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Socialising in Hamed Ale

By on 2. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Young Afar girl playing, Afar village of Hamed Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Young Afar girl playing, Afar village of Hamed Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

We loved staying in Hamed Ale. Liza knew lots of people and our little camp attracted children and village VIPs alike. Halima, an amazing and charming nine year old girl, had bewitched all of us. She was around from dawn to dusk, bringing along various friends. Also the village chief hung out there, showing off a small gun fastened to his hips. A souvenir from his pilgrimage to Jeddah / Saudi Arabia he bragged, only to add that at the age of 63 he will soon marry his fifth wife, somewhere in her early twenties. So within minutes we learned that he was the father of no less than 23 children, with more to come. Continue Reading →

Hamed Ale

By on 1. January 2011 in Ethiopia

Living In The Most Hostile Environment

Hut in the Afar village of Hamed Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Hut in the Afar village of Hamed Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Upon arrival in Hamed Ale, a simple hut made from branches was assigned to us by the village chief. Christos was furious. He had paid for something airier, a place with a shaded area outside. Shade is precious in the Danakil, there is none anywhere. Nevertheless, all the screaming and arguing did not get us a better place. That meant squeezing into our hut between late morning and late afternoon, when temperatures went way above 40 degrees Celsius (above 110 degrees Fahrenheit). There was no other way to be out of the sun. Continue Reading →

Berahile – Police Station

By on 1. January 2011 in Ethiopia
Hut in the Afar village of Hamed Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

Hut in the Afar village of Hamed Ale, Danakil Depression, Ethiopia

The police station outside of the village was deserted. It was past 11:00 am and the heat had already brought life to a complete standstill. So Liza and Heidi went to look for the very chief to get our permit for the Danakil. Continue Reading →