alone  / 2012

Ethiopia Air has many routes in Africa and the price is cheep. They have a chair and carried me up to airplane. Wheelchair accessible toilet is also available at airport, but so tiny. Parking space for wheelchair users also available, but who uses ? Anyway good airport in Addis Ababa.

I arrived at Addis Ababa early morning. From airport to south bus terminal by taxi. 

I went to Hawassa by mini bus. Transportation price is so cheep in Ethiopia. Only 110 Birr = 6 US$, 5 hours, 300km. Bus is half price. Mini bus is fast and comfortable. South of Ethiopia is plain and dry, not mountain. Grazing cattle and goats along the road. Few agricultural land.

Bus stand in south. Many people wait for bus. When the bus comes, people run and try to get a seat. However no space for everybody. Many people could not get their space. Price is cheep but not enough number. Poor transportation is also big problem for tourists. 

Ethiopia is the best food in Africa. Injera tastes so nice and spicy. Eat by hand. I feel like India. Also many fruit juice and Italian dishes. Sweets is also good. Nice sandwich. Coffee is excellent. You know Ethiopia is place of origin of coffee. Breakfast at hotel, they served coffee with steamed milk. Oh wonderful !!  

Jacaranda trees. Purple flowers in Hawassa town.   

Many small shop on street. They sell cigarette, snack, candy, toilet paper, small product on wheelchair.  I saw dozens. Sometime they used baby baggy. Removable mini store. However those wheelchairs were donated from foreign countries... I believed that wheelchairs were given Ethiopian people with disability first. I guess they sold an donated wheelchair because their family wanted money and no good town accessibility. We should take care after donation.

well, tourism. Hawassa lake boat cruise. I just walked along the lake.  

Three wheel motor bike. I sometime saw in Africa. A gentle man with cane was the user.

Many cafe in Ethiopia. This is an avocado juice. Ethiopian ladies are so beautiful. Ladies beauty is also first place in Africa.

Ethiopia is Christian country. Long long history. I visited some church but always stair at entrance. No ramp. It means no wheelchair users here. I could not see inside.

Back to the capital Addis Ababa. Metropolitan. Problem is hilly. So tough for wheelchair. Using a taxi or mini bus is the choice. Many taxi driver charged extreme price for foreigner. Negotiating the price is too much pain.

Tea break when we are tired of walking. 

Soccer league Ethiopia. No wheelchair seats in stadium. I entered inside the ground and watched with staffs.

National museum. Oh stairs...  Kinds staff helped me. No accessibility. Of course no wheelchair toilet. 

Cherry on street. 10 peace / 2 Birr = 0.1 US$. Taste nice and incredible cheep price. 

I met one wheelchair man in zoo. One front wheel is unique. I hope many Ethiopian with disability can go outside.