Bugs

Tonight's bucket bath started out like any other... I had my trusty lantern, my big orange bucket full of warm water (one kettle of boiling water added to room-temp jerrycan water) and all my toiletries in tow. I surveyed the bathing area (a papyrus mat enclosure with a gravel floor) for any lurking creatures and saw none. I happily hung the lantern on the nail, humming to myself, and just as I started to wet my hair I heard a hiss and a fast clicking... perhaps the sound of fluttering wings??? Eeeek. Not a welcome noise when you're stark naked outside in the dark in a remote village in Uganda, home to black and green mambas, spitting cobras and poisonous lizards. That is not the way I want to go out.

And it wasn't. Turns out, it was just a... well, I don't really know what it was. An over-sized praying mantis I guess... it was probably eight or so inches long, and I wish I were exaggerating. It's body was a lot fatter than a normal praying mantis. As I said, it was dark so I didn't get a good look at it in detail and I didn't want to get too close. Needless to say, I decided to put off washing my hair until tomorrow and after a quick splash, I returned to the safety of my room with half a bucket of water leftover. I considered going back out to take it's picture, but I don't want to press my luck.

On an unrelated note, if anyone reading this is thinking about sending anything my way... could you please throw in some packaged tuna/chicken, parmesan cheese and/or reece's pieces? For whatever reason, I've been craving reece's pieces for a year or so. Thanks guys! And thanks for reading!