The Zoo Affair

Ayiko has a video about a number farm that helped him learn how to count to 20. [We can now count to 100, on a good day!] So, anyway, I got the idea that he might enjoy seeing the animals from the number farm in person [at some point in his life I will have to explain that lions, cheetahs and elephants are not typical farm animals].

 We went to the zoo to quench our thirst for green space. However, unfortunately, for us, there is a cunning lady with a table of toys for sale a few feet from the entrance. You see that helicopter in his hand, that was the end of any lessons on animals – any lessons on anything.

Aleru was thrilled to see the sand. We’ve been to the Port Bell landing site for fish and chips. So, in theory she’s seen the lake before. However, this time, the sand was clean and safe for her to dip her toes in.

            

At the very least, we discovered a potential venue for birthday parties in the future, when it becomes safe to be happy again! In addition to the assortment of exotic creatures, the Uganda Wildlife Educational Centre has access to a beach, a well equipped playground, swimming pool and green space perfect for picnicking. The restaurant was closed when we were there. However, if the management is the same as it was about 5 years ago, they have excellent fish and chips – whole fish – not the fish fillet of the bazungu. They even have little huts and benches right by the lake that are perfect for small parties and long leisurely lunches. 

We tried to see as many animals as possible – despite Ayiko’s lack of interest. As a result, we weren’t able to try out the entire playground. We had to leave early-ish to make it to a lunch date with cousins who live on Entebbe road. The playground has some free activities like swings, play houses, obstacle courses, trampoline and rocking horses as well as paid activities like motorised rides, quad bike racing.

As we headed out of the zoo, we passed by the cunning toy lady. This time she tried to entice Ayiko with a digger. He, poor thing, thought we could swap toys since he had played enough with the helicopter. Of course there was a tantrum, because of course the toy lady would not swap and we were not about to buy another toy. And, that’s why he’s hiding his face in this photo. Aleru’s wondering what everyone is fussing about.

For now, good bye and good luck

KCCA Gardens, Kamwokya

Initially, we had planned to picnic in the garden at the Baha’i Temple. However, after driving to Kawempe we were told that they were not yet open to the public because of COVID-19 restrictions. I did a frantic online search and found a suggestion that there was a space in Kamwokya. We were pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful space right in the heart of the city.

Adjacent to Café Javas, Kamwokya, is a fantastic patch of well-maintained greenery. I’ve driven by this place several times and never given a second thought to what lied behind the trees. After wondering around for a bit we discovered that, the only way to enter is through the Javas lower parking lot, which explains why I initially thought the space belonged to the café. [The signs in the lot declare that the parking space if for Javas customers only. So, either you apply your negotiation skills or purchase something from Javas to gain permission to park there. You could also park at Acacia Mall or Kisementi.]

Once we went through the gate we were greeted by the gentle slopes of the green lawn, surrounded by majestic trees and tropical plants. There are two paths leading out from the entrance. On one side, the path winds around the garden and leads you to two huts with fixed surround seating and a small table at the centre.

We set up camp on this side of the garden and I immediately got engrossed in my favourite activity – people watching! There was plenty of space to toss a ball about, run and roll in the grass. There were so many birthday parties [showing the various economic backgrounds of the hosts and celebrants.] There was even a secluded corner that was taken up by a pair of lovebirds, gazing into each other’s eyes.

On the other side, the path led us round the corner to a more secluded part of the garden, with a little forest. This area was taken up by several groups involved in photoshoots and videos. It seems like a popular venue for that perfect picture with mothers dragging their children there, advertisers shooting hair extension adverts, teenagers chilling and chatting amongst each other as well as the typical campus girl day out.

Ayiko was thrilled to have trees to climb and space to roam and roll freely. Even Aleru enjoyed plucking the grass and being pushed about in her pram. I can’t help wondering how good it looks, given that it’s a public space.

We shall return.

The Church Next Door

For the days when driving around town is not feasible [we own a 1996 Toyota Mark II, so the mechanic is our friend], we’ve discovered a great space just 15 minutes away, as Ayiko walks. Once upon a time, before the children came along, we visited Watoto Church in Ntinda and noticed that it has a large lawn and football field below the church buildings. I’d forgotten all about it until lockdown happened. Ayiko and I started a habit of walking around our village for at least an hour every day. Eventually, we brought Leritu along and strapped her onto my back as we wandered about and stared at our neighbours.

During one of these walks, Ayiko was intrigued by a flock of ducks [or were they geese] in a nearby stream. We followed the stream and found ourselves at the bottom of the Watoto Church lawn. Ayiko was hesitant to venture off our usual path. [He strongly distrusts anything new and unusual.] However, once he saw the space, climbed the little hills and run around the football field, he was converted.

Now, it’s his favourite non-car related adventure venue. There is the added advantage that every time we go there, I end up buying a soda and those little cheap plastic toy cars from a nearby duuka [see the kaveera he’s carrying]. So, what’s not to love?

I’m surprised there aren’t more people roaming around this space. Surely the football should entice the village to congregate [if not the church]. Nonetheless, it’s scarcely used by the community. Sometimes we’ll find the odd Christian sitting and praying under a tree. But it’s not thing like any other public spaces in the city. If you’re the kind that’s into bird watching, it could be an easy and quick excursion. There’s a little stream at the bottom of the valley which attracts some interesting creatures.

We shall definitely keep this one on our short list.

Forest Park Buloba

Forest Park is in Buloba on the Kampala – Mityana highway. The cousins and cousinettes had invited us to a day out. Given the recent lockdown and the stale taste of home in my mouth, the opportunity to breath real air was too good to pass by. 

True to its name there’s a little forest next to the entrance which opens into luscious green swatches and a private lake. The word that comes to mind is luxury – that’s the feeling one has as one drives through the expansive park. Further in is a splendid swimming pool with not one but two paddling pools for the littlings. There’s a promise of cottages under construction amongst the trees – which I am sure will be grand. All the more reason to return in a few years. Further down field is a gym, sauna [frequented by the famous Maama Fina] and [under construction] a rally driving route [car or motorbike, je ne sais pas]. Did I mention that they have a zip line and paintball? Talk about adrenaline overload!

We started the day with the usual fuss of breakfast and daily laundry run, and failed to meet our 10am target. We were responsible for picking up the cake [the cousin-in-law’s birthday] and after navigating that task, we were off onto the northern bypass. Thankfully, there wasn’t too much traffic. After only two panicky calls from the cousin, we showed up at 12:30pm, only an hour and a half late.

I had been to Forest Park 5 years earlier and was glad to see that the vision had grown from just a lake, restaurant and gardens to an entire adventurous extravaganza. The cousins were at the pool and, after the arrival of [uncle] Ivan, we were fully enthralled in a water polo cum soccer battle of girls versus boys. I eventually got a chance to do a few laps- the first time in 3 years. Yoh! I’m blaming it on the pregnancies. The burning chest, lack of breath, aching limbs – this is not the person I know/knew. Ivan joked about how I used to easily do 40 laps in a pool that size without a thought. Now I am crippled by one.

Meanwhile, Yiyi was whisked away by his cousin and they splashed around in the baby pool. I tried the same and he clung to me for dear life. [Perhaps he is braver when I am absent?] Leritu, as always delights in her brother. She watched him for a bit and then dozed off. 

Lunch happened. The restaurant is decent enough, though I should warn you to stick to fish and chips. It was the fastest dish to show up plus the fish is fresh from the lake, so, why not?

The climax of the day was the day was the zip line. So when a guy tells you that the longer line is designed for people about 70 kg to wind up in the lake, why oh why do people do it? I am a coward. I stuck to the short line. Getting up to the departure platform is a quest of its own, with either a swinging rope ladder or a mini rock climbing feat. It’s almost like they are testing your resolve even before you jump off into the air. Most amusingly, the cousin-in-law [whose birthday we were celebrating] took a long pause at the bottom of the rope ladder. As the rest of us ascended, he watched it swaying under our weight, as if considering how his life had reached this point. Unfortunately, for him, after his littlest daughter whizzed across [albeit with closed eyes and a lot of coaxing], he could not, as a man, back away in fear. Yiyi waved goodbye to me, a little too eagerly, when my turn came. He happily stood by uncle Ivan’s side while I vanished into the distance. The longer line – which I knew was a bad idea- resulted in a very wet uncle Ivan, the cousin and cousinettes, much to the amusement of the other guests.

We crowned the day with a leisurely boat ride on the lake and cake [a party without cake is just a meeting, n’est-ce pas?]. Getting Leritu onto the boat required some negotiation. However, she seemed to enjoy it. While Yiyi was so petrified his mind and body shut down for the entire ride. 

No worries though, he fully recovered immediately after exiting the boat and was further revived by cake and drinks!

Off we go

 

In between the longer trips upcountry, I am searching for green spaces where Ayiko [and I] can roam. As a result of the exposure to the rolling hills of the countryside, our little home with its tiny swatch of grass feels restrictive. Quite often when Ayiko feels like he's reached his threshold of patience, he'll grab our shoes, my bag, my sun hat and the baby's carrier. Then, he'll lead me to the door, as if to say, 'we gotta get outta here!' We need a regular diet of green spaces.

So, now, I'm looking for safe places that are close enough for a day trip. For those times when I cant invest in an entire weekend of travel and exploration, these are the discoveries we've made.