Dinner by the Nile

Juba, S Sudan
Friday, April 27 Evening


I'm happy with my position. My boss looks like george clooney - they call him Raja ... =))

Some of us from the office packed into the SUVs and he started driving. When we pulled through a wooden gate with the sign Mango Camp, I thought we might be visiting some camp that I was to see for the first time. But somehow, the mood in the car was upbeat, so I refrained from asking questions. There's a Japanese dude here, Kazuhiro who seem to be taking all the jokes today.
As we got off the car, Raja asked me to not expect this every day ... which thoroughly added to my confusion.

As we walked into the shaded compound I realized what it was. A restaurant! With a bar! O goodness - a bar around a mango tree! And right that second a mango fell in front of me. I looked up. It was a mangrove cluster. That was the entire restaurant. The outdoor seating was shaded by mango trees that were laden with ripe mangoes that you have to pray don't fall on your clothes. And then Raja exclaimed ... drinks by the Nile! ... and right he was! The non-existent fence of the restaurant was the bank of the Nile. Flowing river, cool shade, smell of mangoes, light breeze and heat without humidity. I swear it was like our aam-baagan (mangrove forest) in Rajshahi. It was ultimate bliss.

As they all ordered drinks, I kept jumping as mangoes kept falling all around me. Grrr ... first those damn matatus and now these mangoes!
:)
The dinner was scrumplicious! Western style buffet from salad to dessert. The Japanese officer was treating. We sat there in the dark and talked until no one could eat anymore. I'm happy with all the 4000 calories that I stuffed myself with.

They told me if I go touch the Nile water, then luck would keep bringing me back to it for the rest of my life.

At this point, I wouldn't mind.