Turmie, Arba Minch, Addis Ababa
Days 107 – 109 27th to 29th May 2018 Ethiopia
We began our last days in Ethiopia driving back from Turmie to Arba Minch with Harptarmo (our phonetic spelling). The drive back passed places we had been – Lake Chamo, Konso and on through a different looking countryside being a Sunday. Local people were walking along the road in their church clothing, shops and business centres quiet.
The countryside was as green and lush with more muddied water in the river beds and irrigation. Acres of crops lined the roads adding to the feeling of lushness.
Once back in Arba Minch we were back to the Paradise Lodge anticipating a lovely afternoon sitting on our verandah overlooking the Lake. On arrival we discovered instead of a lake room we were in a room on the garden side in a position that seemed Siberia. After quite some effort and an almost change of venue we were moved to a room where we could see the lake, hear the baboons in the forest.
Sitting on the verandah in the morning we were visited by a family of baboons, and a family of warthogs. I moved inside to talk to Chris and as I turned to go back outside I shrieked – there poking his head inside our door was big daddy Baboon!
The final leg our our Ethiopian journey was a flight from Arba Minch back to Addis Adaba where Eskinda picked us up and we showered him with our stories and excitement. After a spell in the now familiar (3rd night) Marigold Hotel Eskinda took us out for a final dinner at Kategna Restaurant – a large basket tray of delicious morsels surrounded and lined with Injera.
Our nightcap was a visit to hear local music and dance where a band accompanied local singers and a troupe of local dancers. The men showing amazing agility and ability to isolate movements – such as chest and shoulder. The women demonstrating a form of dance that appeared to be a precursor to head banging in an astounding feat of movement swinging head and neck at increasing speed.
And it is all over – a smooth transition to our flight to Edinburgh as we leave the colour that is Africa.
