Blogs from North, Sudan, Africa - page 8

It took us ages to get onto the right road for Atbara. The eventual route was nothing akin to that shown on our maps. In fact a spanking new highway has been recently constructed across the desert more or less in a straight line from a point some 5 miles or so below the ferry crossing. When asking directions everyone was positive in saying “The road is just down there and you turn left”. It was and we did. And it was a superb road, sometimes a little difficult to follow because of sand being blown across. But the views otherwise were great, the colours even better and we made good time to Atbara. Here we were again faced with no bridge but another, similar ferry. It was a long wait and it only took four ... read more

Where do we start? It feels like months since the last update and since then we have experienced everything from temples to tombs and Al-Qaeda bomb threats to robbery! We pick up in Luxor, half way south along the Nile in Egypt. After a rather eventful journey reaching here we decided to spend 4 or 5 days taking in the sites and relaxing as best one can in 50 degree heat! Whilst in Luxor we saw the magnificent Luxor and Karnak temples, stretching for what seemed miles into the desert along the river. It is incredible to think that some of these temples have been standing tall for over 35 centuries... it really does put English Heritage in the shade. One very hot day involved an early 6am start to cross the river to the West ... read more

May 29, 2007 - Khartoum Well things here are interesting still... I have started my weeke of Military Observer refresher training. I am the only Canadian in the class, with the majority of UNMO's being German. A few UNMO's from Peru, Paraguay, Nigeria and Zambia round out the class. We have covered a lot of information that was passed along last week which reaffirms that everyone is only concerned with their own specific issues and no inter-department communication really occurs. Instruction has come from Croatian, Ukranian, Pakistani, Polish, and jordanian staff. I think that working with the Germans will be a good experience as they seem well-trained, professional, but maybe a touch on the arrogant side.... but really, who can blame them? Their forefathers tried to take over Europe... twice. Kidding... but seriously, they seem ... read more

Well my first week is almost complete in Sudan. Six days ago I stepped off the Lufthansa plane into what felt like a the blast of a hairdryer... 42 degrees. Wow. But it's a dry heat.... seriously. hahaha. Khartoum is like any other city, it has restaurants, corner stores, and traffic lights. That is where the similarities end. There is a constant lingering smell of buring charcoal, dirt, and heat.... to me, it actually smells different when it gets hot outside... weird. My introduction to the United Nations has been interesting to say the least. What I have seen so far indicates a behemoth of an organization, centered around process, paper work and small feifdoms. It seems each department has it's own agenda, and it is the most important agenda, of course. However, the individual departments ... read more

Galib sent this photo of the gym in Khartoum. Imagine working out in 45 degree heat on a rooftop, no cover from the blazing sun rays, but look again at the photo, it's not very busy there is it??? The Inukshuk is the offical emblem of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, CANADA. It is a stone landmark used as a milestone or directional marker by the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic. Inukshuk is a beacon. For travellers in Canada's North, an Inukshuk is a welcome sight. It says, "I've been here before; you're on the right path". To see a photo of the Inukshuk in Khartoum, Sudan, puts a smile on my face. Inukshuk goes international. Galib, you are on the right path. Keep smiling...and stay hydrated in that 45 degree heat :) ... read more