ETHIOPIA: Travel Diary - What an Honour!

Today we had lunch at the late Emperor Haille Sellassie's Palace in Bahar Dar. The Palace is closed to the public, and guarded by men with AK47's. No one is allowed in. None of the Ethiopians who were with us today had ever set foot beyond the gates. You will not find a single picture on the internet that has not been taken from outside the walls. What a blessing, what a privilege!

ETHIOPIA: Travel Diary - Blue Nile Falls

Today we saw the Blue Nile Falls. It is an hours bus ride from Bahir Dar, down a bumpy dirt road through some of the most beautiful country side I have ever seen, and rich in rural Ethiopian culture. We arrive in a village, and have to walk for a about 15 minutes through village and pasture, among local and cattle. We reach a river and are ferried across on a dodgy old boat. We walk some more. No more village, but still villagers and cattle. We walk

ETHIOPIA: Travel Diary - Day 3

Wow what a day! Up at 04:00 am for flight to Bahar Dar. Boat ride across lake Tana to the Zegheit Peninsula to visit an active Monastery built in the 14th Century. Then lunch at the Palace of Emperor Haille Sellasie. Then 1 hour bus along rural dirt roads to Blue Nile Falls. A hike, a boat trip and another hike through rural village/farm land to get to falls. Topped it all off with banquet in our honour hosted by Department of Arts and Culture, with

ETHIOPIA: Travel Diary - Day 1 and I'm Smitten

"Ethiopia has stolen a piece of my heart! Day 1, and Im smitten! Its the people, really it is. Its beautiful here, extremely beautiful. But just as beautiful as all of Africa is. Its the people, and the culture . . .the hospitality and the ethos. . . and its all so genuine, sincere. Every one I met is passionate about Ethiopia, and sharing it with the world. . . hells, I'm passionate bout Ethiopia, and I just want to share it with all of you. Coming here I expected to be

ETHIOPIA: Travel Diary - Arrival

Have arrived in Ethiopia safe. Business class is Legit! Thank You Air Ethiopia - the best flight I have ever had! Arrived at Addis Ababa International Airport and drove through city in cover of darkness, to the 5 lakes area of Debre Zeit, about 45 minutes outside of Addis.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS? The people here are so beautiful, inside and out, and the friendliness and hospitality is