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April 9, 2007

A Visa for The Sudan

LOCATION: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SEE WHERE WE ARE!
Longitude: N:09deg.03.
Latitude: E: 038deg.42.
Kms from Djibouti: 898

Sickness and communications equipment failure have dogged progress these past 7 days leading to the absence of any updates. This post is actually being written in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa where Kenny and I reached 24 hours ago. He flew out this morning back to London and then onto the US. My life for the foreseeable future revolves around the acquisition of a visa for Sudan which apparently can take anything from a week to a month to come through!

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Climbing up from the Afar desert region to the relative heady heights of the Ethiopian Highlands proved spectacular both in terms of the change in climate (delightfully cooler), vegetation and people.

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The increased rainfall at this altitude (2000 metres) has been evident in the amount of mouth watering produce for sale by the side of the road - as compared to just firewood down in the desert.

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There are also many more people supported by the land up here, so stopping in a village becomes a somewhat hazardous affair dealing with crowds of interested folks of all ages who throng all around, either trying desperately to sell us something or just checking out the gear on our bikes. They are in general more friendly than the nomadic Afar who keep their distance more, a testament perhaps to their isolationist way of life where they trust few outsiders.

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jason

** MOKSHA SHIPPING TO EUROPE FUNDING DRIVE **
> Total to raise: $4,500
> Total raised to date: $1,600
> Total still to raise: $2,900

Sincerest thanks to the following for your pledges -
- Terry Mason, California USA, $200
- Jackie and Jean Bernard, Djibouti, $250.
- Erden Eruc and Nancy Board of Around n Over, Seattle USA, $250
- Sharon Kessler, Colorado USA, $500
- Jane Koca, San Jose USA, $50
- John Caldwell, San Jose USA, $100
- Greg Kolodziejzyk of Pedal the Ocean, Canada, $250

Posted on April 9, 2007 3:47 PM