Arba Minch' Favorites

Favorite thing: In the rear of the procession we saw the women. It was nice to look at those women, while they were clapping hands, smiling and singing. It was the most lifely and joyful part of the procession.

When the procession had passed, we like it to visit the new church, but some men didn't allow us to do so. Or maybe we could, if we payed a lot of money.

Fondest memory: Having the opportunity to see this unique procession in the Dorze area by being at the right place in the right time.

Favorite thing: After the priests with their umbrellas had past in the procession in the Dorze village, we saw a large group of men walking just behind the priests. There were many very old looking men, with grey beards.

For such a small village it was a very large procession. So I supposed, the people were coming from many villages out of the whole area around.

Favorite thing: In the middle part of the procession we saw a group priests in their yellow togas with multi-coloured umbrellas.

In their midst walked two important religious persons, wearing nicily decorated and embroidered togas, made of precious materials. There was nobody around, who could explain us about their identity, the meaning of all and what they were wearing at their heads.

Anyway it was very impressing and breathtaking to be there and to watch the amazing spectacle.

Favorite thing: After the first group of people in white shammas passed we saw two men in the head of the procession, who where were bearing big boards. At the boards were the the images of Jezus and the holy Mary in almost real size.

The people in the procession were clapping hands and sometimes nodding in our direction. It was really very impressing to see these procession.

Favorite thing: We were very lucky ! In the village, where we visited the beehives and enset plantations, they told us, there would be a procession in a few minutes. The procession was on behalf of the opening of a new church at the other side of the village.

So we were invited to sit down or stand along the main path through the village, to have a look at the procession. So we saw the approaching procession with a lot of people, wrapped in their white-coloured shammas.

Favorite thing: In the Guge mountains about 35 KM north of Arba Minch at a height of 2.400 live the Dorze people.

It was nice to visit this cooler area. The Dorze people we met in the villages were very friendly.

I was a pity we couldn't communicate very well with these women, who hardly speak any english, when we visited their compound. So we were limited to smiling and talking with the hands..

Favorite thing: In the scenic area around Arba Minch we saw a lot of nice trees, lovely plants and flowers. I really enjoyed the natural beauty.

We saw also many birds or their nests along the road. At the roadside just south of Arba Minch we encountered this huge baboon. The driver stopped our 4 WD, so we could have a good look at him. It was excellent, the baboon just stayed at the same spot, so he could look at us too.

Favorite thing: The area around Arba Minch is very scenic. there are two lakes, Lake Chamo and Lake Abaya with in between the Nechisar National Park. The views at the lakes with mountains at the background are wonderful.

Also the Guge mountains, where the Dorze people live are nice to explore. And everywhere you can find amazing flowering plants like this one, I saw near a Dorze village.