Hello from the amazing town of Hawasa!
I am sitting in a ritzy hotel on the shore of the beautiful lake Hawasa gazing over tropical gardens and catching glimpses of huge cranes, hornbills, and many many different exotic birds. Today is a special bonus vacation day as I make my way back from my site visit in Goba to my current home in Bekoji. I am excited to discover this "ferengi" tourist spot as a nice break from normal Ethiopian lifestyle- flush toilets and internet! I have 5 weeks left at my homestay in Bekoji until I move out to Goba. I am extra motivated to learn the language knowing now how important it will be to learn a second language once I get to Goba.
Yesterday I got to walk along the edge of lake Hawasa and was grinning as I took photos of the super abundant Maribou stork - a huge gangly stork, beautiful kingfishers many other fun tropical birds. From my hotel I can watch the storks (over 6 ft wingspan) build their nests and clack their bills in the tree above me.
Three days ago I was able to travel into Bale National park to visit a small rural town for a potential project on helping teach how to sustainably harvest the native bamboo. The mountains are gorgeous- a combination of Alaskan tundra up on the Segeti plateau at 10,000 ft where I even saw the small endemic Ethiopian wolf skulking in the bushes, to the hobbit like trees of the cloud forest. The vegetation can change so quickly here as the elevation changes - which is also so very dramatic (and scary driving down).
Any time I get to go out into some of the remaining nature here my heart fills with joy, excitement and wonder! A wonderful rejuvenation that fuels me through the hassles of dealing with public transport and endless attention from strangers. I'm getting used to being a "celebrity" or called "ferengi", "china", "you,you,you" or "money, money, money" and hopefully soon I will learn better ways to communicate with people. Overall though I have been extremely fortunate in not being really harassed, both Bekoji and Goba are wonderful laid back towns with friendly people.
Ok time to go enjoy this beautiful paradise - wonder down to the lake shore and bird watch. Chao from the tropics and wonder of Africa! And good job America on re-electing Obama!!!! All the Ethiopians were celebrating!
I am sitting in a ritzy hotel on the shore of the beautiful lake Hawasa gazing over tropical gardens and catching glimpses of huge cranes, hornbills, and many many different exotic birds. Today is a special bonus vacation day as I make my way back from my site visit in Goba to my current home in Bekoji. I am excited to discover this "ferengi" tourist spot as a nice break from normal Ethiopian lifestyle- flush toilets and internet! I have 5 weeks left at my homestay in Bekoji until I move out to Goba. I am extra motivated to learn the language knowing now how important it will be to learn a second language once I get to Goba.
Yesterday I got to walk along the edge of lake Hawasa and was grinning as I took photos of the super abundant Maribou stork - a huge gangly stork, beautiful kingfishers many other fun tropical birds. From my hotel I can watch the storks (over 6 ft wingspan) build their nests and clack their bills in the tree above me.
Three days ago I was able to travel into Bale National park to visit a small rural town for a potential project on helping teach how to sustainably harvest the native bamboo. The mountains are gorgeous- a combination of Alaskan tundra up on the Segeti plateau at 10,000 ft where I even saw the small endemic Ethiopian wolf skulking in the bushes, to the hobbit like trees of the cloud forest. The vegetation can change so quickly here as the elevation changes - which is also so very dramatic (and scary driving down).
Any time I get to go out into some of the remaining nature here my heart fills with joy, excitement and wonder! A wonderful rejuvenation that fuels me through the hassles of dealing with public transport and endless attention from strangers. I'm getting used to being a "celebrity" or called "ferengi", "china", "you,you,you" or "money, money, money" and hopefully soon I will learn better ways to communicate with people. Overall though I have been extremely fortunate in not being really harassed, both Bekoji and Goba are wonderful laid back towns with friendly people.
Ok time to go enjoy this beautiful paradise - wonder down to the lake shore and bird watch. Chao from the tropics and wonder of Africa! And good job America on re-electing Obama!!!! All the Ethiopians were celebrating!
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