Hi All,
We have been out of internet contact for what feels like a lifetime, but is, I think (checking diary) only 4 or 5 days! I have 2 other group emails stacked up ready to send in my outbox from those days, they will be going out when the internet cafe opens at 5pm this evening! It is funny how reliant we all are on regular email contact and internet services (banking, email, chat etc) we have been asking at all the places we stay at if internet is available.
Sebha, the town we have been staying in for the last 2-3 days was a bit of a dead or alive place- internet there was almost as slow as the postal service! Ou captain was the only one brave(patient/desperate) enough to attempt to use it -- it took him 15 mins to log into his internet banking! Arrrggghh!! The pressure has really been on work-wise - not that you'd probably gather that from my other emails regarding the airborne antics. Those flights are the transits between work places - most of our work is on the ground. Not too exciting - most airfields are remarkably (or should that be un-remarkably?) similar - flat, empty, windy and slow moving. We have been really chewing through the work fast, working on the airfield, generally from 8:00am until 5:30pm to, sometimes, 8 or 9:00pm, then having a quick tea and spending another 2-3 hours writing and printing reports for the days inspection. There are perks, but it gets pretty tough with 1 day for every 6 or 7 worked.
Libya is definitely a crazy place. I got offered a job yesterday (Saturday 18th Nov) - as an Avionics Tech/Engineer - yes, just like the Air Force - servicing aircraft electronics/instuments for the Libyan Air Force of all people! The offer was quite good: 4,000 (yes, Four Thousand!) Euro's per month, plus 500 Libyan Dinar (NZ$500 -- would easily pay for a months accomodation, food, etc) That is a crap-load of money! I was quite flattered. They were also serious! As they say, skilled, experienced staff are hard to find - especially here! They understand the costs of getting clowns in -- apparently, they hired a foreign company(Moroccan) to service their fleet of trainer aircraft. All of the aircraft suffered enine failure after only 6 to 8 hours of flight!! Ouch! A number of the 200 -odd aircraft fleet stuffed!! Expensive to get that sorted out.
Not for me however - I am away from Freya enough already without living overseas for months/years on end!
Nice flight across the Sahara from Sebha to Ghadames - I am really hooked on sandy deserts now! It has taken me 36 years to finally get near one and I love it! I have to read on the plane or else I end up taking photo's every few minutes/seconds.
Ghadames (pronounced. Geh-dahm-ess) is world famous for it's old city (protected with restoration funded by UN now). We had an afternoon to wander through it. Apparently (according to The Lonely Planet) There were 6,600 people living in old Ghadames in 1984 and 4 years later, only 1 family was left - the government here, built a new town for them (looks quite decent too), so that the old one could be preserved and restored. It is unique in Libya--possible the world. There are something like 7 streets, all built up and very narrow, with the streets all covered. to keep the sun off, with light wells leading up to let a little light in here and there - very atmospheric. Odd waling through an empty town, with the odd local, riding a pushbike though or strolling around. Water was from a natural, geothermal spring, supplkying water for all the usuals, plus plenty left over for irrigation of small gardens built into the town. Everything is constructed of mud bricks and painted white with gypsum. A bit higgelty-piggelty (quick question; what the hell is a "piggelty" ? a 3 legged piglet?) Nothing is square, vertical or level, but the place was apparently 3,000 years old when the Romans arrived here(!) so it can't be too shabby eh?
--Pics in next email
We are staying in the most romantic place I have ever been - Dar Ghadames ("Home of Ghadames") - 4 star. Bereber style - cool tiles, sandy coloured. Squared off, concrete everything, lovely arches. Very relaxing - I will have to take a pic of my room. Typical - stay somewhere romatic - no women, staying with workmates! That must be ironic. Oh well, the luxury is nice for once. And best of all. It is as clean as clean as clean! Something new for us here in Libya!
Went out to the sandy dune the last couple of nights. Stunningly beautiful. Sand on bare feet - dry, non sticky sand. Very nice. Climbing 150 ft dunes, drinking tea in camel hair tents with the locals and eating bread baked in a hole in the sand! Bliss! We have had 2 half days off now, due to delays. It has been nice recharging a little and de-stressing.
Anyway, better go.
take care,
Dale/BoriS
Happy New Year! All the best for 2007 - It's finally here.
