Miscellaneous

Some guy told us those branches and sticks stuck on the back of trucks was to keep the tarp from flapping. Not so. It is to keep children  and others from riding on the back bumpers of the trucks. Of course I forgot to take a picture.

Flying or driving around Ethiopia you quickly realize that every square foot of land is being used for something. Cultivation, grazing and wood gathering have transformed the landscape. Of course the large numbers of goats and camels have grazed everything down to the ground leaving thorny trees and bushes and cactus. Of course there are a zillion people trying to eke out a living from the land ,the same way they have been doing it for the last couple thousand years. I don"t think they would appreciate any advice I would give them on their farming practices.


Today we took the public minibus from Harar to Dire Dawa. As soon as we arrived at the bus station we were grabbed and pushed into a pretty new bus, it soon became apparent they wanted to drive us privately for about 24 times the going rate. We vetoed that and next were scooped up into another mostly empty bus . We were off but only for a hundred meters or so to pick up some freight. At this point some police swooped in and confiscated the drivers registration. There was a lot of shouting and pushing. I guess the drivers assistant got too mouthy and he was dragged away by the police in a not very gentle manner.The head police guy got in the cab and there was a lot more arguing and histrionics until I suspect some money changed hands and things calmed down. We took our chance and exited this time to find a bus mostly full and ready to leave for Dire Dawa. We paid the regular fare but they dinged us full fare for our bags. I think that might be normal for tourists . Then there was a massive discrepancy with our change. Finally it was all sorted out and away we went. It cost us three dollars for an hour bus ride.

Yammy says folks will be fascinated by the hyena feeding in Harar. I thought it was a bit of a bore. The only thing I found of interest was the fact that the hyenas didn't kill and eat the dogs that were hanging around.


Comments

  1. Unknown1 March 2020 at 03:02

    This is how my partner Wesley Virgin's biography launches in this SHOCKING AND CONTROVERSIAL VIDEO.

    You see, Wesley was in the army-and shortly after leaving-he unveiled hidden, "self mind control" secrets that the government and others used to get anything they want.

    These are the EXACT same methods lots of celebrities (especially those who "became famous out of nothing") and the greatest business people used to become wealthy and famous.

    You've heard that you use less than 10% of your brain.

    That's really because most of your BRAINPOWER is UNTAPPED.

    Perhaps that conversation has even taken place IN YOUR own head... as it did in my good friend Wesley Virgin's head seven years back, while riding a non-registered, beat-up trash bucket of a car with a suspended license and with $3 in his pocket.

    "I'm absolutely fed up with going through life paycheck to paycheck! When will I get my big break?"

    You've taken part in those types of thoughts, am I right?

    Your very own success story is waiting to start. You need to start believing in YOURSELF.

    Learn How To Become A MILLIONAIRE Fast

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Then the Birding Trip

Image
Eleven days, about 3500 km of driving, about eight intense non stop birding days three days where we were given a break in the heat of the day and culminating in our last day in a luxury resort. Tomorrow Addis And our late flight back to Vancouver. On our first day our guide and driver picked us up early and we drove out of Addis. Our first stop a overgrazed field strewn with garbage. Immediately our guide, Bereket started a rapid fire string of identifications of wagtails , larks, pulpits and other common birds. Within minutes my head was spinning.  From there we hit three successive wetlands  and the species kept coming in  tidal wave.  Finally a lunch break then a long drive interspersed with lurching stops to identify a new species. As sunset beckoned we approached Awash National Park and our slightly run down lodge perched on the edge of a magnificent waterfall. That was day one. Quickly eat...
Read more

Heartbreak Highway

So we are on our birding trip, travelling down the highway to our next destination.  We come around the corner and there is a local bus pulled over to the side with all its forty or so passengers lined up along the side of the road. On the centerline of the highway a donkey is kneeling with its forelegs tucked in . He or she is staring placidly ahead with its donkey like calm. The only sign that something is wrong is the pool of blood under the donkey.  At this point someone has been dispatched to get the donkey's owner. I imagine the majority of the bus passengers own donkeys or goats or other livestock. There is no doubt the driver of the bus will have to make things right. I also imagine most of those passengers will offer their advice during the upcoming negotiations. Meanwhile the donkey stares calmly into the distance, a passenger is stroking it's long furry ear and the pool of blood continues to grow, and the donkey's life ebbs away. Heartbreaking.
Read more

More Bird Trip

Image
Our bird guide's name is Bereket. He is an outstanding bird guide. He also has the roles of protector, logistics coordinator, diplomat, and bon vivant. Bereket is on the Left and on the right is our driver Engda  We were really lucky with out driver Engda. He was a very competent and safe driver. Our vehicIe is a brand new Toyota Landcruiser. If you are a Landcruiser aficionado you will notice that the body is the same body they have been building since the eighties. The vehicle is very simple and functional, not spruced up like the new vehicles you get in North America. Here are some more bird pictures.
Read more