ETHIOPIA GOLD YEARBOOK EDITION
Some of the stories appearing in this edition
- Deep in the Heart of Texas
Culture of Southern Ethiopia Africa Shines
Read more about Ethiopia profile: http://www.africa-ata.org/et_i_am.htm
|
|
|
Download
sample page from
Ethiopia
Edition.....
Advertise
in Update Issue Ethiopia: New York
Photographer Robert Eilets featured on camera in
"Going Home - A Pilgrimage." Editor's Comments on
Ethiopian Millennium
Edition:
Enroute
to Ethiopia last May our luggage was weighed down
with copies of Africa Travel Magazine for delegates
to Africa Travel Association's 32nd Annual
Congress. Would you believe the same suitcases were
just as full coming back? The reason? They were
stuffed with books, photos, DVDs and journals on
every aspect of life in Ethiopia - culture,
fashions, transportation, food, travel, tourism,
investment and business opportunities. In 12 years,
our magazine and web site have become a prime
source for positive, timely substantive news and
views about Ethiopia. Nothing succeeds like
substance!
Current searches of Google,
Yahoo, MSN and others prove this point. But we
brought back much more than information for our
magazine's archives - we renewed friendships from
two previous trips and had the opportunity to get
to know many of the leading lights on the Ethiopian
scene, including the outstanding Minister of
Culture and Tourism. ATA 32nd
Annual Congress in Ethiopia Underscores Theme of
Branding Africa as a Tourist Destination New Photo Book featured in
Ethiopia Millennium Souvenir Edition •
Post ATA Congress Review:
Photo
gallery, speakers' comments and interviews.
Sessions on "Bringing the World to Africa" and
"Branding Africa as a Unified Continent." AFRAA
African Airlines Forum • African Tourism
Ministers Roundtable . •
Historical Profile of Ethiopian Airlines on its
60th Anniversary. •
Profile of Ethiopian Banks and Investment
Houses. •
Addis
Ababa: Africa's Meeting Place The
Exhibition "Lucy Legacy: Hidden Treasures of
Ethiopia" Following
the signing of the agreement, Ambassador Mohammed
Dirir said the centerpiece of this Ethiopian
Exhibition in the United States will be Lucy, but
nearly 190 other Ethiopian Heritage items from
various regions of the country will be included.
These range form humankinds' earliest stone tools
to contemporary articles representing the legacy of
our forebears and of our own time. The Ambassador
further said that millions of Americans-school
children and adults- will view in some eleven major
museums across the United States these fabulous
collections from the cradle of human kind,
Ethiopia. He went on to say that they will have the
opportunity to somberly reflect on human origins,
they will have a chance to know about an ancient
millennia-old civilization in Africa, and a chance
to acquaint themselves with contemporary Ethiopia
through a realistic image. Continued Birth
of Coffee:
There is an old Ethiopian legend that says that
a young goat herd noticed his herd becoming
unusually frisky after eating some bright red
berries. After trying some himself, he found that
they had the same stimulating effect on him. A monk
from a neighboring monastery also tried these
berries after he found the young goat herd in this
state, and to his amazement, he also found that the
berries helped keep him and others alert during
their night prayers and thus spread the use of
coffee. More-> Ethiopian
Airlines Wins Friends , Influences
People:
How
many of our under 30 generation have read his
books, or even know about Dale Carnegie, I could
never guess. Yet this one man's simple concepts
have changed millions of lives dramatically and
positively for generations, not just in North
America, but around the world. In my opinion
everyone should read at least one of his inspiring
books. Like Napoleon Hill, another author who has
inspired folks around the world, he leads by
example. The management at Ethiopian Airlines has
the type of action-based thinking and 'hands on'
approach Carnegie talks about on every page of his
best seller, "How to Win Friends and Influence
People." Speaking of winning friends, the way our
group of 11 journalists was catered to during a
Tourism Ministry sponsored flight from the USA to
Addis Ababa -- and around the country on its
regional routes, left its mark indelibly on each of
us. Following the Historic Route Tour to Lalibela,
Gondar, Bahir Dar-and Lake Tana, I had the
opportunity of working at the company's head office
for several days, laying the foundation for this
issue and an updated (Post Congress) edition of
Africa Travel Magazine. That was when I experienced
the "Spirit of Ethiopian Airlines" first hand.
More-> Wine
and Roses:
My
inner child loves surprises, and to discover a
freshly cut sweetheart rose nestled on one's pillow
is a touch that transcends time and space. This was
the first surprise the
Sheraton Addis
reserved for our group, and much more awaited us as
we checked the nooks and crannies of this elegant
hotel and its spacious, luxuriant, terraced
grounds. Later, we discovered ornate vases of roses
literally everywhere; in the restaurants, around
the lobby and corridors, at the pool-side -- and at
a festive wedding we attended. Airports: Nationwide
expansion sets stage for tourism More-> Bahir
Dar, Lake Tana, Blue Nile Falls Rocks of
Ages:
During my recent African excursions, I have been
awed by mankind's glorious creations, offset by a
Jekyll and Hyde capacity for evil. While we were
shocked by the slave castles of West Africa's Gold
Coast and Zanzibar's dungeons, we saw the result of
godly forces at work in the 12th century rock -hewn
churches that have made the Holy City of Lalibela a
magnet for Christian pilgrims and historians.
Many
come for the famous church festivals in Ethiopia,
such as Timket (Epiphany) and other times of
celebration and devotion. Souvenirs of King
Lalibela are everywhere, as a continuing tribute to
his glory and greatness in creating these wonders
of the world. Our official photographer, Robert
Eilets couldn't get over the abundance of photo
opportunities in Lalibela's streets, at the famous
stone churches and around every bend in the road
leading to this remote highland community. Next
time, we vowed to allow an extra day for
photography alone. Continued:
(Holy
Route North)
Gondar- Ethiopia's Camelot For information
e-mail: info@tourismethiopia.org,
or
tour-com@telecom.net.et
. Web site:
http://www.tourismethiopia.org/pages/ethiopia.asp |
||||||||||
Ethiopia:
The Millennium
Cometh:.
By Yves Stranger. The perfect time to reflect on
the country's history. The dreadlocked musicians
greeting each other in a thatched wattle and-daub
hut in Shashemene, southern Ethiopia, have no
doubts about the color of the future, and the
green, yellow and red Ethiopian flag flapping gaily
in the wind above the hut echoes the colors of the
clothes they wear. The millennium is coming to
Africa, and his majesty is riding high, like a
lion, in Zion. 
Leading
tourism industry experts from more than 20
countries in Africa, North America, Europe, and
Asia came together in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from
May 6-11 to participate in ATA's 32nd Annual
Congress. Ethiopia's Culture and Tourism Ministry
hosted the event in time for the country's
millennium celebrations. Ethiopian Airlines served
as the official congress carrier. Ethiopian
President Girma Wolde-Giorgis welcomed delegates at
the opening ceremony held at the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters
in Addis Ababa. "The tourism industry involves the
participation of billions of people of all walks of
life," he said. "Yet irrespective of Africa's
diversified wealth, the continent's world share of
receipts from international tourism is below four
percent." ATA Executive Director Eddie Bergman said
Africa's 53 nations need to "brand
Africa
in a way that benefits the continent as a whole and
each individual country. This will enable the
diverse community of nations to present its tourism
product with a strong voice, and to put its
collective weight behind continental and national
priorities." The five-day program included topics
such as branding Africa, emerging growth markets,
alongside roundtable discussions, an arts and
crafts fair, and an expo. Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria,
Ethiopia and Zambia showcased their countries at
sponsored meals at the Hilton-Addis and Ghion
hotels, and Ethiopian Airlines sponsored a special
event. Working with the non-profits, MedShare
International and Miracle Corners of the World, and
the private sector, ATA facilitated the
contribution of approximately $350,000 worth of
medical supplies to a hospital in Lalibela.
ATA-Tennessee member Patricia Tharpe also
facilitated a $50,000 donation of medical equipment
and supplies to Addis Ababa's Black Lion
Hospital
In
The Queen of Sheba's Footsteps
A
Storybook Land: I've
never been to Tibet, but the spiritual presence and
views we saw during our corkscrew journey up the
hillside would easily fit that image. Small wonder
this storybook land has such a spiritual presence,
a proud tradition and a way of life that has
survived three millennia, despite an outside world
of hate, conquest, treachery, trial and turmoil.
The thatched villages, shepherd boys, terraced
farming methods, simple forms of irrigation and
donkey power, attest to the fact that time has
stood still &emdash; as well it should. Coming from
North America it's hard for us to realize that this
is the way it has been in this part of the world
since time immemorial.
