The day started at 0500 as I had to continue the load of wash that was abruptly stopped last night and then pop it in the dryer before we left at 0600. We were driven to the bus departure site and amazingly we left without any hitches only about 5 minutes after our scheduled time. This was looking promising for the rest of the journey. We settled back into our seats aboard Easy Coach, directly behind the driver and watched the early morning chaos of Kampala and then outlying villages pass by from our big window. We had heard that the border was about 3 hours away and we were trying to keep track with a big map I had brought along. It seems that it was about 11 and and the bus suddenly stopped and passengers started to get up. When we noticed passports in their hands we realized we must be at the border. This is located in the town of Busia. It is described in a Ugandan guide book as "scruffy". I would say that is an adequate description. We had our passports stamped out of Uganda and then walked through an unsupervised gate into no man's land for a short distance and then here we were in Kenya! After obtaining our visas we looked for our bus. Of course there was plenty of well meaning young men who wanted to point us in the direction of the bus and walk us there for a fee. We could clearly see the bus and unfortunately for them needed no help. What I did need help with was finding the rest room as there was no telling when we would stop again. A kind lady from Canada who was of German decent and a missionary in Kenya gave me the required few shillings to enter the restroom. After seeing the restroom I felt they should have paid me to use it. Anyway, probably more details than you need. Our next stop some hours away was Kisumu, rumored by Kenyans to be president Obama's hometown/birthplace!!! A short stop here and we are on our way again. According to the map we thought we would be going the shorter route but soon realized we were on the longer, more scenic route. The driver was a little erratic at times and the roads were less than desirable and after a while a young European woman approached the driver and told him she and some other passengers felt afraid and she requested he slow down. He did not like this and after some discussion he decided he would slow down and I mean really slow down. I think he did it to spite her. Our journey now became much looooonger. We climbed hills up into vast areas where they grow tea. It was very pretty with a noticeable changes in temperature. Up and down we went and the miles dragged on. Next stop, Nakuru. We are now 2 hours behind schedule. The road from Nakuru to Nairobi thankfully is a good, paved road and the driver now picks up some speed and we arrived in Nairobi at 10:15 pm. We are glad to be off the bus after our 15 hour ride. We did save some money going this way and saw lots of Kenya but so glad we are flying back.
The day started at 0500 as I had to continue the load of wash that was abruptly stopped last night and then pop it in the dryer before we left at 0600. We were driven to the bus departure site and amazingly we left without any hitches only about 5 minutes after our scheduled time. This was looking promising for the rest of the journey. We settled back into our seats aboard Easy Coach, directly behind the driver and watched the early morning chaos of Kampala and then outlying villages pass by from our big window. We had heard that the border was about 3 hours away and we were trying to keep track with a big map I had brought along. It seems that it was about 11 and and the bus suddenly stopped and passengers started to get up. When we noticed passports in their hands we realized we must be at the border. This is located in the town of Busia. It is described in a Ugandan guide book as "scruffy". I would say that is an adequate description. We had our passports stamped out of Uganda and then walked through an unsupervised gate into no man's land for a short distance and then here we were in Kenya! After obtaining our visas we looked for our bus. Of course there was plenty of well meaning young men who wanted to point us in the direction of the bus and walk us there for a fee. We could clearly see the bus and unfortunately for them needed no help. What I did need help with was finding the rest room as there was no telling when we would stop again. A kind lady from Canada who was of German decent and a missionary in Kenya gave me the required few shillings to enter the restroom. After seeing the restroom I felt they should have paid me to use it. Anyway, probably more details than you need. Our next stop some hours away was Kisumu, rumored by Kenyans to be president Obama's hometown/birthplace!!! A short stop here and we are on our way again. According to the map we thought we would be going the shorter route but soon realized we were on the longer, more scenic route. The driver was a little erratic at times and the roads were less than desirable and after a while a young European woman approached the driver and told him she and some other passengers felt afraid and she requested he slow down. He did not like this and after some discussion he decided he would slow down and I mean really slow down. I think he did it to spite her. Our journey now became much looooonger. We climbed hills up into vast areas where they grow tea. It was very pretty with a noticeable changes in temperature. Up and down we went and the miles dragged on. Next stop, Nakuru. We are now 2 hours behind schedule. The road from Nakuru to Nairobi thankfully is a good, paved road and the driver now picks up some speed and we arrived in Nairobi at 10:15 pm. We are glad to be off the bus after our 15 hour ride. We did save some money going this way and saw lots of Kenya but so glad we are flying back.
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