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Hi All. This is Gareth the current blogger for all on the trip. Our group comprised of: Steph and Michael, Naomi and I, Jeff, Mary, Helen and Sara Roberts, Simon Roberts, Dee, Andrew, Kielly and Jack Hudson (pheww) arrived at around 6:30am local time (1:30pm Aussie time). Just a couple of bags missing somewhere in Hong Kong, but all good otherwise. (We should get them back :-).

So.... after a pretty long haul via Cairns - Hong Kong - Bangkok we finally arrived very safely in Addis Ababa. It was a beautiful landing with the sun rising over Ethiopia and some interesting glimpses of the land. Mainly populated with older cement, clay building with some newer construction poking through in places. The land is green, but dry and dusty. Addis is just about the highest altitude in Ethiopia so we have struggled and perhaps imagined some thinner air being breathed in.

The airport is actually quite new and better than some ports in more developed countries .. in some ways. Walking into the airport was slightly disconcerting and the culture hits you in the face a bit. Smells and curious looks. One guy was taking real good look at me... not sure whether he thought i had something of value or was just interested in why we were there.

The dust and dryness is really quite a shock. We walked out to this crazy old van - African style - not sure what make or model but it was interesting. The Ethiopians come out to start helping you with bags, even if you don't want them to. The help you and there ask for currency ... US or Euros. Its hard to say no, but Leith our organiser does all that negotiation.

The trip from the airport to our hotel in Addis was the most bazaar and crazy car ride I have ever taken. Not that it was dangerous, as our average speed was probably 30km/h, but the people walking around, the rudimentry business lining the streets and the lack of any organisation on the roads was frightening. You feel slightly threatened by the people just walking everywhere, however in our group with some lovely local friends, we were very very safe.

The rest of our day was taken up with various activities including a local church service (lead by an Aussie Pastor), a partially successful bus ride up Mount Entoto where after lack of engine power we stopped to chat to some local urchins (probably 8 years and under). This was a lovely experience, seeing the simple joy and happiness in the eyes with such simple things like their photo being taken, water bottles being handed to them and some left over bread rolls from breakfast.

After all that, we'll all exhausted and jet-lagged and looking forward to a good first night of sleep in Addis.

God Bless.. and Chow!