WEEKEND TRIP TO AWASSA

Since I'm so lucky to have my friends Anna and Kristin visiting me these days, I decided that (to make sure they got some sun during this dreadful rainy season) we go to Awassa, which is a town situated a 5 hours drive from Addis. Kristine, who is a teacher at the Norwegian school, and her nephew, (who was also visiting from Norway) were going down the same weekend, so we got to go with their car.

We stayed at Dagrunn's place (my former neighbour), together with the monkeys:) Her garden was full of them! Despite these annoying little creatures we had a wonderful trip, exploring Awassa and the surrounding area. We went on a day trip to Yirga Alem, which is a beautiful litte town (village?), and had lunch at a very nice lodge there. After having driven in heavy rain, the clouds disappeared and the sun came out, and we really got to explore this amazing spot in the green, green landscape.

We went on a boat trip on the lake Awassa, and saw the hippos. And we spotted a bunch of hyenas on the way to the Norwegian Mission's holiday resort, which is also a really beautiful place! Anna and Kristin took a ride with the horse taxi, while I was working my way through the mud at the market, looking for hopi (passion fruit) to buy, to make jam and juice. I managed to find them, after first having been thrown carrot bits at and then getting my feet all dirty stepping in the awful mud. Oh, well, at least now I have wonderful jam in my fridge:)

It was really amazing getting out of the city and see some more of Ethiopia. It is such a beautiful country!

I need to do this more often!

Sunset at the Norwegian Mission's Holiday resort
Kristine and her nephew, Svein.

Hippos! We have renamed them river pigs, because they both look and sound like big pink pigs! Sorry, but they are really ugly.....

Dagrunn and Anna

Dagrunn's house and oh-so-lovely garden

The lady with the hen

Yirga Alem

(not sure about the spelling here)

The huts at Aragash Lodge - really nice and neat, in the middle of the jungle!

(well, not exactly in the jungle, but it felt like it!)

Solveig (or is it one of the monkeys, maybe?), in the jungle, feeling very wild.....

The rain was pouring down when we were driving to Yirga Alem. It's actually quite nice to experience the African rain, especially when you are inside a car.....

Swimming in Lake Langano on the way to Awassa

Faranjis in Awassa!:)