Along the tarmac road that leads to northern state and at the milestone 210km north of Khartoum lies remains of a restaurant. The name refers to a wadi (seasonal water course) in which one day ostriches were roaming. Three years ago it was our favorite stop despite the fact that it was already deserted at that time, but at least there was a small kitchen and a shade under which we can rest and eat our take away food, lite fire to drink tea or coffee. Below its bamboo and acacia branches canopy we welcomed the famous Sudanese poet Mohamed al Maki Ibrahim and Al yas Fath Al Rahman. Now we are hastily trying to document its demise whenever we pass by.

The asphalt road that connect Omdurman with the Northern State crosses hard desert lands of central Sudan which was once poor savanna. for long time this area up to the already known desert of Bayuda has been treated as desert and devoid of any signs of life.