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Ethiopia Travel Blogs

Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender sensitive territory.

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By Al and Sara
November 7th 2009

More of a Miracle than an Accident! (Exabier Yemusgan & Ahumdililah) Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

OMG!
I'm going to be a father...

So here is the news - though I guess most of you know this by now - Sara is pregnant and going to have a baby!!!! We are both delighted as we were led to believe it was not medically possible. For many years we had hauled ourselves through the NHS infertility system (not much fun - lovely nurses, less lovely consultants) without success. After years of poking, prodding, samples, scans, diary-keeping, mucus feeling, pipe-cleaning, keyhole camera examinations and even reflexology and acupuncture (not on t [View Full Entry]

...of a cybernetic organism from the future??

By WhereIsSteve
November 1st 2009

Cannon We Get There? Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

At breakfast on Sunday we are joined by 2 more members of the tour group who have just arrived from the airport. Matt has not slept in over 24 hours but still decides to join us for a stroll around Addis Ababa. Jane votes for sleep. Nick and I have both read Philip Marsden's book, "The Barefoot Emperor" about Emperor Tewderos. We are both very keen to find the replica of Sevastapol - this is the cannon he built and then had transported (by building the necessary roads) to his mountain fortress at Maqdala. We think that the cannon itself is [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
October 31st 2009

In Addis Ababa Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

On first appearance the hotel seems a bit shabby but it's just about what I expected. The hotels I'll be staying in are described as "mid-range" but that is mid-range by Ethiopian standards. The room seems to be clean and the staff here are really friendly. I have one of those showers where you can never be sure if you're going to get wet or get electrocuted when you stand under it. But I have hot water and I have electricity at the moment - it's all good!! The hotel staff assure me that the the couple of museums I want [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
October 30th 2009

From Mansfield Woodhouse to Addis Ababa Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

The first day,getting from home to Addis Ababa, was always going to be a long one. But it's even longer than it needs to be because of the choices I have taken. The cheapest flight my travel agent could find was with Emirates so I have flown further East than I needed to in order to spend some time waiting in Dubai before coming back West to Addis Ababa. Secondly I've broken my journey a couple of times within the UK. I've stopped off in London for a couple of hours to have lunch with Martyn and then got to Gatwick [View Full Entry]

By Rodyssey
October 24th 2009

Ethiopia Book - Vote Now!!! Africa » Ethiopia

Vote in Blurb competition

I've made a book on Blurb.com with photos and commentary of my trip to Ethiopia in April. Blurb are currently having a photobook competition so I've decided to enter the book in the Travel section. The short list is determined by public vote so I need people to log on and vote for this book before November 9th. Click here to vote for Undiscovered Ethiopia. If you're not already registered with blurb.com, you'll need to do so but this will only take a [View Full Entry]

By WhereIsSteve
October 23rd 2009

Ethiopia Africa » Ethiopia

Ethiopia I booked my trip to Ethiopia on the same day as I decided to quit work. It’s one of those places I’ve always wanted to visit. So as soon as my holidays aren’t constrained to school holidays I can go to Ethiopia at what I think will be the best time of year. It should be the end of their rainy season now so I was expecting it be hot and sunny but still very green. Most people of my age will remember the horrific TV pictures of the famine of 1984/85 which lead to Live Aid and that may [View Full Entry]

By Dereje
October 16th 2009

My Visit of Ethiopia Africa » Ethiopia

Blue Nile fall

Few nations, if any, can boast the historic splendour of Ethiopia, evidence of whose extraordinary past is everywhere, from its rock-hewn churches, still places of living worship, to its ancient historical traditions and magnificent cultures. Ethiopia, is a nation of surprises, full of diversity and contrast, from the ancient to the modern. Legend has it that Emperor Menelik I, the son of the Queen of Sheba and king Solomon, brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum, where he settled and established one of the world’s longest known, uninterrupted monarchical dynasties. [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
September 30th 2009

The Eternal Sunshine of their Spotless Minds Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

ICT for ICT
Do you like the VSO home page? (I'm a company man at heart)

So onto ICT (or In-Country Training). Where three current volunteers and two PO staff offer to welcome/herd/brief/assist/lecture and generally introduce 36 new Ferengi volunteers to the people's, customs, traditions, language and culture of Ethiopia. Surely an easy task? Er, not really :) So why exactly did I agree to do it? Well firstly I am a volunteer. I guess volunteering is my thing.. ..and also three guys did it for us - and did a great job - so it's kind of paying it back. Or is it paying it forward? All our ICT helpers have finished as volunteers now... Besides [View Full Entry]

By Paul D
September 29th 2009

Meskal Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

The Pilgrimage To Meskel Square

The past weekend was a religious holiday in Ethiopia. Meskel is the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Eleni (Saint Helena) in the fourth century. The day is spent preparing for the evening service where people gather firewood for their bonfires, buy daisies for decorative purposes and typically dress in white clothing. It is generally a peaceful and spiritual occurrence however the night swiftly turns into an excuse for a piss up and raucous fire dance....pretty scary stuff! The main event occurred in Meskel square where thousands of Ethi [View Full Entry]

By Merav
September 28th 2009

Awramba!!! Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Bahir Dar

community working day

What a great name to a great community... we found some info in the guide: It's a small community, isolated, secular, believes that education is the key to development so one can find adults attending primary school, they are socialists, they believe in Gender equality and children’s rights, the kids are not allowed to beg money from foreigners and visitors, the community charges the same price from locals and Faranji (white people) and the best way to support them is to buy the woven products they sell. We read, we were amazed, we thought it's interesting and surprising so we go [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » Ethiopia