Dutch Breakfast with a Twist

Reblogged from Convergent Journey:

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Broodje hagelslag is a slice of bread slathered in butter and covered with chocolate sprinkles. But these aren’t just the plasticky chocolate sprinkles you eat on a cupcake. This is pure, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate.

You only live once, right? So for breakfast this morning I figured, why use butter when I can use Nutella to stick those sprinkles to my bread?

Read more… 45 more words

Flashback from my childhood days in Holland. Lunch was a buttered bun with chocolate sprinkles!

I’m back!

Tags

Addis Ababa, BAKE, bloggers, Hello Kitty, kenya, Letters of Note, Somalia, technology

I have returned from my brief hiatus. I’ve been extremely busy at work (they say you’re doing something right when your social life suffers) and I also spent a week in Beijing last month on vacation I’ll put up a separate post about that later. For now, I thought I would share some interesting things I’ve come across on the web lately.

The estimated size of the universe. Duncan Green calls it “the most amazing infographic ever”.

A Taiwanese airline has introduced a Hello Kitty-themed flying experience. Fan or not, this is amazing. Check out the Hello Kitty airplane, boarding passes and check in counter.

In Letters of Note, H. G. Wells’ mistress, Rebecca West, conveys her anguish in letter form after Wells decides to break up with her.

I just learned about Addis Ababa’s first technology innovation hub, ICEaddis. I’m not sure how long they have been around, but from their website I understand they are quite new.

Nuruddin Farah reflects on his Somali background, and offers a different side to Mogadishu, at times called the “most dangerous place in the world”.

BAKE, the Bloggers Association of Kenya, announced the list of winners from last week’s BAKE Blog Awards.

Finally, a group of Kenyans film a video combating the Hollywood stereotype of the gun-toting, guerrilla-fighting African. Watch below, it’s funny.

Addis Ababa University

Tags

Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, rainy season

It’s been raining every day for the past 5 days in Addis. The days start off bright and sunny, but as the day progresses, it gets darker and darker and by about 6pm, it starts pouring. And once it starts, it doesn’t stop for a while. Thunder, lightning and all that good stuff. I could actually see the clouds getting darker on my way home yesterday and, lucky me, I happened to be driving in that direction. I think I saw someone/something get struck by lightning on my way home. Scary. The short rainy season has officially begun.

the campus

 

Celebrities and the Recolonization of Africa

Tags

Africa, aid, celebrities

Behold, a map of the real Africa based on celebrity territory. George Clooney in Sudan, Ben Affleck in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Will Smith in South Africa, Serena Williams in Kenya, and the list goes on.

Jokes aside, what is the greater impact of celebrities ‘helping’ Africa? What ticks me off the most are the “personalities” who have no tangible talent to speak of who go to Africa to boost their diminishing popularity. (I see you Kim Kardashian).

Not only does it insult the efforts of non-famous people performing genuine work in developing countries, but it also reduces the significance of the issues at hand. From adopting poor, orphaned children to using the famine in Somalia to market your energy drink, the number of projects a celebrity can get involved in are endless. Click on the map to visit the Mother Jones article, where clicking on an individual face will drop down a list of activities by said celebrity. What do you think of this trend? Good, bad, can’t be bothered? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

On the discovery of oil in Kenya

Tags

Gado, human-rights, kenya, oil, politics, poverty, Turkana, water

Earlier today, Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki announced the discovery of oil in the Turkana region. Reactions are mixed. Cartoonist and illustrator Gado says it best.

Taxis and Blue Donkeys

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Addis Ababa, Africa, Amharic, blue donkeys, cabs, Ethiopia, language, minibuses, photography, public transport, taxis, travel

Public transportation at its best. The minibuses in Ethiopia are called ‘taxis’ or ‘blue donkeys’ (who came up with this name??), the cabs are called ‘contract taxis’ and then there’s the odd ‘bajaj’, the little car in the last photo.

Jolly Bar, Addis Ababa

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Addis Ababa, Arat Kilo, bar, cafe, cocktails, drinks, Ethiopia, ethiopian food, Jolly Bar, photo, photography, restaurant

Their slogan is “Think Outside the Bole” in reference to the multitude of trendy bars in the Bole area in Addis. Jolly Bar is located in Arat Kilo. They usually have a live band on Friday nights, and there’s something for everyone…it’s part cafe/restaurant/bar/lounge with spacious indoor and outdoor seating. Read here for a great review. I only have this one photo. These shot glasses don’t stop blinking until you take the shot.

Oh, and they’re closed for renovations for a few weeks…check their Facebook page for updates.

What it looks like vs. what it’s really like

Tags

Barack, david cameron, Obama, oval office, photography, white house

The look on Obama's face is priceless

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron having a private conversation in the Oval Office…or are they?

MSNBC

Largest Refugee Camp Turns 20

Tags

dadaab, famine, humanitarian relief, kenya, refugee, refugee camp, Somalia

 

Depressing right? Located in Eastern Kenya, Dadaab is the largest refugee camp in the world with almost half a million refugees living there. That’s 500,000 people. Living in temporary housing – mostly tents, but also mud and brick houses. With no water, electricity, means of income..nothing.

 

There are 10,000 third-generation refugees in Dadaab. What the hell?? That means their parents were born in the camp as well.

Ethiopian Food Makes Me Emotional

Tags

Addis Ababa, culture, Ethiopia, ethiopian food, food, yebeg tibs

Yebeg tibs (lamb) and chopped tomatoes, onions, and peppers in buttered sauce accompanied with injera, Ethiopia’s sour, crepe-like bread. I can eat this food Every. Single. Day.