September 3, 2011

  • Kenya adventures

    Well the time had finally come where we were going to be illegally staying in Uganda.  Even though we are getting really close to having the work permit, assuming the board approves it when it is reviewed.  But not having the proper pass stamped into our passport, Uganda is allowed to charge each illegal immigrant $30 per day they are here illegally.  And when I say each person, they count Isabel too.  So that would be $180 per day!  Ouch!

    This time, we had two options:  get a special pass from the Ugandan Immigration office, or get another visitor pass from border patrol in another country.  The special pass would be the easiest route, because it is just paperwork.  But the cost is outrageous!  They want $100 per person!  That is crazy!  Though I am not sure how long it lasts it seemed to demand research in the other option.  In looking at the bordering countries to Uganda:  Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, DR Congo, Sudan.  Taking into account proximity, Kenya and Tanzania were the two only options.  Kenya has two visas that can be purchased, a visitor visa ($50) or a transit visa ($20).  Tanzania costs $50 regardless.  So we thought that we could take the gamble and try to get the cheaper of the two visas in Kenya.

    In making the decision, we thought that if we were out seeing the country, maybe we should stop somewhere.  Not too far from the border crossing was a national park, Mt. Elgon.  In looking online, it boasts the third highest mountain peak in Uganda.  It also offers numerous waterfalls during the rainy season.  Which coincidentally, the rainy season started about two weeks ago!  So Mt. Elgon National Park it is!

    We left our house at about 8 in the morning.  We made it to the Kenya border in 4 hours!  That was incredible time!  However, as we got to the Busia border we met our first challenge.  We had to convince the border patrol that we were coming to Kenya to travel through, in order to achieve the Transit Visa.  To our great surprise, it was no problem!  After a few thousand documents, we were allowed to enter and we only had to pay $120!  Music to my Dutch (by marriage) ears!  There were a couple of surprise costs... having to pay for the vehicle to pass and having to buy Kenyan "insurance."  But they were pretty negligible.  The weird thing at this border was that all of the Ugandans were just walking across without doing any immigration paperwork.  So we thought that Azeda would be good to go.  Weird, but when in Rome...

    So we traveled the nearest road that connected the Busia border crossing to the Malaba border crossing.  It appeared, on the map, to be only about 15 miles.  No big deal right?  Well we started the route and thought that it was going to be no problem.  However, after about 5 minutes on a beautifully paved tarmac, we had to veer off onto another road.  This road was not beautifully paved.  It was more like rocky and treacherous.  I do not want to mask the beauty of the landscape as we maneuvered the road.  It was mountainous and awesome.  It was back country and primal.  It is definitely something that a person remembers as natural beauty.

    Well after about an hour and a half, for 15 miles, we reached the other border at Malaba.  As you approach the border crossings, there are people there who know the ins and outs of the crossing.  So they "volunteer" to assist you as you cross.  So three men immediately hovered over our vehicle.  Of course, just as they did that, the car stalled.  So we had three "volunteers" to help push the vehicle to the immigration offices.  As our driver maintained his vehicle, Liz and I went to the office to get the exit stamp for the Kenya side.  Immediately, the patrol officer said that there is a problem and asked us to come to the back room.  Yea for us!  We went back there and he had two questions for me... why have we come to Kenya and why did we let a stranger help us pass the border?  I told him the truth, which I think he appreciated.  The stranger thing, I didn't know any better.  I figured if this man thinks he can take our passports, I could take him!  After a few threats by the border patrol officer, he reluctantly stamped our passports and allowed us to leave his country.

    As we left the office, we came back to the vehicle, which was running.  But immediately following, a police officer came to Liz's window and was asking questions about Azeda.  Why not, right?  Things were going too smoothly!  After a few questions about her traveling documents, he asked for her to leave the vehicle and go with him.  You betcha, he was going to arrest her for traveling illegally!  Thankfully, our "volunteer" friend, who no longer had possession of our passports, went and talked to the officer to find out what could be done.  I will give you one guess as to what COULD BE DONE.  You got it, BRIBERY!!!  We had to pay the guy to let her go.  I really wanted to see if we left what he would do.  I think it would be funny for his plan to backfire.  But at the expense of Azeda... I couldn't bear the burden.  So we paid the turd and left.  Apparently $30 will do wonders in Kenya.  Congratulations Mr. I Need Cash Even Though I Have a Job!

    Now the good news... we finally got to the Ugandan entrance border.  There was no paperwork to fill out.  Sweet!  The woman asked how long we were planning to stay in Uganda and I told her.  She said that if we were working on the work permit already, that three months should be enough to finish.  So she was very gracious and stamped us for another three months!!!  Success!!!  Now we should have plenty of time to figure out the few remaining steps to get our work permit finalized.  Praise God!

    After the border adventures, we rerouted to Mbale, the city just outside of Mt. Elgon Park.  We had dinner there and spent the night.  In the morning, we left early enough to grab breakfast and head to the park.  We figured the biggest attraction, next to traversing the mountain, was the falls.  In this case, the biggest attracting falls in the area was Sipi Falls.  So we went there...

    We found our place, after driving up a few mountains, literally.  At the first stop, you could see the first of the three parts of the waterfalls.  The lower falls drops about 300 ft.  The middle falls drops about 150 ft.  The upper falls drops about 250 ft.  After seeing the lower falls from a distance, we saw the photo opportunity and took advantage of it.  After that, we went to the middle falls.  At this location, there were trails that would take you close to the falls.  So we chose to go on them.  To our amazement, the trails led you to the falls, literally.  We could stand in the cave, formed by the water hundreds of years ago, right behind where the falls hits the rocks.  It was one of the most beautify things I have been privileged to see.  The best part about it was that we were able to see it with the kids.  They don't realize it, but they saw raw creation at its finest.  Only God could make something that perfect!

    As we started to leave the middle falls, it started to rain.  Big surprise, right, I mean with the RAINY season and all!  But this time, we were a little worried.  It is because, just after we started on our adventure, we bought a newspaper.  On the front cover was a catastrophe story about a landslide in the Mt. Elgon region.  Yeah, with that in our mind, we were out of there.  We decided that the upper falls would not be that cool to see if we could not blog about it.  So we bailed, happily, having seen such an awesome sight.  From there, we headed home...

    We had a two day adventure.  There were a ton of memories.  High points, low points... but overall, it was a successful trip.  No one says life is easy and we will never say that getting a work permit is easy!

    Chad Neeley

    Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA