DIVING DESTINATIONS
DJIBOUTILICIOUS FAM TRIP DIARY
FEATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY ALLY LANDES UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY FRANCIS UY Now here is a little country that we knew very little about, let alone where exactly it was placed on the map. But to clear that all up for those of you with the same questions, Djibouti lies in the horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and on the other side of the Red Sea, on the Arabian Peninsula, only 20 kilometres from the coast of Djibouti is Yemen. The capital of Djibouti is, quite simply, the city of Djibouti. EDA received an official letter of invitation to do a FAM trip in Djibouti on the 26-30 May 2008 by the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Hotel and was flown over by Daallo Airlines to promote diving in this wonderful region that we knew so little or nothing about. 26th MAY 2008 06:00 Arrival at Djibouti Airport
We arrived nice and early in Djibouti and on exiting the plane it felt very much like having got on the plane in Dubai. Same temperature and climate. We were greeted by two gentlemen who led us to the VIP lounge where we were welcomed by the Kempinski while our passports were stamped with our Djiboutian visas. Our luggage had already been collected and placed into a van and we were then led into the Kempinski bus and made a short journey through the outskirts of the city of Djibouti and taken into the centre where the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Hotel is situated on the edge of the water with a view of the Sea Port on the left hand side. 07:00-14:00 Free Time The hotel is a very large, grand, modern form of architecture also going under construction to expand to the growing demands of Djibouti’s tourism market. Those of us living in Dubai are only too familiar with the sights and sounds of a construction site, that this particular one bared no difference. We never seem to escape this development of change. The short bus journey to the hotel gave us a very small glimpse of Djibouti, but we would have a chance later to experience some sites and get to know more about the country later on.
In the mean time we had a lovely breakfast and time to freshen up and relax before the following days busy schedule was to begin. 14:00 Lunch at Lac Assal Restaurant The hotel restaurant/buffet boasts a large selection of starters and main courses of International cuisine and of course plenty of desserts for those with a sweet tooth. Beware though, you can get carried away. 15:30 - 18:00 Hotel and City Tour We received a grand tour of the hotel including the rooms in the new extension which are very nice. The bathrooms are lovely and you will never sleep in a bed as comfortable as the Kempinski beds! They are amazing and getting out of them in the morning, is a mission! The city tour was great. This is where you really feel Djibouti. The colours, the smells, the people, the small shops and the poverty. Yes, there is a lot of poverty here, but these people are all smiles! The children will come to you asking for money as well as the adults, more so the women, but they show no sadness! It’s quite amazing when you think that we have so much and yet we will always find something to complain about. These people have nothing, but seem content with life. If you start giving out money to one person though, you’ll end up having to give to everyone. Just think about it as you will end up being followed for more.
JUNE 2008, EMIRATES DIVING ASSOCIATION 37