Massive moral dilemma coming up.

Those dickheads! At 3.30 this morn started yelling in the loud speakers. The Muslims start about 5.30 but I think these were orthodox. Started at 3.30 and didn't stop, st least the muslums only go for about 1/2hr,

Today I took the bus all the way down to Omorate. It is the southern most town in Ethiopia, next stop Kenya. Along the way abig group of Hamer tribe got on and one of the women had to share the seat with me. They were not as stinky as they look. I shared my water with her and I think we had a moment. When we stopped in a town for a rest stop I went exploring and was late back. They were all going off at me.

Omorate is a border town, even though it is 28km from the border, so I had to check in with immigration. Like any other town it is full of bars, pimps and prostitutes. The bars and the hookers both look dirty. Fitretu left me with a couple of young boys to show me around. This is the poorest and most remote place I have ever been. This really is third world. The running water is the young boys with their barrow delivering it all around town. So I did my bit for the local economy and we did a pub crawl. I wasn't sure at first, walking into these filthy holes but the locals seemed to accept me and we got on fine. They seemed to love the faces I pulled when I tried a different rot gut they call beer. One bar served it in a dirty fruit tin so I got a glass to pour it into. They also do Arak, called Araki, and it will blow ya head off.

The hotel I am in insist I lock the door, but the window doesn't lock it doesn't even close properly?

This arvo I went to a Daanasch village. I paid money to go and see a little of their way of life and customs. I took a dugout canoe across the river ant then got hast led by the kids for a photo. They want me to take their photo and pay them 5birr for it. At the village a group of adults joined the group and all jostled and harrased me for photos. I cracked the s***s and told my guide we are leaving. When I got back to town I complained and then the proverbial hit the fan. I ended up spending the night in deep discussions with the head of the local tourist association, his 2IC, the local magistrate and a couple of guides.

Here comes my dilemma.

Do I take the photo and pay the kid. It will definitely make his life better today but he/she has no reason to go to school. In ten years, with no education, what will that kid be doing? Or do I not take the photo and make the kid starve? I took one photo and you can judge yourself when you see it. DONT put ya answer here.