Anyone been to Ethiopia?

[benjamin]

I used to live there in 2006/2007.I lived in Addis and travelled also throughout Ethiopia. I can't write down only a few lines about what to see, it would need a 3 chapter book...
I totally agree with Adilisha, Ethiopia is the safest place in Africa, except.... Shashamane ! Very hostile town. A few pickpockets elsewhere. That's all. Unfortunatly it seems to be slightly changing and some bad events happened in Addis while I was there, although it was exceptionnal, that kind of thing never happened before..
Places to see, of course lalibela is a must, but be prepared to pay to visit, as if it was entertainment even if you are an orthodox christian.
I really not advice shashamane except as a rasta curiosity, and I mean, you are in Ethiopia, you don't need to go to shashamane, cause Rasta is everywhere.
See the northern churches in rocks, of course Axum is very impressing too. The Bale Montains are amazing for its landscapes and wildlife.
There are a lot of unknown churches that are the best places to see, particularly if you have a little time and go there for spiritual purpose, like Addadi Mariam (also digged in the grownd like Lalibela)

I personnaly LOVED Addis but you have to get accustumed to it, it's very polluted. Go and see my good friend Sister Bethlehem in the only Rasta Shop in Addis : Africa Unite on Meskel Flower Street. Also check Dr Desta's Rasta children's place in the ghetto for irie nights on fridays.

Entoto, is a very mystical place a few km from Addis, with Holly Waters, get baptised if a believer.

You can visit the Bahir Dar area too with the nile falls and the monasteries, but here again, don't be disappointed when the priests will charge you.. sad but true.
Any place in this country is worth visiting

Please don't give money to children in villages, if you want to help give to their schools and organizations, people are fantastingly welcoming, poor and beautiful but this foreign touristic lord giving his old coins has a very bad impact.

Jah bless Ithiopia Eternally, anyone who visit it must try to keep it preserved and not turn it in a disney world, like some careless ethiopians and tourists are trying to.
Praisings of Love for the Humble, Strong and Pure Ethiopia.

[Guest]

well bout di battyman ting, ethiopians who live in ethiopia said that, and it was like dat:
my bredren (ethiopian) went for a vacation to the land and got this warning riteaway. so its not a joke.

[Jah Chicken]

Greetings,
Huge thanks to all (especially adilisha and benjamin) for your wonderful suggestions! Heh.. and warnings as well. Unfortunately, I'll only get to go for a little over a week, but I'd love to make it to the countryside. I'm going to look into these suggestions, see if they are feasible, and then probably ask another question or two. Many thanks for the guidance!

Roots,
Jah Chicken

[Dubs_West]

Try get to South Africa if you can!All along the coastlines which are so amazing and beautiful(tu) Johannesburg,Durban,Cape Town,Port Elizabeth are the cities to visit plus there is soooo many towns to see.The soccer world cup is coming to S.A in 2010:D

[Casper]

DonDigital: "there are many political problems rite now since communists are operating the system"

Give me a break...

[Guest]

wappn

you dont see the new flag?

[sean]

i saw levi roots on beeb 2 about 3 years ago, he went to Shashamane and came back very disappointed but i feel it was the poverty that upset him.

[benjamin]

Mate, it's not poverty, it's Shashamane that is disapointing in IMHO, the town which is the most agressive in Ethiopia, and some rastas out there, but for this I won't comment and let you have your own experience. Poverty somehow protected Ethiopians from Babylon influence till now, poor and clean, you know.

[ras_gaks]

I still keep it,, try Kenya. Its nice than ever before, with food prices dropping for the 1st time since i started checking them out...


Hakuna Matata.