Getting Ready to Go to Ethiopia Jan.10-26,2014

I signed up for this tour of Ethiopia (Blue Nile & Lalibela) with Explore blindly, because my Aussie friend was going.  https://www.explore.co.uk/holidays/ethiopia-historic-tour

I have the guide books, culture and history books, and maps ready to read and get up to speed.  They remain on the coffee table untouched, in stark rebuke when I do my morning stretches on the rug in the living room.

No matter, I am a fast reader and it's a 22-hour flight from Vancouver via Istanbul to Addis Ababa.  

Logistics -- Medical, Flights

I've travelled a lot, but this trip will be very different --- both hot and cold weather (mountains), more complex than usual visa and money requirements.  

Yellow fever shot required.  Many others recommended but I don't bother.   Expensive.   I go to the Travel Clinic --- they have all my records.  travelclinic.vch.ca/‎

I have retirement medical benefits which cover me for everything up to 60 days.  That saves me a lot of money getting medical insurance for all my travel.

I flew Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, the cheapest and the shortest.  I considered a stop in Istanbul on the way back, but adding on to each trip is expensive, and it's another airport hassle (get luggage, get transport to hotel, transport back to airport, security, check-in, etc.).   The other option is UAE airlines via Dubai, but it takes longer and I didn't care to add a stopover.

The Tour Company

Many changes to the itinerary and much confusion with Explore staff contradicting themselves over and over, only to issue a "final" clarifying communique (different again for my friend and for me), which contradicts itself within the message, and then is immediately changed again.  Don't get me started on the Tour Notes.  Oh well, we are there two nights in advance so we an sort everything out I am sure.   I always have a good time, and my friend is also a very resilient traveller.

Why Africa and Ethiopia

It will be only my second Africa trip.  The first one to Egypt was years ago (coincidentally with Explore and that time half the group was stranded in Zagreb when our onward flight was cancelled and the next one was a week later).  I guess I am working my way down the continent.  I am not as curious about Africa as many people I know, who call Africa "their continent", but I am hoping that it will catch me.  I went to India for educational reasons --- I thought I "should" see what other people live like  (not expecting to like it) and fell in love with it, so you never know.   

Anyway, I want to "know" Africa, make it my own, recognize places on the news, visualize places mentioned in books or conversations, know the food and the people, pick up some Swahili.  I do work hard to make each trip personal and not the normal tourist track.

This tour takes place during the Timkat Festival, which is very special time to go I understand.  It is a very ancient Christian country and I believe this is Epiphany.  Although I went to church all through childhood, somehow the meaning of Epiphany did not stick.  Another learning experience to come.  I wonder if there are Mennonites there.  Where there is famine, refugees, or disaster, the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) is there, first on the ground.  I don't expect to encounter any Mennonites however as the refugee camps are usually not near the tourist attractions.

Packing

Packing is always as easy or as stressful as I make it.  I am going to try to go with the small Briggs and Riley Transcend 20" wide body (not my usual Briggs 26" upright), even though I will check it through.  We take a lot of internal flights so it might be easier.  But, there are no restrictions other than being able to carry your own luggage.  I have seriously considered Briggs & Riley BRX or a Thule rolling duffle but as always, the small is too small, the medium too big.   The BRX has very cute matching day knapsacks but I hate knapsacks (another post on this).

Travelling with carry-on only requires some serious changes.  I usually take a lot of reading material for example.  I have a Kindle now so that's a big step.  Toiletry bottles and tubes are usually too big for carry-on.  I prefer not to have to decant toiletries into 100 ml. containers --- it's never enough or it's too much and it's wasted.   Plus you have to pull the case around the airport with you.

I take only Keen walking shoes and Keen sandals (to the horror of my fashionista hair stylist).   I can walk forever in these so there's no matter what they look like or what I am wearing, the shoes are the shoes.  I can reduce clothing and just wash underwear and tops often.  I am inspired by Save Spend Splurge (she wears only Birkenstocks and travels with only carry-on) to try.

The Budget

The cost estimate and actual for this trip is as follows: (I must learn how to make tables):

Tour - land costs   $3,000. (there's a premium because of the higher costs during Timkat)

Flight  $1,556. (Turkish airline came out the cheapest, with best times, and shortest travel time). 

Yellow Fever Vaccine $170.00

Visa (on arrival) $20 US

Medical Insurance $00 (I have coverage under my retirement benefits)

In country, food, tip for guide, kitty Est. $1,000. Actual $583 ($400 food, etc. $50 tip kitty, $80 guide tip)

Hotels Est. $100. US (my half of hotels for first two nights) Actual $105 US + $22 for WIFI = $151.
Total Est. $5,906. Actual $5,560.
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