The Land of 1000 Hills ....

I am off tonight for yet another HIV conference .... but this time its in Rwanda .... the land of 1000 Hills .... and i am so nervous but dead excited ....

Now i grant you the background reading i've done hasn't been exactly inspiring .... genocide, rape and civil war (We wish to inform you ....)

But also there are some high points .... the country has dealt astonishingly well with the aftermath of its terrible recent history .... Rwanda is embracing new technologies and its applications to health and poverty reduction .... and is so committed to protecting its environment that all plastic bags are confiscated on entry ....

And of course there are the Gorillas .... silverback mountain gorillas .... can't survive in captivity .... highly endangered ... oddly don't drink water just somehow inhale it from the atmosphere .... huge great hairy beasts .... and i have rather bravely booked myself on a hike (!!!) up the volcanoes to try to see some .... so fingers crossed for me and them ....