After showering and charging our devices we toured Gonder with Dave and his friend. We visited a series of castles built by  Solomonic emperor Fasilides in the 16th century after he restored the Ethiopian Church and established Gonder as Ethiopia’s capital.  With grand halls, towers and gables, the architecture was almost as interesting as the court intrigue. It […]

I was thrilled to arrive in Japan after trekking in Ethiopia for five days. I was looking forward to organization, cleanliness and a good bath. I had a big smile on my face as we landed in Narita. Lorne was not very pleased with me and continued to say that I should not be so […]

You know the story, a man in Shanghai meets a red silk clad beauty and follows her to a smoky bar near the docks. A few hours later the sailor wakes up with a headache in a sleazy hotel room. His money and watch are gone. Men bang on the door show him the conscription papers he signed and […]

As we watched the Geladas descend the cliffs and call out to each other, Dave explained that they are monkeys rather than baboons. Sociable, grass, root and flea eating monkeys that live in large social groups of up to 500. The Gelada  sleep in caves on the cliff sides for the protection offered against hyenas and wolves.  They are very docile. […]