Blogs from Sudan, Africa - page 4

Od 4 dni jestesmy w SUDANIE! Przyplynelismy tu z Aswanu w Egipcie do Wadi Halfy. Podrozy odbylismy w wesolym gronie w sumie 11 rowerzystow (wszycy jada tak jak my do Pld Afryki), Rosjanina autostopowicza i kilku motocyklistow, posrod ktorych jeden gluchy Japonczyk, ktory jest w trakcie samotnej podrozy dookola Swiata:-) Podroz naprawde bylaby przednia gdyby nie to, ze kuchnia egipska dala sie mi ponownie troche we znaki - Faraon probowal zemscic sie na pozegnanie. Na szczescie na lad Sudanski stanelam juz mocno na 2 nogach a wlasciwie na 2 kolach:-) Po jednej nocy w Wadi Halfie, cale towarzystwo sie rozjechalo w swoim rytmie. I znow nasza trojka podryfowala przez pustynie. ALEZ TU PIEKNIE I NIESAMOWICIE!!!!!!!!!!!! Pustynia, pustynia, pustynia!!!!! Przecieta jedynie ntka nowiutenkiego, chinskiego asfaltu, po ktorym mkniemy jak na skrzydlach, pchani przez silny anty passat. Nigdy ... read more

We left a still sleeping, and possibly hungover, Abri early the following morning, and head south along the Nile towards Kerma, 3 hours away. Along the way, we stopped off at the small village of Wawa. Wawa is pleasant enough, with wide dusty lanes, and single storey yellow and blue Nubian house, but apart from that, has little of interest itself. The main attraction is situated on the opposite bank of the Nile, in the shape of the Temple of Soleb, one of Sudan's many overlooked relics from Pharonic times. We wanted to get over the Nile as early as possible, keen to avoid the stifling midday heat, but were ushered into a shaded courtyard and told to wait until the boatman was ready. We thought this was typical Sudanese bearacracy at work, but after an ... read more

And I thought it was convoluted getting off the ferry from Italy into Egypt. It's an entirely different ball game In Wadi Halfa. First you need to get your passport stamped, although no-one tells you this until you're woken at 6am by an angry man claiming there isn't much time (we land just 5 hours later). Then you fill out a travel permit, although no one tells you this either, or even hands them out, you just need to scrap and fight for the few remaining ones on baord. This done, you queue. And then queue some more. And then fill out two copies of a second form, which is remarkably similar to the previous form. And then you queue again. And then some more. And then, by luck, magic or bribery, you find yourself at ... read more

Here are som e pictures depicting daily life and routine in JULUD... read more

The plan in Atbara was to catch a bus to the ancient site of Meroe and then flag down something heading to Khartoum. Unfortunately no-one could understand where we wanted to go and the only bus we could find was not leaving until 1pm which would make it difficult to find anything later in the day going to Khartoum. In the end we decided to head straight to Khartoum but the bus was not leaving until 8am so we sat down and had a cup of tea. The tea ladies set up their stands on every street corner. They consist of little more than a brazier and a lockable chest covered with jars of tea, coffee and spices. Stools or old oil cans provide the seating. It is a great way of chatting to the locals. ... read more