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Mogadishu is the bomb

I haven’t posted in awhile for good reason. After two cancelled flights, I’m still stranded in Mogadishu, Somalia. My experience has been, well, surreal. I’ve been a guest of honour of the mayor here, been on TV and featured in all the major newspapers, had lunch with generals, and explored the city, outside the green zone, and the beautiful beaches without security (which is considered suicidal here and I couldn’t recommend it for the safety of my readers).

There are no Western Unions, let alone ATMS and anywhere that accepts credit cards. If not for the hospitably and kindness of my local Somali friends, I’d be on the street.

Unfortunately, my time here has not been without incidence. Yesterday, I was on my way to Lido beach when a suicide bomber blew up self up. This was coupled with a major car bomb.. The amount of casualties is still unknown. I filmed the aftermath. Here are some stills. They speak for themselves.

The Car Bomb

Me with what was left of the bomber’s body.

His head. I’d love to know what was going through it moments beforehand.

 

18 Responses to Mogadishu is the bomb

  1. Lika March 2, 2013 at 8:23 pm #

    Lol… Interesting but have you got the flight yet?

    I got the Somali flag a few years ago in France… Very sweet indeed 🙂

    • Naughty Nomad March 2, 2013 at 8:33 pm #

      I got my flag in Djibouti.

  2. Lika March 2, 2013 at 8:30 pm #

    Have you got the flag not “the flight” ^^

  3. G_Global March 3, 2013 at 4:03 am #

    What was going through it moments beforehand? Clearly, the transmission or the steering wheel, or something like that. Ugh.

  4. Johnny Caustic March 3, 2013 at 6:45 am #

    Truly impressive that he managed to decapitate himself and spill his brains from the back of his head yet leave his face fully intact.

  5. david March 3, 2013 at 7:18 am #

    Wow, you are a crazy fuck. Try not to die please..

  6. sirmarjalot March 3, 2013 at 11:39 am #

    Man, curiosity killed the cat…
    As for what was going on in his head – not alot

  7. Bronan The Barbarian! March 3, 2013 at 9:21 pm #

    Holy shit dude! That’s crazy. Looking forward to the full writeup.

  8. rokiroo March 4, 2013 at 10:15 am #

    I was gunna complain about not being able to read the second part of your oman story, but after seeing the bombers head I realised that there are some things in life that can wait.

    Hope you stay in one piece and live to tell the tale.

    PS I must admit that after I saw that guys brains, my interest in hearing flag stories diminished. If I were in your situation, I would figuring out how to stay alive and leaving, not banging.

  9. David March 4, 2013 at 2:02 pm #

    @NN Did you actually see the explosion? How close were you when it happened?

    [Zolo: No, only the aftermath]

  10. shamrock March 5, 2013 at 2:59 am #

    ” I’ve been a guest of honour of the mayor here, been on TV and featured in all the major newspapers, had lunch with generals, ”

    how is that possible? was it the suicide bomber that got you there?

  11. bojangles March 5, 2013 at 7:53 am #

    Keep safe Mark crazy bastard!

  12. Lika March 5, 2013 at 5:12 pm #

    Did you get out of Somalia yet?

    I’m anxious to read your reports about Addis Abeba 🙂

    I think of going back there…

  13. Sid March 9, 2013 at 5:38 am #

    Off the beaten track, for sure.

  14. Boy Toy April 4, 2013 at 10:42 am #

    Wow dude you seriously take it to the limit hahaha 😀

  15. Socialkenny April 5, 2013 at 1:04 pm #

    You really meant it when you said that Mogadishu was the bomb- Literally!

    I’m not the type of dude to travel to hostile places so I salute you for the bravery.

  16. David April 7, 2013 at 11:10 am #

    HI, can you write me how and where you got visa to Mogadishu ? Thx.

    • Naughty Nomad April 7, 2013 at 4:02 pm #

      We got it at the Somalia embassy in Addis Ababa. All we needed was one passport photo and $50. Their email is somaliembassyaa@gmail.com.

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