Travels with my Camera.... - Page 4

Abissinia · (#76 (**permalink**))

Lalia wrote:

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@Abissinia

Wow, great pictures and history to along with it I hopesomeday I willgo...What was the experience like for? and how what are the people like? could you share any tips traverlers should perparefor or exspect?I'm very curious to know if you don't mind me asking?

Thanxsniceone.gif

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I’ll try my best, however I am a bit bias I really loved it there, I went there for a month non stop touring…. I was knackered when I got back and slept for almost two days…be warned you’ll need a few days holiday when you get back.

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Personally Ethiopia is a country with friendly people, great history and culture. Anyone expecting a relaxing beach holiday shouldn’t even think of going there, however if you are adventurous like me then there is tons of history, beautiful mountain (85%) scenery, and a varied and unique wildlife to keep you entertained!

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Addis Ababa was my least favourite place; it’s very humid, over crowded and noisy. The most historic places to visit are Gonder, Bahar Dar, Axum (I have already written about the three) and Lalibela. The tiny town of Lalibela has 11 must see churches that are carved from solid rocks. Getting to where the churches are is very difficult especially in the raining season but well worth it. The churches are still being used in the same way they were used 1000s of years ago, the priests and monks still use same 100s of years old bibles, same old solid gold crosses, dress same way. Every thing you see there is a treasure; I can only describe the place as magical!!

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But if you looking for peace and quiet then head to Bale mountains, beautiful green rolling hills, some rear wildlife like the Ethiopian wolves (not many left) and also lots and lots of birds, very peaceful place. Then head to Arba Minch (2 days journey by road) here you’ll find crocodile market in Lake Chamo, if you brave enough you can get within few meters of this huge crocodiles some are about 5-6 meters long so nerve wrecking but very fascinating…

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Transport: Most towns have an airport (I think about 40+ airports within the country); you can catch a flight to any of these destinations (about twice a day). I recommend taking the bus or rent a jeep, the roads are awful but the scenery is breathtaking, the drive from Axum to Gonder was pure torture it took about 11 hours driving through the mountains but well worth it for the scenery (you can see the simian mountains in the distance), and the baboons on the road playing chicken with the car keep you well entertained.

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Hotels are plentiful (most places) and very cheap (about £5 per night), the cost of transport is quite reasonable as well (e.g. a bus ticket from Axum to Gonder cost about £4), you can get by with about £20 a day that’s including food+bed+transport.

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I hope this helps, let me know if you need more info. I am hoping to go next summer, there are a few places I haven’t visited yet and a few places I definitely would love to visit again.

Saida.M · (#77 (**permalink**))

Stunning pics Ab - thanks for sharing. I have heard the tale about the covenant being in Ethiopia, but what I want to know is why is it 'said', to be there - why don't anyone know?

Abissinia · (#78 (**permalink**))

athaba wrote:

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Stunning pics Ab - thanks for sharing. I have heard the tale about the covenant being in Ethiopia, but what I want to know is why is it 'said', to be there - why don't anyone know?

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The Queen of Sheba is supposed to have been an Ethiopian monarch. The legends say that the Queen of Sheba travelled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to visit King Solomon, was impregnated by King Solomon, and upon return to Ethiopia gave birth to a son, Menelik I (founder of Ethiopia's Solomonic dynasty, Emperor Haile Selassie was the 225th descendant of King Solomon).

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When Menelik turned 20, he travelled to Jerusalem to visit his father and was received with great honour. So much, honour, in fact, that Solomon's advisers grew jealous of him, and asked the king to send Menelik home. Solomon relented, on the condition that his advisers send their first-born sons with him. One of the sons, Azarius, son of Zadok the High Priest of Israel, then stole the Ark of the Covenant, according to the story, and brought it with them to Ethiopia.

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Although this is possible, another more plausible account is that a colony of Jews fled the Babylonian invasion of Judah, taking the ark with them down into Ethiopia for safekeeping.

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No one really knows for sure which story is the truth or whether the Ark exists in Axum at all. The keeper of the Ark is the only one allowed inside the room where the supposed ark is kept, not sure why they keep it secret.

Saida.M · (#79 (**permalink**))

Abissinia wrote:

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athaba wrote:

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Stunning pics Ab - thanks for sharing. I have heard the tale about the covenant being in Ethiopia, but what I want to know is why is it 'said', to be there - why don't anyone know?

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The Queen of Sheba is supposed to have been an Ethiopian monarch. The legends I have read say that hearing of King Solomon's great wisdom and glory, the Queen of Sheba travelled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to visit him, was impregnated by King Solomon, and upon return to Ethiopia gave birth to a son, Menelik I (founder of Ethiopia's Solomonic dynasty, Emperor Haile Selassie was the 225th descendant of King Solomon).

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When Menelik turned 20, he travelled to Jerusalem to visit his father and was received with great honour. So much, honour, in fact, that Solomon's advisers grew jealous of him, and asked the king to send Menelik home. Solomon relented, on the condition that his advisers send their first-born sons with him. One of the sons, Azarius, son of Zadok the High Priest of Israel, then stole the Ark of the Covenant, according to the story, and brought it with them to Ethiopia.

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Although this is possible, another more plausible account is that a colony of Jews fled the Babylonian invasion of Judah, taking the ark with them down into Ethiopia for safekeeping.

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No one really knows for sure which story is the truth or whether the Ark exists in Axum at all. The keeper of the Ark is the only one allowed inside the room where the supposed ark is kept, not sure why they keep it secret.

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Thanks Abissinia!niceone.gif-I hearda rough version of that tale, but it is interesting to note that from the time all that supposed tohave had happened,the keeper(s) have not broken the silence. confused3(Puzzled)

Femergy · (#80 (**permalink**))

@ All,
These are really stunning pictures. What's the point of going somewhere where you can't get to eat the local food, see the culture and hear the language.

Too many places of beauty, history and culture are being changed out of all recognition. I did a tour of Tunisia about 13 years ago. Fantastic! Went there about 3 years ago, what a mess

I was so shocked by the transformation. Nothing but fast or english food. Eventually found a (bonafide) Indian restaurant to eat properly and it took ages trying to find a Tunisian cafe/restaurant. My favourite place is Egypt but would really like to do the West coast of Africa next.

Can anyone suggest how/who best to organise these visits/tours?

Abissinia, who do you arrange your visit to Ethiopia with (if you don't mind).

Saida.M · (#81 (**permalink**))

blktypeWeirdly Femergy, at the back of Big Issues, (yes the homeless mag), they use to run no end of tours/expeditions etc.,to Africa - very cheaply.

I don't know if they still do, (because its been a while since I bought one), but it may be worth getting one to find out, even if at the end of day you only end up helping the homeless.

Femergy · (#82 (**permalink**))

@ Athaba, thankx for that slice of info.clp)

Saida.M · (#83 (**permalink**))

Your welcome Fem! niceone.gif

Sooofresh · (#84 (**permalink**))

Abissinia · (#85 (**permalink**))

Femergy wrote:

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Abissinia, who do you arrange your visit to Ethiopia with (if you don't mind).

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My aunt who lives in Ethiopia 6 month of the year organised most things for me and my brother like flight tickets (internal), car rental etc. But everything else we did ourselves when we got there.

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When we first got there we had planned to visit just 3 places (cities) but ended up visiting about 8 places, we just went with the flow really. Each place we visited they recommended we visit another place and that’s exactly what we did.

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Let me know if you need info on tour operators to Ethiopia, I can ask my dad for you.

Aden · (#86 (**permalink**))

Here are some pics from my trip to hargeisa Somaliland

I am wearing what most somali men wear.

It was my first trip there.