Canon A630
Open-air cold shower at the second camp, Wajela. It was too chilly by the time we arrived to shower, unfortunately, but it was definitely picturesque.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100
We came across these adorable kids jumping rope, and Jodie soon joined in.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100
We came across these adorable kids jumping rope, and Jodie soon joined in.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100
Most of these kids are young enough that they wouldn't know any other option than digital cameras...which is why they were uniformly disappointed I couldn't show them my pictures. I found it sort of funny in a place without electricity or running water that digital cameras are considered commonplace...at least for the various ferenjos that stroll by the fields.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100
TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100
It's Sunday! Church time, for several hours, to drink barley beer and converse with good friends. These ladies were just extricating themselves and passed by our lunch spot. We soon headed toward the "beer festival" ourselves.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Delta 100
Church time, for several hours, to drink barley beer and converse with good friends. At the church, these ladies were sitting a bit away from the more chatty men.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
Church time, for several hours, to drink barley beer and converse with good friends. Check out that giant cup and those red eyes!

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
This is called "fake building a church." These very drunk men thought that if they had some photos of the progress made on the new church building, they could send it to sponsors in Addis for more money. They then proceeded to pretend they were working on the church so we could take photos, generally darting their eyes at the cameras proudly. This group of men basically picked up and dropped rocks.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
Roasting barley.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
Packing up! A new strategy every day to deal with placing all our stuff (5 people's luggage) on 2 donkeys. We believed they were growing shorter by the day due to the weight.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympus OM-2n | Fuji Reala
Another local guide (post-lunch) takes a break after a steep, rocky climb downhill. Well, I say he took a break but really, he stopped to let us rest while secretly wondering why we can't all fly down the mountain in rubber clogs as he does.

TESFA (Tourism in Ethiopia for Sustainable Future Alternatives) runs treks through the communities of Meket Woreda, North Wollo. It's a great opportunity to get off the beaten path. We visited villagers at their homes, churches and farms, viewed beautiful highland scenery, and were swarmed by very excitable children at every turn—not one who wanted anything more than to shake our hands.

Posted on Jan 7, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)