Sunday 24th October, 2010 – STONE TOWN

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A morning walk through the winding alleys of Stone Town took me past intricately carved doors.  Indian influenced doors had curved tops, while those with influence from Oman had square shaped tops.  In the narrow streets head-scarfed women rubbed shoulders with lithe Masai visiting from main land Tanzania.  Everywhere blue and red posters showed the smiling faces of candidates in the coming election.

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Being at the heart of the slave trade, Stone Town has more than its fair share of horror stories.  I was told of slaves being tied to trees, to then be whipped.  A stoic response fetched a high sales price.  Children too sick to be sold were thrown into a well which washed out to sea.  I learnt of David Livingstone’s hand in ending the slave trade in Africa.  By telling others back in England about the conditions that existed he was able to influence movers and shakers to well, move and shake.

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Another well known name in Zanzibar’s history is Freddie Mercury of Queen fame.  A Zanzibar local, Mercury’s house of birth is now a souvenir shop, accepting either US dollars as well as Tanzanian shillings for its range of local crafts.

Saturday 23rd October, 2010 – STONE TOWN

A little panic ensued this morning when my airport transfer didn’t arrive, which was quickly solved by a pricey but speedy taxi ride that got me checked-in by the skin of my teeth.

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All of that seems a world away, now that I’m settled in to my truly luxurious room here in Zanzibar.  Usually, I stay in pretty run-of-the-mill hotels, so I feel spoilt rotten.  A hot towel and drink complete with cocktail umbrella on arrival was followed by a relaxing bath.  Lathered up with some lovely lemongrass body lotion my skin was craving, I’m now sitting on my balcony watching a great ball of red sun slip slowly toward the horizon as fishermen in their dhows drift slowly by.

The room service girl that just came in to turn down my bed reminds me of movie actress Rosie Perez.  She has been kindly teaching me a few Swahili phrases. ‘Jambo’ is hello; ‘Lala salaama’ is goodnight.

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Friday 22nd October, 2010 – ADDIS ABABA

Making a visit to Addis’ Ethnological Museum helped give some background information about the various tribes I’d so recently visited.  I spent a couple of hours wandering through the enlightening displays about tribal beliefs, crafts, instruments, children’s games and natural medicines.

My time in Ethiopia has come to an end.  Travel here wasn’t always easy but the rewards were definitely worth it.  Now, it’s time to head off to Zanzibar for a little rest and relaxation.

Thursday 21st October, 2010 – to ADDIS ABABA

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This morning we said goodbye to our drivers Hassan and Warade.  Warede had become sick and wasn’t able to drive.  With a new driver and van we set out on our last day of driving.

A foray into Abidjata-Shalla National Park for a spot of flamingo-viewing left us lost amongst the confusing dusty paths that run between the Abidjata and Shala Lakes.  We did get to see the flamingos, which were shy and kept their distance.

After arriving back in Addis Ababa our group gathered for a goodbye meal at an Ethiopian style restaurant.  I’m sure the food was great, but my stomach was misbehaving again, so I couldn’t face eating.  I could still enjoy the music and dancing that was on show.  The dancing was remarkable and unlike anything I’ve seen before.  There was a lot of shoulder shaking, head swinging and hair flinging as the dancers performed moves from various tribal groups.  My neck feels sore just remembering it.

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Wednesday 20th October, 2010 – AWASSA / WONDO GENET / LAKE LANGANO

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Awassa’s fish market was bustling in the early morning.  Small wooden boats were coming in, with people buying straight from the fishermen.  On the spot, the fish were filleted, dipped in chilli paste and eaten raw, sashimi style.  Pelicans and other water birds waited impatiently for the scraps.

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Bulk buyers could be found further up shore intensely bidding on the days catch.  Young boys with nimble fingers had been employed to skin and fillet the fish.  One boy used his teeth to great effect.

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Heading further north towards Addis Ababa, we made our last overnight stop at another lake, this time Lake Langano.  The lake is a popular spot for weekenders from Addis.  Our resort had a certain faded run-down charm about it, and the cabins were comfortable enough…once I finally got settled in one!  My first cabin was too far from the lake, so I was kindly moved to a lovely one right by the water.  While there was plenty of water right outside the door, the taps inside were dry.  The third cabin was back from the water a bit, but everything worked.

Tuesday 19th October, 2010 – AWASSA

Heading north the roads are becoming much busier again, with people out and about everywhere.  It has made finding a suitable road side toilet stop a bit tricky and Loretta, one of the group, was sprung taking a leak.  I’m not sure who was more surprised, Loretta or the woman that found a white skinned, red headed foreigner taking a pit stop in her garden.

Arriving in Awassa, a bustling university town, was a bit shocking after the small places we had been staying in.  It was my first chance to use internet, though the power did drop out at one stage.

Walking along Awassa’s lake edge before dinner was lovely, with lots of kingfishers and hamerkop birds flying about.  As we walked by some kids who were fishing, started a very silly improve rap about fish apparently.  I guess MTV’s influence is far-reaching these days.

Italian influence was apparent in Awassa and we decided to make the most of it with dinner at an Italian restaurant.  Dan and Jen’s pepperoni pizza however had no hint of meat.  It soon became known as a “pepper only” pizza among us.  Luckily my mushroom pizza was covered with mushrooms.

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Monday 18th October, 2010 – YABELLO / MOYALE

A lack of water in our showers last night made us all consider donning our swim suits to wash in the hotel fountains which were still running.  The problem was fixed though and this morning I could have a luke-warm shower.

We drove down very near to the Kenyan border to visit El Sod, a salt lake in the crater of an extinct volcano.  I sat on the edge of the crater and enjoyed the view while some of our group climbed down to get a closer look at the lake and the men that dive into to collect salt.  I do regret not going as seeing the men work would have been interesting to see, but I really wasn’t feeling well enough for the climb up.  Ever enterprising kids were waiting at the top with bottles of soft drink for the weary climbers.  After many offers of drink from them, and an equal amount of refusals from me, they sat down with me and watched me read, hoping I might just change my mind.  I didn’t, and when the others were visible on the returning path, the kids scampered off to hopefully make a sale of their by now warm drinks.

The houses around Moyale were quite different from other places.  With flat rooves topped with growing grass, they keep cool in the heat.  Luckily, for our visit, the weather stayed cool.

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Sunday 17th October, 2010 – YABELLO

I awoke feeling nauseous thanks to my malaria medication.  It had been causing me troubles throughout the trip, and I was cursing the lack of options available in Japan.  Elsewhere, there are variations available with less side effects, but as I’m living in Japan, no choice.  I had been considering stopping my weekly doses, but Baty reminded me that feeling crappy for a couple of weeks was probably better than catching malaria.  Good point.  I kept taking my tablets…begrudgingly.

Heading east again we stopped near Lake Stephanie to visit our final tribe…the Abore.  As we pulled up, the villagers encircled the car, but at a polite distance.  Many of the kids wore helmet like hats made of gourds.  Combined with “bandoliers” of shells strung across their shoulders, they looked like mini-soldiers ready for battle in some fantasy adventure.  Others had pointillism masks painted over their faces, and the women often wore black scarves on their heads.

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While photographing I got a little overcrowded, and had a dizzy spell that left me reeling for a few minutes.  Some time out, while the others distracted potential photographic models, let me catch my breath, and a sleep and the car afterwards helped immensely.

While not been particular known in Africa for its wildlife, I saw my fair share on the drive as we approached Yabello.  Baboons lounged around in trees, pairs of diks diks – tiny, deer-like creatures – darted for cover under low shrubs, and everywhere were wondrously coloured birds of all shapes and sizes.

We had our first road trouble this afternoon with a flat tyre.  Of course, the drivers were well prepared with a number of spares on each four-wheel drive, so we were on the road again in no time flat.

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Rain showers left the vehicles muddied, and at one stop we noticed some uninventive kid had written  F#@* Off in Amharic on one of the car doors.  I guess kids are the same everywhere.  In retaliation I asked Baty to write “No Highland Water” instead.  Actually, I think less kids than normal asked us for water bottles that afternoon, so maybe it worked.

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Saturday 16th October, 2010 – KOLCHO VILLAGE / DIMEKA / TURMI

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A rough morning’s drive took us into the Tama Wildlife Reserve to visit a village of the Karo tribe. The village definitely is memorable for its location.  Perched beside a high cliff that looked down over a bend in the Omo River, the view was truly spectacular.  Under a large tree by the cliff were some hand-carved chairs on which some elders were reclining.  It was the first and only village in which I saw such chairs.  If you have such a view by your front door, I guess you need something to sit on and enjoy it.

Usually, in the Omo Valley, men carry their chairs with them.  They are little low stools that can be carried on their shoulders when walking, and then propped on the ground whenever in need of a rest.  Many also double as a headrest if a more serious nap is needed.  Often they were beautifully decorated and burnished due to years of use.  I noticed a number of cheap knock-offs in Dimeka market today.  I guess they make good souvenirs too.

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Back as base-camp it was time to party- Hamer style.  We splashed across the river following the sounds of horns to what was essentially a precursor to the main event, but no less impressive.  Gathered was a large group of women, the relatives of the young man who was to jump the bull.  They were dressed up with bells on their legs, ochre in their hair, and tops tied up to reveal their backs.  They repeatedly danced into a hypnotising circle which got smaller and tighter before breaking apart to rest and drink some of their home brew.  They appeared almost as if in a trance.  As members of the maza (men who had recently come-of-age) visited, the women would goad the maza into whipping their backs (hence the tied up tops).  It was quite horrifying to watch and must have been painful.  Many of the older women had scarring from previous ceremonies.  These scars are said to represent devotion to the relatives, and if a women ever needs help from the man she was scared for, it has to be given.

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A few hours later, it was time for the main-event, the bull jumping.  Everyone moved up the road to an area where a group of bulls had been herded.  The bulls were lined up, with men holding their tails and mouths.  The crowd hushed as the boy, standing naked, prepared for his first jump, the first of four.  Soon he would be a man in the eyes of his tribe.  On the first run, he slipped, lucky to escape a trampling.  Unluckily, his friends will certainly tease him about it in the future.  The last three jumps went off without a hitch amongst cheers of joy.  The crowd dispersed with many heading back to the village where the celebrating would go on into the night.

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Usually Hamer bull-jumping ceremonies are held around April, but due to a good harvest and a recent aid delivery of grain, our neighbours had decided on October celebrations.

As I lay in my tent, listening to the distant sound of blowing horns, I reflected on how fortunate I was to experience such a ceremony.

Friday 15th October, 2010 – TURMI / OMORATE

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise feeling refreshed after a good night sleep.  The campground was ours alone, only shared with a few hungry mosquitoes.

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This morning we followed the road almost all the way to the Sudan border, to the small, dusty settlement of Omorate.  Once there, we walked down to the edge of the Omo River where log canoes waited to carry us across to the Dhasenech tribe on the opposite bank.  Clambering down the muddy bank wasn’t easy, and as I was stepping into the canoe I lost my footing and very nearly took a swim in the river.

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The village, with huts covered with tree bark was layered in the dust that was being whipped up by a wind that had risen.  It gave the village a dejected atmosphere.  The people however were welcoming.  Many of them went about their daily chores, unfazed by the presence of six tourists, allowing us a rare insight into their way of life.  There were many weathered faces in the tribe.  The women wore long skirts made from the leather of cattle.  Often their heads were topped with decorated headdresses giving them an air of nobility.  After photographing one such woman, she reached out and held my face while blowing into it.  I’m told it was a Dhasenech blessing.

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A beer back at camp helped to wash away some of the dust.  As we waited for the air to cool and the sun to drop, I chatted with guide Baty about the unexpected twists that life sometimes throws.  He had finished university a few years previously.  He had studied mechanical engineering, which he loved, wanted to work in, but way waylaid by his work as a tour guide.  He could earn a lot more money as an untrained English-speaking tour guide, and enjoyed meeting people from around the world, so would stick with it for now, maybe one day opening his own business.

Once the temperature had suitably dropped we went for a stroll to meet our neighbours – a Hamer family, who were preparing for the following days coming-of-age bull-jumping festival for their son.  Amongst the huts mothers were doing their daughters hair, covering twisted braids with a mixture of ochre and butter.  Yards were being swept, and gourds were filled with an interesting smelling home-brew.  We were invited to join the coming day’s festivities.  The invitation was heartily accepted.  I’m truly looking forward to it.

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Arriving back at the tents, we found we had yet more neighbours.  A group of Spanish tourist’s tents had been set up right behind our own.  We were set up under the biggest shadiest trees, so I do understand why their tents were put so close, but with the rest of the camp ground being empty; it was a little annoying…particularly when the snoring started!