly left its acid.

Witch Doctors, aka "Herbalist Healers" put out fliers. This one is English on one side, Arabic on the other. He says he's the "proud winner of East and Central Africa control council. Award for a life time success." Well, there you have it!

Closer look at the English side

Last year when I flew Emirates these menus were in use. I LOVE them. October!

Not to be outdone by my friend Larry, http://duffmaninsudan.blogspot.de/, who got a horrendous spider bite in Abyei. I am not sure if these are mosquito or spider. YUCK! Edited: Obvs from the above pics it was neither. Rather the early stage of development in my Nairobi Fly experience. TRIPLE YUCK!

The Nile

Afex Rivercamp for dinner, the Nile at night. It was noted that I haven't blogged in a while. With the busy Juba social season in swing, added to my starting my Logistics Certification (not to mention the "w" word!), I just haven't had much time. Another great dinner last night. Tonight the Hash at the Brewery and I am throwing a BBQ tomorrow. All good!

Our garden continues to grow!