I wanted to visit Erta Ale in Ethiopia which is an active volcano. Unfortunately by the time my travel plans were finalized, it cooled down . Hence I had to change my plans.

Ethiopia is a poor country. Not much of infrastructure. Donkey drawn carts are the main mode of transport for most Ethiopians. No regular bus service and hardly any two wheelers. Most walk. Scarcity of drinking water and people walk miles to get water in plastic cans carried on a donkey. I was amused to see a four-lane motorway from the airport to Addis Ababa built by the Chinese!

I decided to visit the North visiting Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray, Aksum and the Danakil depression. Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia. It’s known for its tall, carved obelisks, relics of the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. Centuries-old St. Mary of Zion is a Christian church and pilgrimage site believed to have housed the Biblical Ark of the Covenant. The market on Saturdays is a showcase for weaved baskets.

Danakil depression is in the north of the Afar Region of Ethiopia, near the border with Eritrea. The famous Australopithecus fossil Lucy, which has been dated 3.2 million years old was found here. The Danakil Depression is the hottest place on earth in terms of year-round average temperatures. It is also one of the lowest places on the planet.

Dallol is a unique, terrestrial hydrothermal system around a cinder cone volcano in the Danakil Depression. It is known for its unearthly colours and mineral patterns, and the very acidic fluids that discharge from its hydrothermal springs. Numerous hot springs discharge brine and acidic liquid here. The yellow, ochre and brown colourings are the result of the presence of iron and other impurities.

Visited salt flats where the Afar people obtain the salt by evaporating the water of the lake. The workers cut the salt into rectangular pieces and load on camels.