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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 turkishraf
April 5th 2008

Explorers needed

Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Moyale

Mt Fantale Crater Awash
This view of Ethiopia in 2001 shows the rim of the fantale crater in the awash national park.

This is a very strange entry, we are not in Ethiopia, but we want to be. The season is almost over and soon we will have wound up the season. But as we enter the planning stage, our travel buddy and escort Justyn Lane is now preparing his vehicle in Malawi. But regretably Amanda his faithful girlfriend has decided against the trip of a lifetime, the exploration of the Omo Valley and Northern Kenya. And has decided to rather mundanely choose to merely live in Nairobi and pump more western tax payers money into a basket case. Her decision is her [View Full Entry]

By Stuart
March 29th 2008

In a Strange Land

Africa » Ethiopia

Mursi women and child, Lower Omo Valley

Ethiopia is like no where else in Africa or the world. It's unique. Even the food is different. Plates are replaced by Injera - a pancake like bread make from Teff flour. Teff flour is an annual grass native to the Ethiopian highlands. Teff is high in fibre and iron and gives the Injera a sour taste. A variety of stews and salads are placed on the Injera. Pieces of Injera are then torn off and used to grasp the food. The Injera is therefore food, a utensil and a plate. An early image of the trip that will stay with [View Full Entry]

By Kim309
March 26th 2008

A trip to Selka

Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Bale

Selka
The "small" market at Selka. The main market is on a Sunday.

Selka is a very small town 45km east of Robe, off the road to Sof Omar. I was supposed to have gone there on Tuesday afternoon in preparation to run a workshop this morning, but no electricity in Robe meant that the College driver who was to take me and leave me there, could not fill the vehicle with fuel. Instead, we agreed that he would pick me up at 6.30 this morning. He arrived dead on time! We then waited for half an hour for Lama, the Cluster Supervisor from Sanana Woreda Education Office. As there was no mobile network, [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
March 22nd 2008

Alan #6 - Ah Ambassador, You (Didn't) Spoil Us!

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Cheeky Monkey
How did he get there?

Ah, Ambassador, You (Didn’t) Spoil Us So did the Ambassador spoil us with small crunchy spheres of chocolate? Er, no. In fact he didn’t even make an appearance at all. The Brits, plus one miscategorised (and displeased) Australian, queued outside the compound before being led to a room for a very interesting health briefing with the Embassy doctor - a lovely happy woman who explained the contents of our individual small first aid kits and the large “safe-house” first aid kit. Apart from the missing latex gloves (!?!) and the out of date and largely use [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
March 22nd 2008

Alan #7 - Stand up for the ARSSENAL

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Two of the Oromo All Stars
Ruth and Dave @ the Zebra Grill

That evening the current VSOs had arranged a Pub Quiz at a new “European” restaurant called Delicious Dishes. My body had clearly diverted most of its energies to the liver to process the evil araki, rather than my brain. It was good fun and the Aussies didn’t win everything, which made a change! The hyperactive Gordon, a self-confessed pub quiz nut, led his team to victory. We had a delicious dish of blue cheese and vegetable tart - making sure we maximised our cheese intake now forewarned about the lack of it in the regions. Steven had told us an amusing [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
March 22nd 2008

Alan #8 - You have a song for EVERY player?

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Peas in a Pod?!?
No wonder my clodhoppers ended up in Jonathan's room 8-)

mango alleh (there are mangos) Sunday saw the end of our language training. We wrapped it up with each group doing a presentation to the rest of the groups. Luckily, as it was still fresh in my mind, we ended up doing a “at the market” scene. I was the ‘good’ market trader who sold the fruit at a proper price, as opposed to Jonathan who was playing the ‘bad’ trader charging “ferenji prices”. We got a few laughs from the teachers and it clearly struck a chord with the rest of the volunteer’s experiences from the market the previous [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
March 21st 2008

Bloggus Uninterruptus after all!

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Map of Beneshangul-Gumuz
Our region, to the left of Addis and right of Sudan (thanks to BOFED for the map!)

It’s OK. Our field trip has been postponed! From Wednesday 10am, to Wednesday 1.30pm, to Wednesday 5.30pm. Then Friday morning. Now maybe tomorrow... ...or Sunday or Monday. Inshallah! :-) Anyway, it means I can at least explain where we are going and post my last few entries from training in Addis. The last Addis entry was a monster (10 pages). For those with short attention spans I have broken it down into 3 entries. Sara doesn’t even read my entries as there are ‘too many words’ so ration yourself if you please. Regions, Zones and Wored [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
March 19th 2008

Bloggus Interruptus!

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

Ok - we are off to the Woredas for a last minute trip for 26 days - back on 16th (ish) April. Will update then or sooner if the trip is delayed, Buhallah! [View Full Entry]

By Al and Sara
March 19th 2008

Sara # 5 Another Stupid Grin Weekend

Africa » Ethiopia » Benishangul-Gumuz Region » Asosa

On the way up

It’s been a busy weekend Friday we tried out another restaurant/bar/hotel for our regular volunteer gathering, they had some great food - it’s fasting day again so only veggie fair, and the beer went down well, we’re, as usual the last men and women standing at the end of the night, the culture here does not seem to be late nights out on the town, although one of Al’s colleagues has promised to show us the local nightclub sometime soon. So at about ten after putting the world to rights we happily weaved our way home. I spent Saturday morning exploring [View Full Entry]

By hauteboy
March 18th 2008

Walking around Addis

Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region

Lucy skeleton

March 18, 2008 Flight: Bahar Dar (BJR) to Addis Ababa (ADD), Ethiopian Airlines 121, F50, Economy Flight: Addis Ababa (ADD) to Washington DC (IAD), Ethiopian Airlines 500, 767, Economy, miles earned: 7195 (LH) Our last day in Ethiopia, we had an early flight out this morning back to Addis. We ran into the American family again in the hotel lobby, they were going to Gondar today. It's a 17 minute flight or 4 hours in a bus. Checkin at the airport went quickly and we headed upstairs to grab breakfast when I heard my name called on the loudspeaker. I went [View Full Entry]

Links: Ethiopia Travel Blogs (all) | Ethiopia Travel Photos | Ethiopia Travel Forum | Ethiopia Facts | Map of Ethiopia

Travel Blog » Africa » Ethiopia