Arrived to Hot Khartoum
Hello from Khartoum!
We have made the long journey from southern Egypt into Sudan. It has been four tough days of travelling. When we arrived at the ferry terminal at the Aswan High Dam, on Lake Nasser, we were pushed and pulled, along with hundreds of heavily burdened travellers, onto the weekly ferry to the Sudanese town of Wadi Halfa. We slept alongside a group of Egyptian men on the sun deck of the ferry to avoid the engine fumes and sardine tin conditions of the main passenger room and to see the stars by night. Later, we climbed onto the roof of the train from Wadi Halfa in order to feel the wind on our faces and enjoy a panoramic view of the Nile on our right and the Nubian Desert on our left as we made the 36 hour trip to Khartoum.
We were a little anxious as we left Egypt, the hassle of the beaurocratic border control, the long cramped journey (with squat toilets), sharing a room with 400 others, but most of all, the unknown of Sudan. But that fear didn't last long. We love Sudan. We feel safe and happy here in Khartoum and we look forward to getting to know the city and the country better. Today we spoke to Trocarie's coordinator in Khartoum and we will visit a camp for internally diplaced people on Tuesday with one of their partners. There is no denying that there has been trouble here, which we will talk about later. In the meantime, we just have to survive the 40-45 degrees celcius heat.
We have made the long journey from southern Egypt into Sudan. It has been four tough days of travelling. When we arrived at the ferry terminal at the Aswan High Dam, on Lake Nasser, we were pushed and pulled, along with hundreds of heavily burdened travellers, onto the weekly ferry to the Sudanese town of Wadi Halfa. We slept alongside a group of Egyptian men on the sun deck of the ferry to avoid the engine fumes and sardine tin conditions of the main passenger room and to see the stars by night. Later, we climbed onto the roof of the train from Wadi Halfa in order to feel the wind on our faces and enjoy a panoramic view of the Nile on our right and the Nubian Desert on our left as we made the 36 hour trip to Khartoum.
We were a little anxious as we left Egypt, the hassle of the beaurocratic border control, the long cramped journey (with squat toilets), sharing a room with 400 others, but most of all, the unknown of Sudan. But that fear didn't last long. We love Sudan. We feel safe and happy here in Khartoum and we look forward to getting to know the city and the country better. Today we spoke to Trocarie's coordinator in Khartoum and we will visit a camp for internally diplaced people on Tuesday with one of their partners. There is no denying that there has been trouble here, which we will talk about later. In the meantime, we just have to survive the 40-45 degrees celcius heat.
3 Comments:
Hi Niamh and malachy
Hope you are having a great time
The weather has been very good lately
We had First Communion in the parish on Sat. Delighted to read your story.
Where are you now.
Take Care
From Carrigtohill BNS
Hello there,
Its Tom from Wadi Halfa. That was some train departure. Off into the night with hundreds of people around, no platform, first train stop hundreds of kilometres away, kids on the roof, unsure of the carriage or seat. I bet you wished you bought the first class tickets at that time. I felt like the scene was from a differnt era with the old train, no platform with people hang out of windows saying their last goodbyes. Anyway looks like you guys made it to Khartoum, so EAT UP because Ethiopia follows.
Tom.
PS. My boat came at the end of the week and now in Egypt getting ready for the trip to Libya.
Hi I think what you are doing is realy great and I hope you keep up gradeing youre webpage and have fun on your journey would love to see some more pictures of people that you come to and make friends with anny way I have to go now dont forget I would love to see more pictures on the site good luck on the trip bye
From Cobh
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