Somalia: Landing in Mogadishu

How does it feel to be landing in the most dangerous country in the world? Definitely tense! You are gripping your seat handles, tightening the belt, and watch out for incoming missiles. Plus, you are likely the only non-Somali in the plane. The plane takes a wide swing over the beautiful Indian Ocean coast and then descends almost parallel to the shore with insane views of amazing yellow sand beaches and deserty landscape beyond. Soon the airport appears and you make a smooth landing. The airport is right on the coastline and forms the core of the “green zone” – super barricaded and reinforced against any potential attack. The number of checks and barriers and checks and more barriers is just mind blowing, as is the sheer amount of cement blocks and walls. And that’s just on the way out of the terminal and into the still “green zone”.