south sudan: juba
Ok Auntie Barb, this post is for you. To demonstrate that I do, in fact, have familiarity with the shift key: for a limited time only (this post in other words), I will actually capitalize my sentences correctly. Next post, normal services resume.
Juba, the capital city of the newest country in the world - South Sudan. The city has made great progress in the last few years, now boasting paved roads within most of the center (no, they didnt have any 5 years ago) and a fountain. Actually, 2 fountains. This is a view of the whole of Juba...
Though some roads are not yet paved...
What Juba does not boast is a proper airport. there is one under construction. In the meantime, the old airport is, I believe, the worst airport of all time. Its a big room with a regular size door on each end and 3 or 4 major flights arriving at the same time. The bags are thrown through a hole in the wall and accumulate in a pile in the middle from which it is near impossible to reach without kicking biting and elbowing little (but highly aggressive) old ladies who seem to be importing heavy machinery parts. And if you do manage to reach it, it is definitely impossible to leave because of the press of bodies trying to get their luggage. There was even a fight between one of the passengers and the customs officials.
As if all that wasnt enough, one of our bags was left in Khartoum so it required several elbowing excursions to confirm this. The bag did come 2 days later so I had the opportunity to hone my elbowing technique!
Because Juba is developing rapidly there are always original solutions everywhere. I saw one guy dragging huge steel rebar on the ground behind his motorbike. Actually anything can be carried on a bike...
Last time we were here they were constructing an office and shipping building. This was completed, but now things have changed abit and they no longer need the shipping building, so now it is being converted into a dining and kitchen building. In addition, 8 new residence rooms are being built. This is kind of a pilot project for the society, as its being built out of shipping containers. Since everything is so difficult to obtain, the idea is that its shipped in with everything needed inside and then erected on location. Since there is a roof above and drywall will be mounted on the outside and inside, it will not look like a shipping container when done and I think they are going to be awesome. You can see it taking shape here
In this picture you can see the existing office building to the left and out internet satellite dish.
Already the 2 couples permanently here on construction are living in containers converted to residence and they are pretty cool (since they are air conditioned they are cool metaphorically as well as in reality). You can see this residence in the left hand side of this picture...
We also climbed the mountain that rises out of a flat landscape directly behind bethel - Jebel Kujur, or mountain of the witchdoctor. This time we did the climb in the evening and got to see the lovely sunset that is usually hidden behind the mountain. I leave you with some of the sunset pictures.
Juba, the capital city of the newest country in the world - South Sudan. The city has made great progress in the last few years, now boasting paved roads within most of the center (no, they didnt have any 5 years ago) and a fountain. Actually, 2 fountains. This is a view of the whole of Juba...
Though some roads are not yet paved...
What Juba does not boast is a proper airport. there is one under construction. In the meantime, the old airport is, I believe, the worst airport of all time. Its a big room with a regular size door on each end and 3 or 4 major flights arriving at the same time. The bags are thrown through a hole in the wall and accumulate in a pile in the middle from which it is near impossible to reach without kicking biting and elbowing little (but highly aggressive) old ladies who seem to be importing heavy machinery parts. And if you do manage to reach it, it is definitely impossible to leave because of the press of bodies trying to get their luggage. There was even a fight between one of the passengers and the customs officials.
As if all that wasnt enough, one of our bags was left in Khartoum so it required several elbowing excursions to confirm this. The bag did come 2 days later so I had the opportunity to hone my elbowing technique!
Because Juba is developing rapidly there are always original solutions everywhere. I saw one guy dragging huge steel rebar on the ground behind his motorbike. Actually anything can be carried on a bike...
Last time we were here they were constructing an office and shipping building. This was completed, but now things have changed abit and they no longer need the shipping building, so now it is being converted into a dining and kitchen building. In addition, 8 new residence rooms are being built. This is kind of a pilot project for the society, as its being built out of shipping containers. Since everything is so difficult to obtain, the idea is that its shipped in with everything needed inside and then erected on location. Since there is a roof above and drywall will be mounted on the outside and inside, it will not look like a shipping container when done and I think they are going to be awesome. You can see it taking shape here
In this picture you can see the existing office building to the left and out internet satellite dish.
Already the 2 couples permanently here on construction are living in containers converted to residence and they are pretty cool (since they are air conditioned they are cool metaphorically as well as in reality). You can see this residence in the left hand side of this picture...
We also climbed the mountain that rises out of a flat landscape directly behind bethel - Jebel Kujur, or mountain of the witchdoctor. This time we did the climb in the evening and got to see the lovely sunset that is usually hidden behind the mountain. I leave you with some of the sunset pictures.
This is Russell - the fearless Aussie assistant construction overseer. You can see how fearless he is by how he isnt even scared of grasping the sun itself.
Monica, one of the young sudanese sisters who climbed up the mountain with us
