Elections in Ethiopia were interesting. It's their fourth ever set of democratic elections, and as it turned out, the most peaceful. The current government has been in power for 20 years..... No one wanted to see the bloodshed of the official, or unofficial figures of last time. European Union election observers were everywhere, and just a little off-hand. I think they were apprehensive and wondering what we were doing there. But one great guy was telling us what a frustrating job it was: many of the candidates had ended up in hospital with younger ones in thier place who were genuinely scared. Even with clear witness and evidence of what happened the police were reluctant to get involved. And even then - the observers were only in Ethiopia for another few weeks and so it was unclear what reprecussions there would be once they left. As far as we could work out there was 100% turn out, which was verified as we asked children and teenagers if they voted - the later, definately, the former - no of course not! On the street people were either cynical or almost naive and painted the glossy media stories. Nothing inbetween. It's sparked an interest of the decocratic process off in the kids, especially with our own UK interesting election results.
Anyway - glad to see only long lines of people in all the villages we passed through and nothing more demonstrative. Ethiopia is a beautiful country which deserves to loose it's reputation from the 1985 famine - it certainly has enough wonderful landscape, rock-hewn churches and tribal groups to make a very interesting and stimulating visit.
We're now safely in Khartoum looking for a way out of Africa through Saudia Arabia. We'll find out if we need to brave Egypt or not tomorrow when we apply for our visa. We need proof of our marriage amoung other things!
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Monday 31 May 2010
Sudan
We're well and have made it to sudan.It's not the most relaxing of trips. Our camping w/e's in HK were definately more relaxing. We've finally hit the african heat here. Although only late 30's, ten degrees lower than last week apparently. So we've taken refuge in a sweet greek hotel where they keep giving us free ice cream. But at $230 US, maybe it's built into the price somewhere!
The trip has put a lot of pressure on us all in different ways. So now we are looking at settling down in uk with some enthusiasm ... mission accomplished!!!
Africa is just the most friendly place. It doesn't have a lot of stuff - but it sure has loads of lovely people who are just waiting for you to stop by. eg another road stop where there is a sence of more than just wanting to practice his english!!
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The trip has put a lot of pressure on us all in different ways. So now we are looking at settling down in uk with some enthusiasm ... mission accomplished!!!
Africa is just the most friendly place. It doesn't have a lot of stuff - but it sure has loads of lovely people who are just waiting for you to stop by. eg another road stop where there is a sence of more than just wanting to practice his english!!
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Wednesday 5 May 2010
THE ROAD ONWARDS ..
WELL WE LEFT NAIROBI YESTERDAY, ONLY TO DISCOVER THIS MORNING THAT THE CAR HAD SUNK TOO LOW ON OUR NEW COILS, AND WE WERE BACK TO SQUARE 1. SO WE TURNED ROUND AND REPLACED THEM ... AGAIN. AND HERE WE ARE AT JUNGLE JUNCTION. THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO BE IN HAPPY SUBURBAN NAIROBI, 'HOME' AS THEY CALL IT. WE'VE HAD A COMPLETE BREAK FROM AFRICA WHILE IN KENYA, AND HAVE HARDLY VENTURED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR OF THIS OVERLANDERS' STOP. BRACING OURSELVES FOR ETHIOPIA, IN PARTICULAR THE ROAD UP. (TO SEE A U-TUBE VIDEO JUST TAKEN OF THE MAIN ROAD BETWEEN HERE AND ETHIOPIA - FOLLOW THIS LINK. AFRICA EN VESPA 2010. IT'S THE FIRST ONE, KENIA.)
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Monday 3 May 2010
AWA...
For a change - Africa wins again, not. We got our visas, thanks to the UK Ethiopian Embassy who petitioned on our behalf. So we are off, as soon as we have our DHL package. Another story.
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Sunday 2 May 2010
Kenya: Aquiring a Visa
My goodness. We are certainly having experiences. As of 4 days prior to our application, the embassy here in Nairobi was not authorised to give Ethiopian visas anymore. Who knows what had happened. Our existing Ethiopian visas expired late March; if only we had known. After Ajay and I both hasseled the guy and confirmed the situation, the Ethopian Emb. in London got involved and petitioned Addis Ababa on our behalf. Our options are very few and we were looking at turning round, or selling the car. The other overland routes were Somalia (the UK Embassy here told us they didn't want more kidnappings), Southern Sudan in amoungst the post election killings, the DRC .... or flying over Ethiopia with the car.
We are fortunate with the UK helping us. There are other people here who just have to make alternate plans. So that's Kenya, for us. We'll leave this coming week - hopefully. Never definate (in this country) until it's history.
We are well and happy, staying at Jungle Junction in Nairobi with a random group of 'overlanders' of every nationality, many stuck here for various reasons with visa or car issues, waiting for parts; waiting, waiting. We have excellent internet access, lots of lovely people for us and the kids to enjoy. In Kenya we've not intergrated, apart from one lovely family who hosted us overnight. The kids are so stressed when we pull up somewhere like that! But the potholes were unbelievable especially as the evening drew in early with the fast approaching black thunder clouds.
It seems that part of driving through Africa is car issues. Our brakes stopped working the other day, brake fluid came out of the broken brake friction hose. We were so fortunate that they failed on a nice stretch of road .... rather than the hairpin bends of a few days later.
Having had initial reservations about Sudan and Ethiopia - I am so looking forwards to these two countries. We may miss out Egypt on the otherhand. Our wait here in Nairobi means that we will hit Ethiopia during their elections, and the long rains. Hoping neither of those will be a problem.
I've just uploaded a few pictures on facebook!
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We are fortunate with the UK helping us. There are other people here who just have to make alternate plans. So that's Kenya, for us. We'll leave this coming week - hopefully. Never definate (in this country) until it's history.
We are well and happy, staying at Jungle Junction in Nairobi with a random group of 'overlanders' of every nationality, many stuck here for various reasons with visa or car issues, waiting for parts; waiting, waiting. We have excellent internet access, lots of lovely people for us and the kids to enjoy. In Kenya we've not intergrated, apart from one lovely family who hosted us overnight. The kids are so stressed when we pull up somewhere like that! But the potholes were unbelievable especially as the evening drew in early with the fast approaching black thunder clouds.
It seems that part of driving through Africa is car issues. Our brakes stopped working the other day, brake fluid came out of the broken brake friction hose. We were so fortunate that they failed on a nice stretch of road .... rather than the hairpin bends of a few days later.
Having had initial reservations about Sudan and Ethiopia - I am so looking forwards to these two countries. We may miss out Egypt on the otherhand. Our wait here in Nairobi means that we will hit Ethiopia during their elections, and the long rains. Hoping neither of those will be a problem.
I've just uploaded a few pictures on facebook!
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