Salt and Camels

Melanie and I have worked, lived and socialized together for six months, it was only fitting to cap off our time with one big exciting trip into the Afar region of Ethiopia. Taking three days to explore Erta Ale, an active volcano, 

Driving out to the base camp of Erta Ale took us over solidified lava. There we ate dinner then started on our night walk up to the rim of Erta Ale. From there we walked into the creator to get a closer look of the bubbling lava. It is claimed that this is the only permanent lava lake in the world, sitting at 613 meters. Our guides were local, with minimal knowledge and english, guiding our steps to avoid the soft fresh lava that flowed only two weeks prior.

We experience the most extreme heat I have ever been in, 54 C. Drinking 7 Liters of water a day and licking Salt rocks for the fun of it! We made our way over a dessert past 6 other active volcanoes to see the Salt flats, where caravans or camels carry the Salt back to town to be processed. For me the highlight was the 4x4 over the dessert and over the salt flats, I even convinced our driver, KB, to let me have a go at driving in the Dessert! 

The Danakil Depression was so very unique and it was amazing to and experience a different side of Ethiopia. 

 

Church's in the Mountain Tops

Ethiopia is a country of deeply rooted religious history. In July, with my sister we explored the network of ancient Rock Hewn church’s in Lalibela, learning about how each church was carved out of a single rock, taking years to complete the task. 

Then on my September Hike we explored a large cave church. Used to hide the church built within, the cave church was amazing to see, and take in the surrounding forest scenery. 

The third type of church that was left to explore were those high Mountain church's in the far North of Ethiopia. With a group of us we headed to Mek’ele to explore the Tigray Region. Staying at the Gheralta Lodge and exploring two beautiful mountains, hiking to the summits where the breathtaking church’s have sat for centuries, welcoming thousands each year to celebrate birth, baptism, pray, worship and morn. The priest of the high mountain church was only 25 years old, his youth allowed him to bounce up the mountain to the church multiple times a day.  

Hiking through crevasse in the mountains, to reach the sheer cliffs that we scaled bare foot was fun and exciting. These church’s were as breath taking as the views from the door ways. 

 

A week in Korah

Melanie came to Ethiopia this past January with a friend, Tammy. Connected to an Organization called Hope for Korah, a Ethiopian run organization that runs an income generating program, family sponsorship and morning breakfast feeding club. Through our six months Melanie has been a dedicated volunteer. In addition I have joined her on a few Health teaching days and mass treatment for the beneficiaries of the program. 

In October a group of nurses and a doctor came from Abbotsford and we were able to carry out 7 days of health care service for those who are part of the Hope for Korah program and surrounding area. 

I loved how we were able to give out mass treatment for worms to all 200 kids in the Hope for Korah program. It is too common to get worms in the environment that this population lives in, and at times the worms can cause kids to become malnourished. 

The week flew by with days packed with early morning feeding programs, morning clinics, and afternoon work at local hospitals. A great way to wrap up our time in Addis Ababa. Volunteering for an organization we support so very much and enjoyed helping the health care team over the last six months. 

Hiking in the Highlands

“Everybody needs beauty...places to play in and pray in where nature 

may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul alike.” 

― John Muir

Every September I seem to find myself on a trail. The last few years those trails were along the west coast on Vancouver Island. This year i still found myself on a train, in Northern Ethiopia summiting a mountain at 4 200m, breathless and sweating from the scorching sun. 

Hiking is always a push, a shove over the next hill, a break to catch my breath again and again. I love spending days hiking. Seeing what my body can accomplish, going to bed with feet that throb only to awake at hideous hours to do it all again. 

In July, while visiting Lalibela with Kaylin, we met a wonderful hiking guide, Kanu. His excitement and love of the surrounding mountains had me quickly organizing another trip to Lalibela with friends to embark on a 4 day hike. 

One thing we found amazing and different hiking in Northern Ethiopia were the plateau's. At home we are so use to mountain peaks and valleys that touch the ocean. Hiking in the Ethiopian Highlands was a different experience. Reaching 3 200 m, it was not a mountain peak but a plateau. Farm villages, schools, grazing fiends, crops and streams covered the plateau into the distance. It was an entire community and world above the clouds. Staying at a farmers home stead was an experience we enjoyed. Seated around the fire, watching our dinner be prepared, talking in our broken english and Amheric was our nightly entertainment. Sleeping on mats laid upon straw did prove problematic as critters bit us as we slept. Comes with the experience right? 

The four days was spent with Rafael, Melinda, and Kanu. Every bit enjoyable. Another September, and another epic hike completed. Enjoy the pictures!

Our Host for the time spent at the Farm house. Of course we were
welcomed with a traditional Ethiopian Coffee ceremony

We visited a church in the mountains. It was in a cave, centuries old, the door step you can see has had
countless feet pass over on their way into to pray and worship.

As the sun came over the mountain, the light covered the path with a glow
as we prepared to hike down into the valley and up onto the other side, back into Lalibela.