I spent the whole day going to the embassy and bus stations and got no where. It is too hard to get Egyptian visa and that and Sudan would take at least a week, so Im not going to Sudan. The busses to the south go from 3 different stations (one of them is new). I ot to 2 of them and no luck.

So I have hired a guide. It is epensive but it will save me a lot of time and get me to places I possibly couldnt get to alone. He can get me to Aba Minch tomorrow in his friends car and change money for me on the black market. He is coming at 4.30am to pick me up.

The doorman canme and got me at 4am for a taxi, he had his wires crossed. The power was out so going down the stairs in the dark I missed the last step and pulled a muscle in my leg just above my knee. The guide was a bit late but when he go here there is the SCAM. It is not his friends car but a mini bus full of Ethiopians. Having said that it eas an OK ride. we wernt squashed in and I got door to door service. It cost me 600birr for the two of us but it was oing to cost me 500birr just for taxi to bus station so good deal. The hotel I am in was booked by my guide Fitretu. It is pretty budget, the WiFi doesnt work and the shower is cold. I expect something better for my $13.

I cant walk anywherewithout someone asking me for money. They ask "Where you go?" "What you want?" The small boys (less than 10y/o) just ask for money. The bigger boys (12-16y/o) look me up and down like they are sizing me up to grab my bag. Yesterday I was walking home from another hotel and a couple tried to have a shot. The first one I turned and looked at him and he gave up. The second was a bit more determined. He was walking behind me and when I looked to my left he moved right, look right he move left to try to stay in my blind spot. I turned and looked at him then crossed the road, he didnt follow and didnt look very happy.

The weather here is better than in Addis. Up there it was cold and raining but here is warm so far. Not as hot as I expected.

I went out early this morning and there are families living under the shop awnings. Six young boys crawled out to the drain where they had obviously spent the night. It is there only place out of the weather unless it rains then they have to find some where else.

The internet here is dodgy at best so I will update you as often as possible. I am on tour for the next 10 days so I might not be able to update you till then.