Author: erinwrote

on hot air

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Just before dawn, we made our way into the Dubai desert to watch the sun rise and, along with it, an enormous and colorful hot air balloon. We arrived, along with a smattering of fellow flyers, to watch the magic happen. Eventually we were fired up, thanks to hard work and well wishes, and we scrambled into the basket that would carry us to the border of Oman. Our trusty pilot admitted that he had limited control; up among the clouds, the wind is the boss, and we can only guess at where she’ll take us. Traveling at the speed of the wind, our flight was remarkable for its silence. we floated without sound, only the clicks of cameras and the occasional blast of hot air to keep the view sweet. From sand to sky, flying into the sun, it was an unforgettable trip. Balloon Adventures, Emirates, with Captain Andrew Parker

on a trip to Berbera

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Time passes, and there you are doing things you didn’t know were possible: harvesting tomatoes; meeting ministers; winning the trust of neighbors; chatting with cargo ship crew from New Jersey at the Berbera port; stripping down to bathing suits on a Somali beach, guarded by baby camels and soldiers with AK-47s. You made it, and the story no longer writes itself; you’ll have to put pen to paper and craft the day anew each morning. Here’s to relentless adventure.

what’s to eat #34

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No, not those guys (as far as I know, no one here eats those guys). Oatmeal with bananas (the lesser, Somaliland–Ethiopian?–bananas, as opposed to the giant, creamy bananas of south-central Somalia) and jam, mint tea, and a few gulps of camel milk. Truth be told, the camel milk was for my canine companion. but it is a breakfast, dinner, and snack of choice for many. I can tolerate it in Somali tea (see also here and here), but this creamy drink is not for the faint of heart: if it comes from a camel, it inevitably tastes like camel. The benefits of this milk are much-touted, especially where it’s consumed most–strength, vigor, vitamin C, anti-cancer properties, and enough oomph to keep you full for hours. For now, I’ll stick to my oatmeal, and a just a cup of the magic stuff from time to time.