Ethiopia: Danakil – Afar Village of Hammed Ela
This village inhabited by Afar people is in the hottest place on Earth. Daytime temps reach into 50s, while there is some cool breeze at night. Afar are nomadic so the village consisted of houses made from sticks in the ground – some with people, some are for goats and donkeys. There is no electricity, no water, and no toilets – both men and women wear long skirts and just squat if need to go pretty much anywhere. Flies, goats, dust, and trash are all around. Men do not work, but just walk around with old AK47s and chew chat (a narcotic plant), pick teeth with a wooden stick (toothbrush), everyone has many wives. Women do most housework and you hardly see them. The camel caravans with salt pass through the village twice a day adding more noises and smells. My accommodation for two nights included a bed made of sticks and plant stalks set under the open skies – actually quite amazing at night (once the flies went away).
