Trip South - Our Driver

One of the most important lessons I learned (but not quite soon enough) was to exploit the knowledge of the people around you.  On the way South, I sat in the backseat with the other Mom.  One of us should’ve sat in the front seat.  Two reasons:  better views and easier conversation.

Our driver, Lekeneh, was a bit hesitant to speak at first.  I guess us obnoxious Americans can be intimidating.  However, he was so great about answering every question we asked, pulling over everytime we wanted to take a photo and apologizing for the rough road.

We had a great time in the evening, see the Travel - Evening Activities post for more info on that.  So,  by the second day we were much more familiar with each other and friendlier.  We completely took advantage of his services by making him the videographer while I photographed.

He told us a lot of stories, too.  He used to be a lorry-driver, long-haul to Djibouti.  When he started telling us about how some of the drivers would chew chat to keep them awake and then demonstrated the effect it had on them, I about bust a gut.  It was even funnier for the next 5 km as I repeatedly tried to get a photo of him re-demonstrating and re-demonstrating the CHAT FACE.  My camera was on the red-eye setting so it kept double flashing and missing the face, plus it was messed up because it was sensing the bright light outside his window.  Stinkin’ technology!  Apparently, he couldn’t hold the CHAT FACE pose because of the potholes and donkeys he had to watch out for.  Visualize real life Pole Position.  Quite possibly, my very unladylike laughing snorts may have been distracting him as well.

1. Not good enough.  Looks too normal.
2. Better, but too humorous.
3. What’s up with the squinty eyes?
4. Nope.  Just a smilin’ profile.  Did you give up trying or what?
5. Better, but I can’t see your bug out eyes.
6. Way off.  Looks like a hitman.

   7. THERE YOU GO!  WE HAVE CHAT FACE!!

OK, this may not seem funny to you, but try 5 days of not sleeping right and a possible concussion from hitting your head on the truck ceiling (courtesy of an unexpected pothole) and you will also find this absolutely hillarious!!

Note to Lekeneh’s boss (and other future passengers):  He doesn’t use CHAT.  He was just demonstrating the face for us!!

Note to others:  CHAT is a plant that you can chew (like Skoal) that affects you like amphetamines might.  Rumor also says that it boosts male fertility.

Lekeneh took us out to the craft/souvenir shops when we returned to Addis and bartered for us.  And, he carried our bags.  (Hello?!!  American husbands, pay attention here!  He carried our bags… willingly… without us asking first!)  If Marta hadn’t called around 5pm on Thursday to remind us that we had to be to the Crown Hotel in a short while, I’m pretty sure our adventure would only have gotten more interesting.

I am quite sure that we were his favorite passengers EVER!  I simply must believe that because my ego would be crushed to think that everybody gets this kind of service.

Post script: I warned Lekeneh that I posted his chat face on the Internet. He has agreed to demonstrate chat face to any future passengers upon their request. So, if you use Tadesse car rental and get Lekeneh as a driver, make sure you hold him to that promise!!  Contact info can be found on the Tadesse Car Rental page.