Begin forwarded message:
From: Kelcey Lueninghoener <klueninghoener@gmail.com>
Date: July 15, 2012 5:02:44 PM GMT+03:00
To: klueninghoener.uganda@blogspot.com
Subject: SAFARI DAY!
This weekend was SO MUCH FUN! Friday around 11 we headed up North-West to Murchison Falls. We stayed at Paraa Lodge. Paraa means "home of hippos" in the native language. When we got to the park we took a LONG dirt road to the Nile. We then boarded a ferry (with the two cars) to cross the Nile. We had to wait for a while because it is only run at certain times. We made it to the lodge and a woman came around with damp towels. Cold damp towels. It felt nice to wipe away some of the grime. We then took our bags to the most beautiful hotel room I have ever stayed in. We all met for dinner, eating at a long table. We talked about what from the trip has been the most meaningful to each of us. I said getting to know all of the priests and teachers on a much more personal level, knowing more about their backgrounds and everything they have done. It was a delicious dinner as well. We went back to the room, and someone had come and sprayed for bugs, set up our mosquito netting, and turned down the covers. Is someone going to do that for me when I get back to the states? Before I went to bed I took a shower. (I can hear my mom saying "Well good! I am sure everyone appreciated you doing that!") I only bring up the shower because it could possibly be the most amazing shower I have ever taken in my entire life. I did not have to turn on a heater and wait for the water. It didn't have a funny smell when it first started, and best of all….there was probably about twice the water pressure the seminary has. I am not complaining about my shower here, because I am more than thankful for hot running water, but wow…it was an amazing shower. (I now hear my dad saying. "I told you how I felt about taking showers.")
Saturday morning we got up and met at the door at 6:15am to go on the land safari. I think I may have woken up every 20 minutes to see if I was time to go. Finally it was! There were two jeeps that took us out. We drove down a dirt road in the dark and I was excited but not seeing any animals, was getting more and more anxious. As we got further into the park, and it lit up a little more, the first animal we saw were elephants kind of off in the distance. I think I practically climbed over Father to see out the window. I was SO EXCITED! We carried on down the road and saw so many animals. We saw elephants, giraffes, monkeys, baboons, gazelles, something that is "jack________" that the guy kept calling "the stupid animal", caribou, some little animals the lions like to eat that I didn't hear the name, birds, warthogs, water buffalos, and lions! To get to the lions we had to do a little off-roading. We got RIGHT UP TO THEM. I was sitting on top of the jeep, and if I had jumped off, I could have landed face to face with them. The pictures turned out pretty well. The safari was to last for about 3-4 hours, we did not get back to the lodge until 11. He treated us well. When we got back we ate an amazing meal, sitting on the balcony looking over the Nile. At 2 we walked down to the Nile and boarded our boat for the water tour. We saw hippos, crocs, elephant, waterbacks, birds, elephants, and a few others drinking along the shore. When we got to the falls it was breath taking. The river flows through a crack in the rocks that is 7 meters thick. There is so much weather pressure that the falls are loud, fast, hard, and beautiful. There was a rock in the middle of the water that we were able to get out of the boat and stand on for pictures. Once home, safe and sound (so mom and dad no longer worrying) I will make a list of things that "In Africa you can do this, but in America you are asking for a lawsuit).
We drove home and had lunch at the seminary. After lunch I took a nice little hour-long nap, then heading to mass. Father Michael said it for just the 10 of us in the group. The homily was very geared to each of us as Father mentioned us and how we all related to the readings as a group as well as individuals. It was a very beautiful mass.
I talked to Martin Saturday night. He asked if I was ready to come home. Mom has asked that as well. I am not eagerly waiting for my return home, but I am looking forward to it. J
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