We looked forward to a nice and comfortable ride up north to Djibouti on Thursday and Friday, unfortunately we crashed into some local bureaucracy, which prevented us to continue the journey through the northern desert of Somaliland. Actually, Betsy, Johan and me were the first white tourist travelling alone through Somaliland territory, since they declared independence from Somalia, 17th of May 1991. Due to a tragic incident three years back, when three tourists were killed, the police commissioners have been on the edge to prevent a similar accident. And that's why we were denied the privilege of continuing alone further north. We managed to pass through seven checkpoints, which was really great.

Even though Somaliland's Police Chief telegraphed instructions to all the check points on the way, our stubborn Chief of Police and City Burgermeister in Boorame village said no way! You are NOT going any further without armed guards. We don't like weapons, specially inside Betsy, so we said "no thanks" and returned back to Tug Wajaale and Ethiopia on Friday.

It might have been a wise decision, as it has been flooding heavily lately and several roads have turn into rivers and have been impassable the last days. The weather is still unstable and although the rainy season should have ended two months ago, it is still leaking heavily from heaven.