These are our personal thoughts written during the trip itself.
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Mark's EntryDecember 29 - More SerengetiI woke up sick again, but not quite as bad as pervious days. Maybe it really is dehydration because I didn’t drink much yesterday. We purposely had a late start to the game drive so we could relax which was a good thing to help me feel a bit better. Today Ann decided to stay in the lodge while Jacob and I took the drive. We didn’t see as many animals today but we did see a few herds of elephants. Ann was sad that she missed them. We stopped again at park headquarters for lunch. The hyrax and a few weasels joined us for our meal. Then we headed back to the lodge where Ann said she enjoyed her day off reading a book. After dinner we went to bed and decided that we really didn’t like the beds. They were way too hard and uncomfortable. But overall this place was better than Kampala. |
Ann's EntryThe Daily BugSerena Lodge – 29 Dec 2007 – 11:00 The facility that we are staying in is called a lodge. It is, in all aspects, a hotel. It is designed to look like an African village. Everything is round with a thatched roof and everything is its own separate building. The reception area, gift shop, bar, individual rooms – all are round huts. The dining room is two large, round huts with a round buffet area joining them. All are connected with stone paths. There is no fence around the compound, so native animals could be around at any time. What is not African is the interior. The décor is designed to be African-themed, but the contents are standard hotel equipment – beds, shower, closet, desk, etc. No TV, but there is a view of a herd of zebra outside my window. We get excellent service here, but to be truthful, this kind of bugs me. There is someone around every corner waiting to help me with every little thing. It is nice that someone makes my bed for me, but I really don’t need “turn-down service.” The staff prepares a buffet every night, but I really don’t need someone to place the napkin on my lap and pour every drink for me. A lot of these behaviors are left over from the days of British colonization. Hey, I’m an American. I can do these things for myself. Here is a case in point: Today, I do not go out on safari with Mark and Jacob. I stay at the lodge. My intent is to find a comfortable chair in the outdoor bar, order a beverage, and read my new book that I got for Christmas. The plan seems simple enough – bar, beverage, book. Due to a miscommunication with our driver, an extra box lunch is ordered for me. Jacob runs it back to me prior to his departure. I think this is a bonus. I can now drink, dine, and devour my book all in one sitting. Shortly after making myself comfortable, a gentleman approaches me and asks if I need anything. I politely decline. Then he notices the box lunch on the table next to me. He says that I can return it to the reception area and have hot lunch service instead. I thank him and insist that I am content. I don’t think he understands me. He’s practically taking away my lunch! To be polite, he returns the lunch to the table at my request, and leaves me alone. Again, it is the British influence. Why eat out of a box when you can a formal sit-down meal? Because I’m an American on the edge of starting a revolution of self-service. Thanks for the offer. If I really need you, I’ll be sure to let y’all know. The other thing that bugs me is the American influence on this place. While many Africans celebrate Christmas, I expect to see a different version of Christmas. Instead, I get fake pine trees decorated with twinkling lights. For background music, I expect African drums. Instead, I get Christmas carols by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. Mosquito nets are a standard feature here. They surround the beds in order to prevent the spread of malaria. Perhaps we need something else, because every morning, there is a different bug in our room. One day it is a spider, another day it is a beetle. Luckily, a can of Doom insect spray is also a standard feature. I am thankful for the food. It is 70% British and 30% local. I am so glad that I don’t have to eat bugs. |
| next day: December 30 | ||