Puntland: Bosasso – Jabir Plaza Hotel
The Puntland trip came to an uncomfortable stalemate after the local immigration authorities got seriously perplexed by our short visit and decided to basically limit any further exploration to being locked in the hotel until our departure flights. “Why did you come to Puntland? Are you journalists? Are you here to find out about our fisheries and cattle? What is your business? Why are you here for such a short time? Tourists don’t come to Bosasso – why are you here really? Why would you wanna visit Somalia – tourists don’t come here” – and so on and so forth the entire evening – almost an interrogation. So while stuck at Jabir Plaza Hotel – the premier hotel for Bosasso – we enjoyed its Vegas-like atmosphere of fluorescent-lit rooms and hallways, weirdly decorated and lit rooms, and good restaurant.
