On the road to Yirgalem

Back to the tale of our recent trip to the Southern Region.

On Saturday, we hit the road for Yirgalem, which is half way between Awasa and Dilla. On the way, we have seen a cluster of straw hats and homes with their nose-shaped entrance in many places. We were told that they were typical Sidama homes made from bamboo, cut on moonlit nights and thatched with enset (false-banana) leaves. Enset is an essential plant that forms the main food of Sidama.

Master Plot Against the Rastafarians?

 Areas bulldozed to make way for new roads. Houses demolished, some partially, others completely. Families evicted from their own houses and seeking refugee either in friend’s house or churches.

This was the scene in Shashemene last week. The fair-sized town, 250 kms south of Addis Ababa, is having her own share of transformation and renovation. A new master plan was crafted, as the old one made some decades ago, couldn’t meet its need. Willy-nilly, some house had to go.

Awassa, a bike-friendly town

As a fast growing town, Awassa is a commercial and economic centre of the southern region. Many constructions are being undertaken and the town is expanding horizontally and vertically. The bustling and beautiful town of Awassa is home to numerous factories, a university and a growing number of hotels, offices and shops.

Wandering about the town affords pleasant experience, especially for a newcomer .The town has wide and palm-lined streets and garden with colorful flowers.

As one who visited Awassa for the first time, what surprised most was the number of bicycles. There are lots of them on the road.

A Trip To Dire Dawa …

A Trip to DireDawa It was a pedagogical training course program for French instructors in Ethiopia organized by the French Embassy for the fourth time. There were 65 participants; most of them Ethiopians, some French and other nationals drawn from vario ous colleges, universities, community and private schools and international organizations. There was a festive atmosphere at the Lycee Guebre Mariam when the large Marco polo bus loaded at around 6.30 on Saturday, March 25, 2006.   The banner that hangs in the