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 | MONEY MATTERS    |  | |
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 |  on January 11, 2008 |
The currency of Ethiopia is known as the Birr. Notes are 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100’s. Coins are 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents. 1’s are rarely used and you need at least 10 cents to buy a small loaf of bread. This is important if you want to give a poor person a coin. Supposedly all bills must be paid in Birr, but many businesses including state-owned hotels, take foreign currency. Always have 1 and 5 Birr notes for shared taxis. US Dollars are the preferred currency. Outside of Addis Ababa you may get a much much worse rate in hotels for Euros and British Pounds. Some restaurants in Addis Ababa will take dollars and give you the going rate if you ask them nicely. Look here for current exchange rates: XE.COM CURRENCY RATE WEBSITE |
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| DO NOT RING THE BELL ! | | |
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| on May 28, 2007 |
In many Church and Monastery sites you will see long pieces of stone hanging from some rope. They are actually bells and you use just about any rock to hand to ring them. Do not do it! You may find yourself having to cook for a group of hungry Priests! They use the bell to call them to meal times. If you are a bit curious, just do not ring it loudly. |
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| HAVE A TEJ OR TWO (NOT THREE) | | |
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| on December 30, 2007 |
Tej is a thick and tart honey wine that actually tastes pretty good. They ferment this stuff for about 1 year. Yep, a year. They make Tej in 3 varieties: • Normal • Strong • Kick your ass (so my local friends say) It can be very strong and so tart that you may only want one. It is served in something resembling a laboratory beaker. You hold the neck with your first 2 fingers, almost like smoking a cigarette. Please finish what you order. They really don’t appreciate having to pour away something that took so long to produce. You will find this only at Tej Houses and very good Ethiopian (gourmet) restaurants. Take it easy with this stuff. It tastes more like fortified wine than regular wine. I have linked a website below so you can make your own Tej at home!!! |
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| "Afar men's walking stick" | | |
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 |  on February 18, 2008 |
In most parts of Ethiopia, men living in the countryside carry sticks around. In the Danakil Desert the stick is replaced by - see picture. When you plan to go further into the desert or walk around near Bilen Lodge you have to have an armed guide or scout who are perfectly peaceful and interesting company. But without one you might meet men who might point their weapon to you. As you cannot go into these regions without private transport, your tour agency or driver will help you arrange a scout/guide. If you have your own transport make sure you know in advance where and how to arrange one. Tourist offices can help. |
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| Carrying firewood | | |
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| on March 4, 2008 |
Okay girls, if you thought you are carrying around a heavy backpack, you might rethink now… Almost everywhere food is cooked on fire, maybe charcoal, and getting the firewood for cooking is female business. Some of them, i.e. in Addis Abeba do it as a job and sell the wood. In Addis there is even a “wood carrying women’s association” for those who carry the wood down the Entoto Mountain. Although in restaurants and hotels with many visitors wood has been replaced by gas, there are still many hotels where wood or charcoal is used for cooking. Due to getting firewood and agriculture most of the north of Ethiopia is deforested – with the corresponding ecological problems as erosion of fertile soil and a lack of water retention. Usually eucalypt trees are used for reforestation, because it grows fast. But it also needs quite a lot of water and draws it with its deeps roots, thus draining ground water reservoirs. There are some field studies with other species being carried out right now (one next to the road to Entoto Mountain). If you see forest patches, watch out for a church as cutting trees is forbidden next to them. |
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| Tigrinya Hairdo | | |
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 |  on June 5, 2004 |
I can only admire the time and effort it goes into African hairdos, and my favourite is the Tigrinya hairtyle that is found in northern Ethiopi among Tigrinya people and some of their neigbours. |
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| The Konso people have special... | | |
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 |  on August 25, 2002 |
The Konso people have special traditon of making wooden dolls and icons used for marking graves. You can buy those wooden dolls in Konso. Photo by: Benny First. |
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| Timket Eve (Jan. 18th, about... | | |
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 |  on August 25, 2002 |
Timket Eve (Jan. 18th, about 2pm). Priests in colourful regalia carry the Tabot (the Ark of Covenant, but actually the tablet of Law housed in the Ark) of their respective churches gather at the town centre, accompanied by a troop of clergies and a huge enthusiastic crowd. Timket is one of the few opportunities for the folks to be close to the Tabot, which considered to be the most sacred item in Ethiopian Orthodox Church. However, no one has taken a true glimpse of the Tabot, as it is always covered by the bright-colour gilded silks. |
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| Ethiopia Local Customs Tip (Untitled) | | |
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 |  on August 26, 2002 |
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on August 26, 2002
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More Ethiopia Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 60 - Photos: 50 |
| Restaurants Tips: 32 - Photos: 20 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 36 - Photos: 16 |
| Things To Do Tips: 124 - Photos: 113 | Nightlife Tips: 6 - Photos: 2 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 25 - Photos: 17 | Tourist Traps Tips: 9 - Photos: 6 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 29 - Photos: 15 | Transportation Tips: 53 - Photos: 38 |
| Local Customs Tips: 73 - Photos: 70 | Packing Lists Tips: 15 - Photos: 10 |
| Shopping Tips: 6 - Photos: 3 | Sports Travel Tips: 2 - Photos: 2 |
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