Assab, Eritrea

Drinking at a port

When you port in, you are supposed to show your flag on your right, their flag on your left.
It was when I arrived at Assab, Eritrea.
"Put the flag down!", Suddenly I was surrounded by securities with a rifle.
I did'nt understand what they really meant.
But I followed them in my hurry.
I asked the guys why I have to put the Ethiopia flag down.
"Shut up or you'll be gun down!", He did'nt even answer me.

I tried the kind ropehandler next.
According to him, they have been fighting against Ethiopia for 30 years, and several thouthand people has been died.
And now, it's independent in the name of "Eritrea Republic"

I've never heared of it in Japan.
I think most Japanese people know of Ethiopia but Eritrea Republic.
In a way, we hardly know of the Civilwars.
All the Japanese mass-media don't pick the Middle-Eastern or African topics so often, much less the Middle-Eastern Civilwar.
Comparing with them, we know so much about the U.S. or European countries.

Pointing each countries on a map is so easy, but knowing what's going on in each countries is not easy.
Because, the Earth is not to change but the World is always changing.
The World is too huge to know.

Back to Sailing around the world alone.
GO TO HOMEPAGE