This is SOMALILAND!

I arrived at 9 am but I wasn't able to do a lot of things - first I was really panicky after crossing the border because the Djiboutian officer told me that I can't come back/ they won't let me in (read my previous posts below about the journey). I had to figure out how I can return to Djibouti because that's where I will be catching my flight to Istanbul then to Miami. I couldn't miss it because I have a commitment to Turkey!

Anyway, the only guy who spoke English in the car, Abde Aziz, who also told the driver to wait for me at the border was willing to help with my situation. Somaliland is a very strict Muslim country and all women are covered but sadly I didn't have my luggage with me so the clothes I had were borrowed and I was hesitant to buy them because it's VERRRY expensive here in Djibouti. Anyway, I had to put my hair up and used long sleeves to cover my arms and a pair of trousers for my legs but my hair wasn't covered! I thought I was fine, later on, I realized that covering my hair was a must and I should be wearing a long dress instead.

Anyway, Abde Aziz helped me look for a taxi to show me around town. I couldn't go down of the car because of the way I dressed. It's Friday and it's a Holy day for them which means all establishments were closed. I didn't know how I could get a flight ticket back to Djibouti or if there are even flights for that day or yesterday.. we went to the airport and after passing 5 security checkpoints, they didn't let us in! Just lucky to meet an immigration officer outside who called someone then called another one who eventually told us to go to the Air Djibouti office in town (they are off day but he was willing to help me).. off we went and that guy booked me a last-minute flight for yesterday (Saturday) afternoon for only $155! I felt relieved and on Friday afternoon, my taxi driver drove me around town. I wanted to go to the Laas Geel which is a UNESCO heritage site but there are government permits to be requested.. everything here in this part of the world is restricted! 🙏 Anyway, I wasn't able to do much while on my 3-day journey but all I can say is that it is safe and the people are nice which is really contradicting what the Djiboutians told me. It's very cheap there but sadly you'll know it's a less fortunate country, no proper paved road, not a lot of buildings and establishments, a lot of beggars and stuff like that but they are nice! They accept dollars

Anyway, I flew back to Djibouti airport and I was interrogated again together with other Somalians and asking me the reason why I went to Hargeisa, Somaliland. It took another hour of waiting and a LOT of questions. I've also noticed that the people here in Djibouti like to shout (esp if they have power) so I shout back then I eventually learned it wouldn't work so I had to act like a young child and just smile! Happy though that Gladsy and Romain were waiting outside and the immigration officer asked Romain for his ID card then they eventually let me go after paying $60 for a 1-day visa on arrival!! On another happy note, when I arrived Ethiopian Airlines finally found my missing luggage after 6 days of waiting!

I will post more Djibouti photos later and I apologize for my typo and grammar as I'm rushing to go to the airport to catch my flight to Istanbul!! ❤️