Three days in Djibouti...

So it's been three days since I left cold, rainy and grey Brussels... The trip was alright, if you ignore a number of 'negative experiences' during the flight:

• the lights not turning off before 2:30 AM,


• same for (very loud) music,


• food served at 1:00 AM, a time I would have rather spent sleeping,


• not so pleasant food at the end of the day (choice between chicken and fish, rather spicy the chicken was),


• the habbit of lifting the seats when serving meals, waking you up,


• Waking everyone up at 4:00 AM, about 75 minutes before landing...

I think that, for my next flight, I will try and prefer Air France...

What I found here, however is pretty impressive. The hotel has about 350 rooms, employs about 400 staff and is located right next to the sea (but pirates don't come there and I was told that the sharks that happily swim in there are small and 'friendly').

The building itself is impressive, by its size, its luxury and its design. When walking into the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, you have the impression you're walking right into the 1001 nigths environment. Little shops, restaurants and bars are scattered all over the place, magnificent swimming pools and generally an environement that looks like it was taken out from a book! I'll be posting pictures soon!

I also found an awesome location for some harmonica playing. A calm 15 minutes walk into the sea, and you arrive at a Kite Surf station which in the evening is deserted! I have a feeling I will be enjoying myself!

imperssions in two or three days! Take care of yourselves!

Getting ready for departure!

With the departure date set (26 April 2011), I am now getting ready to leave Belgium for sunny Djibouti! You can't imagine the stress at home! What to pack, how to pack it, where to pack it, box or suitcase? Not to mention all the "drinks", "cocktails", "beers", "bbqs" there are to attend :) How on earth am I going to find time to do it all :)

In my package, 150 kgs of Cargo... It might sound like a lot, but when you think of it, that's only 5 large suitcases. Count the Magic stuff I'm supposed to take with me, the harmonicas, the books my shaving creams (a two-year stock sufficient to shave both the US and French bases there) and you do get there pretty quickly! It did sound more impressive when I signed that offer...

For now, I'm back into my boxes! I'll let you know of updates as soon as there are news! For now, one last picture from good old Switzerland! Bye Europe, Hello Djibouti!