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Monthly Archives: November 2009
Addis with rose-tinted lenses
This video could have been produced by the Addis Ababa tourist board – in fact it might have been. It only shows one side of Addis, and Addis is clearly not representative of the reality of life in much of … Continue reading
Posted in Ethiopian experiences
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Culture innit?
A couple of contrasting nights out this week. Wednesday night – at the request of one of the folks I was going out with – I found myself at the Sheraton, the poshest hotel in Addis by some considerable distance. … Continue reading
Posted in Ethiopian experiences
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Personal Best
I’ve had a great weekend. Yesterday I met a couple of (new) friends for lunch at the Lime Tree, one of the main Addis hang-outs for expats (ferengi) and – as the guidebook says – “trendy locals”. Then I went … Continue reading
Posted in Ethiopian experiences
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Pyramids and poverty
Since coming across Graham Hancock’s “Lords of Poverty” in the lobby of the Hilton the other day, I had had a nagging feeling – not just about staying at the Hilton, but about Graham Hancock. The name rang a bell … Continue reading
Posted in Ethiopian experiences
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First impressions
I’m now in Addis, having flown out with Ethiopian Airlines last night. As well as ploughing on with Paul Theroux’s Dark Star Safari – he is a miserable bugger, but I was glad to see that he warms to Addis and Ethiopia – … Continue reading
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Next stop Addis!
Today is my last day of working for ODI; at least until next June. It’s been … an experience. On the upside, I’ve been involved in some very interesting pieces of work on accountability and governance, and on policy coherence. … Continue reading
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