Welcome to the Jungle

It finally happened. I did get sick. Don’t jump to conclusions because it was not malaria, yellow fever, polio, Hepatitis of any letter, or typhoid. I received shots and medications for those; I simply had food poisoning of some sort. I’ll save you the gory details and simply say that if you are ever in Rwanda, and you visit the city of Butare; please refrain from having the Tomato soup from the Ibis restaurant. As Forest Gump once said, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

I did go out into the jungle for the first time yesterday. It was a lot of fun! We toured a huge rain forest that lies within Rwanda. We did see many plants, but few animals. We did encounter some Mountain Monkeys from time to time. They didn’t really mind us all that much.

I did find some interesting things about Rwandan culture from our tour guide while in the Rain Forest. For example:

If a tree is hit by lightning and dies, you are not allowed to use the lumber as firewood because that wood belongs to the sky.

If a woman is hit by lighting, you are not allowed to marry her. She also belongs to the sky who claimed her.

There are some plants that men use as love potions on women. It is said that if a man puts one of these plants in glass of milk and gives it to a female, she will be his forever.
“I’m bringing back a garden full of these plants!”

There are some dried leaves that woman can use to seduce men. All they have to do is eat these leaves, and men will fall in love with them. “I also want to note that these same species of leaves are used as toilet paper when the Sherman ultra soft paper runs out. These leaves are very soft.”

And last but not least:

According to Rwandan culture, if you visit a public forest in which a public highway passes, and you are a white man, then you must pay $20.
If you are Rwandan, it is free.
If you want to stop and take pictures, look, or walk around the forest, and you are a white person, it is another $30.
If you are Rwandan, it is free.

Moral to the story:
If you are a white person and want to see the jungle in Rwanda:
Car ride to the jungle: $20
Entrance fee: $20
Guided tour: $30
Finding an African love potion…..$Priceless