An adventure to Hawassa

With one of my closest childhood friends visiting me all the way from Norway for New Years celebrations in Ethiopia, and almost three days off work, we packed one bag and headed off on an adventure. Hawassa is about a 5 hour drive from Addis, less if you get a reckless minibus driver like we did, and substantially more if you get a budget “chicken buss” which we also did. But I will get back to that…

Apart from the fact that this city has a University and a lake, we knew fairly little before arriving about what to expect. As the minibus made it out of Addis and dry but increasingly lush green landscapes with mud huts and people dressed in traditional outfits rolled by the window I felt like I was truly in Africa! And after the driver having escaped the police and tolls four times because of sheer speed, and several overtakes of tuk tuks, donkeys and cars that left me with my heart in my throat (sorry mum…). We eventually had to get a different bus as the police were catching up to us. Having finally arrived and feeling appreciative of still being alive,we had an early night. 

Fisherman amongst water lillies

 

The following day we explored the local market and wandered around in the streets. Where, as opposed to Addis, there is actual street planning and traffic lights that are obeyed. The locals are very friendly too, and everywhere we went people greeted us with smiles and handshakes. We even got to see monkeys, storks and colourful birds. Then danced the night away to Ethiopian music, where some local girls took it upon themselves to show us traditional dance moves.

Photo by Marianne Skaar

Photo by Marianne Skaar

The second night we decided to change hotel to one closer to the bus station as we had to get up at an ungodly hour the next day. The only room available was a double bed one, no problem we thought, but the hotel thought otherwise. Two same sex people sharing a bed is not that kosher in Ethiopia, a country where homosexuality is still illegal and can lead to imprisonment. We ended up having to pay an extra 50 % on top of the room rate! 

Those are the rules

Returning the following day was a whole new adventure! Getting in a bus that didn’t leave until it was full, and by full I mean three people on each of the two seater row and even ones in the isles on wooden stools, we were eager to get back to Addis quite quickly. Though faith would have it otherwise… After several impromptu stops; sometimes to feed the driver or passengers, others for cooling down the engine with water. Or for an Orthodox priest to give each passenger his blessing and sellers of everything from drinks, snacks, magazines and coffee beans a chance to make a living. We finally reached Addis just in time for rush hour traffic, it took over 7 hours! And did I mention that there was no aircon nor necessarily windows that would open?!  

Photo by Marianne Skaar

 

An eventful trip with many life long memories made :)