Continuing east and south across Uganda (from our home in far western Uganda against the Congolese border) we are now in Kabali where we are close enough to the border with Rwanda to see signs leading that way. We reach water and cross by a small ferry canoe over a beautiful lake to a little island. Lake Bunyoni means “the place of small birds” and Bushara Island is covered with them. We stay facing the water in a small and perfectly romantic tent surrounded by flowers, trees, and the fresh, fresh air of the island.
This covered tent is a permanent part of the island and our tent experience is comfortable with a small composting toilet facility and sweet little outdoor shower where they bring hot water and pour it into the small tank below which we bathe. The reed and pole canopy structure that covers our tent extends out to make us a shady stone patio. Here our washstand sits and birds come each morning to perch on our little mirror and sing to us.
We swim in the so-cold lake energized by the glacial feel and come out shivering to look forward to those hot showers - a luxury in our lives. An immense rope swing pendulates from a high wooden platform then over dry ground and past a big and solid-looking tree into deep water. Adults and children alike swing from it, risking sure death to reach the freezing water and prove their strength and courage. We laugh, shout and gasp together. Team and family.
Bushara Island, due to altitude, mostly, is one of the coldest places in Uganda. Today as I sat in the covered dining area soaking in a book, I saw my breath coming in faint white clouds. The rain is falling today making the cold air feel even cooler and my toes and nose feel icy. Not surprisingly we are refreshed by this climate change and water and the plethora of birds. Refreshed by stillness and the silence of each morning and night (except for those birds!). Refreshed as we contemplate little more than what to order for breakfast, lunch and dinner and which card game or book readings to join in on. We swim, canoe, bird-watch, read, walk the small perimeter of our island world, converse, and sleep.