Sulaymānīyah, Iraq / Kerry Pan / Hong Kong - Cape Town Overland / Sulaymaniyah

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Sulaymaniyah

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Sulaymānīyah, Iraq
35° 33' N 45° 26' E
Sep 06, 2007 13:27
Distance 147km

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Sulaymaniyah

Text written in: English

In Kurdistan, share taxi seems a fast and most safe transportation in Iraq today. Again, I took a share taxi to Sulaymaniyah, another bıg city of Kurdistan. On the way it need to pass through Kirkuk, one of the most dangerous city which is not controlled by Kurdish Forces. I guessed that would be a most unsafe moment for the Kurdistan journey.

When get close to Kirkuk, I stopped by Iraqi Police in one of the check point, (they are belong to the Iraqi Government, not the Kurdish), the Captain who incharge there have no idea how to handle about me, so they they took my passport and bring me to the police station to see their Chief. The Chief called another officer (higher rank then him?!) and that officer talked to me on the phone said that I was not supposed go there alone, the situation around the area was not safe, they have responsibility for my safety, etc..., and asked did I work in Iraq? who I was working to? bababa... I tried my best to let them understand that I was just a stupid crazy tourist who was on holiday and want to have a look to Iraq, and I was going to Sulaymaniyah, not Kirkuk... In the end he said I can keep going but take care by myself because torrerists are everywhere... After having a tea with the Chief(!) they let me go. I felt sorry to other passengers ın the taxı, they wait for me inside the taxi under the hot sun in a hot weather (over 40C!) more than half hour.

Actually the taxi was no needed to enter Kirkuk, but the petrol was cheap there, I guessed. all the drivers like to go there to refill. It was made me feel nerves, I tried my best to avoid people's attention (I my face was 100% foreigner look), I don't want to be a target of torrerists. After Left Kirkuk city, when I saw the Kurdish flag again my feeling was just -- I am safe now, I love Kurdish.

Sulaymaniyah is a nice city, it was more live then Arbil and Dohuk. I walked to the red prıson museum, which was a prison in Saddam Huseyin Time, many Kurdish people dıed there. It was interesting to know more history about this country.

One thing I supprised in Sulaymaniyah was I can buy alcohol everywhere. So, I had my fırst beer in Iraq.