Rwanda is continuing to amaze me. I can't believe how blessed I am to have the opportunity to be out here. The landscape is beautiful, the culture is rich, and even the food is...o.k. As excited as I am to spend this next week exploring kigali and working out at Hope for Life (the home for street boys my friend Charlie is working at), we spent the past weekend living the life of luxury at a beautiful lakeside lodge. Lake Kivu is a huge lake between the border of Rwanda and the Congo, considered an African Great Lake, the lake is a vital part to the livelihood of many Rwandans and Congolese. Not only does it serve as an important fishing source in the otherwise landlocked country, but it also helps support Rwandas tourism industry. Lodges, restaurants, and swimming beaches cater to visitors of the country.
On Friday, Charile and I, along with a group of other expats, boarded a bus in Kigali headed toward the town of Gisenyi. The 4 hour bus ride was quite an experience. We caught the bus in an overcrowded bus park in central Kigali, an overwhelming experience of people clamoring around hundreds of busses. Travelers and the busses themselves made their way through a sea of people trying to beg or sell food and other goods. The bus itself was basically an oversized van stuffed with people (aisles don't really exist) with absolutely no air conditioning. Regardless, it offered a true "experience" and allowed for some incredible views. Rolling green hills, terraced farmland, tea fields, and rural villages dotted the road. When we finally arrived, the group of us went to a nice outdoor restaurant on the shores of the lake. My Tilapia, to no surpise, was the entire grilled fish (fin and eyes included) presented over a huge mound of fries. It sure was fresh! After a leisurely dinner, we settled in for the night at our beautiful lodge. This "lodge" consisted of a bar/restaurant and several luxury "dry" tents perched about 100 feet above the lake. Let me clarify, this was not camping; all the tents had electricity and featured comfortable and beautifully appointed beds (not a bad way to cure jet lag).
Stepping onto the porch the next morning, an absolutely incredible view onfolded before me. Green hills, palm trees, and fishing villages bordered a lake so big you couldn't see the other side. The weekend basically consisted of relaxing, eating, and drinking some of Rwandas finest beer. Oh yeah, I did go for a pretty good swim too. It was a great weekend hearing and sharing stories among the expats, while soaking up the breathtaking scenery. Yet as luxurious and relaxing this trip was, it was hard to shake the knowledge that incredible poverty was not far away. Even more remarkable is the fact that the Congo (one of the most violent and impoverished countries in the world) lay only a short distance away from these lakeside resorts. I realize that these tourist based establishments are essential for the nations economy, but the striking contrast is still hard to swallow.
I am now back in Kigali, eager to see the other side of "Rwandan life" at the home for street boys. A new post should follow later in the wek, with pictures to come when I get back to the States!
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| The gang excited to be off the bus! |
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| Not exactly camping |
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| View from the porch...the picture doesn't do it justice |
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