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