Well, I think I would happily settle for Xamar "heat"; compared to mid June in JB when heat and humidity combines. "dib baa loo noqonaya" was the 2000 Arta lyrics, things have come back full circle now with people rushing back home and spiralling land prices.

Just upload the pics on Flickr, then get the ubb code for each pic to post it here (a code for each size option exists). Or get an anonymous account on Flickr and I'll post them for you. As for Borama, very green with tall grass and cold climate; the change was unbelievable when out of the plane from xeebta as it's close to Jabuuti (whose Somalis are largely from Zeila and Borama areas etc). Very welcoming, calm and patriot locals too, many Somalis settled there indeed. Borama, jabuuti and Gabiley (Arabsiyo, up to W Hargeysa etc) are very local to each other as families are split accross towns.

I meant people used to beach, nature in the South etc find Hargeysa less appealing and more costly (and they are right in many ways). Jabuuti is an alternative but now it looks like Xamar will become the magnet for all Somalis again. Norf, sounds great mashallah; of course, you'll be given inshallah a royal welcome when in xeebta (albeit you are almost as local as me). Jabuuti is much bigger than many states such as Singapour Juxa, it's another misconception that the place is tiny (for what?)... I guess you've seen the airport area at least; much change so quickly a bit like Hargeysa.

wlc back Juxa; I too dream of Solers settling there either in Jabuuti, Hargeysa or even Xamar; realised it's hard for ex Xamaraawi to stay for long term up North (fully understand beach, nature's appeal, nostalgia etc); anyway seems like all the wadaados are shipping the kids or planning to move back soon full of hope. Expect islamic schools to spring up (interesting business wise too). ps Noted Norf; and good to see you fit, it depresses me at times to see I no longer run a hour daily without noticing it (it was much more pleasant too with the early morning Jab beach or Loire river on the side near Paris).

There is this BBC horizon clip about very short but very intense bouts of exercise (three times 20 sec of maximal effort; thrice a week), ie 3 min a week, being enough for many; generally, you just have to minimise sitting and every movement counts as exercise (hours of gym is not a must normally, use stairs, walk and help around).

There is no decently funded and managed public healthcare in the neighborhood apart from Jabuuti making it a national priority with 15% of public budget ($100 per capita) but struggling yet to get value for money (even the French military hospital haven't got full range of services and many opt for value Indian clinics, Dubai etc for IVF, cancer etc). If you think about it the bare basics of a doctor for 10 000 heads costs only $5-10 per head and generics are affordable; WHO recommend $20 of minimal spending per head in primary care but even that bar is quite "luxurious". If you think about it lives and suffering register as a very low priority for the elites (big traders, politicians etc)...

Indeed, I barely can wait Isha these days; green tea and park exercise very early (no beach for a run). So JB, everyone is so fully loaded, good chocolates ayaan kuugu dhiibi lahaa the sister (yaa og waxaad jeceshahay) good tea was the only requirement for the cousin. Paris for the post xmas soldes, few clothes before going back home...but then another delay.

Inshallah khayr Norf. So Ngonge, hibernation mode are we in; Thierry is due this Sunday but we let you select any venue if you guys could join in.

Just seen this when helping out at the rest., we thought it was Gaalkacayo; it's just fantastic. In Jabuuti, patients from all over E. Africa are treated and represent a major part of the public health expenses (15% of public spending). Just learnt directly this time that the emirates treat cancer patients for free ($50 000 savings for each course of injections, with an aunt treated there)!

Glad you had great wlc there Juxa and hope you'll check Arabsiyo too. I was keen on inviting T. to Jab but it depends on his schedule; maybe we should get a travel/tourism agency with full package on the side come to think about it. People assume the place is cool but expensive, which it is not with little planning and new power etc projects. I have some good ideas etc but badly need someone who can follow through ; someone positive, more persistent who can motivate me. ps: books printing, reliable raw honey, appropriate technology irrigation, mini plants for bricks etc are sorely lacking and lucrative business areas Chimera.

Djibouti's plants seeds for human capital with a new Islamic finance institute “We are committed not only to the regulatory aspect of the business but we are also highly aware that the industry will not grow if the relevant human capital is not available and in view of that, we are also working on the establishment of an Islamic finance institute where students will take up at an early stage Islamic finance as a subject of study,” H.E. Djama M. Haid, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti, told Islamic Business & Finance in an exclusive interview. Islamic finance classes are already taught at the University of Djibouti[...] “Djibouti has a strong banking market which is open to the world, particularly East Africa. Djibouti offers a strategic passageway for Islamic finance to penetrate the African market. Djibouti guarantees access to Africa, in particular the vast COMESA market.” Djibouti Conference Focuses on Africa David McLean, CEO of IBSA 2012, said, “As a result of the recent policy revisions, regulatory changes and economic reforms in key markets on the continent, Africa has now been re-positioned as the third fastest growing region in the world, after the Middle East and Asia. The resurrection of Africa’s trade ties with the rest of the world has resulted in an increased international investor interest in the region.” He continued, “The rapid expansion of the major economies in the region has also resulted in the need to invest heavily in developing vital infrastructure. These factors highlight the tremendous opportunity that Africa presents for the growth of Islamic finance and also indicate how Islamic finance can play a key role in catalyzing economic development in the region.” The governor of Djibouti’s central bank, Djama M. Haid, will be making the inaugural speech at the event. Commenting on the Central Bank’s involvement, he said, “Islamic finance is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and high growth areas of the global financial sector.” “With the total assets of Islamic banks globally hitting the $1 trillion mark at the end of the 2011 and with the industry expected to grow to $2 trillion by 2015, financial centers outside the traditional Islamic markets of the Middle East and Southeast Asia are increasingly positioning themselves to play a vital role in the further development of the Islamic finance industry and to attract investments that are sharia-compliant.” The much celebrated Somali brand's bank division: Dahabshil Bank International

Weey ilbaxeen, there is yemeni restaurant with their great dishes "fata moos" etc, plus prices are quite higher than before; still remember the "salaad tooni" with finely diced meat instead of tuna, back in around that night of 14th July 1996 when I went to this central one along abtiyo after arrival (baar ubax?) . That oday convo went like this: wadamadaa their ending is stan, Pakistan, afghanistan, uzbekhistan etc (im too much into past and can have such detailed memory)

lol Che, one has to keep up morale; plus, change is very real these days.

wcs Juxa, glad you felt inspired and yes as done by many, it would be great to relocate as I'm sure people will be welcoming in Hargeysa. Did you not try Djibouti, it's changed a lot too. So Ngonge, remember that Lebanese catch-up promise, we have new outfit here or a Turkish would do too as per Norf; maybe T. and his crew will tag along too. Just be ready guys and I'll arrange the rest, whether it be here or up there. Gotta go now, salat time.

Egyptair, a Star Alliance, the first and top African Airline, has just joined other international players such as the Turks, Flydubai etc.(source) Dolphin Services offers boat trips to Arta beach so you can snorkel and swim with the whale sharks New residential areas of different standings are springing up with Egyptians, Kuweiti (Locrete factory for quality low-cost units), Qataris and other investors; meanwhile, historic buildings are under renovation such as the old presidential palace through world renowned architects (open to invited guests during Eid parties etc):

^macmacaanle they call it around there. Just came back from the rest., crazy staff and customers; highlight was A. Harari coming and me congratulating him about ina fardoole camel farm reportage in Hargeysa; might catch him in Jabuuti where he's due this month.

Nooga soo deemi, I provide the contacts/supplies/etc Some rent for $800-1600 a month for a place valued at $40 000: you have plenty of safe inv. opp.

asc, lol keega iibiya. Helping out this restaurant makes for freebies and crazy fun convos. Come to think about it there is a market for cafes inside residential areas, eg the sprawling Haramous, back in Djibouti; afternoon trip to more central areas is a bit far without the car. Where is Ngonge when you need him, can't he have a word with dahabshiil adeer duale ?

Islamic Finance to Capture Growth Opportunities in Africa [...]"The opening keynote session also featured H.E. Khaled Mohammed Al-Aboodi, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB), Saudi Arabia and Jaseem Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) who discussed how Islamic finance can act as a catalyst for a new wave of economic development in Africa and how Islamic finance can mobilize trade and investment flows into Africa. A key highlight of IBSA 2012 was the high profile Power Debate session led by internationally respected CEOs and industry leaders. Moderated by Etsuaki Yoshida, Director and Senior Economist at Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the session analyzed the key challenges to be overcome to achieve significant growth in the Islamic banking and finance industry in Africa. The power debate featured Dr. Suleiman Walhad, Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshil Bank International; Asad Aziz Ahmed, Managing Director of Gulf African Bank; Basel A. Haj-Issa, Chief Executive Officer of Saba Islamic Bank; Omar Ibrahim Egal, Chairman of Salaam African Bank; Cassim Docrat, Director of DDCAP (DIFC) Limited and Ali Mohamed, Head of Shariah at QInvest. Commenting on the opportunity and challenges for Islamic finance in Africa, Dr. Suleiman Walhad, Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshil Bank International said that “Africa has a population climbing to some 1 billion people and a substantial number of the continent’s citizens are Muslims. (source)

Apart from Ports and Telecoms hubs among the top in Africa, with constant new additions, new big schemes in tourism complementing the new airlines such as FlyDubai or Turkish Airlines are underway too, concomitant with the construction boom: Djibouti unveils its touristic ambitions "The government will also launch in 2013 with the support of the World Bank, an extensive program of enhancement of the coastal zone, based on the one developed by the Egyptians in Sharm el-Sheikh. It also invests in the creation of a center for eco-tourism around an internal network of camps that will emerge by 2015." Africa eyes Islamic finance "Africa is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for investments that are Sharia-compliant," said summit organiser and managing director David McLean. "Africa has now been re-positioned as the third fastest growing region in the world, after the Middle East and Asia. "Over the last decade, trade between African countries and the rest of the world has grown significantly, with economic linkages with the Middle East, in particular, strengthening further," he said. "However, the Islamic finance industry is still in its infancy on the continent." OIC to hold session in Djibouti to discuss developments in Myanmar

So Che, the "burqa clad regiments of illegals" did a fine job in OH. Another strategy next may be to relocate some down to FL to ensure a double whammy when needed

Actually, K Rove just announced that a very close call deserves a recount in OH at the Boston HQ, as per the BBC. I guess regiments of "illegals sneaking in to vote back Hussein O" in a swing state didn't go down that well

Had to deliver supplies to and help the restaurant all day again; all the rest is easy compared to dealing with and separating not so grown grown-ups. Couldn't believe this morning I got an appointment booked for tomorrow at the consulate (it was weeks away last time). Wanna test drive the Hilux in the wilderness before it gets hired. ps the GTZ construction reference centre in Ethiopia seems a success from the local buildings...wish the germans were as hepful with us.

Rural production such as milk is left out of GDP, which do double the figure; so is the huge informal sector etc. Nothing about the WB or IMF is the definitive truth, hence experts revising the concepts, mesurations etc.

Sheraton Kempinsky Spa_Suite by pdf 77, on Flickr