Author Archives: jewamongyou

The treasure that belongs to those who have nothing

I once wrote about a lone Bedouin I happened across in the Judean desert. I was impressed by the simplicity of his existence. His lonely days in the desert had rendered him free of the personality pollutants that afflict the … Continue reading →

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Do you cut your own hair?

I normally do; I don’t much care what it looks like. As long as it doesn’t affect my job, or grow so long that it gets in the way, it’s a low priority for me. So I cut it myself … Continue reading →

Posted in examples of propaganda | 11 Comments

Abuna Yemata Guh

“Abuna Yemata Guh.” The name probably doesn’t ring a bell for most of y’all. Your city probably has no streets with this name, or schools… or churches. I had just spent 3 days in the second lowest place on Earth: … Continue reading →

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My encounter with a Rastafarian

On my second day in Ethiopia, we stopped in the city of Shashamane. In 1948, emperor Haile Selassie allowed a number of Jamaican Rastafarians to settle in Shashamane, and since then it has had a small community of these people. … Continue reading →

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My favorite Erta Ale video and some thoughts

I took many videos of Erta Ale, and I would have spent all day watching it if I could have; it’s that mesmerizing for me. Here’s my favorite video, which I just uploaded today: [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ6FKBa5fmc&w=560&h=315]   I’m back in … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa and blacks, travel | 7 Comments

Back from Harar

The last leg of my journey was Harar, a medieval city whose old city features narrow winding streets. The old city is surrounded by a wall. My guide told me that in the old days, the surrounding Oromo tribe used … Continue reading →

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Update from Ethiopia

I just returned to Addis Ababa from Omo Valley. Visiting the Omo Valley area is almost like visiting another planet. In many rural areas, people wander about in full native garb, which sometimes means wearing nothing at all. I visited … Continue reading →

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I'm finished with north Ethiopia, and…

I’m now visiting the tribal south of Ethiopia. I wanted to post more updates, but internet, and electricity, is rather sporadic in these parts. Lalibela, with its rock-carved churches, was impressive. Some other tourists I’ve met have told me that … Continue reading →

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Something to whet your appetites: Erta Ale

Here are a couple of many videos I took at the famous lava lake in the Danakil, Erta Ale, the only permanent one of its kind in the world:

Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments

To the mountains, and now a castle

My journey to the mountains took me through some towns where poverty is the rule. To call their dwellings “hovels” would be too generous. I did see some nice wildlife in the mountains, but I got sick and had to cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments