Qumma - From Desert to Rose (June 3rd - The CocoWalk)

[paroch]

Hi Nedalezz,

I've not popped in for a while, sorry been busy preparing the tournament!  And hey, you've been busy.

I like the airport, I think what you have built here is a realistic airport for the sixe of your region so far.  And of course you have so much space to build new terminals, taxiways and runways if and when required.

Fursan is really starting to grow now.  I love update 17.  You give us such nice details about the city growth and make it so interesting.  And I particularly like the Presidents Park.  That looks, just sooooo classy.  Picture 7 is really good as it shows just how the city is developing.  I hope Waddles has a bit TV screen so the citizens can watch the progress of Fursan FC in the tournament!

It's interesting to see the difference between your two cities.  Khaymeh looks much more grid like and more modern.  I'm impressed you achieve this difference.  I know it's so easy for all cities in a region to morph into clones of each other!  Your description of what is happening and why is very good.

I look forward to more.

[Ennedi]

Hello nedalezz,

I missed a few updates and now I see a really strong development in Qumma!
New commercial objects look great and I'm sure they will increase further growth of this area.

Berber Dawa has really high planning skills and he has a great vision! It is also very important he takes care about the spiritual aspect of Qumman's life, and it's a great thing there is a spirit of tolerance here!
(If our leaders in RL would think in similar way, our life would be completely different... Most simple people understand it, why leaders don't? )

As always, great general views, interesting photoshopping and beautiful night shots! 

Good luck for you and for Qumma!

[mickebear]

I am very glad to see how you have made an excellent use of my BATs in your region, this is fabulous work, and in a setting that I didn't even think about. Desert MD with lush Mediterranean architecture...

[tkirch]

FANTASTIC UPDATE!

I love the mosque, the night picture is amazing.

I also love the way a city just grows in the desert its so unique to all the journals.

[nedalezz]

REPLIES:

[/b]

tkirch: All credit goes to Gizmo's Mod for the night pics, simply incredible! Desert Mods have their difficulties to work with, but they also look great when done right, which is what Im hoping to do!

mickebear: Honestly speak, your MED Set is, in my opinion, by far the best series of BATS ever released for the game. Qumma wouldnt even exist without your set. Im so honoured you have commented on my MD, and Im even more honoured that you have given your personal approval! This MD can be classified as half yours if anything, and I do hope you bless it with your presence every once in a while

Ennedi: The MD/City Building Master! Indeed, tolerance is one of the key characteristics of the Qummans, which is why they managed to stay out of any war that happened to circulate the globe at any time. Berber Dawa's personal pockets have been benefiting from the oil money, ofcourse, but development has also been the number one priority for the QEC, and results are being shown everyday. Thank you for the wonderful comments.

paroch: Qumma is still celebrating Fursan FC's dizzyingly fabulous 5-1 victory! In fact, Waddle's Restaurant was the spot to be for the viewing of the match! The airport was built a bit far away from Fursan for that specific reason; if ever expansion would be needed, there would be ample space for such a project. While Fursan is more artistic, more freelance, and perhaps more moderate, Khaymeh's architecture is rigid because of the harsher weather in land. The grids represent the more Arabic feel of the city, while Fursan's growth tends to be more Mediterrenean. Thank you for the wonderful comments!

Jmouse: The mosque is, ofcourse, Simgoober's work, so all credit goes to him! Thanks for the compliments, and I believe the QEC did the right thing as well in leaving space alongside the avenue for future developments, which is inevitable really. Already, as seen from the pictures, buildings are under construction!

Pat: I try to bring Qumma to life as much as I can, and a good way to do that is to add little tidbits about landmarks and such. I enjoy writing the storyline as much as I enjoy playing the game! Also, take a look at your messages if you havent already, I sent you the link for the construction site.

Yoman: With trade increasing substantially, containers full of goods are starting to be more common, and the Oil Port is not able to handle too much container loads. Keep this on the downlow, but the QEC is already planning to build an adjacent seaport to the oil port for specifically bulk containers, but rumour has it they are looking to contract a foreign company. Stay tuned for more!

bat: Thanks! By the way, I loved your last update with the region shot, it was great!

amapper: Wow, thats a very flattering compliment! Merci! Qumma is growing, but at the pace I want it to, and a pace I am comfortable with. I hope the story is entertaining you while you watch it grow!

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As mentioned in the Yoman reply, the QEC is looking to contract a foreign company to construct its new seaport near the current Fursan Oil Port. If anyone can recommend a company (from your personal MDs perhaps), just write a brief description of the company and perhaps a picture of their HQ and if possible, a pic or two of projects they have completed. Who knows, this could be the start of a very profitable trade program between the Qumma and the winning MD!

[thundercrack83]

Oops, missed an update there! Sorry about that!

The construction on Berber Avenue looks great! I can't wait to see it when it's all finished. And I'll be looking forward to seeing who bids on your port, too! Take care, my friend!

[Pat]

Thank you soo very much Nedalezz for that link... Far as needing help with a seaport i cant help there as New Castia is also in need of a seaport as well... Currently "The Devolpment Group of Robin Emilin" is trying to develop a good plan for the "New Castia International Shipping Port"...

[Yoman]

Well we don't really have companies per say in PSSO, everything is state owned. However the Ministry of Transportation, responsible for all infrastructure in the PSSO, is offering it's extensive engineering and construction services after being directed to do so by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Here are some quite glimpses at some of the conceptual models for current PSSO Port Facilities. (Really they're BATs I'm working on right now that should be done soon ). If you accept the Ministries offer we shall release the plans for these structures to be used in your port. 
Thing & Thing
Thing
Thing
(Those are all different pictures). Clearly all still need textures And of course theres that crane I already showed you

Don't repost those links to anyone please, as I'm trying to keep this project semi secret

Not anymore

[bokrif]

Well,
Liberty Islands government forwarded your message to the related companies. I hope, next time, maybe thursday, I can provide some of the reference pictures.
Liberty Islands is famous of its trade history, as in the 18th, 19th and 20th century it was and still is a major hub for Trans-Atlantic searoutes (and air routes too). It is due to Liberty Islands location on the Northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, between North America and Europe.

Szekeres Kikötõ Kivitelezõ és Üzemeltetési Társaság (Szekeres Harbour Construction and Management Company)
was the first applier for the job in Qumma. This Szekeres company is part of the Szekeres syndicate, which is originated back to the 1870's when it was just a new kind of family company. Nowodays, the Szekeres Group is one of the biggest corporation in Liberty Islands. Its businesses cover a lot of aspects of the economy, ranged from farming to infrastructure contractors and energetic companies. This company owns and maintains the port of Alsószekeres. It builded the port of Révkút and the old ports of Szabadrév (capital of Liberty Islands). It also owns one-third of the port of Novgorod.
The Liberty National Gas Company (LNG) and the Liberty Oil Company would invest in the contsruction of the port in Qumma. (These companies own the 55% share of the mentioned Novgorod port, which also serves the Novgorod oil refinery.)
Because of highly important foreign investment, the state owned Liberty Investment Group (LIG) would also participate in this business, and would organize the whole investment.
It is still unclear but, as Qumma experiences nice economic growth, the Liberty Fund is considering this investment. (Liberty Fund is famous of its enormous investments worldwide, as most of the oil money, the state budget surplus and the Pension Fund handles their money to this company.)

The LIG would organize the Szekeres company's the the LNG's and Liberty Oil's investment in Qumma, by setting up a common company with the QEC, and opening an office in Fursan.

Of course this option can change, if it is requested. Liberty Islands' foreign investments are flexible.

If you proceed with my option, Liberty Islands would also like to open a consulate in the future.
(Sorry if I posted too long. I hope you don't mind that my MD is located on the ST, it doesn't have shadow here. See the link in my signature.)

[Pat]

I just have to say yoman those are wicked toys you are making... BTW The Devolpment Group of Robin Emilin is willing to offer any services needed after a brief confrence with the board of directors... They are prepared to offer to you any lots that may need to be desinged to your requirements..

[nedalezz]

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT RELEASE TO THE INTERESTED PARTIES

First and foremost, the QEC thanks you on behalf of Mr. Berber Dawa for your interest in the construction of the new Fursan Seaport. We are already overwhelmed by both the professionalism and size of the companies which have expressed their desire to take-over this project, which is figuring to be the biggest investment Qumma has seen as of yet. We want to strongly express that while there will be only one company that will be given the contract to develop the Fursan Seaport, there is no chance we will let any of the interested parties walk away empty-handed.

Qumma has not established any official diplomatic or political contact with any nation in the world, as of yet. Economically, our oil is being exported to Gambia, Cape Verde Islands, Guinea-Bissau, with a deal in the works involving Senegal. We have very little other export to speak of, but most of that is sent to Western Sahara and Morocco. As for importation, almost all of our products come by way of Morocco and Mauritania, something which will change significantly once the Fursan Seaport is completed.

In other words, not only does the QEC express its desire to economically develop ties with each of the interested parties, but it is also interested in developing diplomatic, political, and cultural ties, as well. It is clear that Qumma is at the foothold of an unheralded time of development, both within its infrastructire and within its economy. The QEC cannot possibly expect itself to be the contractor for all its development, so it is only logical that it looks to the outside world for help in that department. The finances are there; it is just the expertise that is lacking.

With the Fursan Seaport as its first major contract to be given to a foreign company, we are both cautious, optimistic, and excited about the project. The PSSO's proposal has left most within the QEC speechless, with Mr. Berber Dawa himself applauding the presentation upon its completion. To think such technology would be available and installed here in Qumma leaves us drooling at the prospect.

However, given that both the Szekeres Harbour Construction and Management Company and The Development Group of Robin Emilin have both expressed interest in taking over the project, a fair chance must be given to both. We are currently awaiting the second part of the proposal from the former, due anytime now. As for the latter, we kindly ask the company to give us, at minimum, a brief description of the units that will be installed, as to have an idea. Because of the promptness of the situation, we ask that any proposals be sent before Tuesday (November 27th). We dont wish to rush anyone, but we hope we can get this project off in a timely manner.

We would also like the interested parties to know that ownership of the Fursan Seaport will divided on a 51%-49% basis, with the slight majority given to the QEC.

As for the Liberty Investment Group and Liberty Fund, there is no doubt within the QEC that something can be worked out involving their investment in the country. It is an exciting proposal, and considering Qumma is basically being contructed from nothing, there is lots to be done, and lots of investments to be had. Once ties between the Libertay Islands and Qumma develops, we certainly see alot of business that will take place.

Again, the QEC and Mr. Berber Dawa wish to thank all the parties for their expressed interest. We hope that this will be the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship between Qumma and all those who have replied.

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Ive been very busy, but I dont want to neglect the MD, so I posted a few shots of the Fursan commercial disctrict, which has grown!

[Jmouse]

The transcript is a clever idea, nedalezz. IMO, if you're going to have a story-based MD, it's important to stay in character. Describing the negotiations in diplomatic terms definitely moves the story forward.
Fursan is really growing, and the photos look great as always. Thanks for including a couple of night shots!

Until next time...
Joan

[bat]

Great pictures at night there, nedalezz! The third is also wonderful!

[paroch]

Your transcript is an interesting proposition and one which the West End Development Corporation would like to be involved with.  We are realistic however, and know that with only one sea port built in West End (at Great Portland) to date, our corporation does not have the expertise or skill that other groups possess.  The West End Development Corporation will send a PM to Berber Dawa with some shots of the Great Portland Port and a list of the lots available for use.

In the meantime, on behalf of the West End Regional Government, we seek to build and extend diplomatic, cultural, sporting and economic links with Qumma.

The people of West End are impressed with the work done to date in Qumma and also with the vision held by the QEC and Berber Dawa himself.  We would like to propose the following:

Diplomatic:
West End will open a consulate in Fursan.  This will enable citizens of West End to have a local contact point during their visits to Qumma.  This will also enable citizens of Qumma to learn more about West End and apply for visas for travel to West End.
The consulate will also house a Trade & Investment Department.  This will enable West End businesses to travel to Qumma and seek contracts and business from local companies and government in Qumma.
We are happy to be housed in a building of the QEC's choice, or will submit plans for our own building.
We also invite Qumma to open an embassy or consulate in any of the West End cities.

Cultural:
We invite Qumma to provide a display at the Imperial Museum in Regent, West End. The Imperial Museum is home to many great exhibits from all over the SimNations and we know the people of West End would flock to see exhibits from Qumma.
We also invite you to send your finest performers to West End.  The Opera House in Regent is the high spot for culture in West End, although a larger, grander theatre is planned in Oxford.  In return, The West End Symphony Orchestra would welcome the opportunity to play in Fursan.
We would love to build something for the people of Qumma, but West End has no great architects and the Batting skills in the nation are zero!
We would also welcome a suggestion from the people of Qumma as to an appropriate building to build in West End to mark our new cultural ties.

Sporting:
Fursan FC have already played in West End and their fans and players have been welcomed in the city of Great Portland.  We hope that regular matches between Fursan FC and the teams in West End can be arranged. 
We have not seen a stadium in Qumma yet, and whilst West End architects cannot Bat, they can build and will be happy to send a file of a stadium to grace your fine region.
West End would also be pleased to learn of the sports that are popular in Qumma and will be happy to try and play your nation at these sports.

Economic:
The nation of Qumma is a land of economic opportunity and us West Enders are keen to help your growing nation in any way we can.  Our nation is blessed with fertile land and deposits of iron and coal.  Your nation is blessed with oil and maybe some other minerals we have yet to learn about.  We are happy to work with you so that both nations can benefit from each others resources.  We have a highly developed manufacturing and high tech industries.  One of our largest manufactures (Helvetia Corp) is keen to open a plant in Qumma to manufacture aerospace equipment and I am sure that this plant will bring benefits to both Qumma and West End.
The West End Aviation Authority have also granted a license to Qumma Airways to begin a scheduled service to Portland Regional Airport.  We have a new airport currently in the planning phase and will grant landing slots when this opens.


Our nation is also young and has plans for growth.  We currently have approximately 430,000 residents, many of whom are from different countries.  We welcome the opportunity to work closer with a nation that is also young and currently growing larger and stronger.

From the people and the regional government of West  End

[keyboardconfessional]

          Qumma is innovative, entertaining, and above all, beautiful. Simply amazing work here...one day I'd like to reach the level of wizardry you have. 

-Jamie

[Yoman]

I have just sent an extensive PM regarding the proposal and a few other things has just been sent

I see Fursan is becomming more modern also, just watch the growth of strip malls and huge parking lots, that would be disgusting

[Badsim]

Great great work Nedalezz ,  you're successfully building your world with its own originality and it's very interesting to look at this city growing  ... Your night shots using Gizmo's Mod are among my favorites even if I don't use it myself as the way how the supposed most enlightened areas ( roads and avenues ) are the darkest with , alas !

From desert to a flagrant rose , indeed !

[nedalezz]

UPDATE NINETEEN
NABA'A AND ITS FARMS

We will take a break from the increasingly urbanized areas of Fursan and Khaymeh today and head deeper into Qumma to Naba'a, a small village next to a very small lake, also by the same name. The history of the village is unknown, as there is no recorded history of the place, but the residents claim it has been around for hundreds of years. From the architecture, it appears to have been settled by descendents of the Phoenician explorers which settled on the Qumman coast thousands of years ago. The biggest mystery in Naba'a is the church which it seems to have been built around. No one knows quite how it got there, and no one understands why all the residents of this village are of Christian descent in this overwhelmingly Muslim area.

The village is made up of approximately 600 residents, and appears to have remain unchanged throughout its history. The residents live off of the land, which is unusually fertile thanks to the lake. The soil is very rich surrounded the water, and has such been used to grow wheat, fruits, grapes and grapevines (a local speciality), amongst other things.

Recently, the QEC has initiated the Qumma Agricultural Reform Project, or QARP, which aims at increasing agriculture in the country, especially around such watering holes where the land tends to be very fertile. The first directive of QARP has been to support and increase production of the farms in and around Naba'a by giving them an outlet for export to Khaymeh and Fursan. Once a week, trucks from both towns will come, and the QEC will pay the farmers for their products before delivering them to Fursan and Khaymeh, where it is then sold and distributed to the grocery stores and supermarkets. The good thing is the QEC doesn't make any profit on the matter; it calculates the buying price + transportation costs and sells it to the buyers at exactly that price. It works out for everyone.

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Naba'a, you ask? A lovely little village, with the best grapes in the world. What's that you say? You want to know a little bit more about the place? Well, you've come to the right place. Hussein Ja'afar, which is me by the way, the local Qumman encyclopedia.

Naba'a doesn't have the folklore or the passion behind it like Qal'at Turbia, but its story is one of great hope in times of great despair. Many years ago, perhaps over a thousand years ago, settlers from the coast living the same area fought, and at the end of this battle, the victors evicted the 3 families which had began the fight against them.

Marching inland for weeks, food supplies began running out, and fresh water was becoming scarce. Hope was running out for the members of the 3 families, and one by one they began losing any desire to live, believing they were doomed to die. Amongst the 3 families was a Christian missionary, having came from Spain and traveled the coast of North Africa as part of his work. Before the fight broke out back near the coast, he dreamt of a church standing solitary in the middle of the desert next to a pond. Once it became clear that the families were to be evicted, he figured out what his dream meant and went with the families.

While the families kept their treacherous trek through the desert looking for any sign of vegetation or life, the missionary was looking for any hints or clues. It would come to him the night all the drinking water ran out. At the time, all members of the 3 families were pagans, and refused any of the teachings the missionary presented them. The night the water ran out, there was a sandstorm, a heavy one that caused extra stress and discomfort for the wandering party. When morning came, however, sticking out of the ground were 4 rocks, forming a rectangle, almost like pillars.

The missionary pleaded for the families to stop and to help him begin constructing a church, which they refused to do at first. Using the heavy rocks from the area, the missionary began constructing the church himself, and no sooner had he laid down the first one, did water start appearing out of the ground to the north of the site. They had discovered a watering hole in the middle of the desert.

The families became instant converts, the church was built, and the village was formed, with the natives taking up farming. Since then, Naba'a has been a most welcoming place for those traveling the desert. It certainly has been for me. Till next time, my friends...

[Jmouse]

Excellent history of the church, nedalezz, and a stunning picture of it. It will be interesting to watch this little desert town develop.

Until next time...
Joan

[bat]

Again wonderful pictures! And beautiful overview of that area!