Kyaninga Lodge, my favorite place so far, overlooks two volcanic craters that merged together.  The lodge sits on top of the tallest hill and the bungalows fall steeply down each side with LOTS of steps connecting them on a long boardwalk.  We, of course, have the farthest cabin down the hill and have to hike about 10 minutes to reach the lodge.  After dinner last night, I decided to answer email and try to post a blog so I trekked to our room to retrieve my computer.  In the short time it took me to get organized, the lodge had turned off all the walkway lights so I grabbed my brand new flashlight that is behaving like a strobe light to hoist myself back up all those stairs.  Once I reached the lodge and got plugged in, I commenced wrestling with the computer to sign on, type and retype my post (somehow I or the computer kept deleting it), and fiddle with my email account.  While working I heard little rustling footsteps across the roof back and forth, back and forth.  I'm thinking, "Oh good, I'm going to experience some nocturnal animals that my friends will miss" when a RAT ran across my foot!  Not being easily daunted, I stuffed my feet under me and continued to work--trying to ignore the little black blobs that kept darting across the floor every few minutes. 

When the night watchman kept peering around the corner to see how I was doing, I finally decide I should turn in--at 10:30--early for me.  I no sooner step out the front door than something (bat?  giant moth?) dive bombs my hair.  Taking a deep breath, I bravely proceed down the first flight of stairs with my "strobe" light into the pitch black night when I notice a long skinny dead leaf starts moving.  That's the SECOND snake we've seen today--the first being a forest cobra.  Being just a little on edge, I let a small scream escape my lips.  The night watchman comes running to assure me the snake is not poisonous.  He gallantly decides to escort me back to my cabin and turns on the walkway lights. 

After 3 adrenaline bursts, I have a hard time falling asleep--especially since I hallucinate once I close my eyes.  My eyeballs persist in seeing tiny little ants crawling all over the ceiling--probably a reaction to our morning forest hike when all of us got covered with these little pests as we tracked various troops of chimps through the forest.  Even doses of Pepto, ambien, aleve and hydrocodone can not turn off my overactive brain and I toss and turn all night.  My consolation prize is seeing planet Venus low in the eastern sky just before daybreak.  Appearing huge and misshapen, I take it as one of those evil eye amulets that will ward off any future nightly adventures.  Only time will reveal that answer.