Traveling from Qatar, the richest country in the world, to Djibouti, a third-world African country no matter how you slice it despite its strategic location. The contrast is pretty overwhelming.
The pace of life in Djibouti can be quite confusing for newcomers: It is buzzing in the morning and evening, while in the afternoon the city looks like a ghost town with most shops and markets closed. 吉布提的生活節奏對於我這些外來人來說是頗困惑的：早上和晚上十分繁忙，下午卻像個鬼城，大多數商舖和市集都關門。 @Djibouti吉布提The pace of life in Djibouti can be quite confusing for newcomers: It is buzzing in the morning and evening, while in the afternoon the city looks like a ghost town with most shops and markets closed. 吉布提的生活節奏對於我這些外來人來說是頗困惑的：早上和晚上十分繁忙，下午卻像個鬼城，大多數商舖和市集都關門。 @Djibouti吉布提The pace of life in Djibouti can be quite confusing for newcomers: It is buzzing in the morning and evening, while in the afternoon the city looks like a ghost town with most shops and markets closed. 吉布提的生活節奏對於我這些外來人來說是頗困惑的：早上和晚上十分繁忙，下午卻像個鬼城，大多數商舖和市集都關門。 @Djibouti吉布提Sweating my butt off under 110’F of African heat. 一百一十度的非洲酷熱。 @Djibouti吉布提Sweating my butt off under 110’F of African heat. 一百一十度的非洲酷熱。 @Djibouti吉布提Most things in Djibouti are quite basic. Cracking windshield in a taxi is the norm. 吉布提大多數事物都很簡陋，的士上裂開的擋風玻璃見慣不怪。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Nagad Railway Station. Part of China’s Belt Road Initiative, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Raiway is a Chinese-funded international railway with high-speed trains between Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and Djibouti. This international railway was newly opened in 2018. 埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路。作為中國 “一帶一路”項目，埃塞俄比亞至吉布提鐵路是一項中資的高速列車國際鐵路，於 2018年開通。 @Djibouti吉布提Sheraton Djibouti, the official hotel for the military bases. Countries that have military bases in Djibouti include the US, France, Italy, Japan, and China. You see military personnel here all the time. 吉布提喜來登酒店。吉布提擁有強大的軍事駐守：美國，法國，意大利，日本，和中國在吉布提都擁有軍事基地，不難在酒店看到他們出沒。 @Djibouti吉布提In the second half of the 19th century, European powers competed to grab new colonies in Africa. The French, seeking to counter the British presence in Yemen right across the gulf, constructed French Somaliland (now Djibouti) and so Djibouti was a French colony until 1977 when Djibouti declared independence from France. Nowadays, it is still fairly easy to see French restaurants in the city of Djibouti – You can even consume alcohol, even though Djibouti is a Muslim country. 在十九下半世紀，歐洲大國爭相在非洲搶佔新殖民地，法國試圖對抗英國在亞丁灣對面的也門殖民，而建造了法國索馬里蘭城（現在的吉布提)，吉布提因此成為法國殖民地，直到1977年吉布提才宣布獨立。因此，要在吉布提市找到法國餐館相當容易，而且飲酒是合法的 – 即使吉布提是一個穆斯林國家。 @Djibouti吉布提Yemen is only 20 miles away from Djibouti across the Gulf of Aden, and there are a good number of Yemenite restaurants in Djibouti. 也門距離吉布提就只有隔著亞丁灣的二十英里，因此吉布提有挺多的也門餐廳。 @Djibouti吉布提$1 USD = $178 Djiboutian Franc 一美元可換到一百七十八吉布提法郎。 @Djibouti吉布提While the Statue of Liberty in New York is a gift from France, the Monument of Martyrs at the People’s Palace in Djibouti is a gift from China. It commemorates the martyrs who died for freedom of the Djiboutians during Djibouti’s independence from France. 紐約的自由神像是法國送給美國的禮物，而位於吉布提人民宮殿的烈士紀念碑就是中國送給吉布提的禮物，為紀念那些從法國殖民至獨立期間因爭取自由而犧牲的吉布提烈士。 @Djibouti吉布提While the Statue of Liberty in New York is a gift from France, the Monument of Martyrs at the People’s Palace in Djibouti is a gift from China. It commemorates the martyrs who died for freedom of the Djiboutians during Djibouti’s independence from France. 紐約的自由神像是法國送給美國的禮物，而位於吉布提人民宮殿的烈士紀念碑就是中國送給吉布提的禮物，為紀念那些從法國殖民至獨立期間因爭取自由而犧牲的吉布提烈士。 @Djibouti吉布提While the Statue of Liberty in New York is a gift from France, the Monument of Martyrs at the People’s Palace in Djibouti is a gift from China. It commemorates the martyrs who died for freedom of the Djiboutians during Djibouti’s independence from France. 紐約的自由神像是法國送給美國的禮物，而位於吉布提人民宮殿的烈士紀念碑就是中國送給吉布提的禮物，為紀念那些從法國殖民至獨立期間因爭取自由而犧牲的吉布提烈士。 @Djibouti吉布提Islam was introduced to Djibouti in AD 825 by Arab traders from Southern Arabia, with Hamoudi Mosque being the most iconic building in the African Quarter – Expect the mosque to look very basic, as with most things in Djibouti. Currently 98% of Djiboutians are Sunni Muslims. 阿拉伯南部的商人於公元 825年將伊斯蘭教傳入吉布提，而哈穆迪清真寺是吉布提非洲區最具代表性的建築物 – 這與吉布提其他建築物一樣都是十分簡陋的。目前 98％的吉布提人都是遜尼派穆斯林信徒。 @Djibouti吉布提Djibouti City is divided into two quarters: The European Quarter, laid out on a grid system to the north, and the African Quarter, which spills out to the south. Due to the country’s strategic location and an effort to fight pirates off the coast of Somalia, there is strong military presence in Djibouti. Countries that have military bases in Djibouti include the US, France, Italy, Japan, and China. 吉布提市被分為兩個地區：北部格式街道的是歐洲區，而往南面擴散的是非洲區。由於吉布提擁有重要的戰略位置和為了打擊索馬里海盜，吉布提擁有強大的軍事駐守：美國，法國，意大利，日本，和中國在吉布提都擁有軍事基地。 @Djibouti吉布提Djibouti City is divided into two quarters: The European Quarter, laid out on a grid system to the north, and the African Quarter, which spills out to the south. Due to the country’s strategic location and an effort to fight pirates off the coast of Somalia, there is strong military presence in Djibouti. Countries that have military bases in Djibouti include the US, France, Italy, Japan, and China. 吉布提市被分為兩個地區：北部格式街道的是歐洲區，而往南面擴散的是非洲區。由於吉布提擁有重要的戰略位置和為了打擊索馬里海盜，吉布提擁有強大的軍事駐守：美國，法國，意大利，日本，和中國在吉布提都擁有軍事基地。 @Djibouti吉布提Going from San Francisco to Djibouti is at least a 26-hour journey: First make a stop in the East Coast (Boston), fly across the Atlantic Ocean, make another stop in Doha in the Middle East, and finally a short hop to Djibouti in Africa. After Djibouti the flight continues onto Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. You will likely see a full flight of Somalis going home on the final leg. 從三藩市前往吉布提是一個最少二十六小時的旅程：首先要在東岸的波士頓轉機，橫跨大西洋，在中東的多哈再轉機至東非的吉布提。到達吉布提後航班會繼續飛往摩加迪沙 (索馬里首都) – 所以吉布提航線多數會與索馬里人同坐一機。 @Djibouti吉布提Going from San Francisco to Djibouti is at least a 26-hour journey: First make a stop in the East Coast (Boston), fly across the Atlantic Ocean, make another stop in Doha in the Middle East, and finally a short hop to Djibouti in Africa. After Djibouti the flight continues onto Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. You will likely see a full flight of Somalis going home on the final leg. 從三藩市前往吉布提是一個最少二十六小時的旅程：首先要在東岸的波士頓轉機，橫跨大西洋，在中東的多哈再轉機至東非的吉布提。到達吉布提後航班會繼續飛往摩加迪沙 (索馬里首都) – 所以吉布提航線多數會與索馬里人同坐一機。 @Djibouti吉布提Foie gras (goose liver) and Ethiopian beer at Le Cafe de la Gare, a French restaurant in Djibouti. In the second half of the 19th century, European powers competed to grab new colonies in Africa. The French, seeking to counter the British presence in Yemen right across the gulf, constructed French Somaliland (now Djibouti) and Djibouti was a French colony until 1977 when Djiboutideclared independence from France. Nowadays, it is still fairly easy to see French restaurants in the city of Djibouti – You can even consume alcohol, even though Djibouti is a Muslim country. 法國餐廳的鵝肝和埃塞俄比亞啤酒。在十九下半世紀，歐洲大國爭相在非洲搶佔新殖民地，法國試圖對抗英國在亞丁灣對面的也門殖民，而建造了法國索馬里蘭城（現在的吉布提)，吉布提因此成為法國殖民地，直到1977年吉布提才宣布獨立。因此，要在吉布提市找到法國餐館相當容易，而且飲酒是合法的 – 即使吉布提是一個穆斯林國家。 @Djibouti吉布提 9.75 liters of gas costs $1901 Francs. That’s USD $4.15/gallon. Gas in Djibouti is more expensive than anywhere in the US, probably double the price of what the Midwest is currently paying. Almost everything (except vegetables and fruits) in Djibouti is imported from its neighbor Ethiopia and other countries, thus the high price. 9.75升汽油價格為$1901法郎，那就是每加侖$4.15美元。 吉布提的汽油價格比美國任何地方都貴，是美國中西部汽油價格的兩倍。 吉布提幾乎所有東西（蔬菜和水果除外）都是從其鄰國埃塞俄比亞和其他國家進口，因此價格高昂。 @Djibouti吉布提Djibouti soccer league. 吉布提足球聯賽。 @Djibouti吉布提Riyad Market. Temperature in Djibouti is fairly unbearable in the afternoon, well over 110’F. Even local Djibouti people do not come out during mid-day. Street markets only open in the morning and evening when temperature cools down. 利雅得市集。吉布提的氣溫在下午超過110’F，相當難以忍受，即便是當地的吉布提人也不會在中午現身，市集只會在早晨和晚上沒那麼熱時才開放。 @Djibouti吉布提Riyad Market. Temperature in Djibouti is fairly unbearable in the afternoon, well over 110’F. Even local Djibouti people do not come out during mid-day. Street markets only open in the morning and evening when temperature cools down. 利雅得市集。吉布提的氣溫在下午超過110’F，相當難以忍受，即便是當地的吉布提人也不會在中午現身，市集只會在早晨和晚上沒那麼熱時才開放。 @Djibouti吉布提Riyad Market. Temperature in Djibouti is fairly unbearable in the afternoon, well over 110’F. Even local Djibouti people do not come out during mid-day. Street markets only open in the morning and evening when temperature cools down. 利雅得市集。吉布提的氣溫在下午超過110’F，相當難以忍受，即便是當地的吉布提人也不會在中午現身，市集只會在早晨和晚上沒那麼熱時才開放。 @Djibouti吉布提Riyad Market. Temperature in Djibouti is fairly unbearable in the afternoon, well over 110’F. Even local Djibouti people do not come out during mid-day. Street markets only open in the morning and evening when temperature cools down. 利雅得市集。吉布提的氣溫在下午超過110’F，相當難以忍受，即便是當地的吉布提人也不會在中午現身，市集只會在早晨和晚上沒那麼熱時才開放。 @Djibouti吉布提The Sheraton has good complementary buffet breakfast. 喜來登酒店提供美味的免費自助早餐。 @Djibouti吉布提Goodbye Djibouti. I will forever remember how you pulled a 52’C / 125’F on me today! 再見了吉布提。 我將永遠記得你今天如何贈我一個 52’C / 125’F 炎炎夏日! @Ethiopia 埃塞俄比亞Flying over Greenland’s mountain glaciers between the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, experiencing one of the hottest and coldest places on earth within 24 hours. 飛越在北冰洋和大西洋之間的格陵蘭島，在二十四小時內體驗地球上最熱和最冷的地方之一。 @Greenland 格陵蘭島
