Exciting holidays!!!

A bit out of sequence but Zara enjoying the open space at Mountains of the Moon Hotel

On our way to Ndali Lodge....it was quite the road. We didn't stay there just visited. At $250.00 a night it was cheaper just to visit. :)

A view of one of the crater lakes from Ndali Lodge



Zara relaxing at Ndali Lodge. She is waiting on her apple juice :)

Joshua with the crater lake in the background

Joshua enjoying the freedom to run around at Mountains of the Moon Hotel
(we didn't stay there either although maybe we will next time. The hotel was reopened in April after a major renovation project)

Zara sitting on a pot that made up one of the garden features at the hotel

It is difficult to see in this photo but a rare sighting of the glacier on top of the Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon). On the other side of these mountains is the Congo.

We just returned from our couple of days holidays to the West of Uganda. Instead of it being a 3 day holiday it turned into a 5 day holiday. As we left Sunday morning to return to Kampala, a four hour drive, the water pump on our car gave out. Now that is probably not a problem where you come from but for us this was going to be a challenge. God, however, in His goodness allowed it to happen just as we were leaving Fort Portal and right outside a garage. The garage of course could only supply us with more water for our radiator so that we could find a garage in the centre of town that could help us. We found a garage but, as is common in Uganda, they wanted to cheat us out of money plus they didn't have correct size of water pump for our car.

Thankfully we have friends in Fort Portal so we were able to call them up and ask their advice. To cut a long story short they towed us back to their house (bordering a tea plantation) and then called the mechanic they use to help us. He had to order a part in Kampala which was supposed to arrive so we could leave on Monday. By the time we got the part on Monday it was too late to set off. The matatu (minibus taxi) that was carrying the person with the pump had some mechanical problems on the way so hence the delay. The two mechanics were able to fit the pump last night so we could leave this morning. About an hour out of Fort Portal there was a strange noise coming from the back of the car. One of the back tyres had blown. Simon was able to change it and at the next big town we were able to get a new tube for the punctured tyre. We couldn't risk driving too long in the middle of nowhere without a spare. Despite two stops on our journey back we made it in 4 hours which is a bit of a miracle as it took us 4 hours to get to Fort Portal with only a brief stop for petrol. Mind you on the way there we hit a hail and rain storm which slowed us down considerably.

Having said all that we were able meet up with some friends while we were in Fort Portal and enjoy a lunch and a dinner in the Mountains of the Moon hotel that has just be refurbished. Wow it was really nice!!!

We are now glad to be back home and to enjoy all the comforts that it brings although having said that the power is now off. I guess some things don't change. :)