We have both worked continuously since arriving here and having spent the Christmas break adjusting to a new culture we were ready for a change of scenery. The 4x4 we had been loaned was great for the journey, and sightseeing as we travelled through small towns was entertaining in its uniqueness. We travelled with Clare and her boys (Abdi 6 and Haile 9) to Negash Lodge, a pleasant location a couple of hours' drive away and a step up from any accommodation we have previously experienced outside Addis.

The outdoor swimming pool was definitely a highlight although the majority of our fellow bathers were Ethiopian and most were unable to swim. Needless to say the three boys (Clare's two plus Phil) loved the opportunity to splash around and have fun. There was a treetop café too - basically a fenced platform in a huge tree with a few tables, reached by a very rickety spiral staircase. Here they would serve you a very acceptable traditional coffee.   

The menu was a mixture of traditional Ethiopian and Western. Abdi, Clare’s youngest boy enjoyed 'fir fir' for many of his meals including breakfast. It is injera and wat (stew) chopped up and mixed together.

As Brits we would always mention the weather in a ‘holiday blog’ but here there’s really no point. Wall to wall sunshine about sums it up most of the time. We stayed for a couple of nights before finding a challenging road to take us to Wonchi Lake. I can only imagine this road would be impassable in the rainy season.

The lake is located in a volcanic crater so we picked up a willing guide and three horses (for the boys and me - Phil and Clare walked) and began the descent. The horses were very skinny and none had a proper saddle. Each horse was thankfully led by a rope most of the time. The views were stunning and many small children greeted us throughout the trek. Having reached the base of the crater we transferred to a boat which took us to an island with a monastery in the middle. By that time I was only mildly perturbed that the boat had grass growing in the bottom of it.

A picnic on the island looking over the lake kept us away from more inquisitive youngsters and was rounded off with a game of throwing cob nuts at a post a few metres into the water. Phil and the boys enjoyed this entertainment and our boatman, head swathed in an orange towel who really looked too old to bend down so often, kept them supplied with ammunition.

We managed the ascent out of the crater almost unscathed, Haile having been scooped off his horse by a low hanging tree branch at one point. Certainly by the time I dismounted I knew the meaning of the phrase ‘saddle-sore’!

It was a welcome short break and as relaxing as it was almost uneventful.

There's a gallery of more of Phil's photos here. Remember to click on the pictures and you can step through them or play a slide show. A few have some description added in case they are a bit puzzling.