The Local Bakery

A big part of or job here with the UN is to visit the towns in the area and meet with the locals daily. Sort of show a UN presence. In Melut, where we are based, there is literally only one bakery - and it is a wood burning, mud-oven. The place seems to be run by three or four boys, all covered in flour! Only one kind of bread, a tough buy tasty flat bread baked on a wooden stick. They make hundreds daily, sell 5 small loaves for one Sudanese Pound (about 30 cents) and seem to be the only supply for about 500 people!

Spider on the Welcome Sign (Dad should like this one)

Just a quick pic of some of the fauna in the team site.....

Arriving at TS Melut

Finally arrived at UN Team Site Melut, an impossibly small village in south Sudan, along the Blue Nile. I passed through Malakal, which is the Sector III HQ location, staying there for two days. Very happy to get out of there, the place was a pit (the UN Camp I mean - desperately needs a Sgt Maj to sort things out there). First impressions in Melut are that its much better, newer, cleaner, much better lay out - the Indian troops here seem well set up and organized.

If nothing else, I am living a very healthy lifestyle here: up at 6:30, 5 min walk as a commute at 0750, work/patrolling until about 1330, rest (its hot) until about 1530, paperwork in the afternoon, volleyball with the Indian Force Protection Company at 1700, dinner at 1800, bed about 2100. Yep, that's about it. Reading and email in between. I should mention only one in about 10 of the Indian guys speak English and I am the only white officer that plays. I am sure I make their afternoon.



more pictures coming, if you are watching - takes about 40 mins to upload one photo!

Left Malakal for Melut on Thursday, 22 Oct. 45 mins by helo to the team site. Good view of the area of operations: flat, flat, flat. Very green now but I am told it will all turn brown in the next few months as the rains dry up. Its a little hard to believe, until you realize there is no real evidence of any irrigation for miles.

Last days in Khartoum

The final week or so in Khartoum passed very slowly, finishing training Thurs 16 Oct. The two weeks trg period or "Induction to UNMIS" was painful really. What was presented was not very relevant, however it was a good two weeks to get acclimatized and to speak with other UNMOs heading to different sectors.

The weekend and first two days was spent packing, repacking, purchasing last minute items and a bit of time at the pool (both the Cdn Embassy and the Greek Club, which is right next to the Emb). Life in Khartoum does get a repetative feel to it.

One unexpected plus, was i went horse riding at the Khartoum Polo Field and Race Track! I was introduced to a Pakistani LCol who is a Polo instructor and was riding often afte work. A quick call led to an invitation to join him. I expected the race track and fields to be a shambles, which proved to be correct, however I was greatly surprised to see that the horses were in very good shape indeed. Well fed, well groomed, responsive and excellent rides. For a minute there I was thinking maybe I could stay in Khartoum......

Driving in Khartoum

Started UNMO trg today. Driving trg for 3 hours. Couple of photos for everyone to experience driving here. It seems they think this will be the most dangerous thing we do! The UN has a huge base here, with the usual big white fleet. That's my friend Jeff, who is end of mission and heading home to Ottawa, and I at lunch.

Sightseeing in Khartoum

Friday and Saturday is the weekend here, so no work at the UN offices. Yesterday, Friday, a group from Canada House were given access to the pool at the Canadian Embassy. Great swim, the water was slightly cooler than the air (like a bath!) but still refreshing. At little wierd for me, to be at the Embassy, but be an outsider (from the CF contingent here). We are lucky to have a good working relationship with the Emb, which makes sense given that there are only 3 from DFAIT there and 6-15 military at Canada House (not counting the deployed UNMOs in the field).

Saturday, we thought we would head to the National Museum. After having our van stopped by security (can't pass in front of the Presidential Palace, we had to go around it!) we arrived only to find it was closed, despite a sign that said otherwise. But of course, who would want to go to a museum on the weekend?? I think this is likely foreshadowing more about life in Khartoum.

Ps - made it to the museum before leaving Khartoum. Adding a photo here because it pretty much sums up the museum experience:

Stay tuned!