Blogs from Ethiopia, Africa - page 93

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Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Robe May 26th 2007

I was invited to Mengesha’s house for my first taste of “tella” the local beer. Ever since the Robe CTE Tour, we had talked about the fact that I had not had an opportunity to try it. Today was the day! I was, unusually for a Saturday, at work. The last session of the Higher Diploma was held on Thursday, and as the Moderators from Dilla are due to visit on Tuesday (and Monday is a holiday to celebrate the Downfall of the Derg”) I wanted to go through the Candidates’ portfolios to see what they are missing. Gizaaw telephoned to tell me that he would collect me from my house at 5 o’clock (11am) to take me to Mengesha’s because we had a programme. On the way, we stopped at Kaasaahun Shimles Restaurant for shiro ... read more

Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Robe May 19th 2007

I then had to return to Addis for purely social reasons - months ago we had arranged to meet up to celebrate Grace and Mary’s birthdays. And what a social whirl it turned out to be: a house-warming party at Teresa’s, Holland House for a reggae band, then Divine night club (all on Friday night after 12 hours on the bus); Shola Market, lunch, Liza’a house for afternoon tea, out for a pizza on Saturday; and swimming and lunch at the Ghion Hotel on Sunday. On Monday I was working - a talk on road safety to the VSO Programme Office Staff and a meeting with the head of the National Road Safety Office to organise my job there in the summer. Then, a lift back to Robe with my VSO Programme Manager on Tuesday. But ... read more
The road to Robe
Red Hot Pokers
The road to Robe

Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Robe May 5th 2007

A week after my triumphant bus journey, I was again on the road, returning to Addis after a week of illness. VSO and Tesfaye decided that I should go for medical tests after 2 clinics in Robe found nothing wrong, and the hospital in Goba couldn’t deal with me as it was a Sunday. Tesfaye was going to Adama for a workshop that afternoon, so again I got a lift in the College car. Tesfaye, Guta, Darajee and Mengesha insisted on sharing the back seat so that I could travel in comfort in the front. VSO were also excellent and arranged for Dereje to collect me from Adama the following morning. A week in Addis later - a week with Nadia and David looking out for me and feeding me - still no diagnosis, but I ... read more

Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Robe April 22nd 2007

Having managed to only visit Addis once since coming to Robe, three times in a month seems a little excessive! Once for a workshop, an unscheduled week due to illness, and a long-planned weekend to celebrate Mary and Grace’s birthdays. The first time, I managed to get a lift in a College car that was going anyway to the capital anyway. I had not been looking forward to the bus journey, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity. Having been told that we would leave early on Monday morning, it came as something of a shock to be phoned at 6.30 am on Saturday morning to be told by my line manager, Tesfaye, that we would be leaving on Sunday morning. More true to form, we did not leave early enough on Sunday and ended up ... read more
Ploughing

Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa April 22nd 2007

Before I start this blog, I have noticed that in my other two there is one serious ommision....Ferenji fever. With the exception of Addis my days have been filled by little children, and some adults in rural areas, shouting 'You You!...Ferenji' at me, with some of the more enterprising adding 'Give me money'. I try to handle it with poise and good grace, but it is fucking hard...as (unknowingly admittedly) these bastards are just so fucking rude. Also what in god names makes someone shout out what the see (apart from that funny disease I can't spell and therefore won;t mention; I mean shouting 'Ferenji' every time you see a white person is like me shouting 'Mailbox', 'Car', 'Cat'...grrrr....anyway.... Well as you read in my last blog I left Addis, and Tatjana, heartbroken; knowing she ... read more
Lalibeal (Mass)
Lalibela
St Georges Church, Lalibela

Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa April 20th 2007

Well, I'm not dead....yes I can hear the disappointed groans (from Fordy more than likely); I have just being very very lazy. So finally I am going to write this....oh god, nearly 30 days...this is going to cost me so much (internet is 25cents a minute which equates to....almost 1.5p). I am going to split this mammoth task into stages....Addis + Bahar Dar, Gondar + Addis, and Laibela, Axum, + (you guessed it) Addis; hopefully I will have all 3 done before I leave for Kenya...actually thats not very likely...but heres the first bit anyway. Pictures will follow when the internet isn't suicidally slow. Well I left Cairo after getting fairly hammered the previous night at the incredibly expensive Grand Hyatt Hotel, with James, Marius, and the Aussie guy who's name I forget but who ... read more
Lucy
Imperial Crowns
Gardens at the Ghion, Bahar Dar

Africa » Ethiopia » Oromia Region » Moyale April 19th 2007

just got off the bus at the ethiopia-kenya border, at the border town of Moyale.. was thinking of grabbing something to eat and then heading for the border and spend the night at Kenya.. when i saw this internet cafe.. woah! never expected it.. Bus ride from addis to hear was an easy 2 days ride.. too easy actually.. and i'm thinking the journey can be done in one day.. ticket costs about 87birr.. first day, bus left addis at 630am, arrived at Dilla at 130pm to stop for the night.. 130pm!! but ok lah.. stayed at a nice hotel.. Hotel Zeleke.. 25birr... 2nd day.. bus left Dilla at about 630am as well.. and we arrived here 220pm.. the journey here was good.. pretty flat ground.. good sealed roads most of the way.. something with ... read more
Enroute to Moyale
Another shot of the town..
Self-shot of me with the kids that were following me..

Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa April 17th 2007

Ok! I've decided last night to skip harar so that i'll have more time in Uganda.. the fact that somebody gave his ugandan guide book to me helped a little towards this decision.. wanted to leave this morning.. but was not prepared mentally.. so decided to stay one more day in addis.. man.. really stayed here for 4 nights.. no plans today.. maybe just hit some internet time.. and catch up on the updates.,. possibly 4-5days of blackout days to come.. and i've confirmed going to dubai for the training.. leaving nairobi on the 5 may.. and going back to nairobbery on 12 may.. there was an overland truck tour that leaves on 13th may to capetown (arrive 23 june).. excellent for my timing.. but they just emailed me that they are full.. shit.. so will ... read more

Africa » Ethiopia April 17th 2007

All photos up to today are uploaded.. and some entries have more details added to them.. I still owe myself the 3 days journal of travelling across the desert to Khartoum.. will update them.. sometime.. i think.. =)... read more

Africa » Ethiopia April 16th 2007

Today is my second and last day in Addis Ababa.. will take a bus to Harar tomorrow, and back to Addis on Thurs, and on Friday morning, I'll make my way to the Kenyan border.. The entire jouryney from addis to nairobi will take 4-5 days.. dun think i'll have internet access during this journey.. Oh! I'll have a reprieve from this trip in early May.. i'm to fly to Dubai for a week of training.. and then i'll fly back to nairobi and continue on my journey.. haha.. but HR is checking out if i can wear my columbia pants and tshirt to the training.. and i'll have to check out the flight costs etc.. so see how.. if on.. then when i reach nairobi.. i'll go straight into Kenya to Jinja at Lake ... read more
Chat Party in Ryan's room
Chat Party
The hang out place at Baro




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