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Subject: "Sounds soo wonderful...I can't wait to go next summer" This topic is locked.
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Abdurrashid
Member since Jun 20th 2002
15939 posts
Sat Oct-19-02 06:11 AM

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151. "Sounds soo wonderful...I can't wait to go next summer"
In response to In response to 150


  

          

>Wondo Ganet isn’t terribly far from Shashemene. The road is
>the same smooth road from Addis and I hear this road can
>take you straight to Kenya! On both sides you get to
>appreciate the wonder Nyame’s creation. The landscape
>changes considerably. It’s just open field, fields of tef,
>cindi (wheat) and piccolo (corn). There are circular
>natural homes with thatched roofs that often have a pointy
>object at the very peak. In Maharishi architecture this is
>very important as it focuses energy, this can be seen
>throughout Ethiopia. There are young girls carrying large
>bundles of sticks on their backs the way the women of Entoto
>carry the bundles of eucalyptus. Sometimes there are
>collections of houses surrounded by hedges. Some houses
>have been decorated with paint, some say ‘welcome’ on them,
>others have geometric designs reminiscent of Zulu design. I
>also saw some tombstones like those on display at the IES
>that I described. They had pictures painted on them of a
>person, sometimes it was a person atop a horse with a sword,
>which reminds me of the pictures i have seen of St. George
>here. Yes, a smooth road until you get to an intersection
>which separates the way to Wondo Ganet and that to Awassa.
>There was a sign turn left to Wondo Ganet, 14 km. Ha! 14km.
>When you visit Ethiopia you will notice that people
>sometimes get teens and ties mixed up. That is, you might
>have to say four-zero when you mean 40 because 40 and 14
>sound similar and people often get them mixed up, hence the
>saying of the individual numbers for clarification. Well let
>me tell you, I fear they have made that mistake with that
>sign because trus’ di I when I say, that 14km feels like
>114! The road to Shashemene has made you thoroughly spoilt
>and makes the unasphalted road to Wondo Ganet slightly
>annoying. Bump bump bump! Somehow land cruisers manage to
>speed their way through this area, leaving a cloud of dust
>so thick sometimes we had to crawl to a halt because we
>could not see in front of us. Sometimes it’s a truck to
>your left, a horse-drawn cart to your right and you in the
>middle. There is a section of winding road on the side of a
>mountain that reminds me of tv shows I’ve seen of people
>driving on the coast in Cali. To your right and down (way
>down) is grass of varying shades of green, more traditional
>homes. The view is really beautiful so it makes up for the
>road. But then the road gets really really rough. There is
>mostly red dirt in this area and you can’t go more than
>5km/hr. Up up up you go. There are some false banana plants
>lining the road. There are homes in this area so
>neighborhood children can keep pace with you, going so
>slowly. Some are selling papayas, others, guavas, some
>aren’t selling anything at all. Just as I thought I could
>bear the bumping no longer we spotted the blessed sight of a
>light blue sign with white lettering. It had 2 arrows, one
>pointing left for Wondo Ganet hotel and restaurant and the
>other right to the springs.
>
>We went left so that we could take a sit down and eat
>properly. We went up the path leading past the hotel and we
>parked. The area is really beautiful with several tall,
>trees with overhanging branches. Their roots are thick and
>there is one tree that sits in front of reception that would
>take several people to encircle it, so thick its base. There
>is another path which leads to the restaurant. It is lined
>with beautiful flowers. It looks out of place though, with
>its spaceship-like architecture. You can sit on its roof
>and enjoy the view of the mountains in the distance. My
>hosts said that the food at the restaurant wasn’t that hot
>so we made sure we were prepared. We had packed dabo (baked
>that morning!), fruits, peanuts and peanut brittle and a
>roasted barley snack that is particularly popular here. We
>then sat on some stumps that partially encircled a tree. On
>the tree the staff had put a little garbage can. We got our
>food out of the vehicle, unwrapped our dabo and got some
>cookies out and water. Then we had an uninvited guest. A
>little monkey decided it would join us for lunch. We tried
>shooing it away at first, it backed up then moved forward
>again. The people at reception called out to us and said
>“dabo, dabo, dabo!” oh it wants dab huh? We gave it pieces
>of dabo and it ate. Then its friend or cousin or something
>jumped on the vehicle and tried to go inside! After getting
>it off of the vehicle it joined us too. 5 min later there
>were no less than 7 monkeys around us. They had been in the
>large trees. Some were still there. Some were small and
>brown-grey. Some were large and black and white. The black
>and white ones are called Guereza and the brown ones I
>believe called Vervet, so look that up so you can see what I
>am talking about. I myself had never seen monkeys that close
>up. I watched them, it’s interesting how human-like they
>are. We gave them bananas. They peeled them, ate the inside,
>put the peel down and wiped off their hands in some cases!
>Other times when we had already eaten part of the banana
>they ate what was left before throwing way the peel. I
>watched them eat orange. They took the wedge ate the inside
>of the orange and took out the white skin; the part that I
>eat myself apparently is not good enough for them. They
>didn’t spit it out either, they used their hands to take it
>out and put it down. They ate our peanuts, they didn’t too
>much care for the peanut brittle, oranges, bananas and dabo
>and were looking expectantly as if they expected us to give
>them some water and a glass. The brown ones were more polite
>than the black and white ones. They would just come up to
>sitting on their rump and look at you, sometimes crossing
>their hands. The largest of the Guereza came over and we
>could not shoo it away at all, it even tried to grab some
>food! Well I snapped some photos while they were there.
>Afterwards we packed up all the food and put it back into
>the vehicle. My host wanted to take some pictures of them.
>Well let me tell you, after the food was gone, so were they.
>I don’t mean they weren’t on the ground anymore, I mean we
>couldn’t even find them in the trees! It was like they
>completely disappeared. So, no photos for her unfortunately.
>After taking a little tour of the grounds we set off for the
>springs.
>
>The springs are a stone’s throw away from the restaurant, we
>parked got out and went to the entrance. It costs 5.25 Birr
>to get a private room, I don’t know how much for the
>communal place. The manager got the key for my room and
>unlocked it and gave me a small bar of soap. The tub had
>already been filled and the water was still going. At the
>bottom of the tub is a large wooden plug. You can take this
>out and let the water run out and opt to take a shower or
>you can just sit in the tub. I closed the door, removed my
>clothes and stepped into the tub.
>Just as quickly, I stepped back out.
>Obviously I was going to have to do this gradually; the
>water was scalding!!!!! I put in one foot at a time and
>ever…so….slowly…I lowered the rest of my body inside,
>oftentimes having to start over because I just couldn’t take
>the heat. About 5 min later my whole body was immersed in
>the water. Aaah! The water felt great. I spent about 30-45
>min in Wondo Ganet’s healing mineral waters. The water is
>channeled from the mountain, I hear further up the mountain
>the water is about 10 times as hot. They channel the water
>into about 5 or 6 private rooms, an outside area, one side
>for men, one for women, where the water comes through pipes
>and off the rocks onto you. There is also a large pool you
>can go swimming in. when people need healing, they stay for
>a number of days and take the baths everyday for the
>duration of their stay. I let the water out of the tub and
>took a shower in there, washing my hair. I felt really good
>when I finally emerged. We all did. We then hopped in the
>vehicle and off to Awassa we went.

"The camel never sees its own hump but that of its brothers is always before its eyes"- N.African proverb

Alhamdullah For Everything!

  

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Greetings from Ethiopia!!!! [View all] , kemetian, Thu Aug-22-02 09:44 PM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 22nd 2002
1
cosign with monique
Aug 22nd 2002
2
salaam
Aug 23rd 2002
3
RE: salaam
Sep 16th 2002
110
      by marriage
Sep 16th 2002
111
Cool !!! And BLUE MOUNTAIN IS THE BEST!
Aug 23rd 2002
4
kaffa
Aug 23rd 2002
5
      RE: kaffa
Aug 23rd 2002
6
           RE: kaffa
Aug 23rd 2002
7
                dont believe tea comes from london either ;)
Aug 23rd 2002
8
                     hehe...isn' it from china?
Aug 23rd 2002
9
                          yep, same with spaghetti
Aug 23rd 2002
10
great, keep us posted!
Aug 23rd 2002
11
be careful..Addis aint no joke...
Aug 23rd 2002
12
you've been?
Aug 25th 2002
25
      what the fuck would i go to afrika for?
Aug 26th 2002
44
Wow
Aug 23rd 2002
13
RE: Wow
Aug 23rd 2002
14
My heart is racing
Aug 23rd 2002
15
Kemetian Holla Please
Aug 24th 2002
16
GET OUT OF HERE!!!
Aug 24th 2002
20
RE: Kemetian Holla Please
Aug 25th 2002
24
Peace & Blessings
Aug 26th 2002
36
Hey, I LIKE kitfo!
Aug 26th 2002
40
      Sounds like
Aug 26th 2002
41
have a wonderful time...
Aug 24th 2002
17
Enjoy the culture & the beautiful people!
Aug 24th 2002
18
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 24th 2002
19
What are you talking about
Aug 25th 2002
29
      dude's quotes of jigga is even
Aug 27th 2002
48
      RE: What are you talking about
Sep 06th 2002
73
           RE: What are you talking about
Sep 06th 2002
74
Isn't West Africa the motherland?
Aug 24th 2002
21
No idiot
Aug 25th 2002
27
No, that seems just as weird
Aug 25th 2002
28
      So my friend....
Aug 26th 2002
32
           Firebrand
Aug 26th 2002
37
           Advice taken...I thought he was serious.
Aug 26th 2002
39
           Uh well I am in the states and I don't feel at home
Aug 26th 2002
38
Motherland
Aug 27th 2002
46
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 25th 2002
22
yes
Aug 28th 2002
55
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 25th 2002
23
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 25th 2002
26
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 25th 2002
30
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 26th 2002
31
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 28th 2002
53
      berbere in the morning
Aug 28th 2002
54
      comments/questions
Sep 05th 2002
70
           Your fiancee is Gurage?
Sep 08th 2002
81
           RE: Your fiancee is Gurage?
Sep 09th 2002
83
           Tigre/Tigrinya?
Sep 09th 2002
91
                OK, this might get confusing, but bear with me here...
Sep 09th 2002
94
                     it gets worse
Sep 10th 2002
95
           Nope
Sep 09th 2002
87
           Yeah,
Sep 20th 2002
118
           kohjoh
Sep 09th 2002
82
           RE: kohjoh
Sep 09th 2002
86
                RE: kohjoh
Sep 09th 2002
88
                     Dupont Cir. (sorry 4 postjack)
Sep 09th 2002
93
                          RE: Dupont Cir. (sorry 4 postjack)
Sep 10th 2002
96
           Skip Sodere
Sep 09th 2002
89
Minibus
Aug 26th 2002
33
we spread like wild fiya
Aug 26th 2002
34
RE: Minibus
Aug 26th 2002
42
      rasta's cant afford no trip to afrika,
Aug 27th 2002
49
           RE: rasta's cant afford no trip to afrika,
Aug 27th 2002
52
                RE: rasta's cant afford no trip to afrika,
Sep 10th 2002
97
                     No explanation, I'm sure
Sep 11th 2002
98
being a foreigner (from a western country)
Aug 26th 2002
35
WHAT?
Aug 27th 2002
51
RE: being a foreigner (from a western country)
Sep 05th 2002
67
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 26th 2002
43
We Will
Aug 28th 2002
56
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 26th 2002
45
RE: Greetings from Ethiopia!!!!
Aug 27th 2002
47
      U ain' neva lied.....
Aug 28th 2002
59
"God" bless you, Kemetian!
Aug 27th 2002
50
what a great quote!
Aug 28th 2002
57
      are you serious or just being ironic?
Sep 08th 2002
80
Salama
Aug 28th 2002
58
RE: Salama
Sep 16th 2002
106
      Yes, yes,
Sep 16th 2002
109
           you should do a post on it
Sep 17th 2002
112
                RE: you should do a post on it
Sep 18th 2002
114
                Wha's up, Brah?
Sep 20th 2002
117
                     don't bother inboxing Solarus
Sep 20th 2002
120
                          I was looking to see what
Oct 23rd 2002
156
                          RE: don't bother inboxing Solarus
Oct 24th 2002
160
                               I don't recall receiving
Oct 25th 2002
164
The Mercato
Aug 31st 2002
60
RE: The Mercato
Sep 01st 2002
61
Merkato Continued
Sep 03rd 2002
62
      RE: Merkato Continued
Sep 04th 2002
63
      RE: Merkato Continued
Sep 04th 2002
65
           RE: Merkato Continued
Sep 04th 2002
66
                Coffee or tea?
Sep 05th 2002
68
                     Oops
Sep 05th 2002
69
                     Beka
Sep 05th 2002
72
                     buna shai?
Sep 09th 2002
84
      Sounds really interesting...str8 up.
Sep 04th 2002
64
      RE: Merkato
Sep 05th 2002
71
The Wedding Part I
Sep 08th 2002
75
RE: The Wedding Part II
Sep 08th 2002
76
RE: The Wedding Part II
Sep 09th 2002
85
RE: The Wedding Part I
Sep 08th 2002
78
I just got back today!
Sep 08th 2002
77
Wow! That's wonderful
Sep 08th 2002
79
My 2 cents
Sep 09th 2002
90
Geshta?
Sep 09th 2002
92
      Hard to explain
Sep 12th 2002
101
      Sweetsop!!!
Oct 25th 2002
163
ond meskerem
Sep 11th 2002
99
Happy New Year!!!!!!
Sep 11th 2002
100
Addis Amet 1995 Part I
Sep 13th 2002
102
Addis Amet 1995 Part II
Sep 13th 2002
103
Worldspace
Sep 15th 2002
104
the bomb on addis amet
Sep 16th 2002
105
i actually heard about it
Sep 16th 2002
108
      RE: i actually heard about it
Sep 18th 2002
113
Current situation in Ethiopia?
Sep 16th 2002
107
Entoto: A Radical Ritual pt. I
Sep 20th 2002
115
Entoto: A Radical Ritual pt. II
Sep 20th 2002
116
      RE: Entoto: A Radical Ritual pt. II
Sep 20th 2002
119
           Lucky you!!!
Sep 20th 2002
121
                RE: Lucky you!!!
Sep 21st 2002
122
up
Sep 24th 2002
123
thanks a
Sep 27th 2002
132
Institute for Ethiopian Studies
Sep 25th 2002
124
RE: Institute for Ethiopian Studies
Sep 25th 2002
125
      hhmm
Sep 25th 2002
126
      maybe
Sep 26th 2002
127
      No?
Sep 26th 2002
128
      the coffee house
Sep 27th 2002
131
           RE: the coffee house
Sep 29th 2002
134
           thanks for the love
Oct 01st 2002
136
           Yes!
Oct 01st 2002
137
      RE: Institute for Ethiopian Studies
Sep 27th 2002
130
           hhmm
Oct 01st 2002
138
Meskel!!! What can i say?
Sep 27th 2002
129
is this that christian celebration?
Sep 27th 2002
133
      um, no
Oct 01st 2002
135
^
Oct 04th 2002
139
Meskel finally
Oct 04th 2002
140
RE: Meskel finally
Oct 04th 2002
141
So Christianity is O.K.
Oct 08th 2002
143
      yes Christianity is O.K.
Oct 09th 2002
146
^
Oct 08th 2002
142
Why Ethiopia Stayed Behind
Oct 08th 2002
144
well
Oct 10th 2002
147
some activities
Oct 09th 2002
145
^
Oct 14th 2002
148
Shashemene I
Oct 17th 2002
149
Wondo Ganet
Oct 19th 2002
150
^
Oct 23rd 2002
152
Desta: Master Traditional Dancer
Oct 23rd 2002
153
Ethiopian Martial Arts
Oct 23rd 2002
154
LoL
Oct 23rd 2002
157
?
Oct 24th 2002
159
sort of
Oct 25th 2002
161
      i find
Oct 25th 2002
162
Hol up
Oct 23rd 2002
155
Are you going to Axum?
Oct 23rd 2002
158
^
Oct 29th 2002
165
Awassa
Oct 29th 2002
166
^
Nov 03rd 2002
167
RE: ^
Nov 09th 2002
168

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