What's new. Here and there.

27 Jul, 2024, No comments

It's rainy season in Ethiopia right now. With its pros and cons, and its disasters. A few days ago, there was a landslide in the Gofa region due to the rains. Many people got under the mud. Many have already been found, but not all... Such is life nowadays - everywhere both joys and misfortunes. We are grateful for every morning we look forward to and every day we have lived happily.

And there is another friend of mine in Ethiopia who is waiting for the help of our, fellow human beings. His name is Moges. And he lives in Lalibela, Ethiopia. He is a wonderful father to his children and a caring husband to his wife. Only, an accident happened to him - he needs a kidney transplant. If you are able and willing to help, contact Moges, please! The Universe will appreciate it. Thank you, Human being! I transferred my part through WU.

There is also some happier information - our (my and my husband's) care child, the Arba Minch ECO camping, which we support by physically helping with work and morally when times are more difficult, is very active and soon 4 more bungalows and a terrace cafe will be completed. We are happy about his achievements. A year ago we spent some time there working as volunteers. If you want to try what it's like to live and work in Ethiopia, you also have opportunity to put your hard-working hand there. In this case, contact me. Well, if you just want to relax and enjoy nature - you are also welcome at the campsite!

Ethiopia, Arba Minch eco campsite view to mountains background

My reflections on the development of tourism industry in Ethiopia.

15 Apr, 2024, No comments

I am often in Ethiopia and know the growth of the country since 2008. To be honest, I'm sad. Your unique, beautiful Ethiopia is being made uninteresting to tourists and unfriendly to locals folks. That's what you called modernization to develop tourism. Yes, maybe some things, the infrastructure is being fixed. However, a lot of culture, history and unique nature are lost. The environment is irretrievably polluted around the tourist attractions. No one thinks about it. The government of Ethiopia thinks only about grabbing the big money. People, nature, peace... it doesn't matter to them.

I am truly sorry that soon there will be nowhere to take travelers, there won't be even a small part of the true world that was left. Ethiopia follows the path of Europe, America - the path of destruction. And there is no going back.

Kids of Ethiopia in Tigray

Recently, I posted a post on FB about which I received interesting comments, and as a result, I want to talk more about this topic. Usually, I'm looking at my travels and what I experienced there (not only in Ethiopia) positively and I try to show to others the beautiful, nice, inspiring things from it. But, this does't mean that there is no a "black side". Observing the development of tourism since 2008, there is a feeling that this industry is rapidly sliding down, instead of flourishing and growing up, as one would expect. Of course, there is not just one reason for this. There is a whole set - a domestic politics (under which lies foreign politic), corruption, economy and above all - EDUCATION.

A little of my feelings and emotions, so you can better understand - I don't know about others, but I don't like going to the volcano on a path where there is a thick layer of plastic bottles along the sides. Yes, our groups (others have also been seen) take bags and collect this waste, bring it to the camp and put it in a metal container ... but - that container will never be taken out, because there was no such option for this project. They have thought about how to install the container, but how to take it out regularly (or at all) remains still is an open question. A beautiful asphalt road has been built (a huge investment for the development of tourism) almost to the volcano itself, but what can I see at the end? Garbage around the volcano? And here maybe I support the high price for the opportunity to visit Danakil depression - it separates people who can get here and who can't. But does that exclude "pollutants" from the list? Probably not. Money does not always come together with brains.

And this is only 1 example on this topic. Next - tourists do't travel because they are afraid of the political situation. The unrests are only in one corner of the country, but it has consequences all over the country. There are few tourists, but prices triple and even more. Instead of lowering prices and attracting tourists in a crisis, prices are raised and there are even fewer tourists now.

If this has not deterred you and you have gone to Ethiopia, then what you see when you go a little off the "tourist paths" makes you run quickly to your fine hotel, because there is nothing pleasing there - when they see "white", the locals have 2 thoughts, either you are a bag of money or humanitarian aid has arrived. And I understand them - education is as it is (isn't), all domestic problems (war, drought, lack of water, inflation, etc.) drive people to despair. It is sad to see people exhausted from work, dead cattle and snotty children looking at you with pleading eyes. What can a traveler see here? What tourism development? Guides mainly have only one idea - how to get a bigger tip. There is no understanding of how to teach fellow human beings (including tourists) not to pollute nature, no one has explained to that local child that he should not run after a white person and shout: "money, money!" and have no to throw stones if you don't get anything. All this is the work of local tourist offices. But nothing. However, I have to pay for all kinds of permits, for signatures, for stamps on them, for guards, cooks, guides, for hand feeders and bag carriers, etc. at every step.

If you are brave enough and go to the tribes, then again it's a circus - everyone is placed in a "row" impersonally posing. Also asking for the same money from an ordinary curious wanderer as from a professional photographer who then earns money with his pictures and videos. The logic is where? There is no. I want to see simply how they live, that they exist at all. To the theater I can go in Europe. Cheaper.

And another question, why do I, as a white person, have to pay double for everything? Because I have that skin color? Hmmm...

But despite all this, I will continue to go there and show for my people the beautiful and unique that is still left. I'll put on rose-colored glasses.