Hey everyone!
On the road again....just can't wait to be on the road again....
Well, that isn't quite true. We are on the road again today, though. We spent 2 nights in Bahir Dar and are on the way back to Addis Ababa via Debre Markos. Bahir Dar is on the banks of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia and the headwaters of the Blue Nile River, which combines with the White Nile River to become the Nile River. There are many churches and monasteries on Lake Tana, because it is considered a holy place. We went on a boat ride yesterday on the lake and then hiked to a monastery that was really interesting. It is a round building, but the inside is more rectangular. Inside, each side of the building is covered with paintings that depict different things. One side depicts stories from the Old Testament, one side is stories from the life of Christ, one is stories of saints, and the last I can't recall. The walls are covered with these paintings because historically (and still, to be honest) people are primarily illiterate, and they can use these paintings fo
r religious explanation and training.
Yesterday was hiking day for sure, because we not only hiked up and down a mountain to see a monastery, but we also hiked up and down in ankle deep mud to go to the Blue Nile Falls. Everything we had read indicated that the Falls were not nearly as impressive since they built a hydro-electric plant and most of the water now goes to that. We got lucky, though, and it rained all night before we went, so the Falls were very impressive. They aren't blue, though, as the name implies, because we are deep into the rainy season and the silt causes the river and the Falls to look like chocolate milk! The rain was definitely a mixed blessing for us. It made the Falls absolutely stunning and amazing, but it also made the walk there very, very, very muddy. I was sure glad for my cute rubber cowboy boots! They actually worked pretty well. :) It also helped that there are always kids around wanting to earn money that you can hire to help you up and down the rocks and mud. Sometimes they h
elp you whether you want them to or not. The kids at the Falls were probably the pushiest we'd seen, but I managed to find a very nice young lady on the way back who I was happy to pay, just because she was so very nice, pleasant and unpushy. She is 18 and in grade 10. Her village doesn't have school above 8th grade, so during the school year she goes into Bahir Dar and rents a room and goes to school there. She says she wants to go to University and study Business Administration. I hope she is able to be successful. Some of the kids tell you their tales, and you doubt that sincerity and truth of the stories, but I didn't doubt this young lady at all. It felt good to give her a few birr for helping because I felt she'd been truthful.
It gets difficult, sometimes, because sometimes the kids (and occasionally the adults) get kind of pushy asking for money or "sponsorship" or asking for your email "so we can keep in touch" even after you've only known them 2 minutes. I have to remind myself that often, these people are in pretty desperate situations, and if I were in their shoes, I might do the same thing. It is nice to be able to give people the opportunity to earn money (even if it is as being an unofficial guide or carrying luggage) instead of just giving it to them because you feel sorry for them. It can be overwhelming when you see all the need - the significant need - and know that there is no way you can help everyone.
I better go. I'm kind of skipping the Amharic lesson on the bus right now. :) Hope all is well! Will email again when I have time.
Love,
Alica
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