Arbaminch/Arba Minch and Tribes of Ethiopia
Greeted in the morning by Colobus monkeys, breakfast and back into the 4WD towards Arbaminch/Arba Minch ("forty springs" in Amharic). Arba Minch is southwestern Ethiopia's largest city and almost on the doorstep of Nechisar National Park. There was a lot to see today with the biggest stop at the highland towns of Dorze and Chencha.
But first, passed by Alba Tribe territory with decorated houses (rather like the Gurunsi in North Ghana and Berkina Faso). They are farmers and we saw many Alba on the road wearing tall straw hats, and bringing their cattle to be watered. A brief stop in Shashemane for gas and we crossed to street to the local drugstore to buy some generic Dramamine. The druggist spoke perfect English and sold what we needed... 12 pills for 50 cents...of course, who knows how long they had been sitting there and whether they really helped us (mind over matter)...
Next, the Welyta (Wolayta) tribal area. Every tribal area was separated by a river (dried up now, but still a river). The Welyta's houses look like big haystacks. With a population of 80,000, they are the biggest tribe in the South. Past the Gamo ( banana farmers), Marabou Storks, Flame trees in bloom...View image... and common baboons ran across the road every now and then.
At least several times today, I broke out singing Frankie Laine's "Mule Train" whenever another procession of very little mules came towards us on the road hauling heavy loads. ..View image....
Finally, the colorful Chechna market towards the end of the day where it was in the process of winding down. Still very crowded as all markets are. The Chechna Market is held twice a week on Tuesday and Saturday.
