Ethiopia: Off the Beaten Trail [Paperback]

John Graham (Author), Philip Briggs (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2001

Ethiopia is a country of endless stories and histories, many never heard outside this elusive country. John Graham has tirelessly traversed Ethiopia, and explored many nooks and crannies of this ancient land. From the China Road to the most remote mountain monastery Mr Graham has visited and documented those parts of Ethiopia rarely seen or discussed by the outside world. Beyond Aksum, Lalibela, and the Blue Nile Falls are places, ruins, and sights seldom exposed to the world at large, John Graham's Ethiopia: Off the Beaten Trail takes you to these unseen gems.

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Shama Books (September 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931253110
• ISBN-13: 978-1931253116
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,462,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Travel > Africa > Ethiopia & Djibouti

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting past the stereotypes - Ethiopia sounds cool, April 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Ethiopia: Off the Beaten Trail (Paperback)

John Graham obviously has a profound amount of affection and respect for Ethiopia. It's history, culture and joie de vivre. I'm not sure many Anglo-North Americans have thought about Ethipoia as a vacation destination, but Graham's description of dance bars in the big city, 2000 year old churches, and bustling villages and markets Make it seem far more real than the stereotypes we are used to.

Not that Graham makes it seem like the easiest place to travel, but he quickly gets way, way beyond the big-bellied child and desperate, doe-eyed mother of World Vision imagery to a nation of dignity and depth. The author understands the issues and includes things like when to trust a 'guide' and when not to. As the area's Program Director of Save the Children, he obviously knows what he's talking about, but he also makes it very clear that this mature nation has a wealth of experience to shareand expresses a deep committment to the real people of Ethiopia.

Graham's good, edging on sarcastic, humour makes this book an easy read. (The chapter about hitting a pedestrian walks the line between humour and horror with amzing balance). Whether you're planing a trip or not, this book should be picked up by anyone interested in history, religion, Africa, or working overseas. I wasn't even planning a trip, but I'm eager to find an opportunity as soon as I can.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty much better than the "sign and the seal", March 11, 2002

By 

Chubinos (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ethiopia: Off the Beaten Trail (Paperback)

THis is an "OK" book. Even though I know most of the stories in the book....I believe it did a good job in trying to introduce parts of Ethiopia many folks wouldn't know.:)