The Oddities of Normal Life in Ethiopia...

Hey Travel Lover

Do you know travelling is an education? Do you know travelling broadens your mind? Do you know you amass a wealth of knowledge when you travel?

As Maya Angelou rightly said “Travel…to as many destinations as possible for the sake of education as well as pleasure”.

I had the opportunity to visit Addis Ababa in 2017 for a conference – quick tip, when you travel for trips that aren’t strictly vacation, maybe for work or a conference, add a day or two to explore the city – and there are three fun facts I’ll love to share with you.

The first is the calendar system in Ethiopia. They are seven (7) years behind the calendar we currently follow, so when I went in 2017 it was 2010 by Ethiopian calendar. They also have 13 months and their new year begins in September. This year, New Year’s day is September 11, odd right?

The second is the lovely weather I experienced whilst there. I’ll share a story to buttress this. One fine evening, my hotel room suddenly felt so chilly, I searched and searched for the air conditioning remote control and couldn’t find it. So I figured they installed central cooling. I called the front desk and asked if there was a way to reduce the chill and I was told there was no air conditioning in the hotel, but if I wanted an extra duvet, there was one in the wardrobe. I was surprised to say the least….Odd again right?

The third is the sourdough flatbread Injera, very popular Ethiopian meal. It is the brown rolled up “thingy” on my plate. At first, I couldn’t eat it, then I heard the open secret that “it is an acquired taste”. I acquired it alright and ate it like an Ethiopian before I came back home. By itself, it’s not tasty, but with a variety of sauces, proteins and vegetables, I did justice to it, chef was proud!

So, Travel Lover, there are definitely other mind boggling facts about Ethiopia and this trip was indeed an education. Would you visit Ethiopia and share some of your experiences with us? Do you think the quick tip is one to apply in your future travels? Let us know in the comments section

Till Next Week

Truly Yours

Ajalaress