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Sisterly love
Roads can be challenging but most are rather good
It takes us 3 days to get to our first photo destination. The first day we fly from Addis to Jimma. I’ve decided that I like this place. Horses stand smack in the middle of the street, we must drive around them, there are goats and cows, donkey wagons, people walk along the road, not just one, no dozens. It is poor but absolutely exiting, colourful, green and exotic !
Roadside scenes
Remembers me of the Caribbean
The second day we drive for 9 hours till we reach Mezan Teferi. First stop after 2 hours (of very slow driving) at the home of a family which welcomes us in their hut. Unbelievable, they live here with 10 people, plus at night all the cattle comes in as well. The hut is maybe 20m2. Second stop at another family, they pose just as happily, but even better, they make us coffee, and I mean coffee straight from the beans. First they roast, then they grind, then pour water. It is awful strong, the spoon almost stands straight up, but I rather like it.
The Ethiopian coffee is sensational
Ready for the wildebeest migration
Wildebeest crossing
Our camp is lovely, situated on the bank of the Mara River at a bend, so maybe if we’re lucky we’ll get a private crossing right in front of camp. Check out the webpage : www.entim-mara.com. Before we leave for our first gamedrive a dazzle of zebra gather on the little flat plain just across camp. Will they cross ? Good thing we didn’t wait, they told us the next morning they crossed at 03:30, would have been a long wait !
Our very big and comfortable tent
Monopoli, the beach
There are beaches for the beachbums, «spiaggas» where they have beachchairs, showers, umbrellas and restaurants, or discover deserted coves with crystal clear blue water. On the highway south you drive past olive trees for miles and miles, past olive groves with olive trees that are more than a thousand years old, with stems so thick you need three people to embrace them. There are tiny white walled towns on hilltops, looking out over the landscape and down to the sea, with narrow alleys going up and down, left and right, till you don’t know which way you are heading or if you prefer… there are flashy cities with incredibly beautiful buildings and churches ( to be honest they have tons of those) and modern shops. Or would you prefer small ports with cute little harbours filled with fishing boats in different shades of blue. It’s your choice, the options are endless.
Monopoli, the harbour
We decide to go back to Ko Rok, my favourite island so far. It is 2 hours of motoring but there is some wind, maybe we can sail. No way ! As soon as we round the southern tip of Ko Kradan the winds dies down once again. Here we go again.
Oops, where’s the ocean, can’t see it because of all the boats and people
Round lunchtime we reach Ko Rok and are in shock. The pretty beach is filled with about 25 speed boats and dozens of longtails. Tons of people are on the beach and in the water. This is “Maya Bay, Phi Phi style”, overly crowded, overflowing with tourists. One of the speed boat drivers tells me they are here every day, and most will be gone by 14:00, which is true. We have the beach to ourselves again.
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