Awards

I also hosted an 'awards' evening for the trip. I am sure all will be explained when at home:

1: Billy - Sick note award

2: George - Waiters nightmare award

3. Amelia - mother goose award

4. Christian - lovesick puppy award

5. Lucy - Big appetite award

6. Dan- Safari man award

7. Arseniy - Energiser bunny award

8. Hollie - Embarassing Stories award

9. Pete - Gold DofE award

10. Hinnd - The Natural born game player award

11. Will - Clumsy award

 12. Emma - Surfing award (Internet)

13. Ellie - Best Hair Award

14. Jack - Best dressed award

15. Michael - Telephone Voice Award

16. Phoebe - Shop till I drop Award

17. Bryony - trekking Hero award

18. Tom - Bear Grylles award

Gondar and the End

Before leaving Bahir Dar we head to the market. Here we were able to grab a takeaway pizza lunch. Great excitement. More presents bought!

We then board our last bus journey. The journey is a pleasant 3 hours to Gondar which is green and wet.

We had saved enough money in our budget to have a nice hotel. The rooms are comfortable, clean and complete with a fridge!

For dinner we feast on roast beef and head to bed. The bed is comfortable, this promises to be a good night sleep. At 3.30 however something extraordinary happens. Loud, warbling chanting followed by vitriolic ranting erupts from the very loudspeaker from the church behind us. This cacophony lasts until 10am! Apparently they don't believe in sleep in Gondar.

This makes everyone a little tired during our trip to the Royal enclosure. This is an extraordinary collection of castles of the the Abyssinian Emperors. It's like a little bit of Europe in Africa. Our guide was particularly excellent as well. I was happy for the mini-history school trip within this trip.

The streets of Gondar are busy due to graduation and we squeeze though crowds as we head to the market. The market is frenetic and chaotic and final gifts for home are bought. Fun but tiring, especially to our interrupted sleep. 

After a rest however we are ready for dinner. We had been recommended a restaurant called the Four Sisters. It was a short distance from the hotel so we thought it would be fun to arrange for the journey by tuk-tuk. A fun time was had zipping through the streets.

The restaurant was extremely pleasant and the buffet dinner was excellent. The real highlight was the music and dancing. The four sisters who own the restaurant put on a traditional display for us. Things quickly escalated and before we knew it, we were all on the dance floor.

With spirits high we went back to the hotel. The ranting and chanting priests were kinder and woke us up at 4.40 this time. Luckily we had to be up for 5 to grab out flight back to Addis. Jokes on them!

Gondar airport was very small and disorganised with only 1 gate but 2 flights leaving at the same time. Luckily we got on the correct Addis bound flight although the plane was very dirty. 

Upon arrival in Addis we had lunch (more pizza!) and then headed to the National Museum. Our intention was to see 'Lucy' - the first humanoid, our earliest known ancestor. She lies resplendent in her case. The rest of the museum has a few exhibits. It is interesting to see where the human race started and reflect on how Ethiopia is cradle of humankind.

We are now preparing for our flight home. People are looking forward to going home but have really enjoyed their experience. All of the challengers have matured, developed new skills and grown experiences. They are now well-versed in organising tours, cooking, shopping in markets, booking restaurants and communicating. They have all taken every opportunity and hopefully will remember the skills they have learnt.

It's been a privilege being a part of this group and the expedition. The students of Therfield have been funny, hard-working, considerate and respectful. There have been no arguments or cross-words and everyone has put all their effort in.

We return home triumph and happy and planning where our next trips might take us.

Photos!

The school in Garamba that was built

 

A trekking camp

Our volcano view

Rift Valley

Addis Ababa

Gondar

A normal Ethiopian road 

A Bahir Dar boat

Bahir Dar

On the move again, this time back to Addis Ababa. Timings are vague. It all depends on Addis traffic. The roads of Ethiopia are interesting. On the whole the quality is good however the main road seems to be more than a road. It is also a farmyard, a bathroom, a shopping precinct, a promenade, a donkey sanctuary, public swimming baths and school. All forms of life are found on these roads.

Eventually (5hours) we reach Addis. This time we are staying at the much nicer Ras Hotel. What a treat! It has hot showers, carpets, electric key cards (they never work!) and Roast Chicken on the menu. The hotel also played to Nelson Mandela in the 1960s are there is plenty of memorabilia around, especially in the room he stayed.

After the suptous lunch (chips and ice cream as well!) we embark on a shopping expedition. Addis is big, busy, bustling and a little grimy in the late afternoon room. We stumble on a western style supermarket and the faces of the challengers are lit up by the availability of Pringles, Galaxy Ripples and chocolate cereals.

It would seem priority number 1 for several of the challengers now is shopping. The hunt is on for jewellery, trinkets, scarves, fabric, fridge magnets etc to be taken home.

We go to bed early because breakfast is booked for 5am, with the bus leaving at 6am. We have a 10 hour bus journey ahead of us.

This journey turned into 13 hours. This was due to a flat tyre and a slightly longer lunch. Also the sudden return to rich, copious and meaty food compared to the healthy yet simple trekking meals has meant a few stomachs turning. Not to mention the countless herds of cows, donkeys, chickens, horses and baboons that we have to dodge.

Eventually we reach Bahir Dar. It is hotter here are a malaria zone so cover up, spray on the DEET and get in that mozzie net.

The next morning it's raining. With enthusiasm however we clamour into boats and head to an island in Lake Tanna. The island is home to a ornate monastery. The lake is a little bit choppy, and the rain decided to pick up. It got quite heavy and by the time we reached the island we were soaked through! The monastery however was extraordinary. Stories from the bible we're beautifully and colourfully portrayed across the walls. 

On the way back to the boats several makeshift stalls had been set up with trinkets to buy. Shopping!

Thankfully the journey back was rain free and we even combined a stop at the source of the Blue Nile.

In the afternoon we drove along the Nile to the Blue Nile Falls. The falls were stunning and full because its the rainy season. At 400metres wide the falls are loud and powerful. A real highlight of the trip.

Walking back there are suddenly salespeople. Shopping! Scarves! Flutes! 

Tomorrow we drive to our final stop, Gondar. Many of the challengers are excited to return home but have had and continue to have a great time.