Uganda
Hello Friends
We've made it to Kampala. We've been here a week now and I still haven't recovered from my white water rafting we're-all-going-to-die experience.
Rafting on the source of the nile is a relatively new phenomenon. They've only been doing it for the last few years and it's not hard to see why. It is a Grade 5 river which means that it has several Grade 5 rapdis (the most challenging rapid a rafter will raft) without portage (this is where it is possible to walk around the rapids). Yoweri Museveni (Ugandan leader) claims that it is safe but I wonder if he's actually been down the rapids himself.
We fell out on the very first rapid. Imagine bobbing around in churning water as your boat comes crashing down over your head, pushing you under. Imagine then that as you frantically grip on to the rope of the boat, your eyes screwed shut because you never open them underwater, you find that there are two bodies equally terrified between you and the surface. Imagine the terror of having to let go of that rope - the one everyone said NOT to let go of - so that you can finally break the surface. Imagine thinking to yourself "Hey, look at me. Now I'm one of those drowning people so desperate to get air that they will pull others around them down. Hey, don't blame me, you know I can't help it". Imagine, this entire ordeal takes only seconds but in your head, it feels like a lifetime.
Malachy wants to do it again of course. We sat out two Grade fives and he wants to complete them. He's crazy. But I find myself reconsidering the bungee jump over the Victoria Falls. What do you think I should do? Reply poste haste please... Should I do the rafting again? Should I do the bungee.
PS. Who's read Harry Potter? I'm on chapter five and it looks pretty good.
Niamh.
We've made it to Kampala. We've been here a week now and I still haven't recovered from my white water rafting we're-all-going-to-die experience.
Rafting on the source of the nile is a relatively new phenomenon. They've only been doing it for the last few years and it's not hard to see why. It is a Grade 5 river which means that it has several Grade 5 rapdis (the most challenging rapid a rafter will raft) without portage (this is where it is possible to walk around the rapids). Yoweri Museveni (Ugandan leader) claims that it is safe but I wonder if he's actually been down the rapids himself.
We fell out on the very first rapid. Imagine bobbing around in churning water as your boat comes crashing down over your head, pushing you under. Imagine then that as you frantically grip on to the rope of the boat, your eyes screwed shut because you never open them underwater, you find that there are two bodies equally terrified between you and the surface. Imagine the terror of having to let go of that rope - the one everyone said NOT to let go of - so that you can finally break the surface. Imagine thinking to yourself "Hey, look at me. Now I'm one of those drowning people so desperate to get air that they will pull others around them down. Hey, don't blame me, you know I can't help it". Imagine, this entire ordeal takes only seconds but in your head, it feels like a lifetime.
Malachy wants to do it again of course. We sat out two Grade fives and he wants to complete them. He's crazy. But I find myself reconsidering the bungee jump over the Victoria Falls. What do you think I should do? Reply poste haste please... Should I do the rafting again? Should I do the bungee.
PS. Who's read Harry Potter? I'm on chapter five and it looks pretty good.
Niamh.
2 Comments:
Dear Niamh and Malachi, so far so good. Great adventure, marvellous web site. Best wishes and good luck from "the land down under"
Rolly
Mal and Niamh!! Thank you so much for the postcard. And Niamh, what they hell are you doing there with him if that's your point of view!!I hope you're having a fab time!! x Brigie
Post a Comment
<< Home