Gorilla-ville

Bwindi camp

'Hello' from the mountains. After three days of solid driving...we've just done another day of solid driving. This time, we've left the truck behind and we've been taken up into the mountains in four-wheel-drive mini buses. We're now somewhere in the middle of the 'Bwindi Impenetrable Forest' (bit of a misnomer when you consider the access road, I suppose). We're off early tomorrow to see some gorillas.

Healthwise, I'm getting there. Stomach appears to be sorted – although I haven't seen exactly 'concrete' proof yet. My wisdom tooth is really hurting, though. My current drug list is looking ridiculous, and I'm beginning to feel like... well, like an American – I'm currently taking ibuprofen, paracetamol, malarone and flucloxacil. I'm rattling slightly. The good news is my appetite has come screaming back with avengeance. Not before time, too, as I have a lot of making up to do. We were discussing deadly sins yesterday. I said I was probably 'gluttony'. Leigh didn't believe this, saying I wasn't at all fat. I was, like, 'you just wait...' So I'm now eating with pride at stake (if not steak).

Yesterday's camp was beautiful – it was on terracing by the lake – a stunning lake. The only minor issue was having to hike twenty metres back up to the truck when we were pitching tents. After a month of hauling off my entire back on Ella – the Nomad truck – I've finally twigged it's a lot easier to leave my pack on the truck and only take the essentials – sleeping bag, mat, shower stuff, erm, laptop... It's making life a lot easier.

I was supposed to be on the cook group last night, but Rob wouldn't let me, since I've been unwell (I have to admit to drawing this to his attention). We ate late in the end, but no-one was too unhappy since we were to have a lie-in. Our transport was picking us up around eleven. There was also an orphanage visit at nine, for those interested, Quite a few people had quite a few beers, and some of the group were sitting round the fire until 1am. I went to bed around 12, having only had a couple. I'm still not one hundred percent, so I'm trying to take it easy. Rob reckons that when I'm well, he's going to get me 'completely pissed'. I keep telling people how much more fun I am when I'm fully fit, although I think I may have created an expectation that's out of my reach. Won't stop me having a bash, though.

Right now, though, I'm under a mosquito net – probably at around two thousand metres. I'm in a rather tatty four-bed room, with Rachael, Jess and Savana. The drive up here was epic – five hours along a rough dirt track, through villages and past small farms. It's stunning. There are people everywhere – adults stare, impassively, while children smile and wave, chase the minibus, shouting, 'bottero! Bottero!'. The driver told me this means 'bottle'. They've worked out that people won't give them money, and that pens are a bit 'old hat', but that we often have empty water bottles. They use them for carrying and storing paraffin, so they're highly prized.

It's humid here – proper rain forest. They say, though, that it's not warm enough for mosquitoes. Apparently, the nets are to keep the tourists happy. We're off to see the gorillas tomorrow. We've each been given a permit. I'm currently 'Jaclyn, from Ireland'. Well, since I booked last minute, I guess I have someone else's permit. This is completely normal, apparently, and I'm to tell the security that Jaclyn bought it for me. It all sounds highly dubious to me, but I can imagine they'll be happy once they've seen the bit of paper and taken my details. Rob's not with us for this part of the trip, and it does feel a bit haphazard, as it seems to in this part of the world. They just ask us to 'be patient', and trust that everything will sort itself out. Generally, it seems to. It's misty up here. Mayhap there are gorillas in there somewhere,

Oh yes, it appears that our two English couples aren't, in fact, couples at all. Quite a surprise, although it makes sense in hindsight. (It makes a lot of sense that Dave is single). I wonder what that does to the group dynamic...

(Incidentally, if anyone's curious about anything specific, let me know: I can ramble off in any direction required)