I'm back!

I realize it's been almost a year since I last updated this blog, as some of you so kindly pointed out. Normally, I would be embarrassed about my slackage, but since I was never the blogger type, I don't feel so bad. My last post was after the amazing Masai Mara safari in Kenya. I still have very fond memories of that trip, and I look forward to the next time I'll be traveling in Kenya...hopefully next time, I'll have a travel buddy. Any takers??


As an update on the rest of the trip, I traveled up the coast of Kenya, stopping in Mombasa and the little island of Lamu. Mombasa was this sultry, coastal city full of history, exuding a mysterious and fun-loving vibe against a traditional, religious background. I met friends of friends here, enjoyed a massive seafood dinner on a boat, and stayed in what seemed like a miniature palace. Then there was Lamu. If only I could've spent more time here. The entire island was pedestrian and donkey-only (unless you count the sole tractor I've seen around). The streets were uneven and narrow, lined by tiny storefronts hiding what might have been secret treasures long forgotten. The beaches were empty and the water a clear blue. I befriended a guy named Moses who showed me around and made sure I wasn't bothered excessively by the sleazier types. The food was great, and the views beautiful. If you're headed there soon, I highly recommend the hostel I stayed at. The rooms were clean and huge, the staff super friendly. They even had a mini library which was convenient for my lazy beach days.

 My trip back to Nairobi was a little more eventful than it should have been. The short story? I hitchhiked my way back down the coast, felt the fight-or-flight response engage when we pulled off onto an unfamiliar dark side road (to explore some shared mansion, it turns out), and crashed at a complete stranger's house. But, I survived.

Uganda was next up on the itinerary, where I met up with a friend/ex-lover-type of mine. We whitewater rafted up the Nile--yes, so touristy--but oh so much fun. It was a neat feeling to float up the river, imagining the centuries of history that had happened around that spot. 

Our next stop, Lake Bunyonyi, "the place of many little birds," was easily one of my favorite places during the trip. We had a bit of a transportation disconnect, so ended up on a dock at 4:30 in the morning. What could have been a terrible situation turned out to be really peaceful and serene. Here's a shot I took as the night started to lighten. We spent a couple days here, rowing aimlessly around the lake, and just lounging and catching up. This is another place I would add to any Ugandan itinerary.

Rwanda was my final stop before a return trip home from Nairobi. I saw parts of Kigali and Rwinkwavu, Partners in Health HQ. We had an interesting tour through the hospital, where I was acutely reminded of the motivation behind these med school dreams of mine. It was a nice end to a good trip that I wish could have gone on longer. I'd love to make it back some time. But now that I'm on med school lockdown, it may be some time before I get either the time or the dinero to make it happen. One day...

In the meantime, it looks like las aventuras de crystal are going to be much more domestic. There's a potential Dominican Republic trip planned a few months from now, but before that happens, I'll keep you posted on the life of a struggling med student who's rediscovered an obsession with working out.

Three main motivations:

1. Diabetes sucks. and it's a risk factor for everything else. (for all my friends with diabetes, I feel your pain and promise to be a compassionate MD to all my DM patients)
2. Anatomy. Have you seen what fat looks like inside the body? Not a good look. Also, muscles. Sexy.
3. Gotta stay on that grind if there's even a slight chance my residency will resemble Grey's Anatomy. Helloooo, McSteamy.

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Julia on Pinterest