PHOTO FRIDAY: HAPPY KIDS, HAPPY ADULTS

Nothing like happy kids to brighten up a day, especially a Photo Friday (which doesn't always have to be glowing sunsets and such).

The crazy kids above, whose classroom we were painting (more on that next week), decided it was time for recess. Then they decided we had to take photos with them and they would put on their happy faces. 

Hard to argue with a room full of grinning nine-yr-olds. 

NOT JUST A BICYCLE IN UGANDA

A mom assembles her first bike as a curious boy looks on.

When is a bicycle not just a bicycle? 

If you're a mother of four who lives miles from the nearest school, church, or hospital, a bike can transform itself in seconds into a school bus, church van, taxi or even an ambulance, when necessary.

Through the work of two incredible non profit organizations, World Bicycle Relief, and Light Gives Heat, along with the inspiration of two bicycle enthusiasts, we witnessed firsthand the joy that a bicycle can bring to a group of working moms in Uganda.

Liz excels at distracting kids, which, after helping to load and unload the bikes, became our primary role,
while the moms learned to assemble and repair their new modes of transport.

Our day began in Jinja, home to the not for profit Light Gives Heat, an organization started by two of Liz's friends from Grand Junction (CO), Morgan, whom Liz has known since kindergarten, and her husband Dave. 

The story of Light Gives Heat is an incredible one, as are the stories of all the women and families whose lives have been touched by this its amazing founders. It is certainly worth your time to check out the trailer for their award winning film Moving On.

The kids had never seen bubble wrap. The logo on the bike seats is for Buffalo Bikes. They're tough like water buffalo.

This particular day was a special day for the Suubi women, as this was the day they would finally receive their long awaited bicycles, which are the primary modes of transport for many Ugandans (if they can actually afford one). 

Through an innovative savings program set up through LGH, the suubi women were able to set aside money from each paycheck towards the purchase of a bicycle.  Those who signed up for the program raised half of the funds, and the other half was paid for through fundraising efforts of LGH and friends.

A bicycle recipient poses proudly with her bike.

Kip in kid-distraction mode.

The bicycles were purchased from World Bicycle Relief, and organization dedicated to improving lives in Africa by providing durable bicycles made for the rugged terrain of Africa. 

And we felt so fortunate for the opportunity to see just a fraction of the work they do, firsthand. Empowerment in action is a beautiful thing.

Kip helps unload bikes, which were shipped in from Kenya. regional HQ for World Bicycle Relief.

If you are interested in supporting either of these incredible organizations, here are some ways you can help:

-Purchase one or many of LGH's handmade products online

-Purchase or hold a screening of their video, Moving On

-Make a donation to Light Gives Heat

-Start your own campaign through "Work Works"

-Make a donation to World Bicycle Relief

-Volunteer

LIZ'S PET RHINO IN UGANDA

Kabira, the Southern White Rhino, happy in her habitat at the Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre.

We will admit, our knowledge of rhinoceroses was limited. Up until this particular day, we had only glimpsed one from afar (as in, really afar, looking like a speck through binoculars) on our recent trip to Serengeti National Park. 

But, we happened to find ourselves with several days in the small Ugandan town of Entebbe, famous for being the staging area for all United Nations vehicles for peacekeeping missions in Central Africa, as well as being the location of a rescue mission of a hijacked Air France plane in 1976.  Perhaps not as well known, the city also happens to have a Wildlife Centre, with a rhino.

Yes, it was time for Liz Dolittle to commune with the animals again, as she's done so often on this trip.

A rhino shows Kip his best side.

In addition to the two Southern White Rhinos, the Ugandan Wildlife Education Centre is also home to giraffes, a baby elephant, lions, chimps, ostriches, and more. But really, as evidenced in the photo at right, we were here for the rhino, which was clearly not having any of Kip's usual antics.

Having no previous rhino knowledge or experience, and just coming off of a close encounter with a semi-aggressive gorilla with a not-so-funny sense of humor, we got a little spooked when this rhino Kip had been harassing walked calmly away, then turned and charged at the fence. Or so we thought.

Clearly we had never heard about Rupert the Rhino, or this family, or Jessica the hippo.

This seemingly dangerous rhino didn't charge the fence. She just ran up to it like an adorable puppy and stuck her horn through for a little scratch. The gorillas were nice, but who knew a rhino in a zoo could be the highlight of our Uganda trip? 

It turns out, this particular rhino, who we have learned is named Kabria, was brought to this wildlife center in 2001 as part of a program to re-introduce rhinos to Uganda, where they became extinct in 1984.  Programs like the one at this centre, and at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary are leading the charge for re-population, with some recent success, no small feat considering the White Rhino only re-produces once every three to five years.

Kip gives her a good scratch behind the ears, which she loved. 

Unfortunately, Uganda will never be able to recover the population of the extinct Northern White Rhino, and there is still a demand from China and other Asian countries, who believe that the horn is of medicinal value and will purchase the horns for $1400 an ounce, meaning these animals can be worth more dead than alive. 

We can only hope that wildlife sanctuaries like this one can ensure that the population of the Southern White Rhino, like Kabira, can make a comeback.

And maybe, when Liz wins the lottery and comes up with $37,000 she'll be able to buy one of her very own to keep for a pet. 

Rhino toes...almost as big as the camel toe we saw in India.

FUNNY MONDAY: UGLY BABY AND JR. RANGERS IN UGANDA

Ugliest. Baby. Ever.

Really? Someone actually thought painting a man child with red lipstick, bad hair and a loin cloth on a bus station wall was a good way to sell any product at all. 

And whose idea was it to let these two yay-hooos dress up like junior park rangers, anyway? 

CHERRY BLOSSOM VOLUNTEERING

Us volunteering at the Pink Tie Party of the DC Cherry Blossom Festival. Not bad after 12 months on the road.

Volunteering doesn't always have to be difficult and dirty. Sometimes, depending on the gig, you might even have to get dressed up for the occasion. 

On our recent stop back home in DC (okay, so we're behind a bit on the updates!), we had the opportunity to shower regularly and wear clothes that had not been wadded up in a backpack for months. Kip even managed to locate a razor. 

Liz working the gift bag table.

In addition to the long overdue personal maintenance, we also had the opportunity to volunteer with one of the greatest events in DC, the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Thanks to the efforts of a great volunteer coordinator (hey, Ruby!) we were lucky enough to assist with the Opening Day Press Conference and Pink Tie Party, as well as the Taste of Japan Saki Tasting. 

We could never have afforded the ticket prices to attend all of these events on our own. But as free labor, we were sometimes allowed to eat, drink, and be merry with the paying guests once all the work was done (and we promised not to misbehave). 

Even better, we had the chance to refresh our event planning skills while seeing firsthand how a team of real pros put together high-profile receptions that included the Mayor of DC, a couple of ambassadors, tons of media and even the 2013 Cherry Blossom Princess. We felt almost as honored as the time our elementary school-aged nieces invited us to their "House Party." 

Since we were working, we didn't have a lot of time for photos at the events, other than the few seen here. 

In honor of the most beautiful festival in Washington, further below we present to you a few of the photos we took down on the Tidal Basin as the thousands of cherry trees were in full bloom. 

Ever wonder how to gain free entry into a VIP or high-priced event without getting arrested? 

Try volunteering.

Kip with the volunteer crew at the Cherry Blossom Fest Opening Day press conference.  

A FEW CHERRY BLOSSOM PHOTOS WE TOOK THIS YEAR: