Comments on: Visit Somalia!

Visit Somalia!

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:10:50 -0800

Visit Somalia! Okay, so it has no government that is recognized by another country. It has a provisional parliament, though - but they usually opt to convene in another country's capital, over 600 miles away, out of fear. But hey, look at the bright side: They've got a minister of tourism, and he'll do his best to make sure you won't be kidnapped. No guarantees, though - it can still happen.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:12:02 -0800

Previously discussed: (1) (2)

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:12:33 -0800

(inspired by a BBC World Service item on the subject)

By: brain_drain

brain_drain — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:15:46 -0800

The Economist article reads almost like an Onion piece: "Tourists can still go and see the former beautiful sights," [the tourism minister] says. "The only problem is they're all totally destroyed."

By: clevershark

clevershark — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:17:12 -0800

Seems about as attractive as a Baghdad holiday timeshare or a trekking journey through Yemen.

By: BinGregory

BinGregory — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:36:52 -0800

Check out a very nice weblog by a woman doing volunteer work there: Inside Somaliland It isn't easy creating a consensus government out of pure anarchy, but Somalia may get there. Inside Somaliland has a lot of useful information about reconstruction efforts and ways to help out. Plus pictures of food and stuff for the tourist in you.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:40:02 -0800

Excellent link, BinGregory, thanks.

By: BinGregory

BinGregory — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:47:13 -0800

Of course,by there I meant Somaliland, not Somalia, but it was all one place once upon a time, so you know what I mean.

By: zaelic

zaelic — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:47:58 -0800

Ex-colonial regimes that were ruled by the British Empire usually have well established Judicial and University Systems. The French ex-colonies have well-established arts and and huge and unwieldyadministrative traditions. Ex-Spanish and Portuguese colonies have a huge Catholic Church apparatus. But have you ever noticed that ex-colonies of Italy tend towards having no percievably funtional government at all?

By: maxreax

maxreax — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 18:49:31 -0800

But have you ever noticed that ex-colonies of Italy tend towards having no percievably funtional government at all? To be fair, most of the Mediterranean region was a "colony" of "Italy" about two thousand years ago.

By: Frank Grimes

Frank Grimes — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:24:08 -0800

I was in northern Kenya this summer, not to far from the Somali border and strayed from the beaten path. I saw a huge Bin Laden poster that made me a little nervous about the area that I was in. The coast there is beautiful.

By: mulligan

mulligan — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 21:36:40 -0800

Kidnappings in Somalia still happen. Just today, a UN worker (also, happens to be American) was kidnapped.

By: milkwood

milkwood — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 02:14:06 -0800

I support a charity in Somalia. It is an NGO run entirely by women. If you make a donation they GUARANTEE that 100% of the donation goes to the needy. Have a look at www.saacid.org

By: rhymer

rhymer — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 05:09:31 -0800

Extreme tourism, eh? Just remember no-one back home'll be impressed if your show-off holiday gets you killed.

By: the cydonian

the cydonian — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 06:32:09 -0800

I'm an avid Lonely Planet fan, always make it a point to check on their latest editions, and in the ThornTree postings before I backpack to any region, so I'm fairly used to their brand of realistic humour. Still, couldn't stop laughing when I read this:

A traveller to Somalia is spoilt for choice in the number of things that can go wrong.

Oh boy. *wipes tears*

By: Atreides

Atreides — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 08:12:56 -0800

Arrr! Ye forgot thar pirates! Avast!

By: rusty

rusty — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 08:59:21 -0800

maxreax: So we can expect Somalia to be in good shape by around 4006? Book your flight now and save!

By: rusty

rusty — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 09:01:21 -0800

Also, I forsee an excellent market for souvenir t-shirts that read "I visited Somalia and all I got was not killed." Well, a so-so market anyway.

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 09:06:58 -0800

Oh, man, rusty, that should have been my page title.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 09:43:00 -0800

So if you've got no money to pay off the kidnappers, you just die. Huh. So....why are there somalis living there?