Here's the thing...

Azerbaijan - not a ‘stan’ but could be if it wanted to… I have never set out to produce the definitive guide of anything. It’s an impossible task if you were visiting holiday paradises like Kazakhstan or Turkmenistan. But, I was not. I was visiting Azerbaijan and I had it on good authority that you could see everything that is to be seen in a week and, upon flying in over the Absheron peninsula, it seemed plausible to me. Now, you would not be wrong if you referred to my version of travel tales as ‘skewed’. Coming from Sudan, it is difficult to arrive anywhere else in the world without a sense of euphoric celebration over things like tarmacked roads, running water and electricity. So, when I declared that Azerbaijan was ‘just like heaven.’ My friend couldn't help but agree while dryly pointing out and swerving to avoid (or hit?) a pedestrian and another car simultaneously, ‘but it’s not. It’s Azerbaijan.’ Absheron Peninsula – where pollution goes to die… When you visit –

It was one thing when UN IT blocked YouTube. I could understand that. Then, they cranked it up a notch and killed Facebook. That stung a little bit. Then, they blocked my sister's blog which, I'll give you could be perceived as undermining the UN at times. But now they've gone too far. They've banned my blog. Yes, like I say anything that could be taken as vaguely critical of the UN! It's shocking and it cannot be stomached. Time to march on OCHA IT unit. I'm bringing the torches. I believe that UNDP'ers are bringing the pitchforks. Angry villagers should not be too hard to come by around here. We should have a good sized mob in no time. Oh, you might be wondering how I'm on my blog at the moment...I snuck out to an NGO's compound. God bless the little NGOs.

Let me describe the scene to you... It's 11.30. I've just gotten home from one dinner and then a second dinner. I'm slightly tired and would like to go to bed. Our house has no electricity so it's pitch black. The phone rings... Other person: We understand that the President is dead. Me: That is an unfounded rumour. The President is not dead. I sent an email earlier to that effect. Other person: People are saying that he is dead. Me: Presidential Affairs has contacted us and they assured us that he is alive and well. Other person: He hasn't been on television. Me: There were pictures of him on TV very much alive just this morning and people saw his motorcade driving around Juba last night. Other person: This morning was a long time ago. He should be on TV tonight. Me: He's not dead. I'm going to go now. When I am informed that he is dead you will be the first person I call. Subsequent to hanging up the phone I realised that I actually can&