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Published: June 20th 2009
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Up very early or late, I couldn't sleep with the upcoming trip tomorrow actually today. This is very windy night and I lay in bed wondering about the little subdivision next door to the hotel and what it must be like inside a press metal house with strong winds that roar like lions half the night. I am sure they are use to it but I know in my own strong house my kids coming running and jump right into bed to be protected from the angry roar beyond their windows. So what does a small child here whose entire house is the size of a room and made of tin think when winds began to howl. And as the parent protector, do they fear that one-day that lion will roar enough to pick the roof right off? Ok to little sleep, so bear with me.
We head to Bahir Dar, which sits on beautiful Lake Tana, home of many hippos’ and wild birds, alligators and a host of other creatures. It is a resort city for Ethiopians, so the downtown is a lively place with many restaurants and clubs, shops and hotels. But with the power outages, I am
not sure how alive the town will be. Bahir Dar is where I have seen many more homeless and handicapped and the deformed on the city streets. They sometimes lay right in roads as car and buses go around them. It will be warmer there, since Addis is about 2000 feet above sea level. BTW... I didn't have trouble with the altitude here like other visitors who come here. (I even manage my run this morning, which I was quite surprised, it didn’t kill me.) Lake Tana is the largest lake in Ethiopia and there are many small islands in it where the monasteries reside.
Then from the city we will visit the Regional Hospital Feledge Hiwot. This is the hospital that made me think what can I do to help. From there we will head to rural areas outside of town, where time has stopped except for a few invaders from the future, like plastic jugs and Nike t-shirts, etc. etc. Sometimes going to the rural areas you feel like an alien from another planet. Like Captain Kirk landing in a land where there is no food or clean water and he has the food generator thing on board the Enterprise, that could help but the ‘Prime Director” forbids his interference… Ok now I know I am tired. What I mean is, I hate to just observe and not make a difference and handouts are not the answer. They need programs like Heifer International and Kiva, which help make people a living and send their children to school. I believe in programs like that. Now wait don’t all go off donating to them, I have my own non-profit Medical Facility Aid, to improve the hospitals in these rural area. Here is the plug go to medicalfacilityaid.org to find out more. Anyway that is my plan so far! Heading off to the airport. Stay tuned!
Peace out!
Kim
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Ward
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Kirk, you are like my eyes and ears, bringing another part of our world to life. I could relate to your post in a way since last night the wind hit 55 mph and downpour returned for a second night so there were 16" of standing water on the interstate at the WI / IL border, with tornado and flash flood warnings. And we got it good compared to all you are seeing and experiencing. Go with a good wind in these next days. Ward