Addis to Lalibela

14/5/2016 Addis to Lalibela

I'm outta here. Out of Addis that is. And off to Lalibela in the north. Lalibela is supposedly a must on the touirst route. It is famous for its 13 rock hewn churches, which is still a living, breathing testament to Christianity. I am not religious myself, but I appreciate others who do believe.

Airplane

I have decided to fly my way around rather than take mini buses as I just don't have the time. I would have liked to travel by bus. It sure would have been a darn sight cheaper!

Lalibela Airport

I am staying at Lalibela Villas. On arrival I met David a dreadlocked American who I will call Rasta. He is volunteering at a school and has been here for a month. He told me that the local Saturday market was on and asked if I wanted, we could go together.

My pretty room for the next few nights

The market was amazing. It was a proper local market with donkeys, goats, cows and loads of local produce. It was what I would stereotypically expect of an African market. I was actually surprised that there are hardly any tourists around. I have come out of tourist season and it is amazing!

Looking down at the market

Market hustle and bustle

The circular buildings are local houses. Lalibela is known for its unique house style.

Spot the tourist with the Bob Marley top. Me at the market. 

Luckily I met Rasta since he has been here for a while he has got to know a little of the language and local people. He had befriended two young lads a while back and they helped me haggle for a few items in the market including the most amazing local coffee pot for 100 birr, about $5.

My new coffee pot. Love it

The two lads were just great and not wanting anything in return as with most of the kids who chase foreigners asking for money. I let one of them go off with my camera. As he was local the other locals didnt mind their photos being taken by him. I look forward to seeing what photos he took!

Abraham with my camera. He wants to be a photographer or a vet one day

In the evening we ended up at a hilltop bar/restaurant called Ben Abeba for dinner and sunset. It was really beautiful.

We tried khat, a narcotic THAT IS totally legal in this country....just maybe not in many others. Anyway, you need to chew the leaves into a cud and hold it in your cheek pouch for up to 2 hours. I had a few leaves, decided there was no way I could last 2 mins let alone 2 hours and promptly spat it back out. Did I get high? Not too sure. I was up all night. Hardly slept a wink.

Khat. Looks like spinach. Tastes like....

To round off the night we ended up in an Tej traditional bar. It was local and untouristy. Its down a dark back alley and you would really needed to know where it was to get to it. Tej is a honey wine/mead like drink that I can only describe as tasting like honey roasted ham.

The bar was so great and they had musicians who obviously singled me and Rasta out. No idea what they were singing but I definitly heard the words 'China' and 'Rasta' a few times. They also had these amazing dancers who danced in a traditional way. I can only describe it as chicken like. Basically instead of shaking hips fast you shake your shoulders and chest fast. I was forced to partake in said dance, while all the locals cheered and took photos. I all of a sudden became the tourist attraction. Man, it was exhausting. I believe there is video evidence of me doing this dance.

Inside the local bar. Perhaps too much khat and alcohol to focus right.