Heads and Tails; the Reptilian Variety

Yesterday our local play group visited the Uganda Reptile Village to learn about the reptilian critters in our area. Here are some photos of the afternoon.

Nile Crocodiles are much smaller than I had anticipated. It's hard to tell from the photo below, but the big guy is maybe 3 or 4 feet long from snout to tail. That being said, the crocs who live in Lake Victoria are huge; the type you see on National Geographic eating an entire zebra. These particular Nile Crocodiles just get chickens.

In Tanzania we had several Monitor Lizards near our home. The Swahili word is "kenge." You don't want to get too close because they lash out with their tails and can break your ankle. Or the bacteria in their saliva will make a nasty infection if you get bit. Our guide told us that too many here in Uganda are killed for their skin, which is used to make drums - the part of the drum you strike/tap. Sadly, she also said that some are skinned alive because there is a belief that it makes the music better.

This Leopard Tortoise is over 100 years old! Along with the chameleons, this was the only reptile which Cooper was brave enough to touch. They are the biggest tortoises in East Africa and can get up to five hundred pounds! I guess this guy's still got a long time before he can start offering rides.

The Egg Eating snake is not venomous, but it sure did thrash around a lot when the kids handled it. Jack thought it made a nice live necklace. Works well with the motorcycle t-shirt don't you think?

Aaah, and here is our old friend (well, two of them), the Forest Cobra, one of the most dangerous snakes in East Africa. This is because its venom is particularly fast acting. I say "old friend" because this is the same type of snake we found in our garden two years ago and killed. Had I known then about the Reptile Village, I might have tried to intervene to save its life. Instead, I just saved our own. Oh well.

And the grand finale - the African Rock Python. These lovely MASSIVE snakes often live inside termite mounds (which are huge - many feet high). This one weighs 30 kilos and was Herculean in its strength. When frightened, it also puts out some serious poop, which is why Jack had dropped his hands from the end of the snake and is trying to figure out what just happened. (See the white spots in the foreground if you must.)

Jack then happily moved next to his sister to steer clear of both dangerous ends of the python.

Lastly, the parents' turn. Only three parents got in on the action; I was definitely not going to miss out, now that the snake had released its fear. Our guide, Diana, is on my left. She has been bitten by snakes seven times, and yet look how happy and healthy she is!

All told, it was a great afternoon. I only felt sorry for the little fluffy chicks chirping in several of the snake enclosures, but I guess if they weren't snake food, they would later be mine, so I'll try not to be too hypocritical.

It's That Moment When...

...you find gecko poop in the bottle of water you use for brushing your teeth. (We have to filter all of our drinking water.)
...you find a bug in your bottle of water...and you KEEP DRINKING. (literally, this instant as I write)
...you step into the water stream of the shower and your anticipatory "aaahhhh" turns into "AAARGH!" as you freeze and realize you forgot to turn on the hot water heater beforehand (We have a "widow maker" shower-head which heats the water electrically.), OR the power goes off in the middle of your shower and you still have bubbly shampoo on your head.

...the gas for the oven/stove runs out in the middle of scrambling eggs before church or before the casserole for company is finished. (You then snatch the canister and rush to the store for another.)

...after two months in America you find your kid drinking water from the faucet. (having forgotten they can't drink tap water in Uganda)
...the electricity goes off with ten minutes left of the cliff-hanger movie. (so you read about it online - anticlimactic)
...you need to make a phone call and your phone says "you have insufficient funds for making this call." (we buy prepaid cards of air-time)
...the electricity men come to turn off your power since you have not yet paid the bill that they have not yet given you.
...your three year old angrily yells at the traffic police officer who has pulled you over (for no reason) because he's mad she called him a "baby." (sweetly as in, "How are you, baby?" It's the Ugandan English term for "child.")
...you realize Halloween, Daylight Savings day, and voting day all passed within a few days and you either didn't realize it, or didn't do anything about it. (Ooops - I know I should have voted; it's complicated here, so don't rub it in.)
...you park your freshly-washed car under a tree full of Marabou Storks and find it completely covered after 15 minutes. (Huge birds make huge messes. These stand five feet tall with a ten foot wingspan.)

...you see post after post of American leaves turning amber, scarlet, and tangerine, and all your leaves are still green.


Then again, we also have that moment when...

...you see post after post of dead looking trees in America's winter and your leaves are all emerald, lime, kelly and forest green. Still!
...a camel walks down your street, a chameleon sits on your head, and the cat finds a cobra (and better yet, a passer-by kills it!).

...you take your dog off-leash into the Botanical Gardens, and she spots the elusive monkeys for you.
...you breast-feed your infant in public anywhere, anytime, and it's completely normal and accepted.
...you're so thankful to even have running water - what a blessing! And you remember to be thankful for it!
...you have electricity - most of the time! And you remember to be thankful for it!
...you realize that although you miss the fun of snow, your family gets to wear short sleeves and flip-flops all year!
...you are enjoying fruit from your garden all through the year. (We have papaya, guava, avocado, passion fruit, and mango.)

Just keeping lists of all these moments makes me realize how to be thankful in everything. Sure, I'm freezing in the shower with shampoo in my hair, but it sure makes me thankful for all those showers when the electricity stays on, and that we have running water for showers! And if we don't experience the changing American seasons, we sure do relish a consistently mild climate all year when we can enjoy our fruitful garden every day. In flip flops. So what if Cooper yelled at the cop? I'm thankful we didn't earn a ticket by breaking any laws. And if I ran out of gas in the middle of a meal in the oven, well, - hey, I HAVE an oven, and so very many people are here cooking in a pot on three rocks.

Mixed blessings. Silver lining. Gratitude.