Very Hot in Sudan

The road to Khartoum from the south is good, in spite of the many check points along the way. However, driving in mid-summer as we are doing now, the heat is oppressive at 45 deg C. For the 400 km drive yesterday 9 Jun 2011 it took us the whole day to arrive in Khartoum by 7 pm, with many stops along the way to rest man and machine. Litres of water were consumed to keep the body hydrated. I felt as if hell fire was just being turned on; there is more when we drive through the Nubian desert tommorow.

Very cold at Kilimanjaro

We were at Mt Kilimanjaro on 27 May 2011. Not for doing a climb, but just to experience the climb by 4x4 to our lodge at 2,500m. It was a difficult climb even by 4x4 because the path up there twists and turns; and doing it at night didn't help. The Pajero was on 4Low and I even got bogged down requiring rescue. Anyway, we finally made it to the Kilimanjaro View Lodge to a warm meal and native culture.
The owner of the Lodge, Philip Kilewo, was most pleased to have 35 Malaysians at his Lodge for the first time. So we were entertained to local music and dance that took a little too long for our tired bodies to endure. Finally we found our ways to our assigned huts that sleeps 4 equipped with shower and flush toilets. Unfortunately, there was no hot water, so we all just dry-cleaned. The bunk beds were ok but I slept in my sleeping bag. Even then it was still cold.