Its a long way to Ethiopia

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

(Sung to the tune of It's a...Tipperary).


Left Auckland on a beautiful spring morning - it was just about daylight by the time we took off. Landed to a cool morning in Sydney then shot down to Wollongong for Ascilite and Leadership Project evaluation meetings. A bit rushed but very productive. Just as well the rental car didn't have a governor on the speedo for the trip back to the airport!

It was well worth observing the British Airways dress code for guest travelers for the comfort we got to travel in. The design of the cabin is very unusual and couples traveling together seem uncomfortable (or maybe it just unfamiliar) with the idea of sitting facing each other. But when you can get horizontal on a plane I think anything that seems strange becomes just fine. Food and service were EXQUISITE. Serious wish is that I could afford to travel this way every time.


The first hop over to Singapore passed quickly - then on to London and the wonderful country where it once cost a penny, now 20p just to have a pee. Getting caught short takes on a whole new meaning when natural bodily functions can't be entertained until he correct sum has been paid!

On that note - have you heard that the old saying "going to spend a penny" has been superceded by the somewhat inelegant "euro-nating' No wonder the UK refused to switch currencies!

Anyway, it now costs 12 quid to have a shower, so clearly progress is happening! After the first 36 hours of travel I would have paid ANYTHING for that shower - and I did. That plus the wonders of wireless access that have allowed me to clear my over-capacity mailbox, move forward the plans for project selection and embarrass my travel companion by putting his picture on this site! Ha - you notice I didn't put my own 'smart-dress-traveler' pic up. Such is the power of the pen pusher...

Have been reading Bob Geldof's book - Geldof in Africa - on the plane. Very fitting for the occasion - also very humorous, informative and incredibly well written.

Next stop Addis Ababa - via Beirut as far as I know. By the time we get there we will have been on the move for more than 48 hours! To get to our final destination at Degan we have another full day by road - via hired minibus and driver. At least we get to wait a day until the rest of the Cunningham whanau arrive from UK and Tanzania. The two hour flight up country would have been stunning but better pictures on the ground. So good morning / day / evening to all you lovely readers. I will keep you posted as and when I can.