Thila Transportation

The best way to reach Thila and the surrounding villages is to hire a car with driver for the day - public transportation is scarce, and at the time of writing (2007) it is not quite clear if foreigners are allowed to use it. You also need a simple travel permit, which every driver knows where to get.

We met our driver through the Arabia Felix Hotel - and he really went out of the way to show us around during the day, to help us during the evening (he managed to locate my lost cell phone) and to save us during the night (as xaver had to be taken to hospital). A truly wonderful man, witty and fun, with whom we spent many happy hours.

A former qat chewer (as he said, he had been made to choose between qat and wife), he bugged us all day to try it, listing all the great benefits of it. He did not have much luck...