alone  / 2012

Border from Uganda. Steps at immigration. The worker was kind to come down and put the stamp on my passport.

Rwanda is called a thousand hill country. All the city are hilly. The capital Kigali also has also many hills. It means so tough for wheelchair users. The bus terminal (taxi park) between Kigali and each city is located not center of the capital. Motorbike taxi is main traffic in town. Very few car taxi even though the capital. It means so difficult to move around on wheelchair. 

One guy talked to me. He is deaf. He thinks that we are the same as person with disabilities. We cheer up each other. He showed me sign language paper. It seems British sign language. 

In Rwanda low, motorbike taxi driver and passenger should be put on helmet. Also only one passenger for each bike. The rule was completely followed in whole country.  Neighboring country Uganda, they seemed no rule, no helmet and 2-3 passengers on back. Also no garbage on road like Japan. Nice road condition. Also no plastic bags on store, they use brown paper bags only. It means people keep environment. Rwanda has a disastrous genocide history, about one million people (13% population)  were killed in 1994. Now they recovered. Good disciplined nation not like Africa.

Buildings looks having a lift, but it is stairs. No lifts on buildings normally.

Very tough to find a wheelchair accessible hotel. I could not. Some steps on door and reception, but staff were so kind. They always helped me to carry up and down.

Mini bus is traffic between cities. They have a ticket. We bought it in office, so do not pay in the car. Mini bus run on time regardless of passengers number. They keep the schedule. Sometime over passengers because some come on the way. One time, my mini bus to Kigali from local city left with only 6 passengers. Very organized. 

I tried to enter Democratic Republic of Congo without VISA. The border Goma and Gisenyi. Long time for negotiation to get a permission to enter DR Congo in immigration. The lady on photo was one of officer. My hope was denied.  

Many many wheelchair transporter work on border. Bikes and cars are not allowed to go though this border. He told me I was the boss. We got a nice job here. So happy to see them. Wheelchair transporter are the central player here. Sounds great !! 

Many ladies also worked. Congo is real chaos, but so dynamic and multi colors. We feel living lives. 

Pusher man helps a wheelchair transporter. They are young men. 

I found this sign board near the border and visited. But the road was so terrible by volcano lava. Children pushed me on the way.

Community center for person with disabilities. USA Ohio zoo donated the building. The zoo wants to keep local people life peace because gorilla forest is located near. This center activities are job training, sign language school, advisement for family with an disabled kid, giving welfare equipment, teach HIV action, protect sexual abuse and violence, etc...   

Three wheel chair is made in Congo. The price is 400 US$. 

Food. Fruits are nice, but others are not. 

Every restaurants has only one menu. All the dish were same for 1 week stay. Rice, potato, beans, green vegetable (spinach), pasta. Buffet. Free to put one time. Meat is extra charge. Eating different dishes is happy, I feel.

Many cafe in town. African tee (with milk and much sugar) and snacks. Samosa is popular food. 

There are some bicycle taxi in country side. They want to buy motor bike, but no money.

I visited genocide memorial in Gikongoro by mini bus. I was thinking not so far from the town center, but the distance is more than 2km. Also dirt hilly road on half part. One Rwansa guy helped me to push. He told me his parents were killed here. Taking photo genocide memorial is not allowed. My visiting day was new year eve. The memorial was closed. So I could not enter... On the back to Butare, I caught Holland's car. They also missed to enter like me.