Friends, welcome to a new video. I'm starting the video from the hotel as I can't talk about this in public. I'm currently in Laayoune which is the biggest city of Western Sahara.
You'll know about here if you've seen my previous videos but if you're new to the channel I'll tell you in short. Western Sahara is a disputed & controversial territory lying around south west of Morocco. Till 1975-76 it was under Spanish control & was called Spanish Sahara.
When the Spanish left Morocco, Mauritania & local forces like SADR fought to gain control over the territory. It remains disputed to date. Mauritania backed off but Morocco and Polisario or SADR which is a local force is still fighting to gain control.
But, 80% of Western Sahara's area comes under Morocco's control including the city of Laayoune. Laayoune is an interesting city & the last video was dedicated to it. I can't openly talk about this in public as recording here is problematic.
In fact, it is problematic in Western Sahara as people see you as a spy or agent of a local force. I've to remain careful. This is Laayoune City's view from my hotel.
Here's the drone shot as I don't have an actual drone. Its 9:45 am right now & I've my bus at 10:30 to Dakhla city. It's another city toward the south of Morocco or south of Western Sahara near Mauritania's border.
I plan to cross that border in a day or two & enter another country: Mauritania. Let's quickly get the bags and go down. I've a lot of stuff today as I've food & water in this bag.
Actually, the problem is while I cross the border for Mauritania I've to pay in Euro but I don't have any. So, I'll have to withdraw local currency & get them exchanged to Euro to pay at the border. Not sure if I'll get Euro here & my bus is in half an hour.
I might even get it here but the next city: Dakhla is an even smaller city with a population of 1 lakh. The chances of finding Euro there are even less. I've to get local currency from an ATM to pay for Euro as I don't even have local currency.
Just left with some. Will you hit me. .
. wait! There are many ATMs there.
I saw them yesterday night. I'll withdraw from here. There are ATMs all around.
There're ATMs of 5-6 banks. Hope I get the cash as I don't have time. My biggest fault is coming to this ATM.
My luck is bad today. Its been 3 minutes & it shows transaction in process. I don't think I'll get the card back.
I think the card is stuck as it doesn't take so long. I've pressed cancel and all. I'm done for today.
I came at another ATM as I got my card back from there. I came at this beautiful ATM but didn't get cash here either. This ATM is my last hope.
Good if get the cash or else I won't withdraw cash. It's by Maroc bank. The screen displayed that bank will charge an extra 22 Dirhams ($5.
99) for the transaction. I think I'll be able to withdraw. I've requested for 1500 Dirhams ($408.
39) I can hear the sound. 22 Dirhams would be about ₹176 ($5. 99) It'll charge about ₹180 as fees.
. . I've got the cash so let's hurry.
I've to find a money exchange now. The one I know is a bit far. Even the bus stop is confusing.
I've my bus with CTM(Moroccan bus company) Google shows 2 CTM stations. I'm not sure where I've to go. The second one is nearby so I'll have to enquire there first.
If that's the one I'll go get the money exchanged. But if its not the one then I'll go to the bus station first by taxi. This looks like CTM office & not the bus station.
I won't get the bus from here. Its not from here but I'll still enquire. He asked me to go to the bus station.
There's just 1 bus station with multiple offices in the city. I'll take taxi as bus station is far from here. It took me 40 minutes by walk on the day I came.
I don't have much time today. Taxi! Bus station!
Bus station! Bus! Bus station!
Bus! Yeah! CTM bus.
. . Yeah!
Open the door! Okay! I've kept a bag up & one down.
Let's go! I can't find the bus station on Google. I hope we're going right.
When I walked that day I took the same route. It gets confusing as you can't find places on Google. This part of the city is quite modern.
Look at the crossroads & parks even though its a city in the desert. But they've developed this part well as UN meetings are conducted here. Peace meetings between Morocco govt & other forces are done in this side of the city.
Hence, they've developed it well. I've arrived at the right place. This is the bus station.
He took extra, I'll tell you about it. Here's the bus station. You must've seen it in the last video.
There're soldiers here & if they see me recording I'll end up wasting time in interrogation. I want to avoid that so I'm recording secretly. I've to get bag tag first apart from the ticket.
The bus is in 10 minutes but I've to get bag tag separately. The bag tag is for 7 Dirhams ($1. 91) or for ₹56-57.
Drver should've charged 7 Dirhams ($1. 91) as that's the fixed taxi rate here. But he asked me to pay more.
He took the 10 Dirham coin I had and gave me 5 back. He charged 12 ($3. 27) instead of 7.
He acted smart & as I was in hurry I didn't fight much as missing the bus would be a big loss. I withdrew 1500 Dirham ($408) from the ATM & ₹12,400($148) got deducted from my account. or around ₹12,390.
I hurried for no reason as its time for the bus but it hasn't arrived yet. I thought I would miss the bus I could've gotten the money exchanged but now I'll try getting Euro in Dakhla as Mauritania only accepts Euro & not card or Moroccan currency or their own currency. There's an issue with Mauritania's currency as you don't get it easily.
Its better to have Dollar or Euro as I've heard there's an issue of ATMs. Mauritania isn't ready for tourists. Tourists have recently started visiting.
Will sort it out but let's reach Dakhla first by bus. I came out but the bus hasn't come yet. Its 10:40 while the bus was for 10:35.
Here're my bags. Its quite sunny even though its just 10:30 am. Its very hot here.
This bus just came & I think this is the one for Dakhla. There are many people in line. They're taking out luggage & I'm not getting a chance to keep mine.
There's a lot of luggage. Let's go! I booked the last seat this time for extra privacy.
Not sure which one. . .
I think this. I think this one's closed as it wasn't available while booking too. This is mine.
The bus got empty here & people had electronics like LED, LCD, etc. I think its a 6-7 hour journey. Its 10:50 am.
It is an 8-hour journey & not 6-7 hour. I'll reach around 6:30 pm. I've not booked anything in Dakhla but I'll make hotel bookings now.
We're surrounded by desert all around. I can't see anything in sight except the desert and sand. I'm thinking if the bus breaks down or something happens there's no car or human in sight here.
We're in such a part of the world in Western Sahara. The bus has stopped in city of Lamsheed. Not really a city as that's the desert there with this petrol pump on the side with a restaurant here.
There's not much here. The bus stopped in middle of the desert & I'm wearing this jacket due to the AC in bus. But its too sunny & hot outside.
This place has no name but Google shows it as the fishing village of Le Abir. Up ahead is the Atlantic ocean & cool breeze is also blowing here. Its all a desert.
The whole route is a desert. There's a petrol pump & some shops here, a restaurant, washroom, & water outlet. This is a restaurant with so many stickers.
Bikers would've come here who have put these like Africa Tours, X-ray The biking groups who come here leave behind these stickers like Dakar in Mauritania. Or in Senegal, oh yes! Its the capital of Senegal.
All these are motorcycle groups. There're some more there. This is international rally from Spain, Morocco, Mauritania & maybe Senegal.
This bike group from Amsterdam to Dakar. They've put their sticker. Its nice!
This was the restaurant. People drink tea no matter how hot it is. They were drinking tea even in the hot sun.
Look, these are the roads. There was this road in the middle of the desert & the bus stopped here. Look at this!
A truck is passing on this. Seeing this, imagine how deserted would it be inside. Friends, if you see the map Dakhla is actually a peninsula.
Lying midst Western Sahara & Atlantic Ocean it is a peninsula surrounded by the ocean. It has an area of about 300 sq km with population over 1 lakh. It seems small basis the population but it holds significance historically & is an important city.
We'll know the reason later on. We've turned right from the main road & started off on the peninsula side towards Dakhkla. Its a half hour journey & we'll be in Dakhla city center.
There's desert on both sides but a bit further this is the Atlantic ocean. Interestingly, when we turned right for Dakhla there was a checkpoint. Police was checking all the vehicles.
Luckily, our bus wasn't checked. As this area is disputed & controversial Morocco has placed it flags to show this territory belongs to them & they control it. You would see many water activities.
Dakhla's ocean is popular for water sports. I'll tell you more. This is why property rates very high.
See! Kite surfing, wind surfing, even surfing. I'll talk in detail about Dakhla after I get down.
The view that I can see is very beautiful. This is my first time seeing the ocean & desert together. Wonderful!
New hotel construction has started here. They've the sea view. Something is being constructed every few meters.
This means tourists have started coming to this peninsula. In fact, Dakhla also has an airport. Few people might be visiting Although, their economy depends on fishing & tourism.
I think tourists have started coming here. The city center of Dakhla is about 10-15 minutes away & there're luxury villas in midst of the desert. I'm shocked seeing this.
I'll show you the airport that'll be on my right. There's military all around & the soldiers inspect enroute. We've crossed 2-3 checkpoints but I couldn't show them.
But even if there's no checkpoint they've barracks all around with their soldiers keeping a check. This area is the airport. The main city of Dakhla starts from here.
This can be called their city centre & they've a huge Moroccan flag here to show their presence. The city starts from here. They've decorated the city so much.
The government has spent a lot here. We've entered the city now It's interesting how we didn't have anything in the desert & look at these benches here. This is still fine compared to tiled benches, treadmills, and open gym right next to the road.
We've reached Dakhla. Let's get down. Their bus have disappointed me I went to the station at 10 am & I've got down from the bus now at 8 pm.
Its about to get dark. I've got down in the center. He's selling Pomegranate juice here.
The hotel I've booked is 20-25 minutes away. Let's revise as I'm confused what's happening. I was in Laayoune, a typical city of Western Sahara and it had no tourists.
I didn't see any other tourist except me. People there got scared seeing the camera. From there, we moved through the desert with nothing in close sight.
It was so isolated. Then we moved towards this peninsula called Dakhla. & look how lively this city is.
Even with a lakh people, it is extremely modern. I saw about 50-60 under construction hotels. Luxury buildings, apartments, villas are under construction.
Its interesting to see the shift of locations. The 8-9 hour journey through the desert led to this place. There were military check points enroute.
From an isolated & deserted place we're here in the city. I was afraid if I'll find money exchange but there're many money transfer shops, ATMs, Western Union, etc. I can also see a big store of Orange their sim card company.
Its way more developed than I expected. Friends as I was telling it is a very small city but holds a lot of historical significance. Berbers or Amazigh used to live here who are the native indigenous people of Sahara.
So, they used to live here initially. Then, an Arabs tribe called the Oulad Delim came that belonged to Yemen. That tribe settled here in the 20th century.
So, the Arab came here. Thus the city is now mixed with Arabs and Berber people. Even the Spanish were interested in western coast of Sahara due to its proximity to Atlantic ocean.
Moreover, the Spanish Canary islands aren't far from here. So Spanish came here & exploited this place. Spaniards did fishing here and indulged in trading that impacted the environment; especially marine mammals & birds.
A lot of species got endangered or became extinct due to fishing. Western Sahara was colonized by Spain or was controlled by them from late 19th century to 1975. But, after 1975, when the Spanish left, it came under joint administration control of Mauritania and Morocco.
At present, Morocco controls Western Sahara with about 80% of the area under it. But in 1991, United Nations ordered for ceasefire here. Recently in 2006, most members of United Nations denied to recognize Dakhla as Moroccan territory.
They denied Dakhla falls under Morocco Although, major part is controlled by Morocco with their flags displayed. But some think they're doing so at their own will When Western Sahara used to be Spanish Sahara the Spanish divided this area in 2 parts out of which Rio De Oro was one whose capital was Dakhla city. Hence, the historical significance of Dakhla.
Although their economy depends on fishing but as you saw enroute new hotels & water activities being enjoyed. Thus, tourism has also helped their economy over the past few years. As far as I can tell, it is on the rise.
Water sports like kite surfing, wind surfing surfing & surf casting are popular here. Since it is windy, I am using the mic but if I did the same in Laayoune or somewhere else in Western Sahara police would've caught me to interrogate asking who am I recording here. But this city seems quite open as no one has stopped me yet or has stared at me.
Its quite different from Laayoune. See, here's the ocean. This is the Atlantic Ocean.
My hotel is 400-500 meters ahead on this road. People are sitting here enjoying the ocean in the evening. As I'm late, I missed the sunset but see, here's another construction.
Its so interesting. So much construction is going on. There're less people but how much will they construct?
The view behind me is amazing! Western Sahara is also least densely populated countries in world. We'll talk about it when I'll go to the desert.
Let's go to the hotel first as I'm very close to it. Just 300 meters away! We'll also talk about the prices & it seems expensive than Laayoune.
I think the hotel is somewhere here as location shows on the right. This is a café. The hotel is Villa Dakhla but there was just a wall and this café here.
Here's another Moroccan flag. Are all of the locations incorrect? The café guy told me the hotel is way ahead.
This is on the opposite side of the road. The restaurant was on that side while the hotel is here. Within.
. . or not even 2 minutes within 30 seconds they gave me the room key after seeing my passport.
My room is on the 2nd floor. Let's go to the room & the hotel is expensive. If you remember my hotel in Laayoune had a huge room.
They later gave me the room with city view. That costed. .
. one second where am I! This is my room.
Honestly, the room looked small in photos. I was skeptical that it would be suffocating. There was a wall on both sides of bed in the photo and nothing more.
Maybe they've given me a bigger room. But this room costs I'll tell you for two nights. .
. There's no ocean view from here although it showed sea view while booking. This has the city view here.
There's no ocean view here. And this room for 2 nights cost me about ₹6400 ($76) or ₹3200 ($38. 44) per night in this city.
Double this room's size in Laayoune cost me ₹1600 ($19. 22) or half its price. For 2 nights I might have paid ₹3200 while I'm paying ₹3200 per night here.
This room is half in size from that one. Although Laayoune is the largest city of Western Sahara but it is 3 times cheaper than Dakhla. Dakhla which isn't even the largest city & is more isolated receives more tourists unlike Laayoune, where few people visit.
Mauritania lying just below isn't visited by tourists. No one visits the areas nearby. People come here for water sports due to Atlantic Ocean Europeans might come here by flying to Dakhla airport to enjoy the water sports here.
This seems to be the only reason to make expensive properties, parks with benches, or of luxury hotels. Tourists definitely come even if they're less in number they are rich. Thus, the reason seems to be Europeans who come here.
I'll rest now even though I wanted to explore more but the bus got delayed and it got dark so won't see much. If I go eat then I'll definitely show that. I'll freshen up & rest now.
It's quite hot & humid so I thought to turn on the AC but I just noticed there's no AC here. After paying ₹3500 for a night I didn't get AC in this desert And I'm not in Europe as ₹3500 is cheap for Europe but for this country it is. Its very costly & overpriced.
Look at the condition I saw this in the wash basin and they've the shower faucet here. What're they wanting to do! I'll go at the reception.
If you're in bad mood, You get angry at everything. Especially when you're hungry. Firstly, they've this dysfunctional washroom & the water's getting leaked.
I'll go to the reception in a bit. They don't have AC here. They even charged me so much.
Fridge and all would be high expectations but the last hotel I've come from had fridge, dryer, glass, cups, etc. There's nothing over here. I got this milk but how should I drink it.
I somehow opened the top with scissors but its still not opening. Its written in French, as if I'm in Paris. They use French almost everywhere.
But the arrangements aren't great. How should one drink from this! This has no cap and the packaging will make it all spill.
They also have small packages for milk. Bonjour (hello in french)! Now there is a chill in the air.
I've complained at the reception. There's a restaurant in front. I thought it belonged to this hotel as the name is same.
I'll go eat here as it had good reviews. This is the menu of the restaurant. Its quite fancy with an ocean view and outside seating was reserved.
There menu is just in French and not in English. But its very expensive. costing around 180-400 Dirham ($49-108) There's nothing less than 150-200 here There's camel meat or beef that I don't eat.
I eat chicken, but they don't serve that. They asked me to get the lamb dish & I ordered it, but don't think I'll be able to eat it. I don't eat mutton also much.
I didn't get anything in vegetarian. There's pasta but it has no nutrition just carbohydrates. I'll eat whatever I get now as there's no option.
The food hasn't come yet but they gave me this bread. But what should I eat this with! There's no dip with it.
I am so angry today but I can't say anything. My channel has a family audience. This is what I've got for ₹1500 ($18).
You can see what I got! I feel like leaving this as it is & leaving from here. I couldn't eat this so I'm heading out and get milk from a shop.
I came to this shop in the market to buy milk & water. I've some yogurt with me & I won't need it at night. I had complained for this & when I came back, this had been changed.
But see, this is also broken. How will someone use this! I'm just so irritated now.
You know I don't get angry. Even when I face challenges while traveling I try to see everything positively. If I remain troubled or keep complaining I won't become happy.
You get a different environment while traveling. Maybe its because of the hunger I'm just having milk & yogurt for 2 days. The dinner yesterday wasn't great in the last city.
I just had milk the entire day & had yogurt during the bus journey. I came and drank milk upon coming here. I'm angry from this hotel & restaurant.
I got 1 litre milk will drink this and sleep. I feel like taking them to India & make them taste Indian food. Chapati, chutney, buttermilk, potato stuffed chapati, rajma rice, stew, etc.
They should know of the taste & how tasty vegetarian food can be that they don't even eat. They can get nutrition from vegetarian food too. They served lamb legs drizzled with honey for me to eat.
Am I an animal living in the forest! That costed me ₹1500 ($18) and it had just a bit of flesh. What was that even!
Anyway, lets end this video. I'm too irritated today. But its just a part of travel & shouldn't be worried about.
This keeps happening. How will I enjoy good things if such things don't happen! Value of good experience will become less.
This keeps happening, but let's end the video now. Will explore this city tomorrow although I'm not expecting much. But I'll try finding something.
Thank you so much for watching. I hope you've a great day! Goodbye!
I came at the ocean side at night I'm not sure if you can hear but some women are fighting behind me & it has gotten crowded. You might be hearing the noise. They're aggressively fighting behind.
I've kept the phone in my pocket as look at this crowd due to the fight.
