Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the thirteenth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 18, Tough Mudder:

 

 

Rise and shine for the first official day of ITT. Kyle, Sophie and Erin had to catch flights back to Tanzania for their safaris and bushmen hunts. They left without saying their farewells. Stella and Rebecca left later to head out to their  own safari, then to Dar El Salam. Sarah Bell had a late flight, so she stayed around almost until noon. Sydney and Maddie also left without me seeing them. 

 

 

The rest of us were going to stay in Kigali for ITT, except for Claudia. She was going to Cape Town on Wednesday. Jordan and I had plans for that day; the tough mudder challenge with Waka fitness. I didn’t know how I felt about it, considering that fact that I was recovering from food poisoning. I had only a light breakfast of toast with honey and some fruit on our way there. We packed our change of clothes, left everything else and hopped on a boda boda.

 

 

From the stadium, we took an event bus full of other competitors. We got three headbands at the race; green, blue and red. One colour for each obstacle race. We were all grouped by a letter. Ours was E. We had to wait for about 2 hours until it was our group’s turn to race.

 

 

 

In the meantime, we walked around and took in the sights and sounds of the event. There was a stage with a DJ playing Western hip hop and rap music to pump up the competitors. There was also a small food stand where I bought a granola bar and some fruit to keep me going. Jord bought a brownie at the stand and had an Americano, which they were promoting at another stand for free. We sat on the plastic stairs behind the stage while we waited.

 

 

Eventually, they called group E and we went up there. We prepared ourselves to the beat of live African drums that lined the start line, and then off we went. After jumping over walls and diving through a foot of mud into a ditch, we had some issues with the first race. We got lost and scrambled for almost a minute without knowing where to go. The guide eventually led us in the right direction, and we managed to come in first place with a silver medal. Victory!

 

 

A few hours later, I took part in a planking competition and got first place out of 20, along with another participant. Then I won my first kayaking voucher. However, I was late for the race. So I gave my prize back and rushed away while I tied my red headband. This time, we came in fifth place. My arms were dead from the beginning. But at least I started with the rush of victory from the plank competition.

 

 

Another while later, we ran in the blue race. This time, I was proud of myself for getting to run through the entire race properly, unlike what happened with the green race. We also managed to score 1st place! We were so pumped about our unexpected progress while we gasped for air and drank water. Not to mention that this was also a late start after a ball scavenger hunt in a mud pit for prizes.

 

 

Right after that, we got a late start in a ball scavenger hunt in a mud pit for prizes. I had not heard about our group starting the race when it happened, and I had to rush to catch up while still covered in mud.

 

 

Jord was happy but simultaneously concerned about the possibility of making it to the finals, even though we had clearly made it very far. He was concerned because he had a safety chat to do in the evening with the next OG group. However, our team was called as we waited. We made it to the finals! We would be running on the green track again, but against the finalists from all the other groups this time.

 

 

This time, I was ready and pumped up at the start position when the race began. We ran along our course, climbing walls, lifting rocks, and walking through mud and water. We managed to come in 2nd place in the whole event! We won another kayaking trip for two people with Kingfisher Journeys, and a 15 000 RWF (Rwandan Franc) voucher for Jumia food. (a kind of Nigerian food) We also won some phone service airtime, and a weekend stay for two people at the famous Hotel des Mille Collines.  We were pretty happy when we went home, and Jord had to go straight to his interview at Mijo with Lindz.

 

 

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the twelfth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 16, 17, Food Poisoning:

 

 

June 16:

 

 

The morning after we visited the milk lady, we prepared for a hike along the Akagera Park fence. We climbed the hills for a few hours with Bosco, and managed to see another baboon and a monkey. Bosco definitely presents himself as a well-informed guide, having answers to any questions about the flora and fauna of the land. At the top of the hills, we sat by some rocks where a new registration post was going to be set up. From there, we overlooked the largest lake in the park.

 

 

Some of the people began to feel sick with upset stomachs. Claudia had been complaining earlier, and I later learned that Erin had thrown up when she got sick on the ride back to the hostel. I started to feel something when I was sitting on those rocks.

 

 

Back at the hostel, more people began to feel worse. Many started to vomit, and I also began feeling really nauseated. I tried walking around, but ended up joining the sick group and throwing up as well.

 

 

Most of us spent the rest of that day and part of the next one in bed, trying to recover. My legs became uncomfortably restless. I needed to walk around, regardless of the nausea and weakness. It was a bad time for many of us.

 

 

June 17:

 

 

The next morning, I decided to try and have my first meal in 24 hours. I went to Hans’ restaurant and ate hash browns and chapati with avocado. This wasn’t the best combination on a sick and empty stomach, but I managed to keep the food down. We got our stuff together and waited for a private bus to take us back to Kigali, where the cozy Mijo hostel was that we learned to know and love.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the eleventh blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 15, The Milk Lady:

 

 

 

The day after the safari was a day with few events. Breakfast started late, and our ride arrived during it. So we had to wait for breakfast until later, and go on to the milking and buttering demonstration.

 

 

After a half-hour-long dalla dalla ride, we reached a small farmland in what looked like the bush. A herd of cows were penned up in a natural enclosure of plants. The cows’ owners showed us how the milking was done, in the same way that they had previously showed me on the island. First, they released the calf from a smaller thornbush enclosure and let it run to its mother. Then the assistant, the young son of the buttering lady, held back the calf while she milked the cow.

 

 

After taking turns milking the cow, we headed to the home of the lady who makes the butter. The environment of the government-built home she lived in was very welcoming. We took our shoes off and sat on a large living room floor. There were nothing there but stucco walls, straw carpets, and a small, round display of containers in the corner of the room. They used those to store the milk.

 

 

We sat in a circle under the zinc-sheet roof as the lady demonstrated how each of the containers are filled with smoke. This was used to add flavour to the milk, using grass wicks. Then the lady passed around one of the smokey containers with milk in it for us to have. Stella was the only one of us who drank a full glass of it. Then the milk lady demonstrated how butter is made by putting the milk in a dry gord and shaking it for one hour. This is a job reserved only for women in Rwandan culture.

 

 

Meanwhile, Kyle, Alessandra and I were drawing with the younger girl of the household while the ladies had their shot at shaking the gord.  The lady seemed to enjoy the experience as much we did as she laughed at the funny moments that we all shared.

 

 

Unfortunately, we left early so we could have breakfast. We were starving since we had missed it that morning.

 

 

Later that afternoon, we stayed at the hostel, and hung out at Hans’ restaurant that was at the bottom of the hill. Claudia, Sarah Bell and I went for a walk with Hans until we had to head back because he had customers.

 

 

Later, Claudia stayed at the hostel while Sarah Bell and I went for a walk by ourselves. We carried a 1.5 litre bottle of a ginger drink that was supposed to be healthy. Along the way, many local children started to follow us. They held our hands, and were happily and playfully tagging along with us. We walked for about half an hour into a part of town that seemed to look similar to the rest of the places we had been. Homes and small business lined the sides of the dirt road.

 

 

Eventually, we had to turn back because we had a session with the group. We headed back with the children in hand. After we arrived at Coco Park restaurant, next to Hans’ place, the session soon started. It involved hearing an opinion about an experience, such as whether volunteering usually payed off. We also split into four groups of people who either agreed or disagreed with the opinion. We then did one on one sessions in the gazebos to briefly explain what our ITT plans were going to be.

 

 

After that, we had dinner. That morning, we had eaten a late breakfast and promptly followed that with lunch. So we were still too full for dinner. No one in the group finished their meals. Leftovers flooded the containers that we borrowed from Hans.

 

 

What followed in the next few days was not pleasant. We never found out if it was caused by the food or a bug. But the next few days took a turn for the worse.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the tenth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 14, Akagera, Day 2:

 

 

The next morning, after an uncomfortable sleeping bag rest, we packed up and travelled along the rest of the route to the north end of the park. It was a long journey through hills and dusty winding roads. We managed to see hippos, giraffes, a crocodile, and lots of zebras. They tend to congregate by the open areas with low grass where they can spot predators. We even managed to have a glimpse of a pride of lions in the distance. We were lucky to see them since Bosco (our tour guide) had told us that there was a 0.5% chance that we’d see them. Fortunately, we had been tipped off by one of the other guides in another vehicle that the lions had been spotted in the area on the previous day. We had also seen a group of hippos who were close to the crocodile, which could have potentially turned deadly.

 

My favourite part of the journey was when we saw a large family of about 20 giraffes, including babies. 10 minutes before we were done the safari, we also got the lucky chance to see elephants in the distance. Keily was happy since that was what she had looked forward to the most on our trip.

 

After the safari, we headed all the way back down to the hostel to spend the rest of the evening there.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the ninth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 13, Akagera, Day 1:

 

 

We started off the day with a 6-hour-long bus ride to Akagera from the North Province, past Kigali. We only had a few stops for washroom breaks, snacks and lunch.

 

 

When we got there, we headed directly through the gates of Akagera National Park, a 1 112 square kilometre wildlife reserve with all kinds of animals. After just about ten minutes of travelling, we saw a family of baboons cross the road in front of us. After that, I was the first person who spotted a waterbuck that was lurking deep in the bushes. It’s another animal with less shock value, but it was quite interesting to see the frankly, flightless birds that ran around the road. Their long necks and legs made them look like they were constantly about to tip over in an almost comical fashion.

 

 

 

We reached the park’s main office after about half an hour of travel. This was where everyone would be signing in. There were infographics about the park’s history and wildlife, and a room that was full of animal bones that were on display. Our tour guide, Daniel, who we met at the stop, was replaced with another one named Bosco. He would be staying with us for the rest of the time. From his restaurant, we had also picked up Hans, the chef who would be cooking for us at the camp site.

 

 

On our way to the camp site, there was no shortage of breathtaking views, both of the animals and the distant landscapes of wildlife territory. Along the way, we also saw zebras, buffalo, and impala.

 

 

 

Once we arrived at the camp site, we set out our things and dropped off the food and Hans. He would get started on the cooking before heading back for the remainder of the evening to see more animals. Safari vehicles aren’t permitted to travel around the park past 6pm, so we had to make the most of what was left in the daylight.

 

 

Once we were back, the tents were set up and we got the fire started. We hung around while we waited for the food. I was playing my guitar in a corner while everyone else was talking in groups. The view from the enclosed camp site was amazing, especially after the moon came out over the lake at night.

 

 

In the evening, we had dinner while everyone was sitting around the camp fire. We listened to Kyle improvise jingles about the trip and play them on his guitar. Everyone was having fun. The stars came out and the milky way was showing its bands of light across the sky. Some of us laid down to stargaze.

 

 

Meanwhile, I went for a walk around the entire perimeter of the park. I walked by the electric fence that was protecting us from the wild animals. It was pitch black along the edge of the bushes that enclosed us to my left, and the fence on my right side. It was very interesting to think that I was surrounded by large animals that I couldn’t see, who lived in the rugged landscape; the place where humans first evolved millions of years ago. I stayed up half an hour later than everyone else to look at the moon shine past the hills that were above the lake. I felt the light warm breeze flowing by my face as I was warmed by the dying embers of the fire. Alone in the wild African bush, I was very much like the way that our ancient ancestors once were, a long time ago. This was the environment that granted us the ability to have all of the emotions that we experience today. We got them through thousands of generations of trials and errors of life and death of those who preceded us.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the eighth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 12, Cyuza Island, Day 2:

 

The next morning, I woke up early enough to join the others so we could see the sunrise at the top of the island. We did yoga while we waited. It was Claudia, Stella, Jorde, Brett and me. The view was breathtaking. It looked like a watercolour painting with the layers of overlapping hillsides in their graduating shades of blue.

 

 

I ran up and down the island many times that day, exploring with the others. I also rowed around it again with Lindsey and Kelly, and played with the cows. Later that evening, I went for a swim by the grassy shore with Kyle and Sarusi. It’s a curious thought that the water is known to have parasites, so we had to take anti-parasite pills by the end of the trip.

 

 

After our island adventure, we travelled back to the mainland on a ferry at 4pm. Then we went back to the hostel where we were staying, and got ready for our trip to Akagera that would happen the next morning.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the seventh blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 11, Cyuza Island, Day 1:

 

 

Today was a new day, and we got back to getting things done. We woke up before 6am to get ready to spend two days on Cyuza Island. This is a small agricultural island that is owned by the lady who owns the coffee shop in Musanze. We packed our sleeping bags and bathing suits and hopped onto a bus at the bus stop that would take us to our destination.

 

 

We walked from the bus stop to the edge of the lake. This took about an hour on foot over a rocky, dusty path in the sun around crops and houses. Along the way, we met Sarusi, who was the ward of the island. When we reached the lake, we rested and admired the view while we waited for the ferry. Sophie had been followed by a large group of kids who she started playing with while we waited.

 

 

Once the ferry arrived and we reached the island, we were welcomed by the beautiful sight of the lake. It had the backdrop of a great volcanic mountain in the distance that was surrounded by rolling hills, and we could see it from the balcony where we would be sleeping.

 

 

As we got ourselves settled, some people went sunbathing. Others just relaxed by the balcony. I had decided to go and explore the island while we were waiting for lunch, which was taking a while. While I explored on my own, I saw the ruins of the old colony that used to populate the island. Being by myself in the wilderness of an island was quite unsettling because I didn’t know what to expect. I came across some cows and a man who was tending to them. I recorded the whole exploration on my phone. I travelled from one end of the island to another, coming across a lot of wild birds and old ruins. Some of the ruins were inhabited.

 

 

Later that evening, Maddie, Sydney, and I went kayaking around the island. It took about 15 minutes to circle it. Along the way, we saw cliffs and caves which I would be exploring on my own on the next day.

 

 

After a very satisfying dinner, some card games, and coffee, we watched the stars come out as we lit a campfire. We all laid on mattresses as we counted shooting stars and talked about them by the dying campfire in the late night. The moon had already risen as we watched it above the eastern hills that were across from the lake. It slowly overpowered the light from the Milky Way.

 

 

At midnight, I went for a solo walk while everyone else was asleep. In the least-expected place, I came across one of the local farmers by the boat. We talked for a little bit while he washed lettuce in the lake that was under the moonlight. Two more farmers came by, rowing in the kayak while listening to music on their radio. The moon had completely changed.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the sixth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 10, An Epic Tale of Laundry and Exploring:

 

 

After a long day of climbing Mount Bisoke, we took the rest of the day off. We stayed at the hostel to rest and regain our energy. The rest of the group used the time to explore the marketplace and resupply. I used the time to wash some long-neglected dirty laundry in the morning. It was a sunny Saturday, perfect for drying clothes in the sun. Unfortunately, I accidentally flushed the bar of soap that I was using down the toilet with the dirty bucket water. So I had to use another one that I found.

 

 

When I was going out to take a walk around town later that afternoon, I ran into Sarah Bell. She was on her way back to the hostel, so we went to explore the back streets of the town. There were a lot of places showing the humble livelihoods of the locals; kids playing in the streets, and young men bathing in the river and washing their clothes. We tried to reach a hill that was in the distance, but we were blocked by the path of the river. But that was okay because we had to make our way back to the hostel before 6pm. We wanted to get dressed up for a fancy dinner that we were going to eat that night anyway.

 

Here’s the link for people who want to support me on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6600631

 

 

My friend, David (who I talked with about math and evolution on previous blogs, links are below.) went on a backpacking trip in Africa recently. This is his story of the experience of other cultures.

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/14/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-1/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/07/25/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-2/

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/2017/08/04/math-evolution-meaning-life-dialogue-part-3/

 

This is the fifth blog in part 2 of this series. Here is the link for the page where the others can be found:

 

http://mindgasms.theblogpress.com/category/travel/

 

June 9, Bisoke:

 

 

Mount Bisoke is one of the 3 Volcanic mountains in the Volcanoes National Park that borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can find wild mountain gorillas. The peak altitude is 3711 metres above sea level, and today, we started to prepare for the hike to the top. We packed light bags, got into the safari vehicles, and made our way to the place where the hike was being organized.

 

 

After a half-hour long bumpy ride, we reached our destination. We were welcomed with the beautiful cultural dancing and tribal drum beating of some African performers. I heard the deep sound of the drums and watched the rhythmic dancing, with the backdrop of the 3 volcanic mountains that faded into the distant sky. It was a powerful experience. That’s when I really got the awareness that I was truly in the heart and soul of Africa; the cradle of humanity.

 

 

After getting debriefed about the climb and meeting our porters, we went on another 20-minute-long ride to the starting point of the hike. Military men would escort us to protect us from dangerous wild animals and Congo militants. The hike through the dense African jungle had a lot of sights and sounds.

 

 

On the way up, our tremendous effort was rewarded at every clearing with the beautiful sight of the Rwandan countryside in the distance. Alongside me were Maddie, Brett, and 2 military men who escorted us. 3 hours and 5 minutes after the starting point, and marching against a gradient, we reached the peak of Mount Bisoke. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. The Clouds that had been covering our path rolled around the edge of the rim and swirled into the volcano’s crater. In the bottom of it was a serene, perfectly round lake that was surrounded by wilderness. The sides of the crater were steep cliffs that couldn’t be accessed.

 

 

We took pictures and ate a light meal of hard-boiled eggs and avocado sandwiches while we enjoyed the view. The way back down on the same path was tiring, but not in the same manner as going up was. It was a lot harder on our knees.

 

When we got to the bottom and rode back in the safari vehicle, there was a child with a gorilla picture who was following us. Kyle, Stella, Sarah Bell, Maddie, Sydney, Lindsey and I were having a huge debate about who would buy the picture from the boy. It was like the U. N. security council debating about the effects of poverty in Africa. Stella seemed to be anxious to buy the picture. I was arguing that she should not do so. With arguments going back and forth, and Stella about to lose it because she felt bad for the boy, the bus broke forcefully. We heard a bang. The kid had banged his head on the back of the bus. Everyone burst into laughter and the poor boy retreated to a tree with his face turned away from us. Kyle was hysterical and Stella was pissed off.

 

 

“I don’t understand why that’s funny!” she said.

 

The boy eventually came back for a while longer, but Stella had no money anyway. The events of that bus ride turned into the story that no one let go of for the rest of the trip. It was even the topic of debate in one of the sessions that happened a few days later, which kind of changed my perspective to a degree.