On My Way Home For The Third Time

Just sitting in Amsterdam airport waiting for my flight to TO, cannot wait to get home this has been a short stay but has been the most stressful for a number of reasons and I find that I am at my limit so a good refreshing break at home is just what I need. I am not sure if I will be coming home again until the end of the mission which is 17Dec. I don't have much days left to take off only about a week and with one day on each end needed for travel, not sure if it makes sense. Anyways should be home at about 3:45 pm today, that's home time... can't wait!! oh yes I said that already.

It Was Great Plan...

Then the wheels just fell off...

We planned a patrol to a village called Rumamier about 30 kms southeast of Abyei and the path that you see is what the road is like all the way. About halfway the left rear wheel of the car just fell off. I was with an Aussie, a Dutch and three Sudanese JIPU officers. The Dutch UNPOL and myself decided to walk back to the main road which was about 8 kms through the bush and passing about three little villages to meet our recovery team. Well the recovery team came a totally different way through the bush and we never saw them. Instead we met a lot of really friendly people in the villages and I got a nice sun tan on the way

HELP!

This is the road we broke down on.

Our new friends in Wun Kum village.

We got some suprised looks from locals who have never seen westerners walking in these parts. The locals walk everywhere they go basically.

The kids in Majak had a good laugh at us. We stopped here for a bit of a rest.






Two hours later we finally got to the main road and the village of Banton. Everyone was dying to get their photos taken.

We Participate in Air Patrols Now in Abyei

How cool is that?!

This is the horse we rode in on.

Mount up!!

Away we go!!

We patrolled for about an hour looking for violations of the peace agreement. No northern or southern forces are supposed to be in the Abyei Area. If they are it is considered a violation and it is reported. This was a quiet patrol.