Tag Archives: Nile

A Shopper’s Paradise Can Be Found in Ethiopia

June 15, 2013 Lakshmi Leave a comment

Contributed by Sara Genene

Today we bring you another compelling reason to visit Addis Ababa – Shopping!!

Addis Ababa is home to the largest open market in Africa called Merkato and other colorful markets and souvenir shops where you can find the real feel of Ethiopia. Take a look at these pictures and you’ll encounter the ultimate visual treat in armchair travel and inspiration.

Simply Addis Ababa is shoppers’ paradise, where you can find aromatic Ethiopian spices, collectable silver spoons, Ethiopian crosses, ivory, leather products, Ethiopian traditional clothing and so much more.

Ethiopian handicrafts are unique and expressive; almost each item has a story behind it.

Each region in Ethiopia tends to specialize in particular hand-made products that have been handed down over generations.

And it is in Addis Ababa’s colorful markets where you can find it all together.

It is just impossible to come to Addis Ababa and return home…

Empty handed!

PS from Lakshmi: A few years ago I happened to hear Liya Kebede, the famous Ethiopian model speak about her passion for traditional Ethiopian weaving and how her interest sparked a whole business to empower locals and sell things made in her home country. For those unable to visit Ethiopia, you can take yet another virtual journey through the country’s offerings at Liya’s website at http://www.lemlem.com/

TRAVEL

The Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt – Pictures Of A Bygone Era

February 9, 2013 Lakshmi Leave a comment

On our last-minute splurge to Luxor, we spent several hours at the Temple of Hatshepsut. The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is a spectacular tribute located on the west bank of the Nile. The site has been immortalized in legions of photographs of the region, Indian movies have songs shot in this picturesque location and more recently the site was witness to the massacre of several tourists in 1997. Our guide, as previously mentioned showed no desire to accompany us and so we actually enjoyed happening upon images and statues unexpectedly. Do drop in a line if you have visited the site or simply tell us what you think of the place based on this visual journey.

TRAVEL

Capturing An Egyptian Faluca Ride in Pictures

January 28, 2013 Lakshmi Leave a comment

Read any guidebook on visiting Cairo and hidden among its pages will be a recommendation to take a Faluca ride along the Nile. As most of our readers know, these recommendations sometimes pan out beautifully and at other times are overhyped. Take a look at these pictures and let us know if you have done this/would do this in Cairo. Our simple Faluca ride was spiced up with some unanticipated adventure…if you’d like you can read more at http://bit.ly/XOaX5g.