Come with me as i take you through what in my opinion is an unforgettable experience during the 6th MD 411 convention at the Leisure Lodge Resort hotel in Mombasa.
It is the 29th of April, all the members are ready and set for the journey. Some have boarded the plane and others including myself are at the bus station to take the bus for what seems to be an impossible journey.
(Above, some of the lions in a group photo)
(Above, Some of the dignatories during the convention)
Well, you've seen bikers in movies and most recently, road troopers on Ugandan roads but believe me this was nothing like those............... this was a lionistic road trip because 95% of the passengers on the bus were lions from Kampala and Entebbe clubs and it was an exciting journey as you'll find out as we go on.
The journey begun with an invocation (a lionistic ritual). The driver has quickly manoeuvred through the mid-morning traffic jam and within no time we're passed mukono towards Jinja.
Stop over number one: Namawojoro. If you have travelled the eastern route, then you probably know what this place is famous for; roasted chicken, and yes! these are lions and be sure the driver had to heed to their requests for a stop to grab a chicken wing/thigh for the start.
Fast forward; we have reached Busia border post. We quickly rush through the clearances and cross over to Kenya where swahili is the language and i quickly get my first light moment of the day........I've overheard a bargain between one of our members and a Kenyan seller and it goes this way;
Our lion: Sasa "amazi" ni ngapi?
Kenyan seller: Fifty "bob"!
Our Lion: "Atte kati" fifty bob is what?
Kenya seller: Fifty Kenyan Shillings boss!!
Ok! save your ribs for what is ahead. The lion gets his phone makes some quick calculations but to him it's quite expensive only that he has to buy it anyway. he grumbles to himself a he enters the bus........" Baano ebintu byabwe nga babisela nyo"........( literary meaning "these guys are too expensive")
Soon everybody is on the bus again and we are in traversing the Kenyattaland. The sun is setting and most people have already dozed off.
Time check: 10:"something" and we're in Nakuru having dinner and for some of us who are mad about football, we're already looking around to see if we could get a TV screen with ManU vs Arsenal game but to our disappointment we do not find any and after dinner we all get back onto the bus but to our relief the car radio has a live commentary and i personally enjoy as ManU beats Arsenal in the first leg; enough of football!!!
It's past mid-night and we are in Nairobi. We stretch abit, get back onto the bus as we head southwards to Mombasa. The journey from Nairobi to Mombasa was basically a sleepy one as everybody took a nap. Though i kept waking up so often.....because of my snoopy habits! i could not capture any exciting news though, save for a few snoring heads..........don't ask me who?
Time check: 7:"something" a.m of 30th April and we're entering the great coastal city of Mombasa. It's a few minutes to 8:00 a.m and we're at the bus station. We first book our return tickets, the the driver from the convention venue arrives and we board the bus to the south coast.
Wonder no. 1: We're at the ferry and for most of us who had never seen one, we pull out our cameras to take snaps and capture the nice view of Mombasa port.
The journey to the hotel takes longer than we expected.........i guess because of the fatigue but we arrive shortly before ten and unite with the other members who travelled by air. We quickly go through registration and accommodation issues before heading for a brief meeting!
We're now in Mombasa and the sea is marvelously spread before us and the breeze and the view are indeed breath-taking. It's soon approaching lunch time and we're headed for lunch. It's sumptuous and we all enjoy ourselves.
Fast-forward..........It's Friday and we're deeply engrossed in the campaigns but at the end of the day, we're second best. We congratulate ourselves, put our heads high for providing an alternative point of view...........that's what competition is all about!!
The evening has come and we sit down by the pool side to recollect on our achievements. It's dinner time; your guess is as good as mine! We quickly dash to our hotel rooms to dress for the occasion and if you know the glamour at such a dinner , then you do not need to be told how smart we were!
(Above, Lion Venie Campaigning for the First Vice Governorship)
It's Saturday and we are elegantly dressed for the parade and with the smooth voices we sing as we match............(this is a secret........Lion Eleanor Bageine has a very smooth voice and i think she could win a "Grammy".....Shhhhhhh!!!!!). Our smartness finally pays off and we are rewarded with third best position in the Parade........Big applause to the Convention committee for choosing a good attire.
The day has moved so fast and it's already evening and we're headed for the Pirates dinner. the dress code is fascinating as we all try to look like the pirates. As usual, the dinner was sumptuous and if you don't think so, ask some of the lions who tasted the lobster, you Will get very serious testimonies.
As we wind up the day and the convention at large, the music is in good rhythm and non of us was left seated as we shook our bones while enjoying the sea breeze.
It's sunday morning and the buses are already roaring and those departing by air are busy checking in at the airport. The convention has come to an end but the memories of what we experienced and everything we enjoyed will stay with us forever. We quickly head northwards to cross the ferry and return to our motherland.
A big thank you to the organisers of the convention and all those who made it possible. The hospitality we experienced will live with us forever and be rest assured that next time there is another convention in Mombasa, i'll be the first to register.
Lions forever!
We Serve.
