We officially landed in Addis Ababa at 7:30pm. We had a long flight from Amsterdam. 5 1/2 hours to Khartoom, Sudan(1 hour wait in airplane) and then another 1 1/2 to Ethiopia. At arrival in Ethiopia we needed to wait a long time in the Visa line and then pick up our baggage. Most bizarre airport experience ever! They scan all bags before you leave the airport. Not in an orderly fashion! All people line up but then when you get to the bag scan it is most aggressive goes first. One of us put the bags through while the other ran around to the other end to be sure no one else picked them up! Elbows up!
After scanning we were randomly directed to have our hockey bags full of donations searched(I say randomly with sarcasm because it appeared then anyone with an over sized bag was being searched) We waited a long time while the person before us in line was hand written a ticket to let them know how much tax they had to pay for what they were bringing in to Ethiopia. Finally we were next. The man opened our bag and asked what it was all for. "Donations for orphanages we are visiting" we replied. "Do you have receipts for it all?" he asked. "No" we stated "It holds no value to us as it was given to us". (Throughout the entire exchange he kept smelling the clothing, we think to tell if it was new our used) "Is it new or salvage?" he asked. "Salvage" we replied. Eventually he called his supervisor over, they spoke for a minute and then he told us to pack up and leave. We did! No taxes paid! Yeh! God is good!
Not sure yet what our plans are today as we are still a little jet lagged. We may get to go visit "D" but hasn't been confirmed yet. Just enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our guesthouse.
After scanning we were randomly directed to have our hockey bags full of donations searched(I say randomly with sarcasm because it appeared then anyone with an over sized bag was being searched) We waited a long time while the person before us in line was hand written a ticket to let them know how much tax they had to pay for what they were bringing in to Ethiopia. Finally we were next. The man opened our bag and asked what it was all for. "Donations for orphanages we are visiting" we replied. "Do you have receipts for it all?" he asked. "No" we stated "It holds no value to us as it was given to us". (Throughout the entire exchange he kept smelling the clothing, we think to tell if it was new our used) "Is it new or salvage?" he asked. "Salvage" we replied. Eventually he called his supervisor over, they spoke for a minute and then he told us to pack up and leave. We did! No taxes paid! Yeh! God is good!
Not sure yet what our plans are today as we are still a little jet lagged. We may get to go visit "D" but hasn't been confirmed yet. Just enjoyed a delicious breakfast at our guesthouse.
Hi...so glad to hear you made it safely! We have been thinking about you alot and a little worried. Yes God is good! Hoping you get to see "D" very soon!! Good Luck on Monday, you all are in our prayers....keep safe...love you,
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