NOTE: I know many of you do not believe in Guidebooks, I never can get my mind around this concept, somehow it means the theory is "the less information I have the better." And I believe even bad opinions have value, it is my job to suss out and find the value. The internet still sucks, incredibly slow, confused and disorgannized, I have zero desire to sit in internet cafes for days trying to find information on the next country or walk around for days looks for a hotel because I am lost.
I leave tomorrow night for Ethiopia; it is time to prepare, nothing like the last moment to create urgency. Ethiopia is at the edge of the no guidebook world, it is not a mainstream country for guidebooks, and I am expecting the Lonely Planet information to be out of date or one sided. The guidebook writers in the less traveled countries are not normally cheap budget travelers, normally NGO‘s, or Tourist with Backpacks driving cars and truly do not empathize with Backpackers. Then again, Backpacker do not normally travel to Africa, they stay closer to the party circuit.
Cover of the Lonely Planet I purchased, then download the PDF files for Ethiopia, it cost about 50 US for the book and the PDF files to Ethiopia to encompass possible countries for this trip.
--------------------------------- Orland, Indiana USA Tuesday, February 24, 2009 Travel Journal --- What is your travel problem? I will write a Travel Tips with the solution ----------------------------------
I forgot to buy a Guidebook for Ethiopia from Amazon.com ahead of time, so I purchased the PDF download file. I have already purchase a hard paper copy of the Lonely Planet for the countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi; I have no idea where Ethiopia fits in, or where East starts, Central starts or ends. I do know that when you try to buy a Guidebook for Africa do not get too excited.
I swore off Lonely Planet for Africa and truly wanted the Roughguide; however, it appears that I went off the Roughguide path too far; they do not seem to provide comprehensive guides for this area.
NOTE: It is NOT truly possible to buy a guidebook for each country, the weight would be burdensome you need multiple country guides. However, I could buy PDF files, however they are difficult to read and annoying, I will print out chapters of my Ethiopia PDF files.
Anonymous said on Tuesday February 24th, 2009 11:38:00 AM
You messed up. Bradt ethiopia is THE travel guide to the country. The best by far. Check out the Bale Mountain national park while in country. Beautiful place.
expatwizard said on Tuesday February 24th, 2009 12:31:00 PM
http://www.selamta.net/index.htm Nice portal about Ethiopia, well done. The ark of The Covenant is supposed to be in this proud country, never colonized by Europeans except briefly before World War Two invaded and occupied by Mussolini. Coptic Christians, Muslims, Jews, Animists. The emperor Haile Selassi was the Lion of Judah. Ask Bob Marley fans. Something wonderfula dn mysterious about Ethiopia.Happy 22 years.Buen Viaje.
expatwizard said on Tuesday February 24th, 2009 12:32:00 PM
http://www.selamta.net/index.htm Nice portal about Ethiopia, well done. The ark of The Covenant is supposed to be in this proud country, never colonized by Europeans except briefly before World War Two invaded and occupied by Mussolini. Coptic Christians, Muslims, Jews, Animists. The emperor Haile Selassi was the Lion of Judah. Ask Bob Marley fans. Something wonderfula dn mysterious about Ethiopia.Happy 22 years.Buen Viaje.
Anonymous said on Tuesday February 24th, 2009 04:07:00 PM
The best info is to be found on the internet, sometimes in the more obscure forums. But you're right this takes days, if not weeks, of exacting research. The rewards are worth it