Sabana Beach Resort Addis Ababa

... around going from minibus to minibus asking after Bahir Dar a man asked us where we were trying to go. We explained our situation and he said No problem, follow me. We get in a taxi that he pays for, he takes us to a bus station where he negotiates are tickets for tomorrow. Then he takes us to a traditional Ethiopian breakfast of roasted beef (although the roasted part was for our benefit; they eat it raw!)and injeru, the staple bread ...

... basic and the bathroom is ageing - the wiring was something of a joke within the bathroom.

We set off from the hotel to find lunch, stopping at Tsega Cafe & Restaurant, which is a favourite for local meals. We walked across to the Tigrai Tourism Commission to arrange a guide for the following morning and proceded to walk to the Stelae Field where we could buy our tickets for the sites. For only 50Birr per person this ticket lasts the duration of your stay and ...

... Pugnido per far vedere le foto ai bimbi della scuola!

Lo scopo di questa missione č prevenire che i bambini finiscano per la strada e quindi insegnano loro le materie scolastiche ai pių piccoli e un lavoro ai pių grandi.

Arrivati nella zona dell’oratorio siamo stati invasi da bambini che rispetto a "quelli di Don Giorgio" sono pių chiari (mulatti) ma anche un po’ pių aggressivi e maneschi.

L’impatto onestamente non č stato ...

... wife here somewhere? Maybe I should inquire. They even hand money with both hands, just like they do in polite society up in north Thailand, though you'd never see it down in the mahanakorn. The kids here get faranji frenzy just like my wife claims they used to do thirty years ago in Chiang Rai, back when farangs were a rarity there. 9pm is 3 o'clock in both. Oh yeah, and they've got Ethio-porn ...

... find a decent internet connection - and lucked out after getting some good info from our friend Derege, whom we'd met up in Lalibela. We then went with Derege to dinner that night at the famous and delicious Castelli's restaurant - an institution since the Italian occupation, and very authentic (I actually had to bust out my paltry Italian to try to explain to the rather large, gruff proprietor how to use my camera upon asking him to take a picture of me, Lydia and ...

... positive was baptised here. sometime after the hospital tested her and she was found to be clear of HIV. She died a few months later from another condition and the hospital admitted that her negative test was just an error, but still rumours persist of people being cured, hence serious ill people coming to Mount Entoto from many miles around. Some people forgo their HIV medication, for themselves and also for their children, instead putting their faith in ...

... What are you doing personally to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS?" When I told them I was a nurse, they said, oooh! doctor. And, thus I was promoted to an MD my first day in the country. :) After a quick bite, we headed over to the Sisters of Charity orphanage where Richelle has been volunteering for several months. I was able to volunteer here a few days as well and really enjoyed it. Mother Therese has ...

... to the summit and then down the mountain through a young forest of Australian eucaliptus which are used for various purposes in the city. Yoseph mentioned that hyena live in this forest, but come out mainly at night. We kept up the pace. Once at the bottom of the forest we hiked another mile back up the road to the taxi waiting at the church. I tried running up the hill, but at that alitude that didn't last long ...

We headed back north. Saying farewell to friends in Shashamane was hard. Clearly, we should be building up Shash to be fertile, educated and safe. Thank Jah the process has begun. The bus up to Addis was long and hot. We found Leah's place and settled in. Leah's is a guesthouse near the south end of Bole Road. They boast British food. The rooms are reasonable, and they're about a mile from the airport. Nuff rases come ...

... why we were in the vicinity; the soldiers ushered us to the visa section and we left our toerag to their mercy.  But one bit of good news from the shambles of the last week is that acquiring a Sudanese visa does not seem to be too difficult (providing the British embassy write a letter saying we are of sound character...).  According to the embassy there have been no recent "incidents" (read: rebel army incursions) along the route we hope ...