Awasa, hippos, and a street fight

Sunday, February 27: Last night we stayed in Awasa at the Oasis Hotel, near the shore of Lake Awasa. We were on the top floor, at least until they finish building the one above us.

I snuck upstairs to get a better look at the construction techniques, the lake, and the sunset.




We went out for dinner at the Lewi Resort, where Paige gave me a hard time for drinking coffee from such a dainty cup.




And then called me a princess when I climbed into my netted bed.




We both sleep like rocks, even though the mattress was actually just a box spring. I guess a hot and bumpy 7 hour drive will do that to you.

The next morning we were up before dawn to catch a boat ride to see the hippos. There are two options. 250 birr gets you the one hour motorboat tour, while 200 birr will buy the three hour rowboat tour. Tells you the relative value of manual labor versus gasoline around here. We opted for the motorboat, which meant they had to install the outboard first.





Sunrise out on the lake.








Big smiles when she spotted the hippos (the little dots near shore.)












Some of the local fisherman.












After the hippos, we had a quick breakfast and headed to the fish market, where there were a lot of tourists...





but not very many fish.










After the lack of fish market, we headed for a "quick" tire repair at the local Discount Tire.





Interestingly, they use tubed tires here. And I got a picture of an Afrigadget for Jonathan.





Then all of a sudden of tire guy (in blue above) took off running across the street. Where he immediately laid the smack on some guy. And was then joined by 30 or so of his friends, who appeared from seemingly nowhere. They also helped beat the guy, and his friend, even further. They eventually shoved both guys into the two foot deep drainage trench along the side of the road. I was fairly sure we were actually going to see a guy get killed, not just beaten. I managed to sneak two pictures of the group before I got too worried someone would spot me and we would be next.





We caught a glimpse of the one victim stumbling around nearly unconscious, and then we assume he stumbled off down the alley. I'm not actually sure. Meanwhile, we are sitting across the street, in a tiny mini bus, with windows down, sticking out like a sore thumb, completely unarmed, and no freaking tire installed. With no clue why on earth the guy changing our tire decided to go off and beat a guy. Yipeee!!!!

So our tire guy goes back to changing the tire, puts it back on the van, and off we go. I asked our driver later, and he said the beaten guy walked by the tire shop and swiped an air filter. Apparently they are few and far between, because he said an air filter sells for 3000 birr (around $200.). For comparison, they charged 20 birr to repair and install the tire.

After that adventure, we made our way to the Awasa orphanage (more on that in another post) and then made the long hot drive back to "home."