Addis Ababa Hilton

... or Similar.

Day 7, SAT, 21 NOV: Drive from Jinka to Turmi en route pass the weekly market of the ARI, HAMMER AND BENA people at Dimeka, lunch will be served en route from lunch box, late in the afternoon arrive at Turmi, Overnight camping at Keske Camp site.

Day 8: SUN,22 NOV: after breakfast, you will make a day excursion from Turmi to Omorate, 70 Km away from Turmi, then cross the ...

... to become even wider. After a couple of hours, we stopped to buy some bread. Somewhat jaded from Kenya, where hard bargaining for becomes horrible second nature, I started haggling with the small kid selling the bread. He seemed flustered, I was relentless…Finally, wee agreed on Br4 (equivalent or R3) for a really big loaf of bread. I waited for my change (trying to look tough) surrounded by a crowd of curious, but very polite onlookers. When my change returned, still ...

This morning we met for breakfast at 7:30 and Samuel was ready to take us to the CHK (Centre Hospitalier de Kigali) for our first board meeting of Smile Rwanda, which was to start at 9:30. Actually we hoped it would start at 10:00 but Greg gave 9:30 as the start time, since things never start at their officially given time. On the way to the hospital we stopped to change money. I had done the calculation at the Bloom where room ...

... Turns out it goes to Gonder and Bahar Dar in only one day. THIS IS HUGE! It gets better, too. It leaves in the vicinity of the old train station, where the short-distance buses leave, far preferable to the evil Merkato. The only unknown is the price and the schedule, so I hustle down to find out. Despite being extremely hard to find, the rest is easy, daily service at prices I'm perfectly happy with, even if ...

... ma copine catalane rencontrée en Inde qui vient me rendre visite pour un mois (enfin une !: no comment...). Alors voilà, ça va être dur de quitter tout ça pour recommencer ailleurs alors qu'on commençait tout juste à prendre ses marques mais dans tous les cas, on est bien et c'est ce qui compte. Je vous embrasse fort. Pour votre plaisir, un petit lien du blog d'une amie où vous pourrez voir quelques paysages éthiopiens : http://www.welcomeinparaddis.com/

... the tab - I'm just kidding.  Anyway I must write my report.  Look after yourselves.    
May I say to all Zimbabweans the death of Susan Tsangirai is a tragic occurrence - my condolences to the family. 
Huge Wadzi hugs 
P.S.  I got caught by Friday 13th can you believe it.  I was meant to travel at 04:00 a.m. to Rome on Kenya Airways and just as I was getting ready to go to the airport at 12:30 a.m. I received an email saying the flight had been cancelled ...

... sens. Tous les importateurs de Dubai ou de Bangkok importent leurs fringues dans des citernes en plastique bleue et d'aimables préposés les foulent aux pieds pour s'assurer d'une densité extrême. J'espère qu'il n'en sera pas de même pour mes colis. Apres 1 heure, le charmant responsable envoie enfin le message d'aller chercher mes chers bagages. Passage au rayons X, ouverture COMPLETE, triage de mes petites culottes par tous les employés du coin, recuperage de la ...

Alors voilà, ça y est, je suis enfin dans ce mythique avion pour Addis et tout a déjà un goût d'ailleurs qui fascine et terrifie à la fois. Le logo de la compagnie suivi du slogan en amharique nous remercie de voyager avec Ethiopian airlines, la musique lancinante nous enveloppe déjà, les couleurs jaune, vert et rouge du drapeau parent les écrans sur lesquels Addis semble être le coeur de l'Afrique, le centre du monde. Tout paraît mystérieux dans cette culture ...

... a seemingly meaningless cause. Do you really think Bob Geldolf and chums have truly eradicated poverty, as promised with Live8 ? It was the kids in the compound that I found most thought provoking. Gibbering away cheerfully in a language I couldn't understand, excited to receive a pencil each and fascinated by digital cameras and photos, they survive in this squalid village. The worry was that we were advised to be aware of needles due to risk of infection ...

... by unbelievable dancers. Very fun! Tuesday morning, back to Gedam Sefer. Today was health workshop day and we talked about nutrition, activity, and hygiene and did a craft project. The kids asked such great questions and we had lots of fun making more crafts! They are so full of energy and are super creative-- they love singing and making up dramas. This afternoon, we left on our long and exciting trip to Assosa.