In Denial on de Nile

Osiris-ly, you can't be in de Nile when I say that there's nothing better than spending your birthday on the Nile!

Now before you send me to the punitentiary, hear me out. Crocodiles sunbathing on the banks. Hippos bumping the underside of your boat. The roar of a powerful waterfall in your ears. The lyrical cadence of the Luganda language. The entire experience was so deliciously exotic, making for an absolutely unforgettable birthday.

The year was 2007, and it was a red letter one in my books. I had graduated community college and was accepted to my dream school, the University of Virginia; I had a new car to get me around town (my youngest sister loved how it "matched" hers); and that summer I would be spending my twentieth birthday on a mission trip to Uganda, my first international trip!

While the majority of our trip was spent teaching an abstinence-based program to teens and young adults in Kampala, we did take a few days out of our trip to travel north to Murchison Falls National Park along the (White) Nile. It just so happened to coincide with my birthday!

These photos are nine years old, and when my laptop died in 2008, I lost all the original photos and had to scavenge these copies off of my Facebook page. The quality is, at best, fuzzy, so keep that in mind before you tell me, "It sphinx!" (Last punny comment, I promise!)

Fun Fact: Did you know the German word for hippo, flußpferd, literally means "river horse"?! #whoknew

Not gonna lie, seeing this beautiful bird in the heart of Africa gave me a healthy dose of good ol' American pride.

Am I the only one who thinks of Captain Hook's reptilian nemesis when I see crocodiles?!

Ahhhh! ELEPHANTS ON PARADE!!!

"Foam on the waaaater, fire in the skyyy..." (Yay, Deep Purple!)

They may look peaceful, but more people die from hippo attacks than from lions.

Have you ever visited Uganda or seen the Nile?

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After years of hosting the #TravelTuesday link-up, Bonnie has decided to step away from her position as host. Please join us in thanking her for her contributions over the years and wishing her all the best in her endeavors!

With Bonnie’s departure, the current co-hosts of #TravelTuesday - Diana, Rachel, and Katrina – have just one question for you…

Do YOU Want To Be The Next #TravelTuesday Host?!

We’re looking for the next travel crazy, social media savvy, bigger-than-life personality to become the new host and new face of the #TravelTuesday link-up! Nominations for yourself or others will be accepted today, May 3rd, through Sunday, May 15th. A shortlist of nominees will be announced on Tuesday, May 17th, and a vote will open for all to participate in selecting a new host!

Minimum #TravelTuesday Host Requirements:

1. Love TRAVEL and have had an active blog for at least six months.

2. Be awesome (goes without saying, right?).

3. Able to commit to at least a year of being the anchor host. General responsibilities include: the generation of the link-up, promoting the link-up and participants on social media, and in all respects being the face and personality of the #TravelTuesday link-up.

4. Facilitate the nomination and rotation of co-hosts every three months as in the past.

5. If at the end of the year you are unable or unwilling to continue being the anchor host, you will be required to reopen the nomination and voting process of a new anchor host.

Please send your nominations along with a brief explanation as to why you would be a great #TravelTuesday anchor host to any of the three co-hosts listed below before Sunday, May 15th:

Diana: dianadegzz (at) gmail.com

Rachel: anestingnomad (at) gmail.com

Katrina: thriftygypsytravels (at) gmail.com

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<div align="center"> <a href="http://www.thriftygypsytravels.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Travel Tuesday Link up and new Host search" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1463/26711672311_9faea7c3b2_z.jpg" height="250" width="300"/></a><br /><a href="http://www.dianaelleblog.com/" title="Diana Elle Blog, Travel Tuesday Co-Host" target="_blank">Diana</a>, <a href="http://www.thriftygypsytravels.com/" title="The Thrifty Gypsy's Travels, Travel Tuesday Co-Host" target="_blank">Katrina</a>, and <a href="http://www.anestingnomad.com/" title="A Nesting Nomad, Travel Tuesday Co-Host" target="_blank">Rachel</a></div>

Last Week #TravelTuesday Highlight:
Amsterdam from the Water by My Meena Life ~ Having spent a very, very brief layover in Amsterdam on the way back from Uganda, I loved reading this post and reminiscing on my short cache of memories from this beautiful city!

1. SHARE a post about travel! From road trips to trips abroad and from past travels to dream vacations. You can write about travel tips and tricks, favourite places to stay, or anything in between! Just make it about travelling somewhere! 

2. GRAB the temporary button. If you run into trouble, just make sure to mention one of your co-hosts in a link! 

3. LINKUP goes live every Tuesday at 0800 GMT. 

4. FOLLOW your co-hosts on Bloglovin'.

5. CONNECT with your fellow travel loving bloggers! Be sure to leave a comment, and share your favourite posts on social media.

TIPS: 

1. Please only one linked up post per blogger. Save other posts for future linkups! 

2. The last Tuesday of every month is a themed prompt, if you want to join in. 

3. Include a​ (vertical 735px x 1102px)​ pinnable image in your blog post; as at least one of the co-hosts will be going around pinning your posts. 

4. Don't forget to use the #TravelTuesday hashtag on your social media platforms!

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Places That Draw Me Back

As travelers, we have lists of all shapes and sizes.  It's almost a prerequisite in the travel blogging sphere that you have several bucket lists for every situation imaginable.  Top 5 Before 35?  Written.  10 Essentials I Don't Travel Without?  Done.  101 Most Beautiful Places You Must See Before You Die or You Are a Total and Utter Failure at Traveling?  Apparently travel-shaming is a real thing, folks!

In the quest to rack up the number of new places we've explored, we rarely consider what places we've seen to which we'd like to return someday, and for some, even just thinking about going somewhere you've already been is a ridiculous thought.  What?  Go back to a place already checked off your bucket list when there are so many other places you haven't been to yet?  Are you crazy?

But sometimes a place speaks to your wanderlusting heart like a soulmate, calling you back to explore more of what it has to offer.  What five places draws you back for more?  Booked.net wants to know and is hosting a promotional giveaway in which you could win an iPhone 6!

So what's my "do-over" list?

Deutschland

I've made no secret of my love affair with all things German.  Although I have German heritage through my mother's family, I never identified strongly with it until my first visit to the land of pretzels, beer, and castles in 2010 for our honeymoon.  It was love at first sight, taste, and exploration!  I've now spent a cumulative 47 days over three different trips to Germany, but we've barely scraped the surface of what Bayern (Bavaria) and Baden-Württemberg have to offer - let alone the rest of the country.  From the fairy-tale spires of Neuschwanstein Castle to the brooding shadows of the Black Forest and from the elegant opulence of the Würzburg Residenz to the joyous exultation of the Germans over a World Cup win, Germany has my heart and is our European home.  Thankfully I married a half-German so I can have a little piece of this country with me wherever I go!


London 

Perhaps it was the spontaneity of the trip by booking on one night and flying out the next.  Perhaps it was because it was the first time I'd traveled solo internationally.  Perhaps it's because I spent little more than 48 hours there.  Or perhaps it was because London was just flat-out amazing, but its inclusion on this list was a no-brainer.  Exploring the Tower, walking by Big Ben like it was no big deal, strolling through St. James Park and staying in a posh hotel on Gracechurch Street - my expectations and anticipation of London were far surpassed by reality!  As much as I was able to see in so short a time, there are still plenty of things I want to do: visit King's Cross Station, see more of the British Museum, see Scotland Yard, have a proper English tea, and see stellar views of the city from the London Eye.  I adored London, and I want to see more of her!


Uganda

I am honored to say that Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, was my first international experience back in 2007.  The warmth of its people and the beauty of its land calls me to return and introduce my husband to the friends and adventures I met there!  A wildlife safari in Murchison Falls national park along the banks of the Nile river in northern Uganda is a must-do experience, combined with a cruise up the river itself.  I'd love to go get a glimpse of the silver-back gorillas in the jungles of southwestern region of the country and maybe finally see a lion!  My return itinerary would also include time in the capitol, Kampala, to visit with the friends I made there seven years ago.


Campania

Oh, bella Italia, you surprised me - in more ways than one!  While I wasn't a fan of the Italian public transportation system, our day spent on the coast near Sorrento was undeniably magical.  Crystal-clear water, blue skies, warm sun, oh - and swimming in ancient ruins?  Take me back now!  Next time I'd want to picnic on the volcanic rock as we feast our eyes on Mt Vesuvius across the water and venture further down the Amalfi coast to explore Positano.  There are some Greek ruins at Paestum, and maybe we could finally make the pricey trip to Capri and the Blue Grotto.  Wherever or whatever we do in Campania, it's sure to please!


Virginia

"Carry me back to old Virginia..."  When all is said and done, one place will always draw me back, and that's my beautiful home state of Virginia, located on the east coast of the United States.  We have almost every landscape you could possibly want: the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, the forested banks of the James or Shenandoah Rivers, the bustling streets of Arlington and Northern Virginia, the historic sites of Jamestown and Williamsburg, and the longest waterfall east of the Mississippi at Crabtree Falls.  Richmond in particular is one place that will constantly surprise you - in a good way! - and was even featured as a Top 2014 Destination by Frommer's.  If you're bored in Virginia, it's your own fault.  We have festivals of all shapes and sizes, breweries, vineyards, and good eats.  While I dream and wonder about living in another corner of the world, I know that no matter where I roam, Virginia will always be my home and I'll always be a Virginia girl.

What five places would you like to revisit?

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I specifically challenge Camila of The Things I Am Crazy For, Diana of Life in German, Adelina of Pack Me To, Danielle of The Lifestyle Project, and Katie of From Shores to Skylines to name their top five places to revisit!  (For more details, you can read about the giveaway here!)

Linking up with Chasing the Donkey for the #SundayTraveler!

Throwback Thursday: Karuma Game Reserve, Uganda (2007)

Check out the horns on this bad boy!  I met him while on a safari excursion in Karuma Game Reserve, located near Murchison Falls National Park, in northern Uganda -- not too far from the border with Congo.  Of all the trips I've been on, my time in Uganda ranks near the top of the list!

Have you been to Uganda?  It's not called the Pearl of Africa for no reason - it's gorgeous!  Check out my post about it here.

7 Real-Life Disney Places

Books and movies possess the incredible ability to transport us to magical lands and countries.  In particular, Disney movies consistently succeed in romanticizing places and events to bring out the wonder of our inner child.  Thankfully, many of these stories take inspiration from actual places, and here are 7 Real-Life Disney places you can visit!

Ok, so the only ball I attended at Neuschwanstein Castle existed only in my imagination, but visiting the real-life inspiration for Cinderella's and Sleeping Beauty's castle was one of the highlights of our honeymoon in Germany!  From intricately decorated rooms to breathtaking natural scenery, a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle will give you a peek into what it must feel like to be a princess!

Disney Movie:  Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty
Place:  Neuschwanstein Castle located in Upper Bayern, Germany

I couldn't help keeping a wary eye out for a jealous Tinkerbell while relaxing in the real-life "Mermaid Lagoon" of Italy's Bagni della Regina Giovanna.  The stunning natural beauty of this fairly isolated and uncrowded cove located just outside Sorrento set a high standard for Mediterranean relaxation and made an indelible mark on our Italy trip this past summer.  Thankfully, the clock-swallowing crocodile of Peter Pan did not make an appearance, though!

Disney Movie:  Peter Pan

Place:  Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Sorrento, Italy

Don't begrudge your last tuppence to feed the birds at St. Paul's Cathedral in London!  Actually, there are signs indicating that you should not feed the birds, but that didn't deter me from singing a few lines as the "saints and apostles" looked down from the top of London's iconic church as I enjoyed being in one of the filming sites of Mary Poppins.

Disney Movie:  Mary Poppins

Place:  St. Paul's Cathedral, London, England

It's difficult not to be on the lookout for a vengeful Scar or hungry hyenas while on safari in Uganda's magnificent Murchison Falls National Park.  Although we did not get a glimpse of Simba or Nala, we did see a plethora of other wildlife that would warm the heart of any Lion King fan!

Disney Movie:  The Lion King

Place:  Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

I felt like I was walking through the pages of my favorite Disney fairytale when we explored the streets of Strasbourg, located in the Alsace region of France just over the Rhine from Germany.  So much so that I half-expected to see a pony-tailed Gaston poke his head out of a pub and bellow about making Belle his wife!  While in Strasbourg, be sure to try the flammeküche, an Alsatian-style pizza featuring an onion-cream sauce.

Disney Movie:  Beauty and the Beast

Place:  Strasbourg, France

Rather than slinging pickaxes or shovels over our shoulders, we whistled our way through an auto tour of the Black Forest en route to World Cup celebrations.  Thanks to the heavy downpours and thick fog, it wasn't hard to see where the Black Forest got its name and reputation.  Perhaps the weather deceived my eyes, but I almost thought I saw a few magical creatures sneaking across the pine-forest floor...

Disney Movie:  Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Place:  The Black Forest, Germany

Unlike the other Disney movies I've listed, I actually cannot stomach their version of Pocahontas.  Not only is it historically inaccurate (newsflash: Pocahontas never had a love interest in John Smith!), but they decided to completely misrepresent the landscape of tidewater Virginia.  There are no cliffs from which she possibly could've sung about the colors of the wind!  At any rate, whenever I visit the beautiful shores of Virginia's Northern Neck, Eastern shore, or general tidewater region, I can reflect on the real Pocahontas and the reactions of Virginia's Native Americans when the English explorers first arrived.

Disney Movie:  Pocahontas

Place:  the Northern Neck, Eastern Shore, and/or Tidewater regions of Virginia

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Where are some of your favorite Real-Life Disney locations?

Linking up with Swags, Diana, Anna, and Bonnie for #TravelTuesday!

Linking up with other travel bloggers for the #SundayTraveler!

Updated 03/28/2016 with #TravelTuesday link-up and other internal links.

Throwback Thursday: Lake Victoria, Uganda (2007)

This photo (which unfortunately is rather grainy as I lost all originals when my college laptop died) is a view of Lake Victoria in Uganda.

For better pictures of Uganda, you could check out Crane Media's Facebook page, particularly this photo.

Throwback Thursday: Lake Victoria (2007)

Sunset over Uganda's Lake Victoria

Throwback Thursday: Murchison Falls

In honor of my brother's wedding this Saturday, this throwback Thursday photo features him, my dad, and myself enjoying the spray from Murchison Falls in Uganda back in 2007.

Congratulations to you and S., bro!  May you have many years of blessings and adventures together!

Throwback Thursday: The Nile

Photo taken August 2007
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Murchison Falls is a waterfall of the Nile in northern Uganda.  The Nile forces its way through a 23-foot wide gap to crash 141-feet below - truly a stunning sight!  This view is from downriver, and you can read a little bit about my experience on the Nile here.

Destination: Uganda

The Nile, Murchison Falls National Park, Amuru, Uganda
View from the top; August 2007
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

For those of you with an itch to experience the best of the African continent, I would strongly encourage you to visit Uganda, a small country in east central Africa.  Although landlocked, Uganda offers many geographical variations, from jungles to savannahs, marshlands to mountains, rural towns to hilly cities, affirming the reputation of Uganda as the "Pearl of Africa."  But as undeniably beautiful as Uganda's landscape is, I feel that the real attraction is their people; I have never felt more welcome, more at home in another culture, than what I experienced in Uganda.

Sunset over Lake Victoria, Kampala
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

I visited Uganda in August 2007 while on a twelve day mission trip with Grace Community Baptist Church.  It was my very first international trip, and even the nearly twenty hour plane ride couldn't dampen my spirits!  While our primary purpose in Uganda was to host True Love Waits camps for youths and young adults in the capital city of Kampala and to minister with other programs through Kampala Baptist Church, we were also afforded the opportunity to do some sight-seeing in the general area and take an overnight trip north to Murchison Falls National Park to see where the Nile pushes through a 23-foot wide gap to plummet 141 feet below.  It is a powerful, exhilarating sight!  We viewed the falls both from the top which is accessible by automobile and from the bottom on board a riverboat.  Our experience was all the more enhanced with the occasional bump from a submerged hippo and with sightings of crocodiles sunning themselves along the waterfront.  There was no better way to spend my twentieth birthday!
 
Other memorable sights in Uganda were the markets, both open-air and indoors; exploring Garden City mall; devouring an absolutely delicious tilapia dinner on Lake Victoria; watching Ugandans weave in and out of traffic on their boda-bodas; savoring a delicious community-cooked meal of goat meat, cabbage, beans and yams; laughing unsympathetically as my brother had a mild allergic reaction to jack-fruit; having an authentic "African experience" in a fly-infested dormitory on Lake Victoria; and being in absolute awe at the physics-defying loads people would carry on their bicycles!  In future posts I hope to go more in-depth with individual attractions we visited and experienced.

True Love Waits
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

 But to get back to the heart of Uganda -- its people -- for a minute, again I would attest that they are the most friendly, generous, and hospitable people on this planet.  There is something infectiously joyful about Ugandans, manifesting itself in song, smiles, and the simple pleasures of life - a tasty meal, the camaraderie of good friends, and the love of family.  While there are still many financial and economic challenges to be faced in Uganda, I believe their people will continue to improve themselves so long as they keep their motto - "For God and my Country" - close to their hearts.

~ Just a Thrifty Gypsy

P.S.  Shout out to Ray, Isaac, Prosper, Chris, Carol, Pastor Andrew, Faith, and all the others I met while over there!  We shall meet again.

View of one of Kampala's Seven Hills
Taken from Tank Hill, August 2007
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

 

Lake Victoria
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Elephants on parade!  Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

"Pumbaa" looking for a snack amongst unsuspecting campers
(c) Thrifty Gypsy

(c) Thrifty Gypsy

Terrace at the Emmaus Guest House
(c) Thrifty Gypsy



Kampala Marketplace
(c) Thrifty Gypsy