Post from Sudan

This is my first and probably last post from Sudan. The Internet access speed here is extremely slow. I have been here for 5 days now and so far:

On arrival at Khartoum airport, I saw some U.N. (United Nations) aircraft parked on the airport tarmac. I didn't even realise that the U.N. has their own airplanes. They were small airplanes maybe able to seat about 20 persons. The airplanes were white in colour with "U.N." in black letters. Over the next 4 days, I saw more U.N. vehicles in Khartoum; white coloured four wheel drive SUVs.

I've seen two people run here. On Friday, a white guy was jogging along a river. There is a river in front of the hotel. This river is about 100 m wide and by Malaysian standard, it was a large river. I thought it was the Nile river but later I found out it was just one of Nile river's many branches running through Khartoum.

Last night at 10.30 pm, I saw a black guy running. He looked like a serious runner as he was running at a decent pace. Over here, many social activities start after sunset. During day time, it is just too hot to move around much. The temperature is 45 degree C and I was told it's will be hotter later in July. Summer temperatures can soar past 50 degrees C.

For those who are regular alcohol drinkers, Sudan will leave you high and dry. Sudan is a dry country not just in terms of rainfall but the sale of alcohol is proohibited here. The hotel menu has a vast selection of cocktails with not a drop of alcohol in them. As you may have gathered Sudan is a strict Islamic country with many restrictions and a conservative society. There is even a law that prohibits Sudanese women from swimming outdoor; they must swim in indoor swimming pools. The hotel in fact has one for this purpose.

Nightlife? There are no cinemas, bars and karaokes in Khartoum.

Women? Good luck.