Wit drove us to visit his farm which was about an hour away. David had the privilege of travelling in the boot....a challenge for any "back-side" when coping with Ethiopian roads!!
It was great to actually see the farm after having heard all about it. We arrived in the pouring rain and headed straight to the cow barn to shelter. We were greeted by a fairly large herd of "milkers" and then noticed a carcase of a bulloock hanging from the barn door being expertly skinned by one of the workmen.
Very soon we heard the noise of a truck approaching in the distance. This truck was carrying the first of 2 male calves to be slaughtered. This was farming at its most basic, and we quickly looked away when we realised what was about to unfold.
We are used to everything being done behind closed doors and away from public view, but here it is very different. Out here male calves have little value amd so they are slaughtered at a young age for meat (with foot on the head and a knife to the throat!)...that's just the way it is!
What was bizarre was that at one point the calf about to be slaughtered could see the dead calf on the ground, as well as one hung up by the ankles being skinned ready for the meat to be sold; all of this in the full view of the cows in the barn.
The farm also had chickens, bee-hives and a variety of fruit trees (Banana, Lime, Papaya and Mango) and there are plans for more cows. a pond for fish and maybe pigs.
The bird life out here is incredible. Some of the birds are huge, such as storks and kestrels, and the small birds are beautifully colourful.
When we arrived home we had a long evening ahead of us before our flight. Our plane wasn't due to leave until 4am , so we settled down to a game of cards and the most enormous home-made pizza I have ever seen!
It has been such a privilege to have travelled to such an amazing and beautiful place. It will be sad to leave, but we do so with many incredible stories and memories.
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