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Published: November 10th 2006
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This is our first blog entry - all going well you'll all receive an email update!
We are back in London after just under 2 weeks in Africa. From the outset - I think it's fair to say that Africa is one of our favourite continents so it should be little surprise that we chose to squeeze is one last quick trip before we head back to NZ.
The basic outline of our trip was to head to Ethiopia and onto to Uganda...
After a small issue with the outbound flight - we found ourselves in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (we didn't quite make the flight we were booked on but luckily we found out in time and thanks to the nice people at Emirates we managed to change our flights and still catch the Ethiopian connection!)...
We checked into Hotel Amanda for a few days, tried to catch up on sleep (after a few too many nights out before we left London) and reacquainted ourselves with what it's like to be so obviously a foreigner! Amanda's ability to speak Amharic is very impressive and locals are shocked when she starts negotiating with them. I think the norm
is that the frangees (foreigners) speaking English and drive large 4WD / SUVs (rather than the collective mini van buses that we jumped on and off).
We visited a number of the groups she has helped set up and got to met a few of the people she works and plays with. We couldn't resist buying a few of the products they produce and Ma and Pa Caddie should be the recipient of these in the next 2 - 15 months (if the Kenyan postal system is anything to go by!).
From Addis we headed north to Lalibela - which could be regarded as the tourist mecca of Ethiopia. Lalibela is famous for the rock hewn churches that are carved into the landscape. There are three types of churches - monolithic, semi-monolithic and cave churches. The first type are completely separate from the rock that they are caved into; the second are partially separated with one or two sides of the churches still attached to the rock and lastly those that were built or carved out / into a cave.
They are incredible structures which were thought to be carved in a short space of time (under 50 years) - or if you believe the priest; created by Angels overnight.
We also had an unexpected trip to the police station to report my phone being stolen from our checked luggage. Some 5 hours, several signed statements, the help of a young local (he was about 15 years old) acting as our translator and retelling the situation in every room in the station (except the one with the bars on it) we were rewarded with a police report which is stamped and written wholly in Amharic. I'm not sure whether the insurance company will pay out but it was an experience to remember! However, if you want to get in touch with me - we'll be using Jem's phone. If you need the number - drop us a line and we'll email it.
From there we headed back to Addis and then into Uganda for 'Operation Banana'. We were picked up at the airport and headed down to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for our visit with the gorillas the following day! The next day we bumped along the dirt tracks to the park head quarters where we were to start our trek from. The gorilla permits allow you one hour with the gorillas - at about distance of 7 metres. These rules are put in place to ensure that human diseases are not transmitted to an already endangered species. It is estimated that there are only 600-ish mountain gorillas left in the world.
We trekked for about 2 hours - with updates from the trackers as to how close (or far) we were. We made one last stop for water and to load our cameras with film etc and then we headed into the jungle. I think we were both expecting to spend several more hours trekking through the jungle but within 2 minutes we'd spotted a gorilla swinging in a tree. The group we visited had 2 silverback, 4 black backs, 4 females and 4 juveniles. We saw both silverbacks, three of the blackbacks, three females and juveniles. At one point we were within
3 metres of a gorilla who posed for us - looking directly at our cameras! One of the few Ugandan’s we met who didn't expect a tip for us taking a photo!!
At the end of the hour we were encouraged to leave the gorillas and head back to the head quarters. We had hired a porter for the day and as we trekked back up (it was pretty much 2 hours uphill) we were more and more grateful for her! Jem thought is was the best $10 spent in a long time.
The next day we headed back to Kampala - with our driver / guide pointing out the local agriculture. When he pointed out the roadside stalls of 'Irish potatoes' we thought he was joking - but he was serious; that is honestly what they call them!
We flew back to London yesterday - sad to be leaving Africa after such a short time but excited about what lies ahead! Tonight we head to Brazil, South America (it's our long awaited honeymoon!!).
Until next time.. take care,
Nae's & Jem
P.S. Andrew G - any ideas how we order the photos against the text?
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