Randomness – Page 683

Ryton2Ethiopia.org 2009 – Day 1 and Day 2 diary.

(Taken from Ryton2Ethiopia 2009 diary pages at Ryton2ethiopia.org)

Day 1

Arrival in Addis

After a ridiculously long day of being up and down in various different aircrafts and moving between continents, we finally arrived in Addis sleepy eyed and bushy tailed at around 9 o clock local time. This being after Leigh-Anne had her bag checked at both Newcastle and Amsterdam airports and toiletries confiscated after having bought them minutes before!

It took us a while to get our money changed and baggage found, when we finally did however, we also realised that we were without tents and they were still in Newcastle, bad crack!! We pressed on like brave soldiers toward the Yonas Hotel in the city centre on a true Ethiopian style bus- our baggage strapped to the top of the roof. Meheret, sister to Bisrat who we will get to meet in Bahir Dar, met us at the airport and helped us along toward the hotel. Once we had unloaded our bags and located our rooms, we chilled over a nice cold bottle of Mirinda- Ethiopia’s alternative to Fanta- and discussed our activities for tomorrow.

Screens in the second flight used to view TV shows and movies, play games and even view the flight path

Alex T and Greg A

Day 2

Day in Addis

Our first morning was an early rise, after which we headed down to breakfast where we could choose between eggs, porridge and toast. Shortly after, we were split into groups to tackle our first real experience on the streets of Addis, where we were set the task of finding certain items for the cheapest price by haggling with the locals. Not as easy as it sounds! We also slowly became accustomed to the regular sights such as corn on the cob and farm animals on the street.

After purchasing our lunch for the day ahead, which consisted of gourmet fresh bread, bananas and oranges, we were given a spare hour to explore the local surroundings. Whilst doing so we stumbled upon one of the most violent football matches we’ve ever seen! A pitch which was covered in pot-holes, muddles and sharp rocks which didn’t seem to faze the locals as they threw themselves into vicious tackles.

After the football match ended we then headed off in the mini bus to the Entoto. What an experience this was, with children climbing on the bus and clinging on. In the mountains there were spectacular views of Addis and we were treated well by the children living in the mountains, who showed us how to crack a whip in style – not that any of us picked it up! On our return to the hotel, we stopped at the market to do some haggling which was quite an experience, as we were constantly surrounded by the locals trying to get us to buy what they have to offer. A funny moment when at the market was when Jack was continuously referred to by the locals as ‘Harry Potter’, which the whole group found hilarious; Jack, not so much! Later on at night, we ventured to the ‘Zebra Grill’ where we were all mildly surprised by how delicious the local cuisine was. Overall the first day in Addis was an eye opener to say the least, but an enjoyable day all the same, from haggling with the locals to experiencing the top of the picturesque Ethiopian mountains the day was a complete success.

Jack & Alex R

(Taken from Ryton2Ethiopia 2009 diary pages)

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Revolving, Drinking, Boat.

It’s been gone since the 10th of Aug 2008 and lets be honest with ourselves no body cares one little bit. 10 months without the “Boat” on the Newcastle/Gateshead Quay Side and the tyne looks like a better place without it.

I was there on the day that it was removed from the tyne an event that lots of people where there to see but I thought it was about time to remind you all how much better the place looks with the revolving dance floor monstrosity of a night club on a boat gone.

The princes being removed from the Tyne — The princess being removed from the Tyne

I have two memory’s of being on the Boat, the first was a 30th birthday night out with a group of now work colleagues that at the time I didn’t work with. It was an drunken evening that involved two incidents. The first an inflatable naked girl that we insisted the Birthday boy carry with him the whole night. She actually got the most attention of any girl in the night club that night. Crowd surfing on the revolving dance floor getting us to the front of every queue at the bar before she was sent home a little too drunk and deflated.

The second incident was one of the lads on the night out; tripping over the chain railings that acted at barriers to stop people crossing the road at unsafe points along the Newcastle side of the quay side. He hit the ground teeth, face and arm first. After ½ a pint of whisky to numb the pain he was in, we headed onto the boat. The next morning I woke up on his sofa and had to task of helping him get ready for work. Drowning his pain with whisky while I had to help with his tie due to damaged arm. Then he was off to work, pissed, in pain and two teeth short of a mouth full. Fun times.

I would love to hear any stories you have from being on the boat if for no other reason that to remind us all why it’s a good think that it is gone. If you think I’m wrong and that the tyne looked like a better place with the boat there let me know why.

The Smoking Room

Yesterday was mine and Em’s opportunity to celebrate our new home with friends.

Normally I would be trigger happy with my camera on a night like this to ensure I had something to remind me of the night; however with one arm still strapped up and a large volume of drinking to be done I had to come up with another plan.

Without wanting to hassle all of our lovely guess with some kind of photo booth or cameras in everyroom taking pictures all the time; I decided the best thing to do some to pick on the minority. Them Dirty Smoker’s!

With the Webcam set to record at 1 frame per second in the designated smoking room for the whole of the night I was rewarded with this little bit of film genius.