The first day of the journey

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This is the first day of our drive down to Khartoum.. We will be crossing part of the Nubian desert.. The intention is to reach Wawa, a town about 2hrs south of Abri.. There is an ancient Temple of Soleb across the Nile at wawa, where we were intending to cross over in the evening, and spend the night at one of the farm house there.. according to the 2 swedish guys that drove up.. ok i should probably name them now instead of calling them swedish guys sedishguys like swedish meatballs.. according to Pierre and Lionel, the wife in that farmhouse make really good food.. yum..

We sent our car in to the mechanic for a final check at 8am.. and then went to town to buy some more groceries.. and dave wanted to take more pictures of Wadi Halfa.. say good bye etc.. by the time we left, it was 10am..

The journey there was pretty eventless.. the landscape was pretty interesting tho.. cos i've never seen anything like that.. the landscape looked out of the world.. think starship troopers.. i keep imagining those giant insects scuttling up the rocky mounds on the desert sand.. haha..

The road was tough.. and very corrugated (macam sine curve) due to the intensive use by heavy trucks and lack of grading.. expect corrugated road all the way to Abri.. with corrugations, you either have to go very slow.. or very fast.. so we chose very slow i guess.. bumpy.. jerky... everything in the landie rattles on the road...

Weather was hot.. and dry.. how dry was it? well.. i had a pimple the morning i woke up.. green and ripe.. very tempted to squeeze.. but decided against it cos of all the dust and dirt etc.. by afternoon.. it had dried up and dropped off.. hahaha! we basically bought lots of water and keep drinking and keep drinking on the way...

At about 1pm+ we found some trees along the road and decided to stop and rest for lunch.. after lunch.. more desert roads.. at about 5pm, we have barely passed Abri.. i was hoping we can push the 2 hrs to Wawa but dave had a rule.. no driving after 6pm.. so 5pm- 6pm is reserved for finding campsites..

we drove so slowly.. as dave carefully contemplated the pros and cons of each possible plot of land for campsite.. that i can't help but think that if we dun look for campsite and chiong.. we may just well be in Wawa before sunset.. but i'm the guest here.. so i usually just followed dave's instruction thru out hte entire journey..

we found this campsite by the Nile.. pretty nice initially.. but when we got down.. we got swarmed by flies.. as in thousands of flies.. so many of them are stopping on my sleeve (white) that it seemed i had a black patch there.. i had my mosquito scarf wrapped all over my head.. but they still find ways to get inside.. and seem to find my earholes a comfy place to rest in... ooooh... so irritating!!..

in the end.. i got dave to change the campsite to the desert across the road.. there's a nice rock for wind shelter.. so that's where we camped..

oh.. the landscape along the nile is pretty interesting.. desert.. but once near the Nile.. you get luscious green.. and even swampy grounds with flies! haha.. Nile is really the giver of life.. Ya Hamuk Allah! hehe..

Had a good night sleep.. the next morning.. woke up in time for a beautiful desert sunrise.. the sun was so subtle when it rose up from the horizon.. so soft.. so pinkish... it's like 'how nice it would be if i can reach out and pinch it" kind of nice.. haha..

oh well, you win some .. you lose some.. you dun get the progress you can get out of public transport.. but you get to camp out in the desert.. enjoy the sunrise... Cheers!

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Photos

ُEmbarking on the journey
Sand sand and sand...

1st view of the Nile
Driving down the tracks.. you will weave in and out of sight of the Nile..

Black rocky outcrops
Can you see the 2 insectoid scouts on the peak? Rico! Help!

Good Nice Shady Tree
Where we had our lunch.. and rest.. and tons of water..

Near Abri
See the row of trees in the background? that means Nile

Our intended campsite
Nice riverside property... maybe not..

The final campsite
Vastly different landscape just across the road.. Dave sleeps in the car, i sleep in the tent..

Desert Sunrise 4
Have I ever told you guys I'm a sucker for sunrise? Hamdulilah for digital cameras!

Return of the flies
Oh no.. the flies are back.. time to stop photographing and get out of here! me wrapped up in full.. see the flies on my shirt and near my head..