In Pictures: Djibouti fisherman

Aurovon · April 23rd, 2006, 12:35 PM

I am a fisherman from Obock, a small town in the north of Djibouti, close to the Eritrean border and one day's boat ride to Yemen across the Red Sea.

My father was a fisherman, and my grandfather was a boat-builder.

My grandfather also worked with pirates, taking Ethiopian slaves to Yemen and trading them for guns.

I catch more than I can sell in Obock, where the market is small.

The nearest other markets are in the capital, Djibouti, and Yemen, but fuel is very expensive, so I don't often make the trip.

Most people in Djibouti don't eat fish.

The two main clans in Djibouti - Afar and Issa - are cattle herders by tradition, and fish is not part of their diet.

But by the sea, we eat plenty of fish with bread and sweet tea. It's an excellent source of protein.

I go out on the sea for several hours a day.

There are plenty of fish, and we mostly use a line, but also a net for sharks or schools of fish.

We also have whale sharks, dolphins, and swordfish.

Djibouti has excellent diving.

My wife, Zabiba, and I have six children - four boys and two girls - called Fatouma, Ahmed, Rage, Mouna, Zeid, and Destan. We had two more children, but they died.

I am a Muslim, and Zabiba is a Christian from Ethiopia. We met when I went on holiday to the Eritrean town of Assab.

I wish that I had more money for my children's education, but college in the capital is very expensive.

My children help me with my work. When they are older, they will look after us.

I also have a garden. I grow watermelons, dates, onions, tomatoes, chillis, and potatoes.

There has been no rain for three years now, but we pump the water from one kilometre away.

The water in Obock town comes by lorry, or is pumped from 20 kilometres away.

The earth here is a bit salty, but we use cow manure as fertiliser.

Other food - flour, rice, sugar, oil, drinks - and clothing comes twice a week by boat from the capital.

There are no tarmac roads into Obock.

Many fishermen fled Obock, during Djibouti's civil war more than 10 years ago.

But there are still about 20 of us, and we sometimes meet in the evenings to chew khat and drink tea.

About a year ago, some men wanted us to smuggle migrants - to Yemen and the Middle East.

And sometimes, we see the other boats when we are fishing - about 12 metres long and full of people. Many people die from thirst or are swamped by waves.

Khat is good to have with friends, but I also use it when I go fishing at night, as it keeps you awake.

Khat is a stimulant that grows in Ethiopia and Kenya. You pick off the leaves, chew them, holding the leaves in your mouth for two or more hours.

The taste is bitter, and it makes you very thirsty, but you can work much harder. It stops you getting tired.

Source

Fatty4life · April 23rd, 2006, 01:38 PM

interesting.

**Geezer** · April 23rd, 2006, 01:39 PM

They should sign up to RD

niroism · April 23rd, 2006, 01:40 PM

That article has really helped me choose my career....I no longer want to be owner of Microsoft...I want to be a fisherman in Obock...!!

Fatty4life · April 23rd, 2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niroism

That article has really helped me choose my career....I no longer want to be owner of Microsoft...I want to be a fisherman in Obock...!!

You'd probably come crawling back to daddy's house within a day.

**JOHNNY K-BAR** · April 23rd, 2006, 01:42 PM

AURO thats my destination In Africa in a few days...

Funny how you did a pic thread for it...

Aurovon · April 23rd, 2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNY K-BAR

AURO thats my destination In Africa in a few days...

Funny how you did a pic thread for it...

Hahha, that is funny. Make sure to have some fish, bread, and sweet tea!

niroism · April 23rd, 2006, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatty4life

You'd probably come crawling back to daddy's house within a day.

U tellin me I cant endure hardship...I once went through 3 weeks without McDonalds...so there!!!

Aurovon · April 23rd, 2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niroism

U tellin me I cant endure hardship...I once went through 3 weeks without McDonalds...so there!!!

Hahha. Man, it would be fun to be a fishermen. Of course it would be tough as fuck. Maybe I should pick up fishing as a hobby.

hindu_heat · April 23rd, 2006, 01:45 PM

i love you aurovon.

DUDE ONE OF THE KIDS IS NAMED, "RAGE" lol.

Aurovon · April 23rd, 2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hindu_heat

i love you aurovon.

DUDE ONE OF THE KIDS IS NAMED, "RAGE" lol.

Hahha, I just noticed that. That's a cool name.

Fatty4life · April 23rd, 2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niroism

U tellin me I cant endure hardship...I once went through 3 weeks without McDonalds...so there!!!

krazii aqqie · April 23rd, 2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niroism

That article has really helped me choose my career....I no longer want to be owner of Microsoft...I want to be a fisherman in Obock...!!

your ex dream was to be bill gates ??

this brings me bittersweet memories when i wanted to be sushmita sen (i was 5)...

Fatty4life · April 23rd, 2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNY K-BAR

AURO thats my destination In Africa in a few days...

Funny how you did a pic thread for it...

you should bring back some Khat on your way back

niroism · April 23rd, 2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurovon

Hahha. Man, it would be fun to be a fishermen. Of course it would be tough as fuck. Maybe I should pick up fishing as a hobby.

Itz actually not that bad...cos u wait hours waitin for a fish to go for the hook and when u do actually catch one and even if it is the size of a gold fish...it is still the best feeling in the world...second only to sex!!

niroism · April 23rd, 2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatty4life

....example of hardhip I have suffered...

**JOHNNY K-BAR** · April 23rd, 2006, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurovon

Hahha, that is funny. Make sure to have some fish, bread, and sweet tea!

I was there once before for a few days...coming back from Diego Garcia...I didnt have time to checkout the "local life" ..Im hoping I get out and about this time.

niroism · April 23rd, 2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazii aqqie

your ex dream was to be bill gates ??

this brings me bittersweet memories when i wanted to be sushmita sen (i was 5)...

No my ex dream was to buy Microsoft from Bill Gates...!!

Funnily enough I wanted to sleep with Sushmita sen as well....this is clearly a sign Aggie...

**JOHNNY K-BAR** · April 23rd, 2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatty4life

you should bring back some Khat on your way back

Kids there chew it all the time..kinda sad..But yea...Im sure American kids need something new to get hooked to..so good idea

$$$$

krazii aqqie · April 23rd, 2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niroism

No my ex dream was to buy Microsoft from Bill Gates...!!

Funnily enough I wanted to sleep with Sushmita sen as well....this is clearly a sign Aggie...

we should discuss this matter in much more detail... my place / yours ??

niroism · April 23rd, 2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazii aqqie

we should discuss this matter in much more detail... my place / yours ??

...datz not right....this is too easy...u r supposed to say No u are not goin to sleep with me...not discuss about it...u r frightening me now!!

Are u feelin well??

Aurovon · April 23rd, 2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOHNNY K-BAR

I was there once before for a few days...coming back from Diego Garcia...I didnt have time to checkout the "local life" ..Im hoping I get out and about this time.

Ah nice, take pics man.

QqQueen BbBee · April 23rd, 2006, 02:37 PM

that is really beautiful actually.

April 23rd, 2006, 12:35 PM	#1
Aurovon Banned Join Date: Mar 17 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 47,710 Reputation: 0 --> Rep Power: 0 Casino cash: $1000	In Pictures: Djibouti fisherman I am a fisherman from Obock, a small town in the north of Djibouti, close to the Eritrean border and one day's boat ride to Yemen across the Red Sea. My father was a fisherman, and my grandfather was a boat-builder. My grandfather also worked with pirates, taking Ethiopian slaves to Yemen and trading them for guns. I catch more than I can sell in Obock, where the market is small. The nearest other markets are in the capital, Djibouti, and Yemen, but fuel is very expensive, so I don't often make the trip. Most people in Djibouti don't eat fish. The two main clans in Djibouti - Afar and Issa - are cattle herders by tradition, and fish is not part of their diet. But by the sea, we eat plenty of fish with bread and sweet tea. It's an excellent source of protein. I go out on the sea for several hours a day. There are plenty of fish, and we mostly use a line, but also a net for sharks or schools of fish. We also have whale sharks, dolphins, and swordfish. Djibouti has excellent diving. My wife, Zabiba, and I have six children - four boys and two girls - called Fatouma, Ahmed, Rage, Mouna, Zeid, and Destan. We had two more children, but they died. I am a Muslim, and Zabiba is a Christian from Ethiopia. We met when I went on holiday to the Eritrean town of Assab. I wish that I had more money for my children's education, but college in the capital is very expensive. My children help me with my work. When they are older, they will look after us. I also have a garden. I grow watermelons, dates, onions, tomatoes, chillis, and potatoes. There has been no rain for three years now, but we pump the water from one kilometre away. The water in Obock town comes by lorry, or is pumped from 20 kilometres away. The earth here is a bit salty, but we use cow manure as fertiliser. Other food - flour, rice, sugar, oil, drinks - and clothing comes twice a week by boat from the capital. There are no tarmac roads into Obock. Many fishermen fled Obock, during Djibouti's civil war more than 10 years ago. But there are still about 20 of us, and we sometimes meet in the evenings to chew khat and drink tea. About a year ago, some men wanted us to smuggle migrants - to Yemen and the Middle East. And sometimes, we see the other boats when we are fishing - about 12 metres long and full of people. Many people die from thirst or are swamped by waves. Khat is good to have with friends, but I also use it when I go fishing at night, as it keeps you awake. Khat is a stimulant that grows in Ethiopia and Kenya. You pick off the leaves, chew them, holding the leaves in your mouth for two or more hours. The taste is bitter, and it makes you very thirsty, but you can work much harder. It stops you getting tired. Source

April 23rd, 2006, 01:38 PM	#2
Fatty4life Should I Consider Retiring??? Join Date: Jul 9 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 38,659 Reputation: 2127733413 --> Rep Power: 212773516 Casino cash: $7252	interesting. __________________ . . .

April 23rd, 2006, 01:40 PM	#4
niroism Should I Consider Retiring??? Join Date: Mar 12 2006 Location: Under your Bed!! Posts: 9,885 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 55 Casino cash: $1770	That article has really helped me choose my career....I no longer want to be owner of Microsoft...I want to be a fisherman in Obock...!! __________________

April 23rd, 2006, 02:37 PM	#23
QqQueen BbBee Should I Consider Retiring??? Join Date: Oct 21 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 6,904 Reputation: 10 --> Rep Power: 44 Casino cash: $1105	that is really beautiful actually. __________________

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