Yes, we have made numerous trips to Mabret's family village, brought the three kids to Awassa for a visit, found a suitable school and rented a house for them. However, for the past couple of days (minus the trip to the clinic with Roman and a couple hours of school work a day) we have become bums.
It is mostly because Ethiopian Christmas was yesterday January 7th and I felt Hagirso (translator/guide) needed to spend some quiet time around the holiday with his family. Independently, we have mastered the Tuk-Tuk or Ethiopian Baja as well as the Ethiopian art of price negotiation. The kids are now experts at the 'walk away' if they feel the price is too high. Thus we have seen most of Awassa. Visited most other local hotels and restaurants. Rode a boat, ate fresh caught fish right off the lake (very deeply fried of course), played soccer and TONS of ping pong.
We still have some work here to do here in Awassa and we won't be ready to leave until our Ethiopian family is set up and in a good groove. But we need activity. All those who thought living in a hotel sounds perfect with drinks at your request and room service.... Think twice. It never feels like a home.
Thankfully today we took a day trip to Shashemene a Rastafarian community 25 K from Awassa. We visited Banana Art Gallery and Museum, a Rastafarian Church and the Hot Springs at Wondo Genet.
It was all great fun!
The Banana Art Gallery is all work by Ras Hailu Tefari (Bandi) an accomplished artist who works primarily with banana leaves. The leaves remain natural without dye or coloration to the leaves. The texture and detail are quite amazing .
Next stop was "His Imperial Majasty Haile Selassie I Moral Theocratical Churchical Order of Ryahbinghi Reign (Nyahbinghi Yabernacle Shashamane) Rastafarian Church. After instructing Katie and I to cover our heads and Katie to put on a makeshift skirt we were permitted entry and given an enthusiastic tour. The tour consisted of a brief history of the Rastafarian culture, religion and their God, Haile Salassie I, the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. It was enlightening. How and why Haile Salassie become their God is interesting. When Emperor Salassie visited Jamacia they were in the middle of a drought. Suddenly the rains returned and Jamacians were convinced that was a sign. They have been traveling to Ethiopia to pay homage ever since that moment. In 1963, Emperor Salassie granted some land to the Jamacians in Shashemene, Ethiopia. Today there are anywhere from a couple hundred to one thousand members of this community. They are committed and proud.
What I found most interesting, was the proud African and black spirit. In Jamaica, Marcus Garvey (Rastafarian leader) saw the 1930 coronation of Haile Salassie I as the fulfillment of the acient biblical prophecy that "Kings will come out of Africa". Thus encouraging all blacks to go back to Africa. We also learned the meaning behind the growing of dread locks. Just like Solomon in the bible or a lion, they sympolize strength and the triumph of good over evil! The Rastafarian flag is a lion with a crown and sword both with a cross on top. The song, Iron Zion Lion by Bob Marley is a tribute to Haile Salassie.
The final stop was the hot springs at Wondo Genet located southwest of Shashemene surrounded by Ethiopian forests and the Forsetry College of Awassa University. This is a resort town, the primary draw being the hot springs. The cost is 25 birr per person entrance fee for the use of the swimming pool. Instructions were given to shower (soap provided) under the hot spring water prior to entering the pools. The boys enjoyed the very hot shower and then headed to the pool with Hagirso. They immediately entered the larger pool, but I could tell, from camera range, that they were not thrilled. Upon closer inspection the pool ( swimming pool size and shape, water supplied from the hot springs) was not clean to their standards. We went over to the smaller shallower pools and they enjoyed a couple of minutes of photo ops and the warm water. Then, they were hungry.
Off to lunch at Wondo Genet Resort for a typical Ethiopia lunch. Dor Wat for Mabret, plain pasta for Roman, chicken or fish for Katie and I. Afterward we explored the grounds, found a playground where the only mishap was the tipping over of the roundabout. We were also able to tour the living, dining room and bedroom of Haile Salassie. He built, owned and stayed at this location for part of every year while in Ethiopia.
And then as we say...home again home again jig giddy jig and both boys fell asleep on the bumpy ride back to Awassa.
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