Day 1,439: The Invasion of Khartoum
Sun 09.12.12: Odyssey rules state that I’m not allowed to use private transport over large distances, and so far I haven’t. But there has to be exceptions made here. Of…
Day 1,438: The Camelot of Africa
Sat 08.12.12: Before Addis Ababa was founded around 100 years ago (Addis meaning ‘New’ and Ababa meaning ‘Flower’), the capital of what we now call Ethiopia had a tendency to…
Day 1,437: Let’s Blow This Thing And Go Home
Fri 07.12.12: And? Okay. Here’s what happened. Arrived at the Sudanese Embassy at 10.30am, a little early, but I figured it could do no harm. Was told to sit. So…
Day 1,436: See You Tomorrow, Indiana Hughes…
Thu 06.12.12: Day 7 of my epic journey home from Juba began incredibly well. I called the Egyptian embassy and the nice lady told me that they were going to…
Day 1,435: Lucy
Wed 05.12.12: Ethiopia is a remarkable place, not least because it was the only African country not to suffer the indignity of colonisation, and not only for its immensely strong…
Day 1,434: The New Flower
Tue 04.12.12: I got a phone call at 4am – it was Isit? calling to tell me that the bus was waiting outside. Crikey: when he said 4am I didn’t…
Day 1,433: Same Same, But Different
Mon 03.12.12: Yet another early start and by 6am we were hurling north towards Addis Ababa on a brand spanking new commuter bus, travelling along Ethiopia’s impressively smooth asphalt roads.…
Day 1,432: Badlands
Sun 02.12.12: The ‘badlands’ of northern Kenyan are not so called because they are full of bandits (although there are probably a few still knocking about), but because they’re no…
Day 360: Boxing Day In Somalia
This was it. The most critical day of The Odyssey so far – make or break, do or die, cake or death. Dino Deasha, that magnificent chap, had cadged me…
Day 359: Do They Know It’s Christmas?
After a good three hours sleep, I left the Dil Hotel to go and get a ticket for Dira Dawa on the 'luxury' coach. No chance. Sold out. Although the…