Southern Ethiopia – Arbaminch to Turmi

Emerald Resort and Lodge in Arbaminch.

Stunning views.

Such exhausting work this traveling.

Baboons outside our room.

This morning’s village visit turned out to be a disappointment because the guide did not speak English but the drive the rest of the way to Turmi sure was not.

The roads are a challenge to drive. If they are not full of pot holes they are filled with people and animals.

Bee hives were evident in many of the trees we passed.

Young boys are seen everywhere on the road dancing the hip dance for a few birr, the national currency.

Examples of terraced farming in the area to help eliminate erosion.

The rock work in front of this home is also evident on all the terraces for farming.

Omo tribal homes.

Two girls from the village.

Traditional material used for skirts and pants for the people in the area.

At a lunch stop every child around came out to sell us something so instead I had them pose for a photo and paid them 5 birr each, the standard amount per person for taking a photo.

Women carrying feed for animals.

Firewood lined up along the road for sale.

What a way to get you to stop your vehicle.

Restaurant from the outside at the Burska lodge in Turmi.

Southern Ethiopia – Sodo

Leaving London as the florist below the flat were getting ready for Valentines Day.

We arrived in Addis Abbaba in the morning and immediately left for Sodo. On the way we stopped to see the Tiya stele which were recognized in 1980 as a World Heritage Site.

Our guide was a very enthusiastic anthropology student so was keen to give us a ton of information about them. A museum is being constructed to house the artifacts and provide information about the site.

On Day 2 of our program – our driver calls it our program – we left Sodo at 9:00 and arrived in the mountain village of Dorze at 11:30 and a two hour tour. On the way our driver told us about how bananas are picked green then driven all night in the dark to arrive yellow in the markets in the morning. He said there are often a lot of accidents attributed to the long hours the driver put in.

On the way we passed Lake Abaya. It is separated from Lake Chamo by what the locals call God’s Bridge. Lake Abaya is red in color and Lake Chamo blue. You can see God’s bridge between them.

The traditional homes in Dorze are built in the shape of elephants which were hunted here but are no longer in the area. The traditional homes are made very tall using bamboo for the structure and banana leaves. When the termites eat through the lower level they cut the bottom part off and move the upper part to another location. Once they have been cut down three times, the last portion is used for storage.

The animals stay inside at night to provide heat for the family.

The sleeping areas are on either side of the entrance. Children sleep in the loft and younger children on mats on the floor.Many chairs are in the home for the drinking of coffee with guests.

Beer is made from ground sorghum, barley, wheat and maize mixed and dried above the fire in banana leaves for up to four months. It is then ground and mixed with water then fermented for 1 week. The beer is drank from these gourds.

Women spin the cotton and the men do the weaving in the village.

We saw how pulp is removed from the base of the false banana plant.

The pulp is placed between layers of banana leaves and stored in the ground for up to three months to ferment.

Once it is fermented it is chopped repeatedly to remove cut the fibres that remained in the plant.

Once the pulp is chopped it is mashed with water patted into a pancake form and cooked on the fire first in banana leaves then browned on the skillet.

It is served with honey and chilli. We liked it better than the injera which has a much more sour flavor.

This small compound is used for trekking and horse back tour groups going into the mountains.

One of our guides with weavings behind.

Local market.

Our driver changing the flat tire with lots of on lookers.

England – London

Lining up early to get a good spot for the parade celebrating Chinese New Year’s.

Worth the wait.

Delicious!

We had to stay in London longer than expected before returning to Ethiopia so I could get a prolotherapy injection in my foot. There is only one person in the UK who does the procedure. He works in a clinic on Harley Street which John tells me is a very prestigious street in London. I was worried about having an osteopath as opposed to the Doctor who I see doing the procedure. I definitely need not have worried as I honestly could not believe the level of professionalism I experienced. First he checked my weight distribution on a foot pad that projected the image onto his computer screen (it certainly demonstrated why I need to wear orthotics at all times). Next, he used an ultrasound to check for irregularities in the ligaments. Next he administered an anesthetic before doing the injections. Once the injections were complete he used a small vibrating pad to help disperse the solution throughout the tissue. In Canmore I go in for 10 minutes squeeze the nurses hand like crazy for the seven injections then leave. This was three times the cost six times the time and they both worked just great for my foot. Oliver said he mainly works on people who are candidates for hip and knee surgery to prevent the need for the surgery.

England – London

I enjoyed the Princess Diana exhibit at Kensington Palace as so many of the dresses I recognized from famous photos of her.

The famous sunken garden beside the palace

where flowers were already blooming.

England – London

I lined up at the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the Christian Dior exhibit but had to return the next day. I did enjoy other exhibits the museum had to offer. The Dior exhibit is on until April and all the pre-purchased tickets are sold out.

This carpet was amazing. They only turn the light on it for a total of 20 minutes every hour. The first day I missed it but the second day I was able to see it.

The detail on the dresses was magnificent.

Princess Margaret’s coming out dress.

England – London

Flask Walk Hampstead, London.

We stayed in Marjorie’s flat above the flower shop. So cozy.

Great walks on the Heath. Hard to believe you are in London when you are here.

A dog walkers paradise.

On a tip from Miscal, we lined up the morning after arriving to get tickets for the play Come From Away. She and Graeme had just seen it in Newfoundland. If you get a chance Go! Incredible!

We enjoyed riding the double decker buses sitting right up front, on top, as we explored different areas of the city. Got our supply of duck eggs and okra for the week at the Brixton Market.

The prestigious Harrods.

Crowds heading to the Camden Market on Sunday.

Flowers are even poking their heads out of the ground now.

No trip would be complete to London without a trip to Foyles for John, a six story book store.

We saw three remarkable films: Roma, Capernaum, and, If Beale Street Could Talk, and loved all three. We also manage to see the opera La Boheme at the London Coliseum, and Tango Fire at the Peacock Theatre.

Ireland – Belfast

We traveled to Belfast, Nothern Ireland on January 22 for me to attend a Modern Yogi teacher training course with Brea Johnson. I had worked on the on- line portion throughout 2018 and the course culminated in a week of intensive training to receive my 300 hour certificate. We had a plane change in Doha, Qatar. The teddy bear was quite a site.

Likewise the indoor playground for children was delightfully creative.

Belfast was under snow when we arrived which was fun for a moment.

Some incredibly beautiful churches in the city.

We stayed in Phillip’s Airbnb, enjoyed a wonderful evening out with him and hope to see him in the Yukon to return his superb hospitality.

Ethiopia – Gondar

On January 19 we went to Gondar for Epiphany or Timkat as it is called in Ethiopia.. The Eastern Orthodox church focuses on Jesus’s baptism. It is a huge celebration where all the churches in the area parade their representation of the ark of the covenant, or tableau, to the celebration site. The original ark is reputed to be held in Axum. The site contains a huge swimming pool which is filled once a year. The water is blessed by the priests and all the pilgrims and locals attend the baptism, some swimming in the water some just sprinkling it on themselves. It was a 2 ½ hour drive each way and though we left at 6 in the morning we got there after the priests had blessed the water and were leaving the site.

Once the priests left, the sea of people pushing to get into the site was quite over whelming. We lost John as he got pushed over but the wall of people kept him up and many came to his rescue. It took us awhile to relocate him.

Yehalam, Gina and David out side the pool.

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Before returning to Bahir Dar we went for a smorgasbord lunch in a restaurant with a lovely view of the city.

The drive back was slow as many of the little towns along the way were still celebrating in the streets as they returned their tableaus to their churches.

You can see the people ahead of the trucks ladened with cotton. We made a detour in this village following a local through the back roads.

We had a lovely dinner that evening at Abiyota’s home with his wife and three daughter’s.

Preparing a traditional coffee ceremony complete with greenery and the roasting of the green coffee beans. Delicious.

Ethiopia – Bahir Dar

Today we attended an official opening of one of the Foundation’s schools. What an over the top experience! We had such fun riding on the Cosco’s coat tails! When we got out of the vehicle at the school, approximately 25 horses and riders arrive to usher us into the seated area in the trees for the celebration where all the officials from the Department of Education for the region were present.

The ox which was to be slaughtered for the banquet, was on display.

Dancers preformed.

The shoulder dance preformed by all the riders.

Classrooms were visited.

The crowd followed along and cheered.

The chalkboards painted on walls were a suggestion made by Bob Sharp when he visited from Whitehorse and worked in some of the schools.

Heading back to the trees after the classroom visits.

The crowd gathered for the killing of the ox.

It was butchered and the cooking began.

Official ribbon cutting ceremony with David and the officials.

The special bread was cut, with Gina helping out.

Coffee beans were roasted, coffee made and served with the bread.

Speeches were made

and gifts distributed.

The neighbouring community presented a cow and sheep for the community celebration.

Being a horse lover I got a treat.

The banquet in the new classroom consisted of raw and cooked meat. This is a platter of freshly killed ox.

Cooked ox and sheep were also featured.

The meat was served with injera along with beer, whisky and home made arake in the little glass.

After the banquet the neighboring community school council took all dignitaries to a bar. Gina and I were the only females. At one point I counted 34 men. Likewise, the only women at the celebration were those who were helping out.

Saying goodbye.

Lastly on the way back to the hotel we stopped at a distinguished teacher’s home for more coffee, meat and injera. He was honoured to have Gina and David as guests in his house. A sign of respect is to feed people personally, so we were all individually fed by him.

Ethiopia – Bahir Dar

During our time in Bahir Dar we visited six of the nine Foundation schools with the Coscos and their staff.

Trees have been planted to provide shade.

For outdoor classrooms and to cool the rooms that get overheated in the afternoons.

Fruit trees have been planted to teach students about agriculture.

Systems have been put in place for their development.

and were being put in place while we were there.

The students at all the schools we visited attend in shifts, are seated in classes between 50 and 80 per class and are very respectful and attentive at all times. This particular school was preparing for an open house while were here this day.