The Garden of Eden

There is more 

Very few travel to Axum by road because it cannot be reached in one day.  Buses do not  ply at night and it is just right because the landscape to Axum from the Amhara region is not to be missed.

Look like the Great Pyramids

At the Woldia terminal while waiting for the bus to leave for an overnight in Makele, I called a Filipino VSO volunteer assigned in the area  to meet him for the first time.

Till the last goat is down; then bus leaves

The famous badjas; not found in Uganda

Five minutes later,  I saw a farengi alight from the badjas, and I was tempted to say, “Dr.  Livingstone, I supposed”.  It was such a pleasant albeit spontaneous and brief reunion.  

Good vibes grass.  In buses, too!

Traversing the well-maintained road to Axum was like going up to heaven. The hills gave different views as we navigate the  zigzag road.  The sight was awesome,  like seeing the pyramids in Egypt, jutting out of the desert.   It was breathtaking.

The hills take on different views

The long and winding road to heaven

If God placed the perfectly-baked man (olive-colored skin) in Ethiopia,  then He must have created this  garden that is beautiful in the rainy season. My eyes were never satisfied with seeing.

Same hills, different view

Cactus plants line the road and the cactus fruits are aplenty.  I tried eating the fruit which tastes and looks like a big red kiwi.  It was delicious and I finished a basketful during that long trip. 

Cactus plants with fruits

The edible cactus fruit 

Some parts of the Tigray region are barren and suffering from drought.  I understand that there is famine in the area.  According to the grapevine,   there is some kind of weeds that destroy vegetation and pasture land…. and these are believed to have sprouted together with the  seeds that were sown as part of some international food aid programs. 

The barren part of Tigray region

Animals show sign of starvation

On to Axum, the thriving capital of Ethiopia at the time that Jesus was preaching in Palestine. 

Wondering where to spend the night