Charging Baboon and Mob Justice

We made it to Kibale National Park safely and are now back in Kampala for a few days. We've had two interesting experiences that we want to share with you.

We were sitting on our couch with our backs to an open window when we heard the familiar sound of a "galloping" baboon. We turned around to watch them pass by (which is always entertaining) when we were startled to find a large male baboon charging toward the window directly at us. We weren't in any real danger because our window has both a screen and bars. It came within a few feet of the window before it stopped short at our window and flashed its teeth at us in a clear attempt to show us that it 1. wasn't afraid of us and 2. we should be afraid of it. I ran outside with a pan and ran after it making all the noise I could and trying to look really scary, although I'm sure I looked funny to anyone else who happened to see me. At least Krista was supportive of my banging-pan display.

The other experience happened as we were unloading

off the bus from Kibale. The bus lot in Kampala is a very

busy place with buses and people all around. I heard some commotion outside the bus where the luggage was being unloaded. There was a group of people gathered around a man who was holding his body sitting on the ground as if to protect himself. The people around him were grabbing at his clothing and hitting him with papers, ropes, and different fabric pieces (this is what your average person at a bus “station” in Kampala is carrying around with them apparently). Before long the man’s shirt was torn off and he was trying to run away but he didn’t make it far before the crowd knocked him down again. I lost sight of him for a moment as the crowd closed in around him. The next thing I heard was a cheer from the crowd and I saw the man running, completely naked, out of the lot down the busy street. Then we saw some of the people from the crowd walking away with his torn pants and shirt as they were going through is pockets. It seems as though we was trying to steal something and the crowd decided to inflict it’s own sort of punishment against him.

Otherwise we are having fun catching up with everyone here and getting settled back in our house.

NIghtime walk in London

We were lucky to get upgraded to 1st class on our flight to London. We enjoyed comfy reclining chairs, gourmet food, great entertainment, and endless drinks. After taking a much needed nap, we hit the town to have a yummy meal in the West End and on to a romantic walk along the Thames. Here is a picture from that walk. We went on to try to visit our old clubbing stomping grounds at the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly Circus, but they were way too posh for us with their dress code, cover charge, and line to get in. Today, we're hoping to re-visit the British Museum. Jeff recalls thinking of a Simpson's episode the last time we were there. "Give my regards to the British Museum!" Chief Wiggum said to Bart as he locked him in an Egyption Pyramid Tomb.

Tonight, we are off to Uganda! Jeff has an exciting new project introducing computers into one of the schools where he is working. The laptops were provided through a great program called One Laptop Per Child (www.laptop.org). And I will be working double hard on collecting lots of great data and samples from the red colobus monkeys.

PICTURES!!!

We came home for a few months and while we had access to good internet service, we wanted to post some pictures. So of course, we waited until the very last second while we are hanging out in London on our layover heading BACK to Uganda. We hope you enjoy these images from the first part of our trip.


Out to dinner on our first night in Uganda. Enjoying one of Kampala's excellent Indian Restaurants.


At Murchison Falls National Park. Walking up the Falls on the Nile River. Murchison Falls is known as the most powerful waterfall on the Nile.

Crocodile on the Nile.

View from the Top of Murchison Falls

And More Animals...

The Family Visit: Krista's Mom and Sister came for the Holidays!!!

I think I'll have the fish....



During one of Jeff's drawing contests.



Here's to hoping for many more months of fun in Uganda. And definitely for staying safe and healthy! Hope you all continue to read the blog and enjoy...

Torro Dance Video

Here is a video of a local dance group that preformed for us while Krista's family was visiting. These traditional dances always feature drums, girls with short grass skirts around their waists, and guys with seeds on the lower legs that rattle when they stomp.