Bunyonyi & Borders

It didn't take but about 6 seconds in Uganda before we felt the stark differences in culture from the more comfortable Rwanda. Before we even presented our passports we were being extorted  for an illegal border photo that our guide snapped for us at the marked Uganda gate. When we refused to pay the fine, the two female border guards said bringing them food would suffice. With a little time, our transfer assistant, Jackson, smoothed things out and we were on our way.

Other differences of immediate notice were the abundance of trash, much more widespread poverty (or at least villages looked much more run down), and the kids shouting calling out 'muzungu' along with 'give me money' as we passed. They were major differences from the control and stronghold the Rwandan government has on it's people.We met up with our new Ugandan guide, Benson, and headed northwest for some R&R time on gorgeous lake Bunyonyi. The lake was huge and deep with many small fishing villages surrounding it, as well as a fair number of tourist accommodations. While the lake wasn't touristy at all, we certainly saw more travelers like us than we did in most of our visit to Rwanda.We spent a day and a half soaking up sun, catching up on emails and going through pictures. Aside from taking a dugout canoe on the lake for the morning, we mostly lounged & swam and rested from the breakneck pace of our Rwandan travels.

Our highly illegal border shot

If Rwanda was called the land of 1,000 hills, maybe Uganda is the land of 1 mil hills

Some additional and fun cultural differences

We've arrived at the lake

And everything about it is stunning

With gorgeous views around every corner

And they really do use traditional dugout canoes for transportation 

We were treated like royalty when we arrived at Arcadia Cottages

And the view from the hill was spectacular 

New country, new beer

New beer, best enjoyed with a breathtaking sunset

Kristin outside our cottage waiting on breakfast to arrive

The muzungu hit the lake

Even businessmen and construction workers use this form of transport 

Kristin digging deep

The hotel dock we spent the afternoon lounging at

And of course swimming 

Watch out for the crocs

And returned to the hill for some more great evening light

Some final R&R time with a bev and sunset before hitting the road in the early AM