Inside Ethiopia’s War-Scarred Holy City - Lalibela 🇪🇹 (Back To The Origins)

[00:00:06]Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to beautiful Ethiopia. I'm going to do another country areas here in this beautiful country. As you know, this is my second visit to this beautiful country and I'm very, very excited.

[00:00:21]Ethiopia is one of these countries that I absolutely love and adore. This is the country that when I was here, I said I will definitely come back to explore more of this country because it deserves the spotlight and it deserves the recognition. This country is just incredible. Culture, people, food, coffee, and weather. Sometimes it can be quite rainy as well, but if you come here in a very good season, you're going to absolutely love Ethiopia. So this is one of my countries that I wanted to visit again so I get the chance to come back to film more. So that's why today we are studying our video all the way from Adis Ababa which means new flower.

[00:01:06]That's the translation from the local language Amharik. And uh today we are heading to different region in Ethiopia.

[00:01:15]We are going to more north. And uh we will be visiting Laib Bella is the town.

[00:01:21]It's not even city. It's really small town which is very famous for carved uh churches.

[00:01:28]The churches that carved from the bedrock. So it's going to be quite exciting as I am very excited to go and visit. So right now I'm actually slowly walking towards the airport. We're going to take that domestic flight with Ethiopian Airlines and uh under 1 hour 1 hour 10 minutes we're going to arrive to Laella. Ethiopian Airlines is one of the best airlines hands down and I have to tell you a story. There are several reasons because they are very very well connected throughout Africa. I think it they are the pride airline of Africa.

[00:02:07]They are doing incredible job and Adisababa airport is pretty organized and nice. Uh I want to tell you a story cuz I was traveling to another country and I had a layover here in Adisaba for around 8 9 hours and what they did actually they gave me hotel room in one of their hotels which is just a walking distance from here. It's called Skylight and I have never experienced something like this. I did lots of layovers all around the world. But Ethiopian Airlines just because I had 9 10 hour layover, they gave me access to the hotel. They gave me free shuttle, free dinner, free breakfast, and of course the hotel was full facilities. I didn't have time to enjoy it all, but it was there. That that was like such a surprising uh thing for me to see. So since then uh I even appreciate Ethiopian Airlines even more.

[00:03:00]So they are very well connected as I'm exploring Ethiopia. Um you can go go to anywhere in the inside the country but also you can fly around Africa through Adis Ababa. If you come from Europe, if you come to from Asia, there's a high likely chance that you will be connected in this beautiful city. All right guys, now we are heading to towards the domestic terminal and we will get to our flight and travel to Laella. So welcome guys to the Ethiopia 2 areas.

[00:03:43]Let me show you the domestic terminal here in Adis Sababa which is super organized and so beautiful as well.

[00:03:50]plenty of natural light coming from the windows. So, it is very nice environment. As you can see, you have got some coffee shops, of course, the little ones. This is just a domestic terminal, which means there's not so much um traction here, but there's also international terminal, which is much larger, much longer, and there are so much food options you can find also in that terminal. I actually just uh printed my own boarding pass and I just arrived to here without being involved with anyone. So it was pretty smooth experience as I have actually don't have a check-in bag only the carry-on because it's a short trip. So it was pretty easy. This is I think a coffee section.

[00:04:35]They're making actually vuna experience which means the Ethiopian coffee. This is the birthplace of a coffee. So even at the airport you can actually have a cool experience like this which is amazing. Ethiopia is incredible and I want to share one more thing about the people. People been absolutely amazing in my first trip but also second visit when I arrived I realized what I have missed actually about this country. It's people like they are so kind, so welcoming. No matter what is their position, if they are working at the hotel, if they are uh from like government officials, at the passport control, cleaning ladies and people who is picking up trash, whatever, they are always so kind. They're always smiling.

[00:05:22]They always show their um appreciation and hospitality to you, which is one of the things that made me come back to Ethiopia. So that's something I want to mention. And also Ethiopia is the land of origin. So all of us no matter what's your ethnicity, what is your religion, what's your background, what's your color, we are all originated all the way from this lands from the Ethiopia. This is the birthplace of the human humankind. So that's that's the that's also one of the coolest things about this country full of cultures and full of experiences and nice people. All right, going to wait for my flight and we will connect later, guys.

[00:06:07]>> Thank you.

[00:06:09]>> Wow, that's such a cool service. Thank you.

[00:06:14]Very good. Thank you so much. Can I ask what is the name of this? Uru.

[00:06:19]>> Uru. Uru. Okay. Thank you. All right, guys. We are having a full Ethiopian coffee experience right here at the airport. How cool is that? It is pretty interesting experience. So this is called the Buna experience and normally you can have the full experience where they actually roast the coffee, grind the coffee in front of you. Then they make the smell of the coffee come to you. They put incense on this like a little charcoal and it gives you more the full coffee experience. They give you of course sugar. They give you Ethiopian coffee. For me, Ethiopian Ethiopian coffee is the best coffee in the world and it's also the origin of the coffee. This is where it comes from.

[00:07:02]Afterwards, it's shipped to Yemen and then from Yemen through the ports, it being distributed to the rest of the world. That's how coffee became popular.

[00:07:11]But the origins of the coffee comes from this lands from Ethiopia. How amazing is that? So, I am going to pay for this whole experience around 80 Ethiopian beer and that's 50 cent. So 50 cents for a let's say double espresso shot. But of course it's not espresso shot. It's just a Ethiopian coffee. But I just want to explain you the strength of the coffee.

[00:07:35]I think it equals to double espresso shot or something like that. So it is pretty strong. And they also give you this little plant and all you have to do is just like put it inside and did a do a little mix and that way the taste of the plant mix up with the coffee and then you have a little bit different flavor in the coffee and you can also smell it as there's beautiful smell. So you put it inside the coffee and then smell just comes out which is amazing. I'm not sure what is this sound at the airport but it's pretty annoying. It's like alarm.

[00:08:12]Some alarm probably goes in the back. I don't know if you can hear that, but it is pretty annoying. So, this is our coffee experience, guys, for 50 cents.

[00:08:21]And I want to show you also Ethiopian money. This is called Ethiopian beer.

[00:08:27]Beer is the currency name. And it's very different than any other country I have been to. So, beer I have only seen they are using it here in Ethiopia. This is the largest bill they have which is 200 and 200 is around let's say 200. This largest bill is $130.

[00:08:47]$125 for with the current exchange rate. And this is the second largest bill which is 100 beer and that's also pretty beautiful money. But uh inflation is pretty big and their largest bill is 200. So when you start paying for expensive things, it is pretty hard to carry cash around when you're traveling, especially to the remote areas. You have to change all your money and then you have to carry $200, $300 like in this big packs. All right, let's try out the Ethiopian coffee experience.

[00:09:21]Let's go, guys.

[00:09:25]Ah, so good.

[00:09:28]It is very strong. And they al always serve it on this traditional cups which is absolutely beautiful.

[00:09:37]All right, I'm going to enjoy my coffee and I wait for my flight which is just in an hour or so.

[00:09:49]All right, guys. We are heading to our flight. I paid $100 for this flight. We travel in this small airplane and it will take us around 1 hour 1 hour 15 minutes to arrive to La Bella and I'm very very excited guys.

[00:10:07]Oh, it got so busy here. So, we're going to be a little bit more patient and we still have got some time. So, $100 for around 1 hour flight.

[00:10:22]All right, guys. We just started our flight and Ethiopian Airlines is actually amazing. The inside of the airplane is pretty nice and clean.

[00:10:31]Everything is very organized. But on top of that, even though it's like a 1 hour flight, we still get something to eat, which is amazing. So, we get a orange juice right here. They give us this nice packaging and also little sandwich and also water. So, water, juice, little sandwich, which is wonderful. Like 1 hour flight.

[00:10:59]Normally in European airlines, they give you maybe peanuts and water. That's it.

[00:11:06]But Ethiopian Airlines, 1 hour flight, domestic flight, and they give you just sandwich, juice. You can ask for more drinks if you like, which is wonderful.

[00:11:16]So, this flight cost me $100 US to travel uh from Adis Sababa to Laella uh one way and then $100 extra to come back to Adis Sababa. So, I spent $200 for the round trip which I feel like it's a reasonable pricing considering the service, the airport, the food, hospitality. I think Ethiopian Airlines is definitely the pride of the nation and pride of the Africa as well. So in 20 minutes we're going to arrive and I will show you Laabella airport as well.

[00:11:59]All right guys, we just made it to Amhara region and into Laibella airport and the airport looks pretty cool and small. There are not so many flights every day here. It's a small airport. So when you're landing, you see that lots of local people, especially the kids are just stop nearby the where the airplane's landing and they are just watching it. And one of the things I have to also mention that this area is actually called red zone and especially the European countries if you go to their safety like uh travel advisory websites they say this area is actually not recommended to travel to and actually around 3 years ago there was a little conflict in this area as well. So with the Ethiopian army and the militia armed groups in this area especially airport as well. So you might actually see some uh glasses with the bullet holes on it as well. If I find it I will show it to you guys. But the landscapes are incredible. It is so beautiful here at the Airlines. It was a very easy and smooth ride to come here. So, I don't have any luggage. So, we're going to directly go outside and we should have a shuttle service to the city just in a bit, guys. Hello.

[00:13:31]>> Oh, maybe.

[00:13:33]>> Oh, seriously, I didn't organize it.

[00:13:36]>> No, >> I didn't organize taxi.

[00:13:38]>> Oh, you lost me.

[00:13:40]>> Yeah. How are you >> with WhatsApp? You know, I don't remember.

[00:13:43]>> Okay, no problem. I go with you. I was planning shuttle, but I go with you.

[00:13:46]>> Yeah, shuttle. Yeah, we we are using shuttle actually. Ah, you're using shutter.

[00:13:50]>> Yeah, I came from the lodge actually.

[00:13:51]>> So, you are the lodge owner?

[00:13:53]>> Yes, Gasha.

[00:13:55]>> In which country lodge owner comes to take you from the airport? That's crazy.

[00:13:59]>> Thank you so much. What's your name?

[00:14:01]Gasha.

[00:14:01]>> Gasha. Nice to meet you, brother.

[00:14:02]>> I know you and I follow you.

[00:14:03]>> Oh, thank you so much. I I appreciate it. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[00:14:07]>> Pleasure to meet you.

[00:14:08]>> Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Nice to meet you.

[00:14:10]>> Nice to meet you.

[00:14:11]>> I will be a driver.

[00:14:13]>> Are you the driver?

[00:14:14]>> Another guy.

[00:14:14]>> Okay, let's go. Do Do we have more guests or only me?

[00:14:16]>> I think so. No, I will.

[00:14:18]>> Yeah, let's see. Let's see. Come. Okay.

[00:14:20]Thank you so much.

[00:14:21]>> Come. I I was looking for at the airport there's like a bullet hose still. Is it Is it somewhere here >> or they changed it already? They changed it. Okay. So guys, maybe like 1 2 years ago if you came to this airport, you could actually see that there's a bullet holes from the recent conflict 2023.

[00:14:41]Uh but right now they changed it leaving the history behind. And I think it's more quiet right now, but still you have to be careful. And also it's advised to fly to Laabella rather than driving from Adis Sababa because it can get a little bit more complicated. As you arrive to the airport or you are leaving from here, you can actually have a coffee under the tree which is amazing. Maybe we can do that on the way back. All right, we're going to get the shuttle.

[00:15:10]Thank you so much. Nice to meet you.

[00:15:12]Thank you. All the best. Thank you.

[00:15:14]Thank you. This is what I'm talking about. The hospitality, the niceness of the people. And nobody is bothering me about, you know, camera. I can film at the airport. I can film in the airplane.

[00:15:24]I can film the people. Like there's no filming fee like in other countries when you arrive. If you are filming, they just trying to grab some money from you.

[00:15:34]But here, everyone is super welcome.

[00:15:37]>> So, how much is the shuttle normally?

[00:15:39]>> 400.

[00:15:40]>> 400. Ah, okay.

[00:15:41]>> I explained for you.

[00:15:42]>> Okay. Thank you so much for coming here.

[00:15:43]You You didn't have to, bro.

[00:15:45]>> No, no, no.

[00:15:45]>> He even wrote my name on the paper.

[00:15:49]>> Thank you so much. So, I'm going to tell you guys if you And the taxi, how much taxi?

[00:15:54]>> Uh 400 per person.

[00:15:55]>> No, no. Taxi like if I take private taxi.

[00:15:57]>> Private is like uh $6,000.

[00:15:59]>> 6,000. Okay. Thank you so much. So, I tell you guys 6,000. If I take a taxi, it would be $37.

[00:16:07]So, almost $40.

[00:16:09]But uh you can also use a shuttle service and that's around 400 and that is around like that's around like $2.50 for a shuttle.

[00:16:21]But for shuttle you have to just wait for it to be full and then afterwards you move. So I think $2.50 like less than $3 for 30 minute ride from the airport to the city. Perfect deal.

[00:16:36]>> Thank you so much. We made it to the lodge guys and the views are already amazing. Look at this. We are looking over the valley. It looks so beautiful.

[00:16:48]So, as a first impressions, the town is very small. You said 250,000 people. How much?

[00:16:55]>> 60,000 65,000 people live in this town.

[00:16:59]So, it's not even a city, but it's also more than a village. So, around 65,000 people live in this place. it receive lots of uh people who come here as a pilgrimage. So lots of tourists, domestic tourism, a lot of people come visit the churches which we're going to visit later on. And uh we'll share the stories with you for of course guys. But uh this is the story of the La Bella which is beautiful. But now I think we're going to check into our room and see what this gentleman prepared for us.

[00:17:33]>> Yeah.

[00:17:34]>> Is it here?

[00:17:35]>> Yes. Okay, let's go. Thank you so much.

[00:17:38]Oh, wow. That looks so cool. Thank you so much. I I like that he actually closed the door to open do the presentation for us.

[00:17:46]>> Thank you so much. Nice to meet you again.

[00:17:48]>> You can come down for a coffee.

[00:17:49]>> All right. Sure.

[00:17:50]>> If you want to eat something also.

[00:17:51]>> Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[00:17:52]Thank you. Thank you.

[00:17:55]>> Thank you. The hospitality of the Ethiopians are amazing. And you would be surprised how much I'm going to pay for this room.

[00:18:05]This cost only $20.

[00:18:09]$20 for a room, for a breakfast, for a private space, and of course the balcony with the incredible views, which I'm going to show you just in a bit. So, let's do the room tour first. This is what we are getting, guys. $20 a night, and uh it looks amazing. They even decorated it nicely. So, we have got a big bed right here. There's not much going on. It's very simple room, but I definitely don't need so much. I just going to sleep here, maybe do a little bit work, but most of the time I'm going to spend in the city to explore. And of course, it comes with a private shower and the toilet. Wow, it is super clean, guys. It is really, really clean. We have got a sink, mirror, the toilet right here, and then we have got also shower, which has a hot water as well.

[00:19:02]So it is amazing and including the breakfast and they have a they have a coffee session downstairs which I can show you as well but I want to show you the name of the place. It is called Upha Lodge and uh I think I can find it on Google quickly just to show you what is the name. So this is the name of the place called Amba Amba Loge. Ambal Loella is the name of the business. If you want to come stay with them, uh you can you can find them on booking com for $20 and they have very very good ratings. All right, as I am going to be sleeping right here, this is the views I'm going to wake up with and go to sleep with looks incredible. So, this room comes with a little balcony. Wow, that looks amazing. Look at this. It's amazing. You can just sit here, have a coffee, have a tea, and check out the valley. It is not so green right now because it is actually dry season at the moment. Uh but if you come in a little bit more wet season, you will actually have all this valley in front of you with lots of greenery in a distance in the whole this lands. Ethiopia is very diverse with the landscapes. It is so beautiful to explore. I have been to the south to Arbraam. Now I am a little bit on the north side and then central part Adisaba. Every region is so special and so beautiful and full of culture, different religions, different ethnicities, different tribes and languages and the food. Ethiopia is just amazing. I love it. And right now we are in La Bella. And laella actually translates to something like the bees the bee like the honey the bees recognized the sovereignity and that translation might not make sense but if I tell you the story it will actually make sense. So, Laella is actually the name of the king and Laella was the person and the king and the leader of the region and he's the one built this town and built all the churches we're going to visit um later on. So, Laella when he was born when his mother gave birth to him uh actually the beast surrounded mother and that's where's the name come from. It means the bees recognized the sovereignity which means as soon as the laabella was born actually bees knew that he's going to be the leader he's going to be the king he's going to be the emperor so that's where's the name come from and that's one of the coolest things about Ethiopia is that as you travel around if you go Adisaba it means new flower the the the words the names has a meaning and then you come to Laabella has a meaning. You go to Arba Minch, it has a meaning which is incredible. Like Ethiopia is really really amazing. Especially the people makes this experiences even better. So $20 guys, this is my lodge where I'm going to stay with this incredible views. So we're going to just get ready, but you can also get a coffee right there in this corner. So I think they provide breakfast in this area and you can have a coffee experience right there. But soon we're going to actually go explore the churches. That's exactly what I came for. But so far experience has been amazing. All right guys, we'll see you in a bit.

[00:22:51]Ambalo.

[00:22:52]Such a cool place. Look at this. They have got a buuna experience corner. Like Ethiopian coffee. You already know it's the best guys. And they made this corner for the guests. You can have the buna experience right here in the hotel. Do you do this in the morning too?

[00:23:11]>> Oh, perfect.

[00:23:12]>> Breakfast.

[00:23:13]>> Oh, for breakfast. Wow.

[00:23:14]>> And welcoming people too. Yeah.

[00:23:16]>> Amazing. So, welcoming people then having during the breakfast time having the Ethiopian coffee >> with a nice view.

[00:23:22]>> Going to be amazing with the beautiful views. And then this is where you serve the breakfast. Okay.

[00:23:28]>> And lunch, dinner.

[00:23:29]>> Yeah. So they serve lunch, dinner, breakfast in this area. Imagine having a delicious Ethiopian coffee, food, and wonderful hospitality and this amazing views at the same time, which is incredible. And they also have very good internet connection, too. So in the lobby area, in your rooms, too. So they have a good internet as well. $20.

[00:23:51]That's very good price.

[00:23:52]>> Thank you so much.

[00:23:53]>> Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

[00:23:55]>> All right. Yeah, >> I think I'm going to go slowly but maybe I will later come for the coffee experience. Is that okay?

[00:24:02]>> Can I take a tuk tuk from here?

[00:24:04]>> Yes.

[00:24:04]>> Okay, perfect. I Yes, will be amazing.

[00:24:07]Uh to the sales office, ticket office.

[00:24:10]Yes, thank you.

[00:24:11]>> No problem.

[00:24:12]>> Oh, that's amazing.

[00:24:14]>> And talking about how every word, every name has a meaning here in Ethiopia, it is the same for for their cups for what is the name of this >> jaba? It's called jabana.

[00:24:26]>> Jabana >> or coffee kettle.

[00:24:27]>> Ah coffee kettle. So everything has a meaning. Even their cups has a meanings like these are the traditional this one is the traditional Ethiopian coffee cups. And even this cups has a meaning.

[00:24:40]I don't know exactly but every sign every design form of it has a meaning which is amazing. And they also eat popcorn with the coffee. So that's why we have a popcorn. Such a beautiful corner.

[00:24:57]Ladies and gentlemen, today is another beautiful day here in Laella. It's very, very early morning. It is around 7:30 a.m. and I woke up early and uh I'm going to go visit the church. And I think when you are here in La Libella, one of the best things you can do is actually go really early morning and see how people are actually gathering around the church, how they do their prayers, how they're chanting, how they are reading the Bible. So that's the reason we are on foot traveling all the way to the complex. In general, Laella town is very very small. So as you can see almost no cars are passing by here. Uh and if you see the cars it's most of the time it is like a tourist buses tourist cars that take people from place to place. But most of the time you're going to see the tuk tuks. So you can hop on to tuk tuks for $1 less than $2 you can go from place to place which is pretty easy to navigate yourself around the city or you can just walk almost anywhere. I think in 20 25 minutes you can go from place to place pretty easily. All right, I'm looking for a path will take us to St. George Church and uh I will connect with you guys just in a bit. But the streets of Laella, it looks organized. It looks nice. uh it's not asphalt but more like uh this kind of rocks from the probably the volcanic rocks or river rocks that they created this pretty streets and I also heard that they probably do that because uh when the big machinery work in the city they don't want to damage uh the churches because they are so ancient that's why they're not using like asphalt they don't use big machinery to press the asphalt on the road. So that's why they're using manpower to create all these roads and I think at the same time it also becomes a little bit cheaper experience. All right guys, we are on the way to one of the coolest things you will ever see in your life.

[00:27:16]Ladies and gentlemen, we just made it to St. George Church which has been carved from the earth. And I'm going to show you just in a bit. It's just behind me.

[00:27:27]And uh there are a few ways you can get to the complex as it is massive and it's spread around. So you can use the official entrance. You can come from unofficial entrance, but you should always have a ticket. And the ticket you buy, it's actually valid for 5 days. And uh you pay around $100 um to be exact. I paid $100 for the entrance. And that gives you the chance for 5 days to explore. So you can come anytime when they're open in the morning, in the afternoon, you can come explore for 5 days straight. So that comes to around $20 a day. But for the locals, if you have a Ethiopian ID, then it is free entrance. So people who come here to do prayers, who is coming here to get blessings, it it doesn't cost any money for them. And I think it is kind of fair because as a foreigner if you come from very far away it means that you have got the money to spend and invest on this place. I think that I see the money as a investment because they can protect it for the future generations. They can take a good care of it. They can put a light system. They can make sure that the people who come to the pilgrimage has better experience from every aspect. So $100 for entrance for foreigners for Ethiopians $0. But if you are Ethiopian but has has got another citizenship in another country.

[00:28:54]Let's say you are uh you're coming from diaspora then in this case you pay $50 US. So that's the prices. How are you brother?

[00:29:03]>> Good to see you. You want the ticket?

[00:29:05]Okay. Thank you.

[00:29:07]So here the ticket. Thank you so much.

[00:29:12]Oh, so my guide got the ticket. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. So my guide got the ticket for me. So if you come from unofficial entrances, there are going to be people that checking your ticket, but no hustle. Just have it ready just in case. So this is the church, guys, which we're going to admire just in a bit. Wow, look at this.

[00:29:34]This is the S. George. And we are going to go a little bit closer. But one of my advice is that when you're visiting the complex, be extremely careful where you're stepping on because if you fall, you fall maybe 30, 40 m down, and you don't want to have that experience in your vacation. So, as you can see, there's no barricades or nothing that holds you back from falling down. So, you have to be very, very careful. I think I'm going to take the other approach from because the sun is from the other side and I will give you more details about the church. So this church is been built around 800 900 years ago.

[00:30:20]So more than 800 years old church and this is purely um carved from the mountain. So the same rock you see right here. It is the same rock they used to carve down make this kind of open area and then from the inside they started carving again to make a room inside which functions as a church which is incredible. And this bedrock is not an easy thing to carve.

[00:30:50]So it take it took them to build 11 churches in 23 years. And that's like more than 30,000 people who worked here, who mastered making churches like this in this region. So in La Labella complex, there are 11 carved churches just like this one. All right, I think we get a little bit better perspective, better light from this angle.

[00:31:17]Look at this guys. It looks absolutely amazing.

[00:31:23]And when you are actually close enough or when you are high enough, let's say this is one of the high points, but you can also go all the way up there and you see that the building is actually shaped like a cross. So when you look at it from the top, you can see that it is like a plus sign, but it is also like a religious cross. So we know the Latin cross which is like longer and then like this but this is a Greek cross. It's called Greek cross and Greek cross is kind of looks like a plus sign but Latin one is the traditional one we all know.

[00:32:04]So it is incredible how they actually managed to carve this from the mountain. It is absolutely incredible to just admire it from a distance. But you can also take your chance to go down and then you can go inside of the church as well.

[00:32:24]It has windows. It has a drainage system. As you can see, when it rains at the top, all the water drains out from here. And this drainage systems you see that push the water out, it is built from the bedrock as well. It's not It's not put on later on. Whatever. I think they are doing chantings as well downstairs there.

[00:32:49]Oh no, they're laughing. I'm not sure if this is chanting or is the just kids that playing around.

[00:32:56]So the king Libella, he's the one decided to invest on this churches and his vision was to create new Jerusalem.

[00:33:08]You might be asking why new Jerusalem.

[00:33:11]So Libella the king he wanted to create a African Jerusalem here in Africa for the Christian for the believers to come and do their prayers and come here for pilgrimage. that was his objective and his vision and I think it did work out uh because he himself Laella he actually lived over 10 years in um in Jerusalem but afterwards he realized that how difficult it becomes for the believers to go to this lands to do their pilgrimage. You can imagine you have to cross rivers, you have to cross oceans, you have to go through uh Muslim areas.

[00:33:52]So it was becoming much more difficult for people to make their pilgrimage. So that is why his objective was like I'm going to build a new Jerusalem, African Jerusalem right here. So my people can come and do their prayers and come here as a pilgrimage. And that's exactly what is happening as of today. There are lots of people from all around Ethiopia for days, maybe for a month. They travel by foot and barefoot come from around Ethiopia and come do their pilgrimage and in the same way they actually leave back to where they came from which is pretty incredible to to think about. So that's what we have right now after 800 years these structures are standing so strong and beautifully. I think this is one of the best angles where you can look at it um from this angle. So you see every corner, every window and it's so totally designed that you see that like this bedrock like it goes like this, right? So the rooftop of it, the rooftop of the church was the same as here before. But then they started carving from up to down and then they created this. When I come here, this actually kind of reminds me of Petra in Jordan. If you know about Petra, which is one of the wonders of the world, it is also the same way has been built.

[00:35:21]Basically, it is carved from the mountain and that's why they're standing for centuries because it is part of the earth. It is part of the um you know tectonic zones, tectonic plates which means if there are earthquake if there is natural disasters if there's earthquake then whole plate is moving and then the this churches and these structures will never be destroyed. So it is so smart and that's why they stay so long and even if the invader comes here and they try to destroy this um in that times it was harder but even right now I think it's super hard to destroy something like this uh like purposefully if you know invaders come around so that's why it stays so many centuries for us and I'm so grateful about it. It is absolutely beautiful. I think I think they are actually doing the chantings and because this long it couldn't be a joke.

[00:36:17]So probably they are doing the chantings and prayers and that's what you are hearing from the inside of the church. Absolutely masterpiece. And as I mentioned, there are 11 churches and this one stands alone. And there are other areas.

[00:36:36]There's six together and then four together. Four, six, and one. Sun.

[00:36:40]George is the last one they have built.

[00:36:42]And uh that's why this is the most recognized one. It's the most perfect one because they built 10 other churches and then they mastered their skills and then they built this one as a masterpiece. And uh they just dropped the microphone. They said okay this is it. This is the best one we could have ever achieved and that's what we are having here and that's what we are admiring. There are so many aggressive flies that that's why my hands are moving all the time. It's actually insane.

[00:37:11]Hello.

[00:37:13]So when you are here with the kids, if you are here with the family, you have to be extremely careful not to go to the edge and be very very careful. So they were super smart which means they did create a system that drains the water because if there is no proper drainage system which means your your church becomes like a pool it becomes like a water tank because you can imagine how much it rains here in Ethiopia and when it rains it can fill up with the water it can become like a swimming pool. But uh they are so smart of course. So what they did they digked even more not for only for the church but also to drain the water but also take out all the rocks and the trash and all the earth coming out from the bedrock to take it out. So that's what we are looking at here. So as you can see nothing is covered here. So you have to be extremely careful. And I'm sorry that if I'm not looking at the camera too much, but on my footsteps so we don't fall down there. As you can see, imagine how much like earth and rocks needs to come out from here. But even before that, you need to dig it dig it by hand. We are talking about 800 900 years ago which means no proper machinery, no big machines, no tractors, nothing like that. It was all manpower and animal power to take out the things dig step by step. So they were using shisels. Shisels I think is the right word. You hold it and then you put the hammer on top and uh that's how you dig it slowly.

[00:38:56]Like this is the rock I'm talking about guys. Imagine this rock. You need to dig this much down and then afterwards start carving it to make it in a perfect shape. So it was a difficult but I think when people believe in things everything is possible. All right there's one of this is one of the ways how to get enter but there's also another passage that takes you there. We just made it to the viewpoint.

[00:39:25]So what they have done actually all the rocks came out from the church they put it here on this to create this little hill. So this is the viewpoint and I think their point was to make it more impressive and more effective for the people who is coming here and seeing the church from little bit above. So as you can imagine no drones that time. So you need to create this little nice natural hill to actually create the effect. And that is exactly what we are looking at guys. It is incredible. Absolutely incredible. Especially when you're in this viewpoint, you appreciate it even more. Like they talked about every single detail. The drainage system, the windows, doors, columns inside. It's just amazing. And I also have to explain you that it is like carving a sculpture of a person. Let's say you are just creating a sculpture from the one one piece of rock, right? And then you you are working on it and then you accidentally just broke the arm of the statue, let's say, then you have no other way but throw it away and start it again because it's not one piece of rock anymore. So it is the same here.

[00:40:46]What's the difference is that they're make doing it even a bigger scale and if you make a mistake let's say if you open the window too big then the symmetry is not there anymore but when you look at these churches you realize that how perfect it is like they mastered it so good that it is so precise all the measurements and all the details are perfectly done which gives you the opportunity to enjoy it so much but also gives you opportunity to appreciate how amazingly it has been done that you know no mistakes has been occurred in this churches that they have built which is absolutely breathtaking and mindblowing like even the drainage system if you don't have that little drainage system there if you break it by chance if you hit it too hard and then it broke that's it like you cannot fix it you can fix it with mud you can fix it Because concrete I think concrete wasn't available that time but still you can fix it with concrete now but then it will not be the same after few decades it will just break down and then it will go away. So that's the that's how precise they were while building this beautiful churches here in Laella. And also one of the things you have to notice that when you are looking at in the surrounding areas you see almost no church at all. This is one of the most religious places in in the in Ethiopia. It's the most religious place for Christianity in Ethiopia if not in whole a Africa. But you don't see any churches. And that that was because they wanted to build the churches underground to actually prevent it from the invaders, prevent it from the people who come here uh and see it from a distance and then attack to the villages, attack to the pilgrimage people, attack to the town in general.

[00:42:46]So that's why they were actually building it underground to keep it safe.

[00:42:50]And when you are coming from a distance, even when you are in your hotel room, you cannot see this churches. So you have to literally come here to the viewpoint and then afterwards you can see what is down there. So their idea was that to make it stand forever from the bedrock but also uh protected from the invaders coming from outside. So that was very very smart idea.

[00:43:23]One of the important things you have to understand before you come to Laella is that it is a touristic town. Even though it doesn't receive tons of tourists, but still it is a touristic place for foreigners to come here. And when you're in Ethiopia as a foreigner, of course, you stand out very very easily. So there will be lots of people approaching you trying to take you around. I personally recommend. You should hire a guide to at least for a half a day, for a few hours to take you to most of the churches and actually explain you what you are looking at and then afterwards you can have a better experience and then you have 5 days. But I think if you stay here 3 days, it is more than enough to explore the whole complex, get to know the people, food and afterwards travel back. But what I want to try to say, you see lots of hustle here too. And uh this town is depends on tourism or a agriculture. And in a dry season, you might see that lots of people are just out and about. And when you have the foreigner coming around, then they will always try some ways to make money, guide you around, take you to places, sell you something. So it might be a little hustly. There's even there's even fly on my camera. There's so much flies here. So there are always like hustle going on in the town.

[00:44:53]Hello.

[00:44:55]Salam. Salam. Salam. So you see all the the religious people. Salam salam. All the religious people taking their way.

[00:45:05]It is a uphill downhill. So you see that lots of people are going to do their prayers every day if not every Sunday or on the holidays as well. And then there are also people that sell different things here. Mostly religious stuff of course because we're in a religious place. Salam. Salam. How are you?

[00:45:27]Good morning.

[00:45:27]>> Good morning, brother. How are you doing?

[00:45:29]>> Good.

[00:45:30]>> I am interested on your old Bibles.

[00:45:34]>> Yeah, it's good.

[00:45:36]>> How old are this Bibles?

[00:45:37]>> This is maybe 50, 60.

[00:45:40]>> 50 60 years old.

[00:45:41]>> Yeah, I have 100.

[00:45:42]>> Oh my god. But this is not a Bible. Just a art.

[00:45:45]>> Just painting. Yeah.

[00:45:46]>> It's just a painting.

[00:45:47]>> This is Bible. This one?

[00:45:48]>> Oh, that's >> is holy books. Mary and Jesus.

[00:45:51]>> Is it written by hand?

[00:45:53]>> Yeah. Hand.

[00:45:54]>> Okay. Wow. made of.

[00:45:56]>> So this is Amharic, right?

[00:45:58]>> Gus.

[00:45:59]>> Okay.

[00:45:59]>> Guz. It's Gus.

[00:46:00]>> A Gus. It's a different language.

[00:46:02]>> For the priest.

[00:46:03]>> Ah, for the priest. It's old language.

[00:46:05]How is it called?

[00:46:07]>> Gus.

[00:46:08]>> Guz. Gus. It's the language of the priests.

[00:46:11]>> Talk to talk to God. Talk to Jesus.

[00:46:15]>> Interesting.

[00:46:16]>> Okay. So, what are your prices for things like this? How much is >> different size?

[00:46:21]>> How much? How much? What's the smallest you have?

[00:46:23]>> Like this. And uh this one says and this one says which one?

[00:46:28]>> Okay. How >> is the Bible?

[00:46:30]>> This also Bible.

[00:46:31]>> Yeah, this one rule books.

[00:46:32]>> But it's it looks like a short Bible.

[00:46:34]>> No, no, short this quality or the size is different.

[00:46:38]>> No, I mean like the not so much text inside. No, >> there's many text.

[00:46:43]>> There's many text.

[00:46:43]>> Okay.

[00:46:44]>> There's many text.

[00:46:45]>> Okay. So, what is your price for this?

[00:46:47]And what's your price for this >> dollar?

[00:46:50]>> Oh, no. In beer $3,000. This one,000.

[00:46:54]>> This one? How much?

[00:46:55]>> 2,000.

[00:46:55]>> 2,000. Okay.

[00:46:56]>> This one 3,000.

[00:46:57]>> This one 3,000.

[00:46:57]>> This one is the paper. The quality one.

[00:46:59]>> Okay. So, this one, what's your final price?

[00:47:02]>> How much you want?

[00:47:03]>> I don't know. You give me better price because you just started. No. So, for a good luck.

[00:47:08]>> 1,800.

[00:47:10]>> 1,500.

[00:47:12]>> 700.

[00:47:12]>> 1,500.

[00:47:14]>> 600.

[00:47:15]>> 1,500.

[00:47:16]>> Okay.

[00:47:18]>> All right, guys. So, how old do you think this is?

[00:47:21]>> 50.

[00:47:21]>> 50 years old. Okay. Is this a Jesus or is a priest? Yes, >> this is one. This one Jesus. This one also saint. Oh, >> okay.

[00:47:29]>> This one is Jesus.

[00:47:30]>> This the Jesus. Okay. I love uh their artwork here in Ethiopia, especially in the old churches. It is very unique how they draw things. It's it's a special way. So, but not only books, but you also got all these things here. Yeah.

[00:47:44]Crosses. This one you put on top of stick, right? And then carry it.

[00:47:47]>> And this one for hand for a bless.

[00:47:49]>> Ah, >> for a for a bless.

[00:47:51]>> Ah, for the blessing. for the for the priest.

[00:47:53]>> This one also for the tip or >> Okay. For the people >> is which one is the Laabella cross? This one is the Laabella. So there are lots of different crosses in the world, but this one is the Laabella cross. It has like this design on the top. It's so unique than any other cross we know.

[00:48:08]>> This one St. George.

[00:48:10]>> St. George. Yeah, this is this is the plus like the this is the Greek cross.

[00:48:14]>> St. George >> like this. Yeah, it is amazing. Thank you so much. But uh I want to support you. I think I will get this. But maybe let me have a look at do this too. What is this?

[00:48:24]>> Also the painting also.

[00:48:26]>> Oh, it's also that's also beautiful but it's broken.

[00:48:28]>> Yeah, also I have another one.

[00:48:31]>> Oh, it's amazing.

[00:48:33]>> Really beautiful. Okay. I think I my eyes took this one. I will take this one.

[00:48:38]>> Okay.

[00:48:39]>> Okay. Perfect. Trinity also.

[00:48:43]>> Okay. Nice. Then the same for this one.

[00:48:46]You just open and there's art. Is it open?

[00:48:50]>> Oh, very nice. Oh, this actually beautiful to put at home. No, >> like this can be repaired and you can put it at home like in a quality. It's okay, brother. Don't worry. Oh, there are so many beautiful paintings inside.

[00:49:05]>> Just because it has a doors, it's protected even more. It's the baby Jesus and the Maria and >> Yes, it's all religious stuff. Okay, I take this one. 1,500.

[00:49:16]>> Okay. What about the cross?

[00:49:18]>> Uh, no, no, no. I I think I had enough crosses for today.

[00:49:23]>> Okay, you need to count this, please.

[00:49:24]How much is there?

[00:49:26]>> This one? 800.

[00:49:27]>> 800 1,000.

[00:49:30]1,600 and then 2,000. Okay.

[00:49:34]>> The original price.

[00:49:35]>> You said me tomorrow. I'm the one who you asking the Bible.

[00:49:40]>> Yes. But where where's your shop?

[00:49:42]>> Uh, my home is here. Can I bring the Bible? Uh where's your home? It's >> here.

[00:49:47]>> Okay. I come with you to your home, baby.

[00:49:49]>> No, no, no. It's enough, brother. One business from one one shop. Thank you so much. Thank you. Promising me that side.

[00:49:56]>> Sorry.

[00:49:56]>> You said me tomorrow that.

[00:49:57]>> Yes, I told you.

[00:49:58]>> You can look here also.

[00:50:00]>> Thank you so much, brother. Thank you. I wish you all the best. Thank you so much.

[00:50:05]So guys, this is what we have bought.

[00:50:08]But you can buy really old Bibles in different languages, which is amazing.

[00:50:14]Your home is here.

[00:50:15]>> Yes.

[00:50:16]>> Okay. We just woke up.

[00:50:17]>> Yeah.

[00:50:17]>> Okay. Nice.

[00:50:19]>> So, we have done our business. I tell you what is the price of the thing we have bought. It is. He came down to 1,500. That was the discounted price. Uh 1,500 beer is $9, but then I ended up paying him $2,000, which is $12. So, I think it's a reasonable price for something that looks as oldest as this one. It is like maybe 30, 40, 50 years old. Painting looks pretty cool. So, little souvenir.

[00:50:58]All right, guys. This is the little town, the main street. It look it looks very calm and organized and very peaceful. It is early morning. Not so many cars, not so many people, small town. So, the gentleman gonna take us all the way to their home to show us the Bibles.

[00:51:19]All right. Is this your home?

[00:51:20]>> Yeah.

[00:51:20]>> This is where you live.

[00:51:25]>> Hello. All right, guys. I think we need a we need some type of light to go inside.

[00:51:31]>> Oh, very nice. Oh, we are getting to see people's homes, how they live. Can I keep the shoes? No, it's okay. Yeah.

[00:51:39]>> Oh, very nice. Oh, that looks so cool.

[00:51:42]What are these things?

[00:51:43]>> Uh, these things are we used for sometimes for the milk.

[00:51:47]>> Milk? Huh? Okay. Salam. Salam. Old treasures.

[00:51:49]>> Salam. Hi. Hi.

[00:51:50]>> Very old one. I'm collecting different cord of the monastery places.

[00:51:54]>> Uhhuh.

[00:51:54]>> It's very antique.

[00:51:56]>> Oh, it looks pretty cool.

[00:51:57]>> Yeah. Let me show you here.

[00:51:59]>> And this is for the praying, right?

[00:52:01]>> No, no, it's used for the fly.

[00:52:02]>> Ah, this is for the flies.

[00:52:03]>> Yeah.

[00:52:04]>> But while you are praying, right?

[00:52:06]Because flies are annoying. You do this.

[00:52:07]>> You know, I'm attending the church.

[00:52:10]>> This one made from >> horse tail.

[00:52:13]>> Yeah.

[00:52:14]>> So, because it can become like a little bit hectic. So, you use this kind of to move away all the flies while you are praying for hours because people pray here for hours. Like it's not just I go for 10 minute praying and especially on holidays it can get up to 15 16 hours of praying time a day which is pretty impressive.

[00:52:39]>> All right brother let me see your Bibles like the old Bibles.

[00:52:43]>> Yeah I have.

[00:52:44]>> Very nice. So how many kids you have got?

[00:52:46]>> Two.

[00:52:47]>> Two kids.

[00:52:48]>> Two kids. Yeah.

[00:52:49]>> And you are trying to be priest you said.

[00:52:51]>> Yeah.

[00:52:51]>> And what's your title now?

[00:52:53]>> Clergy. Deacon.

[00:52:54]>> Deacon. And then after you become >> priest. Okay.

[00:52:58]>> Oh, that looks so cool. How old are this?

[00:53:00]>> Uh, wait a moment.

[00:53:02]>> Okay.

[00:53:02]>> Could you rest, please?

[00:53:03]>> Oh, no. It's okay. I I will be >> No, no problem.

[00:53:06]>> I sit. Okay. All right. But I don't think I can fit in here.

[00:53:10]>> No. No. Here. This is >> Okay. It's fine. It's fine.

[00:53:12]>> No, this is fine. Too big.

[00:53:13]>> It's big. Okay. I sit here. All right.

[00:53:17]We're getting something from the gentleman. So, how many kids you have?

[00:53:22]>> Two.

[00:53:22]>> Two kids. And how many of these things you sell every day?

[00:53:26]>> Wow, that looks so cool.

[00:53:27]>> Yeah, this is King Laella.

[00:53:29]>> Ah, this is the Laella.

[00:53:30]>> Okay.

[00:53:31]>> And very old one.

[00:53:34]>> Oh, it looks amazing.

[00:53:35]>> Yeah, the angel Gabriel.

[00:53:37]>> This is Angel. Okay.

[00:53:38]>> Very old one. Look.

[00:53:39]>> Uh, so what what is the price for something like this?

[00:53:42]>> Uh, this one?

[00:53:43]>> Yeah.

[00:53:44]>> Like $150. It's very old one.

[00:53:46]>> $150.

[00:53:47]>> Yeah, this is very old one.

[00:53:48]>> Okay.

[00:53:49]>> But this is a new that's why.

[00:53:51]>> Okay.

[00:53:53]This a new book.

[00:53:54]>> Okay. And how much is this one?

[00:53:55]>> This one for 45.

[00:53:57]>> $45?

[00:53:58]>> Yeah.

[00:53:58]>> Can we switch to beer so I understand what we are talking about? I don't want to pay in dollars.

[00:54:03]>> You This one, the big one.

[00:54:05]>> Uh-huh.

[00:54:05]>> 100.

[00:54:06]>> 100 what?

[00:54:07]>> Dollar.

[00:54:07]>> No, tell me in beer, bro.

[00:54:09]>> We can calculate in the bank rate. No problem.

[00:54:11]>> Yeah, but why you're using dollars?

[00:54:13]>> Uh, it was easy for the guest.

[00:54:15]>> I know. But for me, tell me beer.

[00:54:17]>> No problem. We just All right. Now, give me something cheaper, bro. I I don't want to spend $50 or $100 for a Bible.

[00:54:25]Just give me give me something small and I want to support you. Just buy something from you. It doesn't have to be Bible. Something else.

[00:54:33]>> This one.

[00:54:34]>> Where do you collect all of this?

[00:54:35]>> Uh I'm collecting the out of the country, you know.

[00:54:38]>> This looks like needs to be in the museum.

[00:54:41]>> But you have it. So, how old is this?

[00:54:44]You think >> it's like 40 50 something years?

[00:54:47]>> 50 years old.

[00:54:48]>> Yeah.

[00:54:48]>> Wow. This is also pretty cool.

[00:54:50]>> We are collecting for the local community you know.

[00:54:52]>> Okay. So what is your price for this?

[00:54:56]>> 35 >> bro tell me in beer.

[00:54:59]>> Okay. Okay. In >> since whenope using dollars bro.

[00:55:03]>> Okay. Well this one. Okay. Like uh in >> Yeah.

[00:55:11]>> 4,500 or something.

[00:55:13]>> Okay.

[00:55:13]>> Yeah.

[00:55:14]>> What is what is your last deal? We can do maybe >> 4,000 for you. 4,000.

[00:55:19]>> Yeah.

[00:55:19]>> Can we do three?

[00:55:21]>> No.

[00:55:22]>> It's not good.

[00:55:23]>> Not good. I have a bag different icons.

[00:55:26]>> Okay. Yeah, those are all beautiful, but those are too big, brother, for me to carry anywhere. But this is amazing. Can you Can you see it? Wow, that looks amazing.

[00:55:34]>> I have a small size >> like carrying the cross. Is this the Jesus carrying the cross?

[00:55:40]>> This is Mary Jesus.

[00:55:42]>> Uh-huh.

[00:55:43]I mean, the Jesus himself was carrying the cross.

[00:55:46]>> Yeah. when he was crucifification.

[00:55:48]>> After the crucification, Wow.

[00:55:51]>> Look, Mary with the St. George.

[00:55:53]>> Okay.

[00:55:53]>> And to say it.

[00:55:55]>> Ah, beautiful. And what's your price for this?

[00:55:57]>> This one? 6,000 B.

[00:55:59]>> 6,000 beer.

[00:56:00]>> Because it was two piece, you know.

[00:56:01]>> Okay. All right.

[00:56:04]All right, brother. Um, take this. Let me have a look. How much is the 6,000 approximately?

[00:56:11]So, the gentleman is telling me in $6,000, which is $37.

[00:56:19]I think we can definitely do better prices, brother. What about 3,000? I pay for that small one you had. Where is it?

[00:56:27]Uh, this one. No, no, no, no, no. This one?

[00:56:29]>> No.

[00:56:30]>> No.

[00:56:31]>> This one?

[00:56:31]>> Yeah.

[00:56:32]>> No.

[00:56:32]>> 3,000?

[00:56:33]>> No. No. 6,000. But this one?

[00:56:35]>> It's too much, brother. Yeah. Really too much.

[00:56:38]>> You You are giving me foreigner price.

[00:56:40]>> Yeah. No, no, no. This one.

[00:56:41]>> How much is this?

[00:56:42]>> 380.

[00:56:43]>> How much?

[00:56:44]>> This one? Okay, take 3,500. This one?

[00:56:47]>> No, no. It's too much still, brother.

[00:56:49]3,000 is uh it's a lot of money.

[00:56:52]>> Okay, take this one. 3,000.

[00:56:54]>> 3,000?

[00:56:55]>> Yeah.

[00:56:55]>> Okay. That's like around $19.

[00:56:58]I just tell you something. I don't need any of this. I just want to buy from you just to support you. Okay.

[00:57:04]>> You can count how much money is here.

[00:57:08]So this is what we are getting for 3,000 >> 14.

[00:57:15]>> There's 1,400.

[00:57:16]>> Yeah.

[00:57:16]>> Okay.

[00:57:17]>> Okay. You can count this one too, please.

[00:57:22]So beautiful home with lots of art decorations and but normally the gentleman is near the church selling stuff.

[00:57:33]>> Okay. Thank you so much.

[00:57:34]>> Thank you brother.

[00:57:35]>> Thank you. I wish you all the best. I take this one. Okay.

[00:57:38]>> Thank you. Have a good day and all the best to you and your family. Thank you.

[00:57:42]Bye-bye. Thank you.

[00:57:44]>> And for the latest, >> let me give you my number and >> Ah, no, no, no, brother. It's okay. One business from one family.

[00:57:50]>> Yeah. Thank you.

[00:57:50]>> Promotion.

[00:57:51]>> No, no, it's okay. Thank you, brother.

[00:57:53]>> Okay.

[00:57:53]>> Thank you.

[00:57:55]>> Thank you so much. You too, brother. All right. We are out, guys, on the streets.

[00:58:02]We bought something. It's probably probably not the greatest idea to go to someone's home, especially if you don't know them. But, uh, it's on the roadside and I just took the chance to go inside and see what the gentleman is selling. I mean, these are all religious things. I don't necessarily need them, but it is also the way to support the people. This street is actually super cool. Like, people have little businesses. They sell blankets and some fruits under the tree.

[00:58:35]>> Oh, how are you, brother? Nice to meet you.

[00:58:39]He does. He doesn't know my name, but he say Azarbaijan, my country name, which is pretty interesting.

[00:58:46]All right, guys. We just arrived to where is the entrance to the complex?

[00:58:50]And there's a place where you can actually get your tickets as well. And that's why you see lots of vendors here selling things, especially scarves, clothing, blankets, and some trousers, shirts, of course, religious books, and crosses. So, it's a very organized street. But my objective is to go eat something and also have a some Ethiopian coffee. Maybe we have here. Hello.

[00:59:16]Salam. Bua. Buna.

[00:59:20]Hello. Buna.

[00:59:22]>> No. Buna. Okay.

[00:59:25]>> You know where to buna?

[00:59:26]>> Yes.

[00:59:27]>> Where?

[00:59:27]>> Yeah.

[00:59:28]>> There.

[00:59:28]>> Come on.

[00:59:29]>> Okay. Okay. Thank you.

[00:59:32]>> Seems like they have some donuts there.

[00:59:34]That's That's what I was interested about, the donuts, but they don't have a coffee. So, we're going to >> Yeah. Bua. Buuna.

[00:59:43]>> Okay. Okay. You take me.

[00:59:46]>> Okay.

[00:59:46]>> Hi.

[00:59:47]>> Hello. Wow. Oh my god. Where are you come from? From Azarbai.

[00:59:51]>> Yes. You know.

[00:59:53]Uh, you don't even know I think where is my country but you say >> what is your name?

[00:59:56]>> David.

[00:59:57]>> David. My name is Joe.

[00:59:59]>> You speak very good English.

[01:00:00]>> My name is >> Is it here?

[01:00:02]>> Okay.

[01:00:04]>> You're Christina.

[01:00:04]>> Yes.

[01:00:05]>> Nice to meet you Christina.

[01:00:06]>> Nice to meet you.

[01:00:07]>> All right.

[01:00:08]>> I like it. Bold.

[01:00:09]>> Hello. You have bua.

[01:00:12]>> Yes.

[01:00:12]>> Okay. Thank you.

[01:00:13]>> I like it. Bold man.

[01:00:15]>> You like bold men? What the >> What's your job?

[01:00:20]>> What's your job?

[01:00:20]>> He says I like bold men. What the hell?

[01:00:23]>> What's your job?

[01:00:24]>> No, no one complimented me like this.

[01:00:26]>> Hi.

[01:00:26]>> My job is YouTube.

[01:00:28]>> YouTube.

[01:00:28]>> YouTube. I make videos.

[01:00:30]>> I'm grateful for not to be athlete.

[01:00:32]>> Ah, which athlete? Running.

[01:00:33]>> Yeah.

[01:00:34]>> Well done. Well done. Inshallah. The god gives you power.

[01:00:38]>> Hello. Hello. Hello. Hello guys. How are you? Ah, we think I think we have the buuna experience here.

[01:00:46]>> Hello. Salam. Salam. Salam.

[01:00:49]>> All right. The gentleman going to make a coffee dab. Yes, that's correct.

[01:00:54]>> Salam brother, how are you? You have coffee.

[01:00:57]>> Buuna. Okay. I want one coffee.

[01:01:00]>> Thank you.

[01:01:01]>> Thank you guys.

[01:01:03]>> You want if I give you money, you go buy donuts.

[01:01:06]>> Yeah.

[01:01:07]>> From the next shop.

[01:01:08]>> Maybe. No, no, no. Later. I think you >> we go together.

[01:01:12]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[01:01:12]>> Oh, you're smart. You're smart.

[01:01:14]>> How many classroom student?

[01:01:17]>> Sorry.

[01:01:17]>> How many classroom student? How many class students? Yeah, >> me.

[01:01:22]>> Yeah, >> I finished school very long time ago.

[01:01:24]I'm old country school.

[01:01:27]>> Ah, how many years total? 11 years.

[01:01:30]>> Oh, one class 55. One book.

[01:01:35]>> Oh, you mean in one class? How many people in my country? Maybe 20 30 >> 30 >> 30 people in one class.

[01:01:43]>> 55.

[01:01:45]>> No, no, no. Yeah. Yeah.

[01:01:48]You you learn English in school?

[01:01:49]>> Yeah.

[01:01:50]>> Oh, you speak very good.

[01:01:52]>> Finish.

[01:01:54]>> You have to speak one by one because I either listen to him or to you. Okay.

[01:01:58]Now you speak.

[01:01:59]>> You speak now.

[01:02:01]>> Speak.

[01:02:03]>> What do you say?

[01:02:04]>> What's your professional?

[01:02:05]>> My profession is YouTube. I make YouTube videos. I travel.

[01:02:09]>> Me and Dentist.

[01:02:12]>> You want to be dentist?

[01:02:13]>> Athlete.

[01:02:14]>> You athlete? Wow. You have a big dreams, guys.

[01:02:16]>> Yeah. Doctor.

[01:02:17]>> Doctor. Very nice. I'm very proud of you guys.

[01:02:19]>> How many sister and brother?

[01:02:21]>> I have two sisters.

[01:02:23]>> Two brother. Four sister.

[01:02:25]>> Wow. Look. Look at Look at it. His hand is in the pocket.

[01:02:30]>> He's like wiping. It's like and he's talking very confident. Very good.

[01:02:38]>> It's a video. I'm already videoing it. I will remember you. Don't worry.

[01:02:44]>> Okay. Very nice. All right, guys. We actually started a billiard competition with the gentleman. What's your name?

[01:02:49]>> My name is Yarish.

[01:02:50]>> Yares. Nice to meet you. All right. So, they have their own rules that I'm not familiar with. So, I have supposed to do one to eight and then >> you do above eight.

[01:03:01]>> Above.

[01:03:01]>> Okay. All right. It's my turn now.

[01:03:06]>> Oh, almost. Oh, maybe. No, it's okay.

[01:03:10]It's okay. It's filming. Thank you. So, now it's the gentleman's turn. So, this cost only 100 beer for one game. And 100 beer is like almost like uh less than less than 50 cent, I think.

[01:03:27]Very nice.

[01:03:29]So, it's my turn now.

[01:03:30]>> Oh, yeah. I can do seven, I think.

[01:03:34]>> Okay, let's do seven.

[01:03:41]>> Good. Very good. You have to cheer for me, guys.

[01:03:44]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[01:03:46]>> So, I can do four.

[01:03:47]>> Can you >> All right. Now, the four.

[01:03:54]>> Oh, nothing.

[01:03:55]>> Nice try. Nice try.

[01:03:56]>> Nice try.

[01:03:58]>> And we have so many kids surrounded us.

[01:04:00]And the gentleman says it's the hospitality. When the foreigner comes, everyone surrounds you and they're just trying to talk to you, be with you.

[01:04:09]>> But it's pretty cool.

[01:04:10]>> Well done. Yeah, no loneliness here in Ethiopia. You are never alone. There's always someone that will be with you as long as you wish for it, of course.

[01:04:23]All right, guys. Now we are in a different side of the city. I've been talking about the hustles in this video.

[01:04:29]So, not only the adults will try to sell you stuff, but there are also lots of kids that will follow you around and try to grab something. And it is becoming a little annoying for sure. I am very patient person but sometimes I can be quite annoyed with those stuff especially repetitively I told them not to come with me but that is how it is.

[01:04:51]It's not only me saying that. I'm just warning you if you come here as a tourist that's something that you should probably expect happening. I think uh this is one of the central parts. I see there are shoe cleaners on the right side. We have got a shops that people sell sandals and flipflops and clothing.

[01:05:14]There's a coffee places around here too which is pretty nice. So I think I saw one nice coffee place. I will probably go for that one. As this is a religious town, you hear that lots of religious music coming from every angle.

[01:05:31]>> Just practice English.

[01:05:32]>> No, no practice English. Thank you.

[01:05:36]So there are lots of people that come practicing English, but you know, you know where that goes afterwards. I like to travel alone, so I don't like to be around people. So that's why I'm just trying to push them away. It is nice to talk to them for a while, but then if someone is following you around all the time, then it becomes annoying. So just be aware there's no harm, but it might become a little bit too annoying in general. So I think this is going to be our coffee experience. We're going to have a Ubuna, the best Ethiopian coffee, which is the best in the whole world.

[01:06:12]Salam.

[01:06:14]>> How much is the coffee?

[01:06:15]>> Yes.

[01:06:16]>> How much?

[01:06:17]>> Yes.

[01:06:18]>> Yes. You have coffee? Okay. I'm I have one Ethiopian coffee.

[01:06:23]>> Yes.

[01:06:25]>> How How much is the coffee?

[01:06:32]How much?

[01:06:33]>> 50.

[01:06:33]>> 50. Huh? Is it a local price or foreign price?

[01:06:37]>> It's good. Good price, huh? Okay. I I will have.

[01:06:40]>> Nice to meet you.

[01:06:40]>> Yeah. Nice to meet you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

[01:06:44]>> Show. Nice to meet you. Double. Nice to meet you. Pleasure.

[01:06:46]>> Dood. Yes. Pleasure.

[01:06:48]>> All right. Sister, one coffee for me?

[01:06:49]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[01:06:50]>> Thank you.

[01:06:50]>> You can sit here.

[01:06:51]>> All right. Thank you.

[01:06:53]>> You want to have coffee?

[01:06:54]>> No. No. I can because of this.

[01:06:55]>> You want to be with me?

[01:06:56]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, but I don't want to be with anyone.

[01:06:58]>> Okay. Okay.

[01:06:59]>> Is it okay?

[01:07:00]>> I'm working as a guide.

[01:07:01]>> I know, brother. I already had a guide yesterday. I don't I don't need any guide.

[01:07:05]>> Just you you walk around.

[01:07:06]>> Thank you so much. Thank you. I really appreciate it, brother. But I just want to have a coffee and then after we'll go. Thank you. It's pleasure meeting you. Thank you. Thank you.

[01:07:14]>> All right. I remember actually at the airport I had it for I think 80 beer and here is a 50 beer. I would expect that it's much cheaper as we are on the town and the village. Uh, no no no money sis.

[01:07:27]No, no money.

[01:07:29]>> So like um uh what I wanted to try say >> I love to support people but if you if I give money to one person here it's going to be chaos. So it's better we don't do that. Anyway, so 80 beer which is like 50 cent in Adisaba airport but here is around 50 and I think that's a reasonable price. Maybe locals get it a little bit cheaper, but it is 30 cents.

[01:07:56]So, I think it's good. We're going to just enjoy our coffee. So, normally you sit here and then they have this little presentation and they can make a buna experience for you. But if you want just quickly have a coffee and then go, that's also option.

[01:08:12]So, in Ethiopia, coffee is not just coffee experience, but it's also smelling experience. This is what they give you too when you order coffee. They put some incense here on top of the charcoal and then that gives you the smell and changes the ambiance and you smell good. Like this smell can hope like can be observed by your clothes but also yourself. Your senses change before you drink the coffee which is one of the best things you can ever do guys in Ethiopia. 30 cents. Always try to find the local places like here and just enjoy it. appreciate the coffee and the price too. 30 cents. I think it is very good price for whole experience sitting down having coffee.

[01:09:01]>> All right guys, we just finished our coffee. It's going to be good time to go.

[01:09:06]>> Thank you. You drink coffee?

[01:09:09]>> I did.

[01:09:10]>> You order? No, I pay for you. Thank you.

[01:09:13]Uh, one coffee for him, please. Okay.

[01:09:15]>> Thank you so much. Have a good day.

[01:09:17]Thank you. Bye-bye.

[01:09:20]Thank you.

[01:09:22]All right guys, I think it's going to be good time to finalize the video. I hope I delivered you the beautiful impressions of La Bella which been incredible experience for me especially the churches. I think that's the main thing why people come here of course as a pilgrimage but also as a tourist you can come and appreciate the history. But it's going to be great time to finalize but I will make at least one more video from Laella. So we'll see you in a bit.