The breakfast is free at Ras hotel, so after the breakfast I
checked out of the hotel and left my luggage there. I read that local shared
mini-bus is really cheap, less than a dollar, so I tried to find one that will
take me close to the Somaliland office. But I walked around for a while, and
can’t find one that will take me to Bole Rd. And no one around speak much
English of any help. After while I gave up and decided to just get a taxi,
since I am nearer to the Bole Rd, the taxi price wasn’t too bad but only after
negotiation. I specifically said I wanted to goto Somaliland embassy, but as
sort of expected when he drove around Bole road, he wasn’t take me to the right
embassy, it turned out he took me to the Somalia embassy. The guard told the
driver where the Somaliland is located, so we now need to get on the Bole Rd,
which is choked with traffic due to construction and closure at many points. I
sort of know where the embassy is located, studied before I left US. But the
turn off for it from Bole Rd was blocked so were nearby turns, so I just asked
for the driver to let me off and I can walk to it.
The embassy has moved to what I thought it should be
located, it is located right off the turn off from the Bole rd on the corner of
the first right turn once you start walking away from Bole Rd. There is a big
sign with flag of the country, so you can’t miss it. There were couple people
there applying already. The old lady at the desk spoke good English, and
process was straight forward of filling out some forms, pay the $40, and she
then went inside the resident and got my guess the ambassador to sign it. It
took about 40 minutes total to get my visa. They issued it for 30 days, but
starting the day you apply for it! Luckily I will be in and out the Somaliland
within the 30-day time frame. This happened to another person I know as well.
With all logistically stuff done, I am ready for more
sightseeing, first stop, walking distance from the Somaliland embassy, the
Medhane Alem Churh, the second largest orthodox church in Africa I believe. It
was about mid-day and lots clouds, so it wasn’t the best time for exterior
photos. I then walked next to the church and started taking photo of some
mosaic on a part of the church wall, then all the sudden a guy came and said I
need permission to take even the outside photos, strangely other people were
taking photos that a little more distanced from the church, and no problem
there. I chalk it up to another Ethiopian eagerness to milk foreigners for
their money. I can understand that indoor photos/visits I might have to pay,
but outside, way over the top for greed, they join the ranks of Vietnamese (in
Vietnam) and Wall Street bankers as world can do without type of people. Of course I don’t mean every one in the
group, but just they have higher percentage of excess greed than general
population. Anyway I followed the guy to an office, and pay the due and he
called ahead to get a guide for me to visit inside – may as well since I
already paid.
The church itself is fairly new, so nothing special about
it, but still nice to walk around. Near the end the young guide started his sad
story, I didn’t I would get hassled by an “official” guide. He said he is a
marathon running, which we all know Ethiopian is renowned for. He said that
some western person bought him a very expensive running pair of running shoes
that he cherishes and only uses it for official competition. He needs a sponsor
to buy him a normal pair of running shoes so he can train properly every day. I
am not sure where did he get this idea from, but I did wear my Park half
marathon shirt. Regardless if he is pulling my legs or telling the truth, I am
not about to sponsor someone I barely know and let alone that he is an
Ethiopian in Addis, which at that moment I didn’t have very positive regard
for. I just basically ignore his story and just praise that he is so dedicated
and may be one day I will see him on TV for the Olympic and wish him the best.
After the church I hailed a taxi to get to National Museum
to see the famous replica bones of Lucy. Of course the taxi got stuck in
traffic, so the beggars aimed for the taxi with tourists, and of any fancy
cars. I found that the best way to ignore them (and hasslers) is to ignore them
totally, no eye contacts and look in other direction.
The basement of the museum has a nice exhibit that is dedicated
to human evolution history and that is where Lucy’s old bones is located, first
level is dedicated to Ethiopian history, which is bit old as there is not much
lighting. The 2nd and 3rd floors get progressively worst,
not worth the time.
With museum visit done, I hailed another tax to go get me
back to the Ras hotel so I can pick up my backpack and move to Baro hotel in
Piazza. The room at Baro hotel was ready when I got there. I just went around
the area and look for some pastry for snack in the morning. The night before in
Wutma restaurant I talked to a Canadian guy who suggests that I visit the Taitu
hotel nearby to ask the tour company there if they have good deal for Simien
Mountain, but unfortunately no one was there. But Taitu looked nice and seems
to be the happening place to be for backpackers. I decided to have dinner here
as the price wasn’t too bad and didn’t want to waste time looking for a place
to eat. After dinner I went to Internet and met couple long time travelers, one
is from South African with dual citizenship with Canada, and he is heading to
Canada, sold everything in South Africa and travel. The other is a mainland
Chinese backpacker, never met one before. Sounded like he has been to many
countries already and was complaining how hard it is for a Chinese citizen to
get visas for many countries. They were planning on how to get their next sets
of visas. We had a drink back in Taitu and swapped some travel tales. It was
good to talk to other travelers.
As I was heading back to Baro, I passed many night clubs
with loud music, and told myself this might be a problem as Baro is just
located behind some of the night clubs. And my worst fear was realized when I
got to Baro, boom-boom-boom, no going to be able to get a good night sleep for
who knows how many hours and I have 2 nights here! I believe the music stop around
1AM or so
No comments:
Post a Comment