After Addis

In three weeks my commitment to the kindergarten will be complete, just in time for March Madness. However, I have the opportunity to stay here and work for another couple weeks. I think that I will. Although I do feel like I am helping the students, my reasons for staying are mostly egocentric. I have made a lot of progress but am nowhere near my destination. I have no idea if I will approach that place on this trip, but the longer I stay in Africa the closer I will get.

After those additional two weeks it seems sensible to travel somewhere else in Africa. I bought a one-way ticket here and have no certain commitments until the 2012 WSOP at the end of May, so all itineraries are on the table. Here are the current contenders in the order I first started considering them:

Egypt

Going to Egypt and checking out the Pyramids was the first travel impulse I got once I knew I’d be going to Africa. However, recent violence and instability has all but eliminated Egypt from consideration.

+ Crowds would be sparser than ever

+ There are no manmade objects on Earth I want to see more than the Pyramids

+ Logical, efficient stopover on the journey home

- Unstable and dangerous

America

+ Home in time for the premier five-TV ManCave event of the year: March Madness

+ I miss my dog and friends – though not as much as I expected to

+ Injuries to both my legs could use immediate medical attention

+ The sooner I get back to the land of high-speed internets, the sooner I can get started on pertinent life-projects

- Wasting the opportunity to see more of Africa and deepen the experience

Kilimanjaro

Climbing Kilimanjaro would be the sensible exclamation point to the East African experience. I have climbed mountains all my life and this would be the biggest.

+ My only real shot at one of the Seven Summits

+ The glaciers on Kilimanjaro are melting and will soon be gone. This could be my last chance to climb it before that happens.

+ My cardio is superb right now

- The injuries to my legs could render the climb impossible

- Expensive

- Tourist-central

- I don’t actually want to do this and wouldn’t expect to have a great time

Tanzania – Safari

The standard 29 year-old tourist itinerary for East Africa begins with a climb of Kilimanjaro and follows it up with a safari in Tanzania. Though I do really want to see some badass animals, I’m not sure I want to pay a bunch of money to do it in a controlled environment with a bunch of firenjes I’ve never met.

+ Animals!!

- Tourist-central

- Expensive

Ethiopia

I’ve been outside Addis Ababa for less than 48 hours since arriving here five and a half weeks ago, and that was just a weekend trip to a nearby town. Visiting Ethiopia without venturing outside of Addis would be like visiting Colorado without venturing outside of Denver. Ethiopia’s wonders include a valley that allegedly rivals the Grand Canyon, 15,000 foot mountains, legendary rock-hewn churches, ancient tribes, etc. There’s a lot I’d like to see in Ethiopia, but hope to snap a few off on upcoming weekends.

+ Proximate

+ Cheap

+ Encompassing Ethiopia, rounding out the experience

- Not as spectacular as other possibilities

Harar/Somaliland/Djibouti

Bussing east through Ethiopia, crossing into Somaliland, hitting the beach, and flying out of Djibouti is an intriguing way to wrap things up out here. Somaliland is not Somalia, but you do have to hire an armed guard to escort you throughout the country.

+ It’s in Somalia!

+ Unique

+ The beach

+ Highly recommended by Lonely Planet and others who have visited

- It’s in Somalia!

- Time-consuming

The Middle East

Jordan, Lebanon, Israel

+ This might be the closest I get to the most fascinating region in the world

- This is the sort of trip I should take with someone who knows the area

West Africa

Stopping somewhere like Ghana, Senegal, or Cameroon on the flight home would make some sense.

+ I might never get another chance to see West Africa

- Would be going alone

- No real connection to the rest of my experience other than being in the same continent

Singapore

A logical layover on a long flight home

+ A quick way to experience another totally unique culture

+ I’ve always wanted to see Singapore but may not be in the vicinity again anytime soon

- Only makes sense as a brief layover

- Expensive

Seychelles or Mauritius

Islands in the East Indian Ocean

+ The ultimate solo beach vacation

- Expensive

- Time spent there would likely be relatively unproductive

Uganda

It’s likely that I will head to Uganda at some point, either for a shorter visit or possibly a longer volunteer-based stay. Everyone I’ve talked to is very high on Uganda, particularly the town of Jinja on Lake Victoria.

+ Easily accessible via plane from Addis Ababa

+ Mature infrastructure

+ Animals!

+ Scenery

+ Lots of entertaining recreation

Sudan

This idea came out of nowhere when a travelling German couple we met at a restaurant told us it was the best place they had been to in eighteen months on the road. We would probably steer clear of South Sudan, likely staying north of Khartoum.

+ A totally unique, authentic, tourist-free experience

+ Cheap

- Sudan ranks 153/167 on the Democracy Index; check out the countries surrounding it

- Minimal research so far

- Extremely hot

- Minimal civilization/infrastructure if something goes wrong

Kenya

I had basically ruled Kenya out of the equation because the country is so corrupt and dangerous for foreigners, but an intriguing opportunity to spend some time in Nairobi and then go on a safari with a friend has emerged, and this is now the leading contender for the conclusion of the trip.

+ Animals!

+ Connects conveniently with Uganda

- Dangerous and corrupt