Christmas In Mogadishu
Dec 31, 2014, 5:50 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Florida
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Posts: 433
Loved the trip report. Fascinating. And I'm glad I'm not the only one here with these thoughts: I don't know if I want to go there even with 50 body guards. 
Thanks again for the wonderful pictures and insight.
Thanks again for the wonderful pictures and insight.
Dec 31, 2014, 5:53 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
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Posts: 4,609
Nice report and some great photographs, as always.
I concur that the camel milk is tasty. I was able to try some at Qsar Al Sarab in the United Arab Emirates. It is supposed to have excellent nutritional qualities. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any back in Vancouver, BC.
I found it interesting that the guards wore military fatigues. I would have thought that the private security would have been less overt, and consequently safer for the VIP, if they were in plainclothes. May I ask how you arranged their services for the benefit of others considering a tried and tested resource here?
I concur that the camel milk is tasty. I was able to try some at Qsar Al Sarab in the United Arab Emirates. It is supposed to have excellent nutritional qualities. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any back in Vancouver, BC.
I found it interesting that the guards wore military fatigues. I would have thought that the private security would have been less overt, and consequently safer for the VIP, if they were in plainclothes. May I ask how you arranged their services for the benefit of others considering a tried and tested resource here?
Dec 31, 2014, 7:15 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Programs: Virtuoso
Posts: 617
Amazing report! You long ago became my favorite trip report writer to follow. You venture into areas I will likely never be, so I feel like I get a slice of what life really is like those locations. Thank you for taking the time to share!
Dec 31, 2014, 8:52 pm
#34
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 22
great
This was exactly my thoughts!!!!! Most people would not dare to go those places he visited .... yet he managed it, most of all he is so thoughtful, cares the other cultures and their causes, that's most important.
Dec 31, 2014, 11:58 pm
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Wow.
I've simply never heard of being a "tourist" in a situation that required evasive maneuvers on arrival, a gun-toting security entourage of five on the ground, and one or more bribes on departure. I'm the kind of guy who thought the bombed-out and bullet-marked buildings of Iron-Curtain Berlin were completely jaw-dropping -- but this beats all.
I've simply never heard of being a "tourist" in a situation that required evasive maneuvers on arrival, a gun-toting security entourage of five on the ground, and one or more bribes on departure. I'm the kind of guy who thought the bombed-out and bullet-marked buildings of Iron-Curtain Berlin were completely jaw-dropping -- but this beats all.
. Yes, definitely high on my scale in terms of 'adventure' of my trips so far.. The lady with the tomatoes was waving her hands about quite abit while talking to my guide, so made the shot abit more animated and interesting.Cheers, Gnopps
..Very cool report Daniel. When I lived in Canada, we had a very good family friend who emigrated from Somalia after the war. He had many scars from injuries suffered there, so he rarely talked about home. I don't know anybody who has ever visited there, so it's fascinating to see the photos.
Out of curiosity, how did you manage to find your guide and small army of guards? Also from the picture of cash seems like what I'd call a reasonable fee for a driver, guide, and armed guards.
Out of curiosity, how did you manage to find your guide and small army of guards? Also from the picture of cash seems like what I'd call a reasonable fee for a driver, guide, and armed guards.
. I literally just googled 'visit mogadishu' and clicked on one of the links
. A person on the LP forums was also organising a trip with the same company and went 2 weeks before me and had no problems, so I was satisfied they were legit before I hopped on the plane.The trip wasn't cheap, probably more than my recent 9 day europe trip
! Reasonable though given I had 6-7 people looking after me for my time there. !. Yes, a good reason I guess why Mogadishu doesn't have many tourists, hopefully in the future it'll settle down a bit though for more people to come.Nice report and some great photographs, as always.
I concur that the camel milk is tasty. I was able to try some at Qsar Al Sarab in the United Arab Emirates. It is supposed to have excellent nutritional qualities. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any back in Vancouver, BC.
I found it interesting that the guards wore military fatigues. I would have thought that the private security would have been less overt, and consequently safer for the VIP, if they were in plainclothes. May I ask how you arranged their services for the benefit of others considering a tried and tested resource here?
I concur that the camel milk is tasty. I was able to try some at Qsar Al Sarab in the United Arab Emirates. It is supposed to have excellent nutritional qualities. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any back in Vancouver, BC.
I found it interesting that the guards wore military fatigues. I would have thought that the private security would have been less overt, and consequently safer for the VIP, if they were in plainclothes. May I ask how you arranged their services for the benefit of others considering a tried and tested resource here?
. Yes, the camel milk is definitely tastier than normal cows milk. They also make camel milk chocolate here in Dubai. This is the company I arranged everything with for my trip: http://visitsomalia.wordpress.com/! Hopefully some more TR's to come in 2015.?.
Jan 1, 2015, 12:35 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: trash airline program here
Posts: 83
Absolutely awesome as usual..maybe you could sell these pics to another travel magazine or something. You, jason and hauteboy are definitely my favorite trip reporters. Keep up the great work!
Jan 1, 2015, 8:09 pm
#41
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
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This is one of my favourite trip reports. I always dream about going to the places off the beaten track but never do. I admire you for being brave enough to go, I think I'd want a full military surrounding me with a drone in the air.
Did the people give you funny looks being the only Westerner there or take an abnormal interest in you?
Did the people give you funny looks being the only Westerner there or take an abnormal interest in you?
Jan 1, 2015, 10:36 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2004
Location: The best place in the world: Queensland Australia
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Posts: 148
Amazing and unique trip report. Felt like I was there with your great photography which focused on the 'ordinary' lives of a fascinating part of the world.
Jan 1, 2015, 10:47 pm
#44
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: MIA
Programs: AA, DL, BA
Posts: 117
Thanks a lot for the report. The pictures and your posts were very informative. I have to be honest that I had to do a double take when I saw the title and had to click on the thread after that. I came here expecting to read about you working for an NGO or something similar, but you went for pure personal desire. May you continue to enjoy your trips, and hope that you are safe everywhere you go. This one will be hard to top.