A Trip To Djibouti
Mar 12, 2017, 10:30 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
. Hope you’re having a great time in Balkans. Not sure about the train. I know it was recently inaugurated but not sure if there is regular passenger services yet.Thanks, Annalisa12
. Yes, quite a new country too, with independence from France in 1977.
. Yes, Dubai is a great place to travel, with Europe, Africa and Asia all relatively closeby. Swimming with the Whale sharks in Australia must have been great, although I hope there weren’t any carnivorous sharks about though
.. At one point we dropped into the water and the Whale shark was right beside us, and we just floated there in a kind of awe and amazement!. These travel hiccups are all part of the experience!
Mar 13, 2017, 1:02 pm
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
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Mar 13, 2017, 1:48 pm
#18
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: JNB
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Thanks for another awesome TR!!
One question though: after you went into the lake was there fresh water where you could rinse off all that salt? It does not look as touristy as the Dead Sea where you could shower and wash off the salt, so if not, then the drive back to Djibouti must have been a bit uncomfortable?
And again, many thanks for sharing the unique photos. My one and only trip to Djibouti was nothing like yours.
One question though: after you went into the lake was there fresh water where you could rinse off all that salt? It does not look as touristy as the Dead Sea where you could shower and wash off the salt, so if not, then the drive back to Djibouti must have been a bit uncomfortable?
And again, many thanks for sharing the unique photos. My one and only trip to Djibouti was nothing like yours.
Mar 13, 2017, 4:51 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Thanks for the wonderful report, DanielW! Brings me back to my Navy days when I spent a not infrequent amount of time in Djibouti. If you find yourself back down there, the Kempinski is very nice and Cafe de La Gare is superb. The Cafe reminded me of what a Rick's Cafe in the movie Casablanca was like back in the day; as opposed to the current Rick's in Casablanca which was a disappointment to say the least. Thanks again for sharing.
PS. I see from your report that Ethiopian hasn't changed a bit! LOL
PS. I see from your report that Ethiopian hasn't changed a bit! LOL
Mar 13, 2017, 11:18 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
But how often does the opportunity to try an (almost bankrupt) Nigerian airline come your way.
Thank you, roadwarrier. Luckily Ken brought along a few things for the swim, with rubber sandals for the feet, some 1.5 litre bottles filled with tapwater to help rinse off the salt and a towel to dry off with after.
Many thanks, CHOPCHOP767. The Kempinski definitely seems to be the place to be in town. I've got another trip on ET coming up late this year too, all the way to South America!
.Thanks for another awesome TR!!
One question though: after you went into the lake was there fresh water where you could rinse off all that salt? It does not look as touristy as the Dead Sea where you could shower and wash off the salt, so if not, then the drive back to Djibouti must have been a bit uncomfortable?
And again, many thanks for sharing the unique photos. My one and only trip to Djibouti was nothing like yours.
One question though: after you went into the lake was there fresh water where you could rinse off all that salt? It does not look as touristy as the Dead Sea where you could shower and wash off the salt, so if not, then the drive back to Djibouti must have been a bit uncomfortable?
And again, many thanks for sharing the unique photos. My one and only trip to Djibouti was nothing like yours.
. Luckily Ken brought along a few things for the swim, with rubber sandals for the feet, some 1.5 litre bottles filled with tapwater to help rinse off the salt and a towel to dry off with after.Thanks for the wonderful report, DanielW! Brings me back to my Navy days when I spent a not infrequent amount of time in Djibouti. If you find yourself back down there, the Kempinski is very nice and Cafe de La Gare is superb. The Cafe reminded me of what a Rick's Cafe in the movie Casablanca was like back in the day; as opposed to the current Rick's in Casablanca which was a disappointment to say the least. Thanks again for sharing.
PS. I see from your report that Ethiopian hasn't changed a bit! LOL
PS. I see from your report that Ethiopian hasn't changed a bit! LOL
. The Kempinski definitely seems to be the place to be in town. I've got another trip on ET coming up late this year too, all the way to South America!
Mar 16, 2017, 3:17 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Mar 16, 2017, 4:21 am
#23
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Join Date: Nov 2008
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Posts: 10,075
Many thanks for another fascinating TR, and to a country not as accessible for a New Year weekend for many of us living in other parts of the world.
^^^
^^^
Mar 18, 2017, 2:37 pm
#25
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SEA
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This would have been another very cool DanielW TR regardless, but with the whale shark sighting, it goes into an extra special category. They are high on my list also as one of the most wonderful creatures to get to see up close. So glad she let you meet her
Mar 18, 2017, 6:48 pm
#26
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 343
Thanks for sharing DanielW, always love reading your reports. I had an opportunity to swim with the whale sharks in Cebu, Philippines and it is truly one of the most memorable experiences in my lifetime. Looking forward to your future adventures.
Mar 19, 2017, 3:37 am
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
. I'm running out of nearby countries for quick getaways, so are having to saviour the last few remaining.. I didn't plan to go until a few weeks beforehand and was great to fit in one last adventure for 2016.. I was a bit nervous about not seeing the Whale sharks, given that in nature these things are not guaranteed. Ken said that the previous Whale shark season had ended abruptly on Jan 1st with no more sightings thereafter, so was great to see them when we did.. Seeing them in the beautiful blue waters of the Philippines must have been unforgettable. My next TR will be back to Asia also, to Bangladesh.
Mar 20, 2017, 4:36 am
#29
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: London
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 2,644
Great report! For some reason Djibouti has been on my list of a while. I bumped into a US Army Vet in Svalbard a few years ago who was posted there and had some interesting stories. It all seems fairly safe and accessible? Loved the scuba photos. I swam with whale sharks a few years ago in Mexico.
Mar 21, 2017, 10:29 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Thank you, Spymon. Just writing up the next one now. No Whale sharks but a big fat crocodile though.
Many thanks, shefgab. Djibouti was quite safe. Al Shabab had a suicide bomber at one of the local restaurants a few years ago, so it was quite common for a security check before entering the restaurants and the supermarket when I was there.
Seeing Whales sharks in Mexico must have been amazing, hopefully some tasty local food afterwards too.
. Just writing up the next one now. No Whale sharks but a big fat crocodile though.Great report! For some reason Djibouti has been on my list of a while. I bumped into a US Army Vet in Svalbard a few years ago who was posted there and had some interesting stories. It all seems fairly safe and accessible? Loved the scuba photos. I swam with whale sharks a few years ago in Mexico.
. Djibouti was quite safe. Al Shabab had a suicide bomber at one of the local restaurants a few years ago, so it was quite common for a security check before entering the restaurants and the supermarket when I was there.Seeing Whales sharks in Mexico must have been amazing, hopefully some tasty local food afterwards too
.