Few places in the world are as dangerous to travel in as Mogadishu, Somalia, as clan-based warlords run the show with a fierce amount of personal firepower. With no central government since 1991, the only rule is the rule of the gun, and it seems incredulous that amidst the chaos, the city can function at all.
Understandably, foreigners are rather thin on the ground, and the few that do stray into this battleground can stick out like a sore thumb and very quickly become a prized trophy for some warlord to barter with. Only the very well informed dare attempt a trip to ?The Mog?
The latest report from Polo?s Bastards tells Adventure Travel-Writer Sean Rorison?s account of his time in Mogadishu in January 2006. Rorison explains the logisitics of moving around the bombed out city, and just what steps are being taken to develop some semblance of a future for the beleaguered Somalian countrymen. Rorison, himself, had to hire his own personal army just to be able to move around the city unmolested.
Rorison writes - ?Ten men with machine guns guard you at every moment once you are outside of your compound, tailing your truck while your guide and driver navigate Mogadishu?s various routes to and from the hotel. Always changing routes, talking on mobile phones to confirm if one route is open or closed, or if daily fighting has shifted territories.?
Polo?s Bastards is primarily an outlet for travel writers who wish to share their opinions, experiences and advice on a site for individuals who might find themselves destined for third-world countries, war zones and out-of-the-way locations not frequented by the backpacking or five-star crowds.
Recent articles on Polo?s Bastards cover such destinations as Northern Uganda, Kashmir, Rwanda and Nicaragua.
