Simien Mountains

The rare Gelada baboons 

The rare Walia Ibex

According to Homer, the Greek gods used to spend their vacation on the Simien Mountains playing chess.  For economic and safety reasons, I joined 2 Belgians to trek the mountains with the highest elevation of 4,260 meters.  I did not have the proper clothing because mountain trekking was not in my itinerary, but unplanned adventures are more fun. 

Three was a crowd

I hired a mule and a mule man so I can trek in style.  My phobia for horseback riding was overcome because I was taller than my mule, Mora.  Astride the mule, I was able to take pictures of the panorama,  open and hold my umbrella when it rains.  Mules are very good on 

Smile keeps the body warm

ascending terrain, but sometimes they get cold feet on a descent.  I had to watch out that my feet and head are not left behind hanging on bushes or branches of trees while my body goes with the obstinate beast.  On difficult or dangerous passes, I had to 

A different world up there

get off Mora's back and when it was time to ride again, Solomon, the mule man  would have to locate a rock where I can step on then he will put my left foot on the stirrup, then push my buttocks upward so I can saddle.  Riding Mora, I imagined that I now

My Mac smells of Mora, too

belonged to the mule-riding league of Don Quixote and Julius Cesar (after he was relieved from being flamen Dialis).  I asked Solomon if he could sing, "to dream the impossible dream" (ala Man from La Mancha) but unfortunately I ended up humming the song and the mule almost went berserk.

The children of Simien Mountains

The Greek gods pinched my nose and cheeks

Towards the end of my mule-riding experience an argument occurred between the guide and the scout.  The guide told me to bend backwards when the mule descends, while the scout said that I should bend forward.  I almost had my body cut into two.  

Our chef in parade

An umbrella is also useful to hide behind the bush

A long journey home - via Abyssinia

Queen Sheba's palace in Axum (old capital)

Being a volunteer for two years is unlike a business trip where there is little disruption in your usual lifestyle.  That is why, VSO offers a debriefing period when one requires it to enable the volunteer to

Background:  400 year old fig tree

 adjust back easily.  In my case, I chose to do a self-debriefing by prolonging the freedom I experienced in my adventures in Africa.

Coffee ceremony

At first, I wanted to do an overland trip from East to South Africa passing through 10 countries in about 60
 days.  But the thing was, I would have to obtain a prior visa for each of these countries and I was afraid that my passport could be misplaced in the process.  To simplify, I chose an off-the-tourist beaten track and a good-value-for-money destination... and found Ethiopia.  Ethiopia (whose former name was

Vol Alain, at bus station

 Abyssinia), the biblical land of King Solomon's Queen of Sheba,  home of Orthodox Christians
 and where the coffee plant originated from the Kingdom of Kaffa (that's where the word coffee came from).  I was fortunate that Filipinos in Kampala, Uganda put me in

An Orthodox church

 touch with Filipinos in Addis Ababa (capital city), who in turn connected me to VSO volunteers in

Black pepper tree

 Ethiopia, and who in turn gave me information on travel costs, travel time, places to visit.  I couldn't thank them enough for giving

Queen of Sheba's bath

 me the comfort that should I get lost in Ethiopia, any of them will find me.  I felt confident as I made my travel arrangements along the way.  Ethiopia is reportedly the current repository of Noah's Ark.  Well, if I find it, I will request that it be lent to the Philippines to ferry the recent flood victims.

16th century castles, ruined during World War II

Parting can be funny

Children performing for me

Saying goodbye can be a tearful experience (especially for the sentimental Filipinos).  But here, I held back my sobs because it seems that the locals are not that demonstrative.

With officemates

The lighter moments were when someone offered to give me a live chicken to bring home.  Well, I told him that airlines allow only their airplanes to fly; no winged animals while airborne.

With the Little Sisters of the Mary Immaculate in Gulu

Another one gave me 10,000 Ugandan shillings.  It would have been understandable if it was for pocket money, but he told me to buy bgoya (bananas).  I did not know whether he wanted me to bring the bananas to the Philippines or share it with others.

With Filipinas in Kampala

But, on my last day at my accommodations,  I saw the gas stove was on fire while the rice that I was cooking was on the final stages of being done.  Someone came to do a quick-fix of the hose but it was not done properly as I could still smell the leak.

I taught them to use spoon.  See the wonderment.

Well, the devil was tempting me - to use the stove again to finish my cooking or just go hungry.  I chose the latter as I may not be so lucky the next time around and the cylinder could just explode.

With the VSO volunteers at the housing compound

Staff in VSO Uganda

I had happy memories during my last days in Uganda....and I have a very strong feeling that I will be returning for a visit.

Learning to write.  They need a little help from you and me

Packing: a system failure

Adungo

I did not want to bring back home anything that I brought here to Uganda two years ago, but it was not easy.  I planned only to take the adungo (a harp typical in northern Uganda covered by goat skin) and brochures that could be useful in the VSO office in Manila. 

 Adungo and bag of documents inside the suitcase

It was a miracle that the adungo perfectly fitted into my suitcase. But I needed to pack it securely so some clothes had to be thrown in as backing.

Needed these stuff for backing

Finally,  the suitcase was fully stuffed with most of the brick-a-brack items that I brought from home plus some potatoes and avocado seeds for planting, and pebbles collected.  The suitcase (weighing 43 kgs.) was to be shipped so I can travel light.  Freight cost:   USD 200.00.

Same fully stuffed suitcase returning to Manila

I had resolved to live just with my rucksack, but it is better said than done.   I could not leave behind my favorite:   T-shirts,  pants, decent shoes, rugged boots, original Crocs sandals, hats, dental kits, lotion for the hands, legs, face, sets of lingerie, socks for sleeping and walking with boots, sewing kit, mosquito coil, umbrella, shampoo, vitamins, first aid kit,  and the 5Ps (passport, personal computer, plastic money, prayer book, passwords).  

Oh, what a material world.  I need another suitcase!

A volunteer leaves

Bare bed in the last few days

Most volunteers preparing to return end up giving away all their personal belongings. That was what happened to me. The clothes (pants and blouses) were difficult to find a new owner since my size is petite, and ladies here don't usually wear pants.

Philippine money given as souvenir

Queenie of the Olympics?

My collection of James Bond movies had to be properly introduced to be appreciated since Agent 007 is unknown here.  Boston Legal series was the most difficult to find a new owner because the storyline is more for industrialized economies and the characters were a bit promiscuous and expressive.  If the owner is not carefully chosen, it could corrupt a young mind. But what really made me happy was the music (Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Sergio Mendes, classical, rock, rhythm and blues) on my Mac that I burned on several CDs. The recipients enjoyed them as the albums are not easily available here.

May they dust in style

Some have been picking-up the lyrics and using them in their day-to-day conversation.... a new language. When everything was given away, I ended up for one week, lying in a bed with no pillows and using a curtain as bedsheets.

Kitchen chair and staples last to go

As the bathroom bucket has a new owner, I used a saucepan as substitute.  Well, nothing new.

Saucepan-bucket works

And not to be forgotten was the formality of thank-you cards.  I mailed to some people the postcards that I brought from the Philippines - scenes of Banaue, Sagada.  I also mailed to my family a card postmarked Gulu, Uganda as a traditional finale.

I'd probably be home to receive from the mailman