A whole week of no photos!  Shocking!  And still my inspiration is no where to be found...  Although, I like to think it has all been channeled into wedding planning :)

So, not being able to see the big picture, I am opting for the small one.  Or maybe it is the big picture...

Abandoned house



Better Late than Never

On a mountain in Grahamstown

Due to my lack of inspiration the last while, I am a few days behind...woopsy!

Black and white...

... is the bomb shizzle :)



Axum

Many a beautiful sight to be seen in Ethiopia :)

Lalibela Lomo



St. George's church, Lalibela


Got my Ethiopia fish oogies developed!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder...

...and look who's in mine :) :) :)

Moss. Jeff-e-REE :)

Knysna Forest

The Other Side of the Coin



Sheraton hotel, Addis Ababa



For Heidi - not only mud huts :)

After the End

Lalibela

Now that I'm back, I don't know what to take pictures of... take me to Ethiopia!!! 

The End

Taxi in Addis

So, the end of our awesome Ethiopian adventure.  Two weeks, seven flights and my first time in East Africa and in the northern hemisphere :)  

The ruins of what is said to be the palace of the Queen of Sheba :)

A 1400 year old book with goat skin pages in the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum.  The church was built in the 60s by Haile Selassie.  Close by is a chapel where it is said the ark of the covenant is kept.  Only one priest is allowed in the chapel to guard the ark...and play computer games.

King Ezana Inscription

Three languages (Sabaean (above), Ge'ez and Greek) on three sides of this stone slab describe how King Ezana defeated his enemies.

Underground in King Kaleb's palace :)

Granite Stele of King Ezana, Axum

Axum, the oldest city in Ethiopia.  Only about 30% of it has been excavated so far but already a gazillion tombs and palaces and historic goodies have been uncovered.  This stele stands 24m tall and weighs 160 tonnes.  It was taken to Italy in the 30s by Mussolini but returned to Axum in 2005.    Some cool tombs underneath :)

Church of Bet Medhane Alem (House of the Redeemer of the World)

Giorgis Church, Lalibela

Probably the most famous of all the Lalibela churches.  The monolithic churches were built from the top down on the outside and then from the bottom up on the inside.  It took 24 years to complete all 11 churches.

Inside one of the churches.  The pilgrims pray, read their Bibles and prayer books where there is enough light and receive a blessing from the priests.

Ethiopian boy

My favourite picture of the whole trip.  My little friend :)

Lalibela

Lalibela, one of the holiest cities in Ethiopia and home to the famous monolithic churches.  At Christmas (7 Jan) pilgrims come from all over the country to worship in the churches.  Some walk for up to a month to get there, many with no shoes.  We were there on 4 Jan and the atmosphere was already completely amazing.  It was one of the most awesome things I have ever experienced!   

Lalibela

The drive up to the small town of Lalibela :)

Lalibela Airport

Ethiopia is an hour ahead of South Africa but like their calender, their time works differently to ours too.  Their day starts at 1 (our 6am) and ends at 12 (our 5pm) and then starts at 1 (our 6 pm) again.  We arrived at Lalibela at 9.20 am (their 3.20).



Bole Airport, Addis Ababa

On our way to Lalibela.  Saw the Blue Nile and the Rift Valley from the air :)

The Ethiopian calender has 13 months, each of 30 days except the last which has 5 days (or 6 in a leap year), their new year is on 11 Sept, Christmas is 7 January and they are in the year 2003.

Addis Ababa

Ethiopians are somewhat fearless.  One can see this in their lack of concern for hygiene when it comes to food, their reckless driving and their use of wooden poles to make scaffolding.

Ethiopia!!!

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

East Africa!  Blue taxis, freakin' CRAZY driving, people walking wherever, people parking wherever, cows, goats, sheep, suicidal donkeys everywhere, strong macchiatos, hot food, Coptic church dudes singing at ridiculous hours in the morning.  Awesome!