Strict traditional Sharia Law governs Sudan and its people. In the result, many things considered commonplace in the West are considered morally reprehensible and may be punishable by flogging and in some cases death. So unless you want to find out what 40 lashes feel like, below is a list of 5 things not to […]
Premonition Turned Reality: The Bus Crash
We have all had those moments when we seem to know what will come. Those moments when that little voice or feeling warns you not to drink the water because it has already seen the diarrhea that will result. The problem with such premonitions is that we hardly trust them enough. And when a strong […]
Sudanese Arabic 101: Making Small Talk
Around 200,000,000 people spread out over 25 countries are native speakers of Arabic. While classical Koranic Arabic is unanimous across all these countries, the dialect and vernacular can vary drastically. In any case, of the 7 Arabic speaking countries I have visited, Sudanese Arabic is the best, and perhaps even the best in the world, […]
Number 1 Food in Sudan: Foul!
The national dish of Sudan is arguably foul. Foul, romanized as foul but actually pronounced fool, is a lightly mashed bean dish garnished with olive oil and cheese. And let me tell you, Foul is delicious. It is also incredibly cheap, making it a tremendously cost effective meal for the runaway adventurer and budget backpacker. […]
Stop Drinking the Water: A Diarrhea Monologue
Copy: If you think I get diarrhea a lot, then you would be right. Although I don’t have irritable bowel syndrome or some other gastro-intestinal disorder, I do have a very short memory and grandiose bowel ego. In other words, I am quick to forget how discomforting the last bout of diarrhea really was, […]
Rickshaw 101
Ever since I rode my first rickshaw in India, I have always wanted to learn how to drive one. Thanks to my good friend Ashenavi of Eritrea, this dream came true. I am now a proficient rickshaw driver, ready to work the streets of Khartoum. Since I am experienced at riding motorcycles, my learning curve […]
How to Change Money on the Black Market
When a countries currency is overvalued, it leads to a much lower exchange rate for the foreign buyer. For example, if the world market price of 1$ equals 5 Sudanese pounds but the government sets the official exchange at 2.7 pounds, you are effectively robbed of 2.3 pounds. That’s nearly 50%! And national banks and […]
Runaway Photo of the Week: 3/14/12
It was moving day, Sudanese style. Sudan is a relatively recluse and geographically isolated country. As a result, there really aren’t many westerners here. So when these Sudanese guys saw me, a tall lanky blonde guy, riding atop some furniture atop a truck, just like them, they went NUTS!
You Know You’re In Sudan When…
You know you’re in Sudan when… 1) “A connection has been established between your current IP address and a country sanctioned by the U.S. government.” 2) Driving on the wrong side of the highway is legal. 3) Being caught with pornography is punishable by forty lashes. 4) The best way to exchange currency is through […]
