Faces of Gondar…

I wish so very badly that I could have posted consistently during my time in Ethiopia. Ten days without internet is a long time for a journalist.

But when its all said and done – and I return to you all with images such as this:

…it makes it all worth it, right?

Our little soiree began with Addis Ababa, but the really unique stuff had yet to begin. Our travels within Ethiopia typically began with a puddle-jump…

…0ver a different terrain and landscape every time…

…and land at an airport that could just as well double as a bus station. Not that it WAS a bus station, just was about the size of a bus station.

The drive in the Gondar region began with the Gondar town proper. Of course in a fair rain…

…but rain makes for good images, too.

But the rain doesn’t last long. The rain relents its hazy feel to shiny roads…

…followed soon by the residual patterns of tires in the wet streets.

This is Gondar town proper, one of the largest towns of this region but one with a fairly typical look for the highlands of north Ethiopia.

But honestly, what is fairly “typical” for Ethiopia truly is astounding to the typical western mind. Everything here is unique. It is truly one of the more unique places I have ever seen in my entire life.

So, our drive to the Simien Mountains began: a winding, wide dirt road with a gradual upward slope. We started in Addis Ababa somewhere in the 6000-7000ft region. Now we began climbing into the 8000ft region. The typical atmosphere being the psi at which airplanes are pressurized.

For some, I just shot out the window as we passed. If I stopped for every image I would have liked to have captured, it would have taken a week to get there and back.

Drive by images kinda like this one above.

But sometimes we did stop and spend time in one place. One place in particular was a pottery workshop.

The women there are taught a trade and paid a wage in hopes to enhance their independence.

We spent some time with them, just a few minutes really. It never seems like a few minutes are wasted though. Even the smallest bit of time brings out a good situation.

Pens. Ball-point pens. Something so simple, but believe it or not, they are GREAT conversation starters. Sometimes, the language barrier prevents conversations, but an openness and a willingness to give something makes a difference.

Why pens? Because they are expensive and young kids need them to go to school. More than books – which are often provided at school – the pens are the resource that does run out quickly.

But chewing gum works, too.

Farther down the road, there was a place to stop and see the beginning of the Simien highlands.

But this view isn’t the special one for now. Sometimes, the things that are behind you are the significant moments.

Young kids like this are often left to take care of each other during the daytime. The young taking care of the young because the parents must go to work in the fields or walk miles to town. At this point, we were 20km from any settled area. But when the vehicle comes to a stop, it only takes a few moments before children appear out of nowhere.

Even if you stay on the bus, there will be an interaction.

Still, as the last one on the ground before the vehicle leaves, I still get to see the last moments these kids see of us.

Ya gotta wonder what they’re thinking… seeing a little into our world through glass. All the Kindle’s and laptops and cell phones and cameras strewn all over the seats.

I wouldn’t ever pretend to know. Maybe I wouldn’t want to.

But it wasn’t long until we were deep in the Simien mountains, up in the 10,000ft above sea level range.

And yes – at long last – with the Gellata baboons.

They sent me out into a whole group of these guys to get a few up-close photos. We weren’t sure how close we would be getting again. (But, never fear we did, later.)

Well, my friends, there are just not enough words to describe the Simien Mountains. This is primordial. We’re talking cradle of life stuff here…

10mm just doesn’t do it justice. I don’t think a 360º panorama could. There’s only so many things a camera can capture. The Simien highlands just can’t fit on film.

One more try, with the Nikon this time?

Yep, not gonna happen. For those of us on this trip, we have seen an awe-inspiring place. We’re talking of Grand Canyon proportions here.

Oh well. No reason to dwell on it for me, I’ve seen it. Now you need to.

The day ended at a campsite high in the mountains. It began storming again and we all cuddled into a small hut.

We started the day with the temperature in the 70’s and ended the day huddled around a fire trying to keep warm. Oh, and we were in tents. 😉 We’ll save that story for next time.

And here’s another monkey:

For now stay tuned,
-Noah D.