Chasing Sunsets: Journal Entry 4

We woke early to shower in the hot springs with the locals; they lathered and relathered with soap multiple time. One girl offered me a chair under where the hot springs fell from a high rock; I accepted and began to lather and then rinse myself...when I was done (with only one round of lather and wash) they each looked at each other and one girl asked "are you finished already?" I nodded and started to dry off; as each of them were on another round of lather and rinse. I wonder if they don't get to shower that often; so when they do...they really clean. Anyway, it was an exhilarating experience showering in a hot spring; in Africa...in the middle of no where. After our shower, we ran into an older couple from Australia that had once lived in Ethiopia for over 20 years; she had given birth to each of her three children in ET. They were once missionaries in a Leper community. They had brought two of there children back to visit some of the places they use to frequent while living here. We then ate breakfast (eggs)-apparently I do not eat enough for our guide's standards; as he is continually telling me to eat...eat "be, be".

monkies in the tree at our hotel
Then we were off for what appeared on the map to be a short distance to our destination-Arba Minch-but, in reality was about an 11 hour day of hard travel. We stopped for a traditional lunch in Soda {which we come to find out later in our adventure is the capital of the area of land that Simret's mother is from} Sodo was a beautiful place, lush vegetation and a nice road to travel on. Apparently, a great deal of professors live in Sodo because it is a university village. One a side note-I went to the women's bathroom and there was just a hole in the ground to go in; and there was a bucket of water next to the hole that you were suppose to pour down it after finishing your business. That was a shocker...but I managed...hey I am a from Wyoming and have had to "drip-dry" while camping many times. So, there I was standing over a hole in the ground drip-drying. Note-to-self: bring toilet paper into the bathroom; instead of leaving it in my backpack at the table. Interestingly enough, when I got back to the table to "the boys" know about my bathroom adventure...they informed me that the boy's bathroom had an actual toilet? Go figure!

The lovely toliet

On our way to Arba Minch we met the Dorzi tribe; they live up on the top of a mountain-so high up that it doesn't seem possible for people to live, as they do not have vehicles and have to travel miles up and down the mountain to get to town to trade their goods at the local market and to get daily water and supplies. They live in elephant shaped houses that get shortened by the termites. Every five years or so; they have to recarve their doorway because of the termites. We visited one of the Dorzi villages-they showed us in each dwelling. There is a small dwelling that is "the honeymoon" suite-it is where the honeymooners go "when they still like each other...this is why it is so small"-explained a local Dorzi man. The men in this tribe are known for their weaving. They make beautiful garments, curtains, bedspreads, etc. The women spin the cotton into yarn for the men to weave. We also sampled some of their local moon-shine (it was some sort of hard alcohol with chili in it). We also ate this bread made from "false banana"-a banana tree that doesn't produce fruit-they use the trunk to make bread and porridge. They claim to have had elders in their village that have lived to 120 years of age; which is amazing because the average life expectancy in Ethiopia is 40-45 years of age. They are known as the "dancing tribe"-as they have a different form of dance (with their hips, instead of their shoulders) as the other tribes. They have taught their children to dance for the tourist for birr or water; instead of just asking for it. So, when you drive up or down the mountain after visiting their village-you see children all along the dirt/gravel path dancing for whatever you will give them.

Dorzi children dancing in the street

It is has been overwhelmingly sad to see so many children and people in need of basics like water or even a container that will hold water. It is hard to describe how the people here live: their daily routine is filled with gathering supplies needed for the village-such as water, wood, etc. They walk miles with heavy loads on their backs; back and forth each day. The men usually tend to the livestock (goats, cows), the women carry heavy supplies on their backs, such as wood or water, and the children care for the babies (it was not uncommon to see a child younger than 10 years old with a baby strapped to her back). The children and most of the people are barefoot and have little clothing-if there is a rip in their shirt-they just tie it back together. It is a hard life; but they seem to enjoy working with the land. It is extremely dry and dusty here-we have been told that it has not rained in months-and when it does rain-it usually doesn't stop for a couple of months. It is their summer season here; opposite of where we are from.

Dorzi hut-elephant shaped.................Dorzi man weaving a blanket

Drinking moonshine with the boys.....Dorzi woman pealing false banana plant

We finally did get to Arba Minch and stayed at the Swayne's Hotel; which is situated on a cliff that over looks the Nechisar National Park. What an amazing view...one that no combination of words could accurately describe. Below is a lush forest with two lakes on either side-for some reason it reminds me of a place in Greece that we visited on our honeymoon. Maybe it is the fog that hangs over the forest?