Blogs from Amhara Region, Ethiopia, Africa - page 3

I prešao sam taj most. Doduše i granicu je bilo malo teže naći jer su je nekako skrili u grmlje, a nitko se baš nije ni potrudio me zaustaviti. Na granici je bio jedan čuvar koji se poprilično iznenadio kad me ugledao. Naime, obzirom da sam došao zadnjim busom i zadržao se poprilično na Sudanskoj izlaznoj papirologiji nisu očekivali da će još netko doći pa su službenici otišli kućama, pa ih je morao zvati da se vrate. No bili su vrlo ljubazni, ponudili me kavom i poželjeli mi dobrodošlicu. Tako sam ušao u Etiopiju, zemlju mnogih skrivenih ljepota, zemlju na neopravdano lošem glasu zbog mračnih sjećanja na priče o ratu i gladi i zemlju za koju nisam ni sanjao koliku će ulogu odigrati u mojem životu. Metema je bila poprilično skromno mjesto. Jedna glavna cesta čije ... read more

6 November, 2012 We arrived in Bahia Dar, met the truck and made for a campsite on the edge of Lake Tana. Over the next couple days, we made the most of the wifi, the bar with a large selection of drinks, the television and the rooms that some decided were worth the upgrade from the tents. The truck was parked in a large open space where we could set up the kitchen and chairs and it was a walkable distance into town. A café across the road served great coffee (so I'm told!) and Ethiopian dishes but Kevin and I found a pizzeria on the second floor of a building in town and settled on that instead. Nico and Alexis also had the same idea. I think the last time I'd had pizza was in ... read more

A gallery of friendship moments from 2013. Human contact is woven into life here in a way that would likely be considered "different" or uncomfortable at home. It starts with infants being carried on the backs of mothers, or when, mothers are occupied, the backs of older siblings. Boys and girls alike hold hands and even adults (including soldiers on public patrol) out for a stroll hold hands. So putting one's arm around the shoulder of a friend and affirming, "you are my friend" (guar-dane-ya in Amharic) is an every day occurrence. I go most places by foot, although a 3 wheeled bajaj (better known as tuk tuks in India where they're manufactured) is handy for longer trips into Gondar's main square (the piazza) where North American staples like corn flakes and Snickers bars can be ... read more

It's been a while! Since my last blog I have been pretty busy. I won't bore you with all the details but will highlight a few recent events... I went to Bahir Daar for a weekend (see photos) which was great – a refreshing change from Gondar. The town is situated by lake Tana and has the Blue Nile falls and source of the Nile close by. We visited monasteries and even saw a hippo in the lake! Went to an “Asmari bet” one evening which is a place where they have traditional music and dancing. I got dragged onto the stage and had to dance with the professional dancers in front of everyone. It was so embarrassing. Then disaster struck – I ran out of dental floss (no joke!). I promptly booked a flight home ... read more

All us foreigners are called faranjis. If you hear people mention the word “faranji” in a sentence then you know that they are talking about you!I have survived 5 days in the university guesthouse (more now but it has taken be 5 days to get round to finishing and uploading this entry)! Went for apartment 2 in the end. No sign of the rat – long may it stay that way! I have had water in the morning for the past 2 days, which is nice, but it is always disappointing to return home to find yet again that I am out of water. I have to go to the communal tap and lug buckets of water across the courtyard and up 2 flights of stairs. It is really irritating.The apartments are in a sorry state ... read more