Turtles, Camels and other livestock

On Tuesday I visited Abaarso Tech School, a secondary school situated outside of Hargeisa that was set up to encourage Somalilander achievement by taking the best and brightest kids from all over the country and giving them opportunities that might not normally be available to them.

It was a really amazing school, the staff were all incredible, very friendly and really enthusiastic. Unfortunately its currently school holidays so I didn't get to meet any of the students, but the facilities were fantastic. What was most impressive though was not the teaching facilities specifically, but the whole rounded approach they are taking. They are setting up the largest wind turbine in Somalia and Somaliland to generate their electricity, as well as planting to make the land more fertile. I also got to play Frisbee, which was really what topped off the whole day!

On the way back, as we sped down one of Somalilands only tarmac roads I happened to spot a small green shell. I quickly asked Hassan the driver to stop so I could take a picture and was amazed to find the biggest turtle EVER!

This is my severely badly photoshopped picture of it

The next day I met a man Abdirashid that I'd been put in contact with. He runs a company called Dahabshiil that offers money transfer services for Somalians (or indeed anyone in the world) wanting to move money internationally. He very kindly gave me some of the best traditional Somali tea I've had. Although its supposed to contain spices I get the impression that most Somali's don't like them, so instead Somali tea just contains huge amounts of sugar.

After the brilliantly creamy tea I was whisked away for a tour of Hargeisa. First stop was the Livestock market where I saw Camels...

These were much more exciting for me than they were for anyone else

These (With black heads) are Somali Sheep which, I  very stupidly pointed out "Don't have any fluff" the reason of course being that in Somalia its a lot hotter than England!

After the livestock market I visited Hargeisa university, Somalilands oldest University, I was actually quite impressed by it! To start with, any University that has turtles as a natural inhabitant is doing well. I also learnt about a tree (The name of which escapes me) which is "The most important tree in the World..... well Somalia". It grows everywhere in Somalia and can be used to make rope, houses, medicine, fences and cream! I'm not sure what the cream is for...

The multi-faceted tree

A turtle loose upon the campus of Hargeisa University!