First Trip Back to the Homeland in 7 years!

24581 Views 40 Replies 8 Participants Last post by zo_os, Jul 31, 2015

zarocker

Discussion Starter · Apr 25, 2014 (Edited)

The last time i graced the Sudan was way back in 2007, I was a naive teenager back then that never really saw any part of his future to be associated with the largest country in the dark continent, and i had only popped by for a quick visit before I was to pursue a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in Malaysia. Numerous bump roads later, meant that i graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering instead, and worked briefly as a research assistant in the same university i graduated from " Universiti Tenaga Nasional". Oddly enough, it was in Malaysia that i've become thoroughly engaged with the issues pertaining to the Sudan. It was there that my friend since birth 'Taharga' introduced me to this thread, and i've been firmly hooked ever since.

Now, years later, new opportunities have presented themselves in a continent that I never envisioned my self ever going to, but sub7an Allah. So it was now the most ideal time to revisit this beloved country of mine before embarking on a new chapter in my life. I came here to revisit some of the projects that have already been posted, with an unbiased view of the country and it's politics, and focus on what really mattered: it's people.

I've always thought that it was utterly unfair to compute the overall development of this massive country to the few building projects that have been posted in this thread, and I am thinking of posting my experiences here as is:

Unfortunately, most of the pictures i'm about to post are of horrible quality due to the fact that i took most of them in a hurry, out of fear of being spotted by security personnel which seem to be just about everywhere

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1 - 20 of 41 Posts

DILLIGAF

· #2 · Apr 25, 2014

Hahaha it's so true about not being able to take decent shots, around certain areas don't even think of pulling out your dslr. Anyways, Welcome back to Sudan man, i hope things work out all the best for you.

Patiently waiting for the pictures now.

Sulybreks

· #3 · Apr 28, 2014

Pictures?

nubiana

· #4 · Apr 29, 2014

Pictures for sure.

Sulybreks

· #5 · May 2, 2014

Looks like Zarocker has been kidnapped LOL

zarocker

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 4, 2014

Hey everyone! Sorry for going Awol on all of you since my last post, but life has been relentless! And I HAVE tried to getting around to posting these pics but I've forgotten how much of a pain it is to post pictures on forums.....

zarocker

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 4, 2014 (Edited)

My trip started from the very Cozy muscat international airport. Despite being a stones drop away from major international competitors, ( Dubai international, Abu Dhabi International and the newly Constructed Hamad international) this airport has remained laid back and chilled, refusing to indulge in what seems to be a favourite past time for wealthy neighbours. That's what i've always loved about Oman, while there's a fierce competition all over the region about the construction of the most outrageous architectural designs, the Sultanate has refused to give in to a phenomenon that might jeopardize their identity, and because of that, there's a spiritual calmness here that you just can't find any where else... I'm just praying that in no point will any part of the Sultanate resemble anything of the Emirate of Dubai..... A fake, shallow city in the desert........ a Middle Eastern Las Vegas

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 4, 2014

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 4, 2014

But there's a change in the air, Oman air has been privatized a few years a go, and so it seems that the airline has suddenly gained an unsalable appetite to take on an already very competitive market and make it jussst that little bit more challenging. This of course translated for an urge of building a spanking new airport that would put others to SHAME, perhaps not in passenger stats as of yet, but in architectural design...

It's a shame, i loved the old airport

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 4, 2014

Just as I was about to depart, news had gotten out about the missing Malaysian Airlines flight 370 ( a topic that was the main focus of most Sudanese and Sudanese Newspapers throughout my stay in the country).... I still had the luggage sticker on my passport from a short flight i've taken with them just a few months ago to Singapore before taking another series of flights later in a bid to get home.

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 4, 2014 (Edited)

No sooner do i wake up, that i scramble to get outside and get a feel of the place. At this point I have absolutely no clue about what part of town i'm in. Later i found that this is Mohammed Najeeb Street.

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jun 4, 2014 (Edited)

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 4, 2014

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 4, 2014 (Edited)

Now we all know the saying that Sudan's beauty is in it's people, and i was definitely ecstatic to meet with this group of beautiful people: Friends and Colleagues from my University Years, whom i consider as family. I can't see ever losing touch with any of them, and they've taken it amongst themselves to give me an immediate tour of the city and a crash course in directions by letting me know which street goes north, and which goes east etc etc.

There definately isn't a shortage of quality restaurants in Khartoum, apparently this was one of the "it" restaurants at the time and at 75 SDG you could treat yourself to the largest pizza in Sudan (truly amazing). I find myself constantly converting rates into Omani Riyals in order to get a grasp on the prices. It's amazing how unstable this country is, as I realize that not once have i ever flown into Sudan that the currency was the same as the last time i entered the country. When we first left Sudan, as a kid, in the late 90's the currency was the Sudanese pound, after returning in 2001, it had become the Sudanese Dinar, before reverting to the Sudanese Pound in another visit in 2006, and now of course, after the secession of the South, the notes had changed yet again.... I go to a local store and ask for an areeba simcard as instructed beforehand, and i'm automatically presented with an MTN sim... It's a learning process at this point, still trying to get the hang of things......

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jun 4, 2014 (Edited)

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 4, 2014

now in my opinion, if there is ANY location in Sudan that embodies everything that's wrong with the country, it would have to be al Soog al 3araby. I mean, take your pic from the shear chaos, the pollution, the noise and stressed population of people that have to pass through this filth on a daily basis in order to make their daily commute. The sad thing is.... this a prime location, and no hub of any city should be THIS distasteful.

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zarocker

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jun 4, 2014

to be continued soon In sha Allah

Dubai_Boy

· #18 · Jun 5, 2014

zarocker said:
I'm just praying that in no point will any part of the Sultanate resemble anything of the Emirate of Dubai..... A fake, shallow city in the desert........ a Middle Eastern Las Vegas[/QUOTE]

Aghhh, i was just about to enjoy this thread since i feel the same about my home of origins , yemen. Then i get to this part.

Zarocket, I have been reading this type of "material" since 2001. I am out of energy trying to make sense out of it, However, i do have to ask, what is a [I]shallow[/I] city exactly ? and if a shallow city is located in a forested area, or in the "dark" continent , would it be any better than one in a desert area ?

Also, coming from an educated person as yourself, lets say we go 40 years back in time, what are the key elements you think the rulers of the UAE should have adopted to avoid being this fake,shallow country.

oh yeah , in the desert. almost forgot that part.

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kitayabi

· #19 · Jun 5, 2014

Dubai_Boy said:
Aghhh, i was just about to enjoy this thread since i feel the same about my home of origins , yemen. Then i get to this part.

Zarocket, I have been reading this type of "material" since 2001. I am out of energy trying to make sense out of it, However, i do have to ask, what is a shallow city exactly ? and if a shallow city is located in a forested area, or in the "dark" continent , would it be any better than one in a desert area ?

Also, coming from an educated person as yourself, lets say we go 40 years back in time, what are the key elements you think the rulers of the UAE should have adopted to avoid being this fake,shallow country.

oh yeah , in the desert. almost forgot that part.

The development that has occurred in Dubai over the last two decades is remarkable from a small trading hub to a global city, and that should definitely be commended. But there is no denying that Dubai a city that's grown as if its own steroids is beginning to feel a little artificial and pretentious, with no ascertainable culture to speak of.
But then again it is this shallow materialism that attracts people to Dubai.

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Dubai_Boy

· #20 · Jun 5, 2014

kitayabi said:
The development that has occurred in Dubai over the last two decades is remarkable from a small trading hub to a global city, and that should definitely be commended. But there is no denying that Dubai a city that's grown as if its own steroids is beginning to feel a little artificial and pretentious, with no ascertainable culture to speak of.
But then again it is this shallow materialism that attracts people to Dubai.

So do we work together to make Dubai grow and become better like when it turned from a fishing village to a regional power or do we bash Dubai for its flaws online and push it to one side ? it is one thing to criticize and another to label a city as soulless and fake as FACT.

Dubai has culture , but it is easy to miss it if you choose to and just as easy to find it if you really want to.

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