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This programme contains
some strong language.
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Jesus.
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Out.
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What is your name?
Er, Romesh Ranganathan.
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A comedian from the UK.
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What are you doing here?
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I'm going to countries, sort of,
because of their reputation,
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people don't tend to go to.
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I'm going to be visiting Haiti,
Ethiopia and Albania.
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Really? Why? Why would you do that?
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THEY LAUGH
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I mean, he's got a point.
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Why can't I go somewhere
like Australia?
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DIRECTOR: Because Dara O Briain
did Australia.
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OK, what about Thailand?
Karl Pilkington has been there.
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Well, we're stuck, properly stuck.
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Not like Top Gear,
let's see if the Land Rover Disco
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can make it out of the snow stuck,
we're actually stuck.
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Vietnam?
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Jack Whitehall went there
with his dad.
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Of course he bloody did.
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I think camping is for knobs.
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The whole reason we have inside
is not to be outside.
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So why are we outside?
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Nepal? Michael Palin.
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Cuba? Michael Palin.
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Brazil? Michael Palin.
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Jesus Christ, Michael bloody Palin!
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THEY YELL
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Did you see it out there?
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I think it might be what's left
of my dignity.
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I mean, my intention is to fully
immerse myself in the country
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and the culture.
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Is Ethiopia...
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..all about famine?
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Is Haiti all about poverty
and earthquakes?
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Is Albania just bleak and communist?
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If it's shit,
I'll tell you it's shit.
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It is genuinely one of
the most incredible places
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I've ever been in my life.
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That was horrible.
I hate Albania, man.
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HE LAUGHS
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Right. Is your mum coming?
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No. Why would my mum be coming?
Is your mum coming?
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Essentially, all I know about
Ethiopia is long-distance running
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and famine.
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So, apparently,
45% of the population of Ethiopia
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are aged under 15
and 71% are aged under 30.
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That is...
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That means...
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Well, that means they're very young.
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I was trying to think of a more
profound kind of conclusion
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to make from that.
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Most of them have not seen
Star Wars.
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Maybe even more profound than that
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is that most of them won't remember
this famine disaster.
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I don't think that's more profound
than the Star Wars fact.
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That's not my plane.
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As you can see,
Ethiopia is in East Africa,
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landlocked by several other
African nations.
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This, disappointingly, rules out
the chances of relaxing on a beach.
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I flew into Addis Ababa,
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the capital of a country of over
100 million people.
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The second largest in Africa.
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Hello. Romesh? Yes.
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Welcome to Ethiopia, man.
Thank you very much.
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How are you doing, man?
I'm very fine.
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Lovely to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
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I was met by Mike, an anthropologist
who would show me around,
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give me an insider's guide, and
explain what anthropologist means.
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Can I be straight up with you?
Yeah, man. This...
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This is not like how I expected
Addis to look like.
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What was your basic conception?
Like, when you're new, like...
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00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:10,439
You've got to remember, right,
in Britain,
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charity appeals started
with Ethiopia, right?
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Yeah. We were the beacon.
Ethiopia is the original.
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You're the original. Original! Yeah.
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You are the original charity case,
right? OK.
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This was not what you saw
on the information...
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Exactly. That's exactly what it is.
Yeah.
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This is nice. This is, like...
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It's liveable. Yeah.
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And you've obviously got
building work going on. Yeah.
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Typical city skyline. Yeah.
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The city has been here a long time.
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You know, people usually think,
like,
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people are not walking across
in leopard skins.
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Yeah. Yeah.
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Mike told me that Ethiopia
is known as the cradle of humanity,
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where the first humans evolved
millions of years ago.
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I'd read that the country had
suffered through decades
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of political turmoil
and civil unrest,
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but Mike insisted it's awash
with amazing landscapes
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and incredible historical sites.
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As a first stop, though,
he took me to a local market.
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So, is this one of the bigger
markets around here, then?
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Yeah. This is the second-biggest
market in Addis.
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It's quite hectic, isn't it?
It's quite hectic, yeah.
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You couldn't spend hours and hours
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walking around here, could you?
No, no, no.
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Because this is like
a constantly evolving market,
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you always get
the fresh produce here. Right.
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The vegetables and stuff
look wicked. Yeah, man.
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There is a conception that Ethiopia
has no food. Yeah.
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People think that we have
drought or famine,
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but that days has already passed.
There is a lot of food here.
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Right. Now we are on
the fasting season.
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Fasting season? What do you mean?
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Every year we have 55 days
of the major fasting season.
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Yeah. And in some seasons,
Wednesdays and Fridays
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are always fasting,
which means we are vegan.
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You're vegan? Oh, my God,
this is brilliant news, man.
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So, vegan food is not going
to be an issue?
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Well, look around.
Like, everything you see is vegan.
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Mate, I love this country already.
Yeah, man. Yeah, man.
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Salaam. Salaam.
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Hi. Hi.
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So, one of the things is Ethiopian
food centres around chilli.
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So it's got ingredients
that go into it,
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and one of the things
is onions and garlic. OK.
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And our food culture is well
and thriving, you know? OK.
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Very nice. Thank you very much.
I like the market. It's great.
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So, what's next? Drinks?
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Yes, I'm up for it. We'll grab some.
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You do the pound
here as well, sweet.
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Addis Ababa has
a thriving music scene,
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a blend of Ethiopian
tribal music and jazz.
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The sound was huge
in the '50s and '60s
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and is making a comeback
in the myriad of jazz clubs
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that dot the capital.
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Mike took me to a bar in a
neighbourhood near where he grew up.
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This is it here?
This is it here. OK.
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SHE SINGS
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This is a traditional club.
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If you go to the countryside it's
not going to be the same setting,
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but this is what it kind of
looks like.
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What they will be doing
is freestyling.
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They have never met you,
they look at you, then, you know,
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they come up with something...
Horrible?
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Horrible and nice.
141
00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:03,200
It depends on...
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..how friendly you are.
143
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What the role of those
freestylers is, in the past,
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the news of the day,
they would satirise it in rhyme.
145
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It's sort of like a comedy
freestyle thing.
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Which I didn't witness.
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00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:24,119
What I witnessed was people
taking turns to point at me
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and insult me repeatedly
in a language I didn't understand.
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It was just a procession of people
sort of insulting me, basically.
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HE SINGS
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My comedy can't be doing that well,
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because I haven't got
any food to eat.
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And he's a comedian in Ethiopia,
and he's doing really well.
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After the performance he's going
to set a raging blaze behind me
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that threatens my life.
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I don't know if that prophecy
will come true
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00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,640
but it feels like it's starting
to come real.
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Mr Romesh...
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I got up, I wasn't prepared...
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00:09:18,681 --> 00:09:22,719
And I think they thought because
I'm a comedian
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I'm going to be able to
come up with loads of stuff.
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DRUMBEAT PLAYS
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Hello, my name is
Romesh Ranganathan
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I've got a long beard,
that's purely because I'm Asian.
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As it turns out,
I was as shit as I expected.
166
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I'm trying to rap
but it's something I'm really bad in
167
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But that guy over there
looks like the genie from Aladdin.
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LAUGHTER
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00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:46,479
Uh...
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It's very nice to be here,
thank you for welcoming me
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I can't think of anything that
rhymes with that
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So I'll just say he
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It's me. Romesh, the Asian
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I'm gone. Thanks for your...
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I think I used the word
hospitalatian.
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Oh, God.
What? That's not even a word!
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00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:07,520
OK, participation!
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00:10:07,521 --> 00:10:10,799
So, not only was I insulted
the entire evening,
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00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:13,399
I then went up and showed that
I couldn't do what they'd done.
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00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,239
Thank you.
THEY CHANT: Encore!
181
00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,560
Then they said, "Encore,"
and I was like, "Absolutely no way."
182
00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:32,200
What's that, mate?
183
00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,399
The following morning,
Mike drove us out of town.
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00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,919
He told me we would spend the week
on a whistle-stop tour of Ethiopia,
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seeing a myriad of delights,
including ancient rock churches,
186
00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,120
stunning salt flats...
187
00:10:47,680 --> 00:10:49,160
..scientific marvels...
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00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:51,810
..and camels.
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00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,359
We would begin with a trip to
Shashamane,
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00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:58,490
home to the country's considerable
Rastafarian population.
191
00:10:58,491 --> 00:11:01,159
I feel like I need to
apologise to you.
192
00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,599
For what? For my performance
at Fendika, I'm sorry.
193
00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,159
I was just taken by surprise.
194
00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,199
No, no, no. If I'd have known
that I was going to do that,
195
00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,879
I might have been better.
As it was, I humiliated.
196
00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,679
OK, but it was good, you know.
197
00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:16,759
Like when I said hospitalatian.
198
00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:18,919
No, no. That was bad, wasn't it?
No, it was not.
199
00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:20,639
It was bad, you're being nice to me.
200
00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,839
No, I'm not being...
That's one of the worst things.
201
00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,999
No, because you have to improvise.
Right.
202
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,359
That's the best...
203
00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,719
That's the best thing
about these things.
204
00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,719
Because I don't really
know the culture,
205
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:33,479
I started to get nervous that
I might say something that really,
206
00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:35,359
like...super offensive.
207
00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,239
And then all of a sudden,
the vibe changes.
208
00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:38,879
And they're offended.
209
00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,279
It ends with me getting
the shit kicked out of me. Yeah.
210
00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:47,119
We should try and, like, do some
stuff where we talk in rhymes, like.
211
00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,080
Yeah. To try and practise. Yeah!
212
00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:51,919
Shashamane.
213
00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,199
Shashamane
214
00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,199
We love Shashamane
215
00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,159
We're going to Shashamane.
216
00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:01,559
Yeah, man.
217
00:12:01,560 --> 00:12:04,919
To see the Rasta man, hey
218
00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:06,640
Rasta man, hey.
219
00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:12,079
Mike explained that in 1948,
the former Ethiopian emperor
220
00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,239
Haile Selassie
donated 500 acres of land
221
00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:18,240
to allow the descendants
of slaves to return to Africa.
222
00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:23,519
He took me to meet Ras Lumumba,
the creator of a local museum,
223
00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,119
who would offer to show us around
and explain more about the movement.
224
00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,279
How are you?
So, Rom, this is Ras Lumumba.
225
00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:30,900
Hello, nice to meet you. Yeah, man.
226
00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,559
He may or may not
have been smoking weed.
227
00:12:34,560 --> 00:12:36,600
THEY CHUCKLE
228
00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,039
Can we have a look at
your museum, then?
229
00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,239
Yes, sire, Rastafari.
230
00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:46,039
So, what is this?
231
00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,839
What you see here, Ethiopia.
232
00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,719
200 years and seven,
all Africa is named Ethiopia.
233
00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,279
Selassie.
234
00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,480
Hear me, and pray over there
in Israel.
235
00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:00,559
To finish my work in peace and love.
236
00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:03,679
Yeah.
Here, me, I look like Eddie Murphy.
237
00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:06,079
You do look like Eddie Murphy.
Eddie Murphy looks like me.
238
00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,159
Eddie Murphy looks like me,
not me I look like him.
239
00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,000
No, I get it.
He copied your style. Yeah.
240
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,559
These are the things,
this is my big son now.
241
00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:16,999
His name Patrice.
242
00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,760
He is in Israel. So, how many kids
have you got, then?
243
00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:23,759
I have four kids, five.
244
00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,399
Four. Five? Yeah.
245
00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,879
And married how many times?
246
00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:30,680
I'm married four times.
247
00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,080
Yeah. Married four times.
248
00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:36,290
Yeah.
249
00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:39,719
Cool.
250
00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:40,960
Four times.
251
00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:45,720
Israel, American,
Japanese, Ethiopian.
252
00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:50,080
Rastafari!
253
00:13:50,081 --> 00:13:53,759
I'm sort of falling in love
with him,
254
00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,879
I think that's what's happening.
255
00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,559
He is, like, the coolest dude ever.
256
00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:00,119
He's showing us his museum,
257
00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,480
so we're just going to have
a quick look around.
258
00:14:02,481 --> 00:14:06,079
And then, who knows
what might happen?
259
00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,519
DIRECTOR: Do you understand the
principles of Rastafarianism? No.
260
00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,480
I mean, he's sort of talked
around it a fair bit, but...
261
00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:16,679
No.
262
00:14:16,680 --> 00:14:19,879
Ras Lumumba told us,
or at least I think he told us,
263
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:24,839
that he was born in Sudan as Lumumba
Davi Opai Kalopo Mono Oso Kali,
264
00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:26,759
or possibly just Patrice.
265
00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,759
I attempted to pin him down
on a few specifics.
266
00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,720
Yes, what do you want to say, Rasta?
267
00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,239
See, you've got a bit of weed
on the go now.
268
00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,639
Yeah, you need to smoke this.
This is the healer of the nation.
269
00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,000
What is the relationship between
this and Rastafarianism?
270
00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:46,280
This is the incense...
271
00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:49,360
..of the Rastafarian.
272
00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:55,560
These are the connect between
the Rastafarian and the movement.
273
00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,199
Yeah.
274
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,839
You want a taste?
No, I'm fine, thank you. OK.
275
00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,799
THEY CHUCKLE
276
00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:07,799
So, what is...
what is the sort of main...?
277
00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,359
What are the main principles
of Rastafarianism?
278
00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,239
What is it, exactly?
279
00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:17,759
The Rastafari is the head of
all what you look at.
280
00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:22,839
The creator is the Rastafari,
281
00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:24,000
is the creator.
282
00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,319
It's not like religion of Muslim
or Christian,
283
00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,639
or this, or this, or this. OK.
It's the creator.
284
00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,239
The movement of the Rastafari
285
00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,879
is believing Haile Selassie is
the King of Kings, Lord of Lords
286
00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,830
and conqueror in the line of
the tribe of Judah. Who is this?
287
00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:46,759
Who is this?
288
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:47,810
Haile Selassie.
289
00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,359
A lot of details in the things,
290
00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:57,279
but as you can see,
what else can you do?
291
00:15:57,280 --> 00:16:00,040
HE CHUCKLES
292
00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,040
Rastafari!
293
00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,120
THEY LAUGH
294
00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,440
Well, that's Ras Lumumba.
295
00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:23,560
ROMESH LAUGHS
296
00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,839
I think that's a one-stop shop
for Rasta.
297
00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,999
So, the thing that I had not
understood properly
298
00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,079
up until this point... OK.
299
00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,039
..is that I thought of
Rastafarianism as like a religion,
300
00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,039
like any other religion.
Like Hinduism, Christianity etc.
301
00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,279
Yeah. But it's not that, is it?
It's a way of life.
302
00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,040
It's a way of life,
and they revere...
303
00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,130
..King Haile Selassie because of
what he did for Ethiopia, right?
304
00:16:56,120 --> 00:16:58,359
That, and some prophecies, you know?
305
00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:03,319
Some prophecies that led to him
being in that position.
306
00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:05,850
Haile Selassie, I think,
is considered a Messiah.
307
00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,720
Like Jesus Christ. OK, got you.
308
00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:15,359
So it's like an all-in-one mix.
309
00:17:15,360 --> 00:17:18,559
But I think Ras Lumumba
cleared that all up for you.
310
00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:19,680
Yeah, very much so.
311
00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:22,799
No?
312
00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:24,920
ROMESH LAUGHS
313
00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:28,920
He did, yeah. Yeah, man.
Yeah, he cleared it up.
314
00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:45,679
The following day we awoke early,
315
00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:47,999
and remembering this was
supposed to be a holiday,
316
00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,130
Mike took me up into the hills
for a traditional spa treatment.
317
00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,839
So, are you into, like,
wellness and spas and stuff?
318
00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,319
Uh, well, I like a massage.
319
00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,719
Here the spa kind of thing
is really big. Yeah.
320
00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,879
Tourists start picking up on trends,
like this traditional,
321
00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,319
unspoiled, exotic kind of treatment.
Yeah.
322
00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,920
This one's starting to catch up,
like, really fast.
323
00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:15,040
So, welcome to our traditional spa.
324
00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,079
OK, it's very traditional, isn't it?
Yeah.
325
00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:26,879
I was greeted by the sight of
a man that I was told was a doctor.
326
00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:29,119
He had a shovel,
and he had a mate with him
327
00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:30,879
who I assume was a nurse.
328
00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,719
And Mike then told me that this was
a natural spa, what we were seeing,
329
00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,119
which was essentially what
looked like Shrek's home.
330
00:18:38,120 --> 00:18:41,639
This is where we lie.
We lie in there? Yeah.
331
00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,959
First we put a leaf. OK.
Lie here. Yeah.
332
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,079
Then it's spa away.
333
00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:48,759
Perfect. Ideal.
334
00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,840
This is exactly how I imagined it.
Yeah.
335
00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,919
This is the life, isn't it?
336
00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:09,320
This is the life, man.
337
00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:13,760
Oh!
338
00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,180
This is actually quite nice. Yeah.
339
00:19:18,181 --> 00:19:21,959
What's going on?
They're putting hot sand.
340
00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:23,200
Ay, ay, ay!
341
00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,119
So he said to me
this is a really natural way
342
00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:34,519
of doing what we try and
recreate in the West.
343
00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,599
And that's supposed to sort of help
you with any ailments you've got.
344
00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:40,119
The minerals from the sands
and stuff like that
345
00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:42,959
are supposed to cure what ails you.
346
00:19:42,960 --> 00:19:44,879
DIRECTOR: So, Rom, how hot is it?
347
00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,359
Well, it's warm. It's warm.
It's sort of...
348
00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:51,040
I feel like I'm a cinnamon stick
in a really hot bowl of porridge.
349
00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:55,159
I think it's getting hotter
and hotter.
350
00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,119
Can you feel it? I can feel it, yes.
351
00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:01,160
It's a combination of sort of
heat and rage.
352
00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:08,039
The rain helped my head be cold,
353
00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,239
so I had a kind of hot apple pie and
ice cream kind of experience
354
00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,159
where my head was freezing cold
355
00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:15,439
but also the rest of my body
was on fire.
356
00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,559
Are you actually OK, Rom?
357
00:20:17,560 --> 00:20:19,119
Is it too hot? Yes.
358
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:21,399
I mean, I've said that
from the beginning.
359
00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:24,240
This is not new news. My balls...
360
00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,440
..are so hot.
361
00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:31,480
Died-died?
362
00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,639
So, in the middle of you
being burnt alive,
363
00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,599
there were quite a few
technical issues
364
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,340
because of the rain, wasn't there?
365
00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:48,239
The idea
that while I'm being cooked alive,
366
00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,919
that I would give anything
approaching a shiny shit
367
00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:54,319
about your coverage, blows my mind.
368
00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,320
It absolutely blows my mind.
369
00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,200
Oh, God.
370
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,680
Oh, God, it's freezing.
371
00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:11,040
OK.
372
00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:13,519
What happens now?
373
00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:15,919
Now I think we take our
traditional showers.
374
00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,439
OK, I think we should, mate.
375
00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,040
I don't mind if you piss on me,
I just want this off me.
376
00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,559
Oh, mate.
377
00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,079
Oh, yeah.
378
00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:28,130
Yes!
379
00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:31,799
Woo!
380
00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:35,599
That's actually good.
That is good, man.
381
00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,719
So, yeah, it's fine,
I'm glad I did it.
382
00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,639
I get why people would want
to do that.
383
00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,399
100%, you would go to,
like, a spa hotel,
384
00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,919
and they would lie you down there,
and instead of a shovel
385
00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:50,679
they'd have a small kind of
gilt-edged spade head.
386
00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,039
And they would put this stuff
on you and you would be going,
387
00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:54,359
"Oh, it's remarkable,"
388
00:21:54,360 --> 00:21:56,919
and apparently they've got them
directly from Ethiopia.
389
00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:00,199
That sand was volcanic.
390
00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,960
Like, I actually felt like
my skin was being damaged.
391
00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,399
My... It seemed to focus on
my arse crack and balls.
392
00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:12,399
That was...
He kept lumping sand on there.
393
00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:16,159
The heat... The core temperature of
my left testicle I think
394
00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,200
was the same as on, like, Venus.
395
00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:26,919
With my balls searing a hole in my
jeans, we continued on our journey.
396
00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:28,879
I could no longer father children,
397
00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,950
one of the many positives I've taken
from my time in Ethiopia.
398
00:22:31,951 --> 00:22:34,879
The landscape was beautiful,
399
00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,879
and the people were amazingly
warm and welcoming,
400
00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:42,599
but it definitely felt edgier than
the places I normally go on holiday.
401
00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,239
And it was becoming clear that
during my time there,
402
00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,199
Ethiopia was going through
a period of upheaval.
403
00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:49,639
I'd been warned about the roads
404
00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:51,359
being amongst the worst
in the world,
405
00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:54,799
but the country has undergone
a massive road rebuilding programme,
406
00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,160
and rogue animals aside,
they felt safe.
407
00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,519
But as beautiful as
the landscape was,
408
00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,919
and as funny as the people were,
409
00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:05,519
there were a few things that were
410
00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:07,570
starting to make me feel
uncomfortable.
411
00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,319
Having spent a few days here,
412
00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,759
there are a few things that sort of
ring alarm bells in me a little bit.
413
00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,519
For example, the police presence
in the streets.
414
00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,639
There are roadblocks everywhere,
the fact that we've been moved on
415
00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,959
from certain areas before it gets
dark because of potential unrest.
416
00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,199
Everyone you speak to,
you know, you speak to Mike
417
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,399
and anyone else around here,
they are very proud of the country.
418
00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,039
They want you to come here.
419
00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,799
They like pricking
your preconceptions,
420
00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:45,359
explaining to you
how you've got things wrong.
421
00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:50,479
But a little bit of internet
research sort of uncovers
422
00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:53,439
the fact that things are...
423
00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:57,039
I mean, essentially, Ethiopia is
currently in a state of emergency,
424
00:23:57,040 --> 00:23:58,360
which I had no idea about.
425
00:24:00,560 --> 00:24:04,319
In early 2018, a six-month
state of emergency was declared,
426
00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,879
triggered by tensions within
the ruling coalition,
427
00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,359
widespread protests
428
00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:11,439
and the eventual resignation
of the Prime Minister.
429
00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:12,840
It's sort of...
430
00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,360
I mean, I've got to be honest.
Like...
431
00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:20,599
It does sour my...
432
00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,359
I don't feel as comfortable
about being here,
433
00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:24,919
if I'm being honest with you.
434
00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,719
Some people are saying that a new
prime minister might prove to be
435
00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,239
a force for change in the country,
436
00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,079
and this could be really
positive for Ethiopia.
437
00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:36,439
I hope so, because I wouldn't
want to feel that I'm contributing
438
00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,399
to a regime that is oppressing
its people.
439
00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:42,199
I wouldn't want to feel like
I'm pouring money
440
00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,319
into something that is wrong.
441
00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:46,919
You know, I try and shop ethically.
442
00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:50,480
You know, I eat ethically, so...
443
00:24:50,481 --> 00:24:53,559
..it makes sense that
I would holiday ethically,
444
00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,119
or I'd visit other places ethically.
445
00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:57,110
And I think a lot of people
feel that way.
446
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,319
The issue continued to play
on my mind as we headed north,
447
00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:09,240
catching a flight to Mekelle.
448
00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:20,319
Ethiopia is home to no less than
nine Unesco World Heritage Sites,
449
00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,799
including five in the north
of the country.
450
00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,479
I was told we wouldn't be
going to any of them
451
00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,399
but to a remote region
called the Danakil,
452
00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,159
a volatile zone near
the disputed Eritrean border
453
00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:32,680
which is apparently
the hottest place on Earth.
454
00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,190
What's the maximum it's going to
get to, do you think?
455
00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:44,679
50.
456
00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:45,730
50?!
457
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,119
Yeah. The Danakil Depression is...
458
00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:51,879
It's, like, within the rift valley.
459
00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,839
So, a rift valley is apparently
where the oldest...
460
00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:57,199
Fossils. Fossils of humans, right?
461
00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:59,919
Yeah. There is another side
of the rift valley,
462
00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:02,439
that's where the fossils are found.
463
00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,840
But here, it's almost like
we're going to another planet.
464
00:26:05,841 --> 00:26:10,439
To my increasing bemusement,
Mike explained that the Danakil
465
00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:13,880
has an average temperature
of 34.4 degrees Celsius.
466
00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:17,999
At 125m below sea level,
467
00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,680
it's also one of the lowest points
on the planet.
468
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:28,080
So, this is the village
of Hamad-Ile. OK.
469
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:35,240
Welcome to Hamad-Ile.
470
00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:41,319
This is where all of us are staying.
471
00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:45,239
Nobody is being given any special
treatment, all the crew, everyone.
472
00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,559
Is that true? Are you staying here?
473
00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,999
Are you staying here? Yeah.
474
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,200
There's nowhere else.
475
00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:53,730
OK.
476
00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:59,399
And what's inside here?
477
00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,959
Inside it's just...
You see it's locked,
478
00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:03,679
so it's quite safe.
479
00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:05,999
With the padlock. Yeah, from us?
480
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:08,039
Yeah. So that we don't, like...
481
00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:09,440
Yeah, but we're outside.
482
00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:15,719
You can't advertise a padlock to me
that's locking us outside a thing.
483
00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,799
We are outside. Yeah...
484
00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,759
The only thing that's protecting
us from is anything that's in there.
485
00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,399
But look at this. We've got
the whole rest of the world, mate.
486
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:25,679
Would you want to, like,
sleep indoors
487
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,200
in the hottest place on Earth?
488
00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:30,719
No, look,
I'm being honest with you.
489
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,159
I'm happy to...
490
00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,799
And by happy, I mean there's
no other choice but to sleep here.
491
00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,959
So that's fine. Cool. Right.
492
00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,519
Are you going to be sleeping
somewhere where I can punch you?
493
00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,760
No, no, no.
I'm going to keep my distance.
494
00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,119
Other than being very hot
and very low,
495
00:27:48,120 --> 00:27:51,160
the Danakil is famous for
its ancient salt mining trade.
496
00:27:52,351 --> 00:27:58,719
Thousands of tonnes of salt are
transported from the region daily
497
00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:00,919
on enormous camel trains.
498
00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,239
We joined what looked like an
extremely low-speed police chase,
499
00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:07,400
with a squad of camels chasing down
some rogue donkey outlaws.
500
00:28:09,640 --> 00:28:15,359
So, this trek is one of
the oldest treks in the world.
501
00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:17,800
This has been going on, you know,
for centuries.
502
00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:22,719
They will make two or three trips
to the nearest town, called Barhale,
503
00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:24,279
which is, like, 60K from here.
504
00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,319
60K? Yeah.
505
00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,399
60K.
So how long is that going to take?
506
00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,959
That might take them, like,
two days.
507
00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:36,039
After making these trips, they'll go
from Barhale back to their village.
508
00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,720
They'll take, like,
a minimum of seven days.
509
00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,439
Oh, my God. Yeah.
510
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:46,159
Just hard and gruelling way of life.
511
00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:47,640
It's unbelievable. Yeah.
512
00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:52,759
It's just the pace is surprising.
513
00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:54,919
Yeah. Cos they look like,
from a distance,
514
00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,919
they're just ambling along,
but actually... Yeah.
515
00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,679
These people, the ones that are
walking alongside them,
516
00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,920
must keep up this pace. For 60K.
517
00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:07,800
Two ways, you know. Yeah.
518
00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:15,999
If I wasn't with you, or say...
Could anybody come and, like,
519
00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,559
just ask to come and join
these guys for the walk?
520
00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,399
Would they let them?
Yeah, of course.
521
00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:21,799
Oh, really? Yeah, man.
522
00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:23,079
So you could wander along, go,
523
00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,679
"I fancy coming along and doing
a bit of salt mining..." Yeah.
524
00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:27,959
"..let's go smash it up,"
they would be up for it, yeah?
525
00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,759
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, is this all salt here?
526
00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:32,239
Cos this looks just like mud.
527
00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:33,759
This is salty mud.
528
00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,279
It's got a bit of salt,
but most of it is sand.
529
00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:39,679
But where we're going,
all you see is salt.
530
00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,839
That's where they cut the slabs
and transport them back.
531
00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:47,599
So there is a degree to how much
salt there is as we go.
532
00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:49,679
It's going to get saltier
and saltier.
533
00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:51,239
Yeah, and less sandy.
534
00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:53,239
So, how far have we got left to go?
535
00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,400
From here, we'll do about
the last 5K.
536
00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:08,079
We drove the final 5km
to a spot deep in the desert
537
00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:10,080
where the salt is hacked
from the earth.
538
00:30:19,640 --> 00:30:22,410
I can't believe they're working
in this heat, man. Yeah.
539
00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,959
750 licensed miners toil here daily,
540
00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,639
battling 40-degree temperatures to
remove the impurities from the salt
541
00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:35,039
and carve them into blocks
that can be loaded onto the camels.
542
00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:41,519
Do you know how much one of these
slabs will sell for in the market?
543
00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:43,760
THEY SPEAK OWN LANGUAGE
544
00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:48,279
17.
545
00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:52,999
So it's 17 birr,
that's like 50 cents in pounds.
546
00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,679
50 pence. 50 pence. Right.
547
00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:59,039
So one camel can take
from 30 to 34 slabs.
548
00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:01,239
So you're looking at about
15 quid a camel.
549
00:31:01,240 --> 00:31:02,880
15 quid a camel.
550
00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,800
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
551
00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:14,879
So he's saying, because the changing
ways of the world, you know,
552
00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,879
technology is creeping in
through all fields of work,
553
00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:23,439
that their income
has slowly been dwindling.
554
00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:25,399
But how is technology
affecting them?
555
00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:30,239
Some time ago there used to be 2,000
cutters here at any given time.
556
00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:34,559
But now, because of the advent of
roads and everything,
557
00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,200
these things are dying out.
558
00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:44,799
Would you recommend coming here?
559
00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:48,239
I would hate to think that suddenly
you'd get troupes of Westerners
560
00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:50,199
sort of wandering around in
a circuit going,
561
00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:52,999
"Oh, God, they're working really
hard," and, "Isn't it hot?"
562
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,279
Much like I did when I was
wandering around.
563
00:31:55,280 --> 00:31:58,719
But, you know, this is an incredible
place to be, and it's very surreal,
564
00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:00,279
and I like it for that regard.
565
00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:01,559
My instincts are always
566
00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:03,959
that I hate seeing animals being
involved in stuff like this.
567
00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:06,199
But that's a very easy thing for me,
from Crawley,
568
00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:08,959
to come along and be appalled
at what is happening to camels.
569
00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,879
I'm not appalled, that's how
they have to do their job.
570
00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,119
From talking to the guys,
they know not to overload them,
571
00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:20,879
and it's as humane as it could
possibly be in the circumstances.
572
00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:24,239
After talking to them about the fact
that business is getting tougher
573
00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:28,919
and technology is encroaching,
and the market price isn't great,
574
00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,479
I find myself wishing that somebody
in marketing at Holland & Barrett
575
00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,439
suddenly declares that
Ethiopian salt is a super food
576
00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,199
just to push the price of this up
577
00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:39,479
so that wankers in Shoreditch
start buying it.
578
00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:40,840
Do you know what I mean?
579
00:32:53,600 --> 00:32:55,399
Mike drove me to Lake Karum,
580
00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:57,879
one of two salt lakes
in the northern Danakil,
581
00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,599
which create the deposits
over a period of thousands of years.
582
00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,639
Although there is just
an inch of water,
583
00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,200
the salt beneath it
runs almost 2km deep.
584
00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:10,559
It's so beautiful.
585
00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:12,959
I don't often say that.
I don't think I've ever said that.
586
00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,599
I don't think I said that
on my wedding day.
587
00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:16,720
It's just...
588
00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:19,800
So, this...
589
00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:23,920
MIKE LAUGHS
590
00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,519
Yeah, that is... Salty. Mm.
591
00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:29,959
There's something moreish
about it, though. Yeah?
592
00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:32,880
I feel like I want to do it again.
Can I do it again? Yeah.
593
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:38,159
Oh, that is horrid.
Yeah. That is...
594
00:33:38,160 --> 00:33:39,640
It's like a mouthful of salt.
595
00:33:41,080 --> 00:33:43,559
It's just genuinely incredible.
Yeah.
596
00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:48,320
Like, this feeds the whole country
in salt.
597
00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:57,520
Beer by sunset, yes? Yeah, man.
598
00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:00,839
Did you bring beer?
Because I didn't.
599
00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:02,200
Of course.
600
00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:13,599
It's actually genuinely lovely.
601
00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:15,079
Yeah. Thank you very much.
602
00:34:15,080 --> 00:34:18,520
After such heat, you know, beer,
it's just like a godsend.
603
00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:24,200
I know I sort of take the piss,
but this is genuinely...
604
00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:27,399
..beautiful. Yeah.
605
00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,630
That's me being sincere,
it'll happen once.
606
00:34:37,680 --> 00:34:39,520
Tired? I am tired, yeah.
607
00:34:39,831 --> 00:34:45,839
What happens if, like, you need
a piss in the middle of the night?
608
00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:47,220
There is a toilet over there.
609
00:34:48,480 --> 00:34:50,319
That's the road.
610
00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:52,439
No, next to the road
there is a toilet.
611
00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:55,559
Next to the road there's a toilet?
Yeah, you see the light over there?
612
00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:58,519
What is this? This one? Yeah.
613
00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:02,040
It's a house thing, just to
remind you that it's possible.
614
00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:07,560
Yeah, I did once.
615
00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,000
I hated it.
I think camping is for knobs.
616
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:17,799
The whole reason...
Why have we got inside?
617
00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:21,050
So you don't have to sit outside.
That's the whole point. It's like...
618
00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:24,079
Where is the inside?
619
00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,719
When civilisation,
when people started,
620
00:35:26,720 --> 00:35:28,999
not far from here, by the way,
621
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,799
they went, "Outdoors is shit,
isn't it, at night?
622
00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:33,839
"Let's build something
and go inside there."
623
00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:35,160
And now we're outside.
624
00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:37,680
I just don't understand it.
625
00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:44,839
If it was so beautiful,
we never would have invented inside.
626
00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:46,999
Do you understand what
I'm saying to you?
627
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,119
The whole reason we have inside
is not to be outside,
628
00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,840
so why are we outside
when inside is an option?
629
00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:00,800
Who made that? The first little pig?
630
00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:04,200
All right.
631
00:36:04,201 --> 00:36:09,959
I'm going to go back to that bed
and as soon as Mike falls asleep,
632
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:11,320
I'm going to suffocate him.
633
00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:18,239
All right, mate?
634
00:36:18,240 --> 00:36:19,560
Fine.
635
00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:37,039
It was quite comfortable, wasn't it?
636
00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:38,360
I didn't sleep.
637
00:36:49,831 --> 00:36:55,479
Mike announced that we would spend
the morning visiting
638
00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:58,879
the Danakil Depression,
an extreme, alien-like landscape
639
00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:02,119
that has been drawing in scientists
from all over the world.
640
00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,919
The region is close to the disputed
Eritrean border and it's seen
641
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:08,559
frequent fighting between
the two countries.
642
00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:11,919
We were advised it was necessary
for us to travel with armed guards.
643
00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:14,439
Right now, Mike is speaking to
the chief of the village
644
00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,559
to sort us out a couple of police
and militia
645
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:20,119
to basically look after us
while we're there.
646
00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:21,839
I know I'm supposed to sort of,
like,
647
00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,039
for the purposes of the show
add some drama to that,
648
00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:25,439
because it is quite dangerous,
649
00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:28,680
but I'm just knackered,
so this is me on high alert.
650
00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,479
What have you got on your head?
651
00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:34,119
What have I got on my head?
652
00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:39,480
It's what we call
the airport cavity search generator.
653
00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:05,079
I mean, that's pretty full-on,
isn't it, having armed guards? Yeah.
654
00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:07,159
Do they do that for every visitor?
Every.
655
00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:09,320
It's illegal to go without
an armed guard.
656
00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:13,799
And is it true that it stinks?
657
00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,400
It stinks, of course.
658
00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:19,759
And is it true that you
can burn your feet? Yeah.
659
00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:22,599
And is it true that there's
acid everywhere?
660
00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:24,399
Yeah.
661
00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,319
It's not that there is acid
everywhere,
662
00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:29,919
I don't know why people
try to exaggerate things.
663
00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:31,719
Acid all over the place?
664
00:38:31,720 --> 00:38:33,959
That's an exaggeration. OK.
665
00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:37,319
Is there acid there?
The place is acid.
666
00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:38,840
So it's not all over.
667
00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,160
Look at the colours here. Yeah.
668
00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:53,520
So, welcome to Dallol.
669
00:38:55,040 --> 00:38:56,320
Holy shit!
670
00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:00,760
That is...
671
00:39:02,560 --> 00:39:03,920
That is insane.
672
00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:19,399
Mind where you're stepping, and step
on the darker shades, OK?
673
00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:20,560
OK. Yeah.
674
00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:25,960
You know, this place is toxic.
675
00:39:27,160 --> 00:39:29,839
The yellow part you see
is the sulphur. Yeah.
676
00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:32,879
That's why you smell this
eggy kind of thing.
677
00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:34,959
I'm completely protected
by the cloth, though.
678
00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:37,039
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You are completely safe.
679
00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:38,879
Yeah. Don't worry.
680
00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:42,800
And the red kind of tint
is the iron oxide.
681
00:39:48,920 --> 00:39:51,239
What is that little
squirting nipple?
682
00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:52,620
That's the geyser, you know.
683
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:57,319
That is around 112 degrees,
684
00:39:57,320 --> 00:39:59,199
the last time we checked.
685
00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:02,479
This place is like a hot spot
for scientists.
686
00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:06,959
Right. All of this you see is acid.
Acid in different forms.
687
00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:11,479
So if it's possible for bacteria
to inhabit this part
688
00:40:11,480 --> 00:40:13,839
of such a harsh environment,
689
00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:16,719
it's possible for bacteria
to inhabit Mars. Right.
690
00:40:16,720 --> 00:40:19,879
So that life on Mars can be
like a step closer.
691
00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:22,799
So such things have been
found in recent years,
692
00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:26,600
and this has created like a buzz
in the scientific community.
693
00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:32,679
You know, once when I was
about nine years old,
694
00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:38,279
my brother, he ate 12 Creme Eggs
and then he threw up.
695
00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:40,079
OK. It looks a bit like this.
696
00:40:40,080 --> 00:40:42,119
MIKE LAUGHS
697
00:40:42,120 --> 00:40:43,480
That's a nice comparison.
698
00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:46,360
It was the worst Easter of all time.
699
00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,599
From the oppressive heat
of the Danakil
700
00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:04,439
we moved west towards Tigray,
701
00:41:04,440 --> 00:41:07,599
an area marketed as the cradle
of civilisation
702
00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:12,519
and home to 120 ancient churches
carved into the rocky landscape.
703
00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:15,439
On the way, Mike announced we would
be stopping off for another one
704
00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:18,679
of Ethiopia's unique
health and wellness treatments.
705
00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:20,960
So, let's go in
and see what's up, man.
706
00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:24,600
Oh, my Lord. What's going on here?
707
00:41:26,520 --> 00:41:27,919
Why is it so busy?
708
00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:31,039
Is this quite a popular treatment?
Yeah.
709
00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:34,519
Salt, it cleans your eyes.
710
00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:36,439
So...
711
00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:37,640
Salaam.
712
00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:44,080
HE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
713
00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:48,439
So you sleep like this
for 20 minutes.
714
00:41:48,440 --> 00:41:51,960
Close your eyes then this kind of,
like, sucks everything out.
715
00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:58,279
So, they're cleansing their eyes,
716
00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:01,479
and how it happens is they dip this
cotton wool, he said,
717
00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:03,399
in some sort of medicine.
718
00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:06,799
Then you put it
underneath your eyelids,
719
00:42:06,800 --> 00:42:09,640
then you lie down for 20 minutes
and then you take it out.
720
00:42:11,240 --> 00:42:12,320
Because...
721
00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:16,399
..it sounds like one of
the worst things ever.
722
00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:19,319
I'm just not...
I'm funny about my eyes anyway,
723
00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:20,719
do you know what I mean?
724
00:42:20,720 --> 00:42:22,959
And I've already got one
that is not 100% functional,
725
00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:24,920
I don't want to smash out
the other one.
726
00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:29,200
Everything is going to be fine.
727
00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:32,800
Ah!
728
00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:52,399
Rom, have you run away?
729
00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:54,800
No, I'm still here.
730
00:42:56,480 --> 00:42:58,879
The cardboard just
disappeared into his eye.
731
00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:00,280
Oh, my God!
732
00:43:01,680 --> 00:43:04,879
It was so much. I thought it was
going to be a tiny bit.
733
00:43:04,880 --> 00:43:06,559
It was like a hay bale.
734
00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:11,120
The cardboard just went
straight into his skull.
735
00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:17,079
It was one of the worst things
I've ever seen!
736
00:43:17,080 --> 00:43:19,600
It was one of the worst things
I've ever seen.
737
00:43:23,160 --> 00:43:25,679
So, what is it actually
supposed to do, Mike?
738
00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:28,599
What is supposed to happen is, like,
you know, like...
739
00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:31,559
There is a lot of dirt
in the eye cavity, you know? Right.
740
00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,039
Like the one that doesn't get out,
so it will stick to the wool.
741
00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:37,479
Does it feel weird
when the cotton wool goes in?
742
00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:41,639
It feels a little weird,
but it's literally seconds,
743
00:43:41,640 --> 00:43:44,800
so you don't feel nothing. OK. Yeah.
744
00:43:51,960 --> 00:43:53,599
Whoa!
745
00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:55,319
You see wood. Yeah.
746
00:43:55,320 --> 00:43:57,920
This wood, this wood.
747
00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:03,279
Can you imagine the things
that are in our eyes?
748
00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:05,279
And even there is more.
749
00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:07,839
Like here, you see?
750
00:44:07,840 --> 00:44:09,799
Do you really believe?
I just can't...
751
00:44:09,800 --> 00:44:13,159
Look, either this treatment is
the most incredible in the world
752
00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:16,079
or there was a bait and switch,
right?
753
00:44:16,080 --> 00:44:21,599
Because it was literally a handful
of wood came out of his face.
754
00:44:21,600 --> 00:44:25,119
I just find it very difficult
to believe.
755
00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:28,399
That's because I'm
a cynical person by nature,
756
00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:31,439
but twigs, breakable twigs.
757
00:44:31,440 --> 00:44:36,359
I mean, I get my eyes checked out
every six months to a year.
758
00:44:36,360 --> 00:44:38,239
Not once has he said,
759
00:44:38,240 --> 00:44:40,719
"Yeah, we'll keep with
the same prescription glasses.
760
00:44:40,720 --> 00:44:43,039
"Just so you know,
you've got a little bit of bark
761
00:44:43,040 --> 00:44:44,800
"round the back of the left one."
762
00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:51,759
With his eyes cleaned
of any excess wood,
763
00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:54,530
Mike climbed behind the wheel
and drove us on to Tigray.
764
00:44:54,531 --> 00:44:59,359
My image of Ethiopia as
a drought-ridden dust bowl
765
00:44:59,360 --> 00:45:01,519
had proved to be wildly inaccurate.
766
00:45:01,520 --> 00:45:04,359
Much of Ethiopia appeared
to be green and fertile,
767
00:45:04,360 --> 00:45:07,310
and if anything, food is one of
the country's attractions.
768
00:45:07,311 --> 00:45:11,399
So I was surprised to hear that
we were travelling through one of
769
00:45:11,400 --> 00:45:14,759
the areas worst affected by
the infamous mid-'80s famine.
770
00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:17,639
More than 400,000 people
are believed to have died
771
00:45:17,640 --> 00:45:20,719
in the disaster,
sparking an international response
772
00:45:20,720 --> 00:45:23,760
that in many ways still defines
the country to this day.
773
00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:29,399
I mean, the truth is, without
putting too fine a point on it,
774
00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:32,959
Ethiopia is essentially
the famine poster boy. I know.
775
00:45:32,960 --> 00:45:37,679
We grew up knowing what the rest of
the world has got a misconception in
776
00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:39,959
because of those three years.
777
00:45:39,960 --> 00:45:41,839
We have to see this in context.
778
00:45:41,840 --> 00:45:46,279
What happened during that time was
the country was in turmoil.
779
00:45:46,280 --> 00:45:49,119
Like, there was war, east to west.
780
00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:50,600
Like, everywhere.
781
00:45:57,240 --> 00:46:03,759
With more than 60% of our annual
budget going to feed the military,
782
00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:07,999
there was not enough going
to the, like, farming,
783
00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:10,239
which was '84, '85, '86.
784
00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:13,160
'85 was the peak of
when that happened.
785
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:17,919
After '86, things went back to the
way they were.
786
00:46:17,920 --> 00:46:23,519
But those three years left us with
the legacy of being, as you say,
787
00:46:23,520 --> 00:46:26,039
the poster child of famine.
788
00:46:26,040 --> 00:46:28,399
And we have to understand,
drought is everywhere.
789
00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:30,639
And we know, like, a lot of parts
790
00:46:30,640 --> 00:46:34,879
in Australia and the US
are affected by drought.
791
00:46:34,880 --> 00:46:37,599
But you didn't just have drought,
you had drought plus war,
792
00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:39,639
which is what led to famine. Yeah.
793
00:46:39,640 --> 00:46:43,839
How annoying is it to you to have
the international image
794
00:46:43,840 --> 00:46:46,679
of your country determined by
something that happened
795
00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:50,039
before you were even born?
Is that even on your conscience now?
796
00:46:50,040 --> 00:46:51,759
Yeah. Right.
797
00:46:51,760 --> 00:46:54,200
For me, it is just a bit
painful because...
798
00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:57,599
..you are stereotyped so much.
799
00:46:57,600 --> 00:47:00,759
In my line of work I meet people
from all over the world,
800
00:47:00,760 --> 00:47:05,879
so we know of the things that
are packed inside their bags
801
00:47:05,880 --> 00:47:08,999
when they come here,
like energy bars,
802
00:47:09,000 --> 00:47:12,879
like anything that will supplement,
like diet supplement pills,
803
00:47:12,880 --> 00:47:15,439
if they couldn't find any food.
804
00:47:15,440 --> 00:47:17,679
But we know of the reality.
805
00:47:17,680 --> 00:47:21,079
I'm not saying we're not grateful
for what happened,
806
00:47:21,080 --> 00:47:23,119
like with We Are The World.
807
00:47:23,120 --> 00:47:26,190
We Are The World from many aid
agencies and many celebrities...
808
00:47:27,440 --> 00:47:29,239
..it was a real help.
809
00:47:29,240 --> 00:47:33,279
Imagine, like, Sir Bob Geldof,
what he did here. Yeah.
810
00:47:33,280 --> 00:47:38,039
But if you see now, the population
is nearing 100 million
811
00:47:38,040 --> 00:47:40,799
and for most of us, including me,
812
00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:44,439
the drought and the famine
is just old history.
813
00:47:44,440 --> 00:47:48,719
Yeah. Old, old history,
because we were not even there.
814
00:47:48,720 --> 00:47:50,799
I'm not saying it's not right
to look back,
815
00:47:50,800 --> 00:47:53,199
you have to look back to go forward,
you know,
816
00:47:53,200 --> 00:47:54,879
to know where you're heading.
817
00:47:54,880 --> 00:47:57,439
But most of the population now
is looking at
818
00:47:57,440 --> 00:47:59,399
the future and not the past.
819
00:47:59,400 --> 00:48:03,360
And the future for this country
is looking real bright.
820
00:48:07,320 --> 00:48:10,960
Simba, we rule over everything
the light touches.
821
00:48:10,961 --> 00:48:14,999
Do you not think this is what
it looks like?
822
00:48:15,000 --> 00:48:17,159
Simba? You know The Lion King?
823
00:48:17,160 --> 00:48:20,439
Mufasa and Simba are looking out
and then Mufasa says,
824
00:48:20,440 --> 00:48:24,559
"Simba, everything the light touches
825
00:48:24,560 --> 00:48:26,039
"belongs to us." Remember that?
826
00:48:26,040 --> 00:48:28,159
I don't know if I've
got the line exactly right.
827
00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:29,720
And I pick up the kid and go...
828
00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:53,479
The following day we drove on to
the Gheralta Mountains,
829
00:48:53,480 --> 00:48:55,679
where Mike had decided we would
finish the trip
830
00:48:55,680 --> 00:48:58,879
with a visit to a rock church
called Abuna Yemata.
831
00:48:58,880 --> 00:49:02,919
It would apparently involve a long
walk followed by a long climb.
832
00:49:02,920 --> 00:49:03,970
Brilliant.
833
00:49:03,971 --> 00:49:07,679
So, pretty much I told you
it would be a walk, right?
834
00:49:07,680 --> 00:49:09,799
Yeah. How much further is it
of this?
835
00:49:09,800 --> 00:49:12,640
Um... Maybe I think we have done
a good half.
836
00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:18,240
That bit. Yeah.
837
00:49:19,800 --> 00:49:21,759
Yeah. Yes.
838
00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:24,039
How could you possibly be
this religious?
839
00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:25,560
Do you know what I mean?
840
00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:32,399
Be honest with me. Yeah.
841
00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:34,279
How much worse than this
does it get?
842
00:49:34,280 --> 00:49:36,519
This is the worst part.
843
00:49:36,520 --> 00:49:38,599
Are you lying to me? No, no, no.
844
00:49:38,600 --> 00:49:41,079
After we pass this bit,
then it's over.
845
00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:46,159
Like, all of the rest
will come as no match to this. OK.
846
00:49:46,160 --> 00:49:48,800
And the ledges are a lot bigger,
so don't worry.
847
00:49:50,400 --> 00:49:51,799
Mike was lying.
848
00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:54,639
At the top it became evident that
the climb would involve ropes,
849
00:49:54,640 --> 00:49:57,920
harnesses and a scramble up
a near-vertical rock face.
850
00:49:59,080 --> 00:50:00,519
Great. How do I look?
851
00:50:00,520 --> 00:50:02,160
Like a massive wanker, I imagine.
852
00:50:03,771 --> 00:50:10,039
Perfect in terms of it completely
obscures my vision, is that it?
853
00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:12,560
LAUGHTER
854
00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:12,560
Is that how you mean perfect?
855
00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:16,200
OK.
856
00:50:22,120 --> 00:50:23,640
That's basically it, Rom.
857
00:50:27,040 --> 00:50:29,000
How are you feeling about it?
I'm good.
858
00:50:30,320 --> 00:50:31,480
OK.
859
00:50:33,960 --> 00:50:35,279
OK.
860
00:50:35,280 --> 00:50:37,719
APPLAUSE
861
00:50:37,720 --> 00:50:39,640
Oh, piss off.
862
00:50:40,920 --> 00:50:43,200
I think you're better at this
than me.
863
00:50:47,480 --> 00:50:48,640
OK.
864
00:50:58,160 --> 00:51:02,039
The 20-foot vertical climb
accessible to anyone brave enough
865
00:51:02,040 --> 00:51:04,639
eventually gets you to
a small stone bridge
866
00:51:04,640 --> 00:51:07,520
with 250m sheer drops
on either side.
867
00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:22,080
It is amazing.
868
00:51:48,971 --> 00:51:53,919
Abuna Yemata Church was first
carved into the rock
869
00:51:53,920 --> 00:51:55,719
during the fifth century,
870
00:51:55,720 --> 00:51:58,639
built in an almost
inaccessible position to allow
871
00:51:58,640 --> 00:52:00,919
early Christians to worship
in peace.
872
00:52:00,920 --> 00:52:03,150
It is still a functioning church
to this day.
873
00:52:11,080 --> 00:52:14,359
Frescoes have adorned these walls
since the 15th century.
874
00:52:14,360 --> 00:52:16,439
Shielded from sunlight
and the elements,
875
00:52:16,440 --> 00:52:18,080
they have never been retouched.
876
00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:25,439
Wow. I mean, first of all,
it is genuinely one of the most
877
00:52:25,440 --> 00:52:28,999
incredible places
I've ever been in my life.
878
00:52:29,000 --> 00:52:32,160
I mean, I'm not... It is amazing.
879
00:52:34,040 --> 00:52:35,090
I just sort of...
880
00:52:36,120 --> 00:52:37,759
It's just incredible.
881
00:52:37,760 --> 00:52:39,839
The thing that
blows my mind about it,
882
00:52:39,840 --> 00:52:44,519
apart from one of the most amazing
views I've ever seen,
883
00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:47,559
and the fact that this church
is so inaccessible,
884
00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:50,679
is the fact that people come here
for regular service.
885
00:52:50,680 --> 00:52:53,960
You can't relate to that
on a British level, you know.
886
00:52:56,480 --> 00:52:58,519
The belief in religion,
887
00:52:58,520 --> 00:53:01,679
to make this journey
all the time for service,
888
00:53:01,680 --> 00:53:04,200
is something that is
pretty incredible.
889
00:53:16,520 --> 00:53:19,640
Thank you so much.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
890
00:53:31,520 --> 00:53:33,279
I've done it.
891
00:53:33,280 --> 00:53:34,999
How was it?
892
00:53:35,000 --> 00:53:37,239
I didn't think it was all that,
mate, to be honest. Yeah?
893
00:53:37,240 --> 00:53:40,400
No, I'm joking, it was great. Yeah.
It was also very frightening.
894
00:53:50,000 --> 00:53:54,039
All around here, you know,
you find churches that are burrowed
895
00:53:54,040 --> 00:53:57,119
deep into the, like, the rock face.
896
00:53:57,120 --> 00:53:58,999
Yeah. Our Christian fathers,
897
00:53:59,000 --> 00:54:02,199
they came here so that
they wouldn't be persecuted,
898
00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:04,759
so that they can pray in peace.
899
00:54:04,760 --> 00:54:08,559
So is that the rationale behind
having the church so inaccessible?
900
00:54:08,560 --> 00:54:11,079
Yeah. It's so you can't be got at?
901
00:54:11,080 --> 00:54:14,559
Yeah. One is that,
and the other thing is because
902
00:54:14,560 --> 00:54:18,679
they were persecuted
for their religion,
903
00:54:18,680 --> 00:54:23,119
so they were trying to protect
the religious treasures.
904
00:54:23,120 --> 00:54:24,279
Right.
905
00:54:24,280 --> 00:54:27,439
Treasures not meaning
gold or silver,
906
00:54:27,440 --> 00:54:31,839
but the religious artefacts
and parchments,
907
00:54:31,840 --> 00:54:35,159
like our religious books which
we hold so dear, you know?
908
00:54:35,160 --> 00:54:38,159
OK, the question I've got... Yeah.
909
00:54:38,160 --> 00:54:41,119
..is Christians are not being
persecuted in this country now.
910
00:54:41,120 --> 00:54:44,199
No. So how come this church
is still active?
911
00:54:44,200 --> 00:54:46,799
It's still active because we...
912
00:54:46,800 --> 00:54:49,639
It's like paying homage
to our fathers.
913
00:54:49,640 --> 00:54:52,319
So actually, it's sort of become
a type of penance
914
00:54:52,320 --> 00:54:54,880
to continue coming here. Yeah.
915
00:54:57,200 --> 00:54:59,280
It was genuinely
an amazing experience.
916
00:55:00,440 --> 00:55:04,319
It felt a little bit like the end of
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.
917
00:55:04,320 --> 00:55:07,200
Yeah. "You chose poorly."
918
00:55:07,201 --> 00:55:12,439
Did you make it through the cup?
Pardon? Did you make it to the cup?
919
00:55:12,440 --> 00:55:14,959
There were no cups, actually.
They didn't even offer a drink.
920
00:55:14,960 --> 00:55:16,399
OK. Yeah. Yeah.
921
00:55:16,400 --> 00:55:19,360
AFRICAN MUSIC PLAYS
922
00:55:27,800 --> 00:55:29,320
Is this music even Ethiopian?
923
00:55:30,360 --> 00:55:32,519
My time in the country
was at an end.
924
00:55:32,520 --> 00:55:34,439
I said my goodbyes to Mike,
925
00:55:34,440 --> 00:55:37,319
balanced myself precariously on
a cliff edge and attempted
926
00:55:37,320 --> 00:55:39,039
to say something profound.
927
00:55:39,040 --> 00:55:42,319
I came here expecting it,
or not expecting it,
928
00:55:42,320 --> 00:55:44,910
I came here with a preconception
of it being sort of...
929
00:55:46,280 --> 00:55:48,479
..suffering from the legacy
of the famine,
930
00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:50,719
just seeing poverty
left, right and centre,
931
00:55:50,720 --> 00:55:54,360
and that was very much it in terms
of my kind of understanding.
932
00:55:55,920 --> 00:55:59,759
And the truth is it's a country
that's very rich in culture,
933
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:02,759
the scenery here is amazing.
934
00:56:02,760 --> 00:56:08,639
I mean, we saw on this trip
some of the most incredible things
935
00:56:08,640 --> 00:56:10,919
that I have ever seen in my life.
936
00:56:10,920 --> 00:56:14,759
And we haven't even seen
a tenth of what Ethiopia
937
00:56:14,760 --> 00:56:16,999
has got to offer,
and I've already seen
938
00:56:17,000 --> 00:56:19,959
the most incredible things
I've ever seen in my life. I mean...
939
00:56:19,960 --> 00:56:23,239
That tells you everything about
what Ethiopia has got to offer
940
00:56:23,240 --> 00:56:27,279
in terms of scenery,
and the landscape etc.
941
00:56:27,280 --> 00:56:32,759
The major downside for me
is the fact that they are...
942
00:56:32,760 --> 00:56:35,159
..that Ethiopia is subject to
an oppressive government.
943
00:56:35,160 --> 00:56:37,119
There's no getting around that.
944
00:56:37,120 --> 00:56:40,119
That's not just come from
my brief internet research,
945
00:56:40,120 --> 00:56:41,919
that's a known fact.
946
00:56:41,920 --> 00:56:43,439
And that sat uneasily with me.
947
00:56:43,440 --> 00:56:45,839
I started to become concerned that
actually,
948
00:56:45,840 --> 00:56:48,799
how can you, in good conscience,
encourage people to talk positively
949
00:56:48,800 --> 00:56:50,759
about a country where
you don't agree with
950
00:56:50,760 --> 00:56:52,279
what the government are doing?
951
00:56:52,280 --> 00:56:56,479
But the worries about you bringing
your tourist money here
952
00:56:56,480 --> 00:56:59,679
should be allayed by the fact that
Ethiopians generally
953
00:56:59,680 --> 00:57:02,599
want more people to come here,
and actually,
954
00:57:02,600 --> 00:57:05,279
you are doing people on the ground
955
00:57:05,280 --> 00:57:08,199
a big service by coming here
and spending your money.
956
00:57:08,200 --> 00:57:11,639
You know, people don't come here,
and then when you do come here,
957
00:57:11,640 --> 00:57:13,079
and you see how wonderful it is,
958
00:57:13,080 --> 00:57:16,199
there is something that's
tempting about the fact
959
00:57:16,200 --> 00:57:19,199
that you're a member of
this exclusive club, I guess.
960
00:57:19,200 --> 00:57:21,879
In terms of Brits, you're a member
of the exclusive club
961
00:57:21,880 --> 00:57:24,199
that knows what Ethiopia
is really about,
962
00:57:24,200 --> 00:57:26,959
and then you can go and bore the
tits off someone at a dinner party
963
00:57:26,960 --> 00:57:28,479
with what you found out.
964
00:57:28,480 --> 00:57:30,999
I still think those people
are unacceptable,
965
00:57:31,000 --> 00:57:32,600
but I understand why they do it.
966
00:57:34,400 --> 00:57:38,680
HE IMITATES CIRCLE OF LIFE LYRICS
967
00:57:50,040 --> 00:57:52,839
Bleak is the word that
I associate most with Albania.
968
00:57:52,840 --> 00:57:55,239
HE SPEAKS ALBANIAN
969
00:57:55,240 --> 00:57:56,290
Romesh Ranganathan.
970
00:57:57,320 --> 00:57:58,719
Welcome.
971
00:57:58,720 --> 00:58:00,080
Oh, Jesus!
972
00:58:07,960 --> 00:58:11,919
There is absolutely no way,
and I mean zero chance,
973
00:58:11,920 --> 00:58:13,799
of this being worth it.
974
00:58:13,800 --> 00:58:15,719
Thank you very much.
975
00:58:15,720 --> 00:58:19,680
MUSIC: Tey Gedyeleshem
by Alemayehu Eshete
976
00:58:19,730 --> 00:58:24,280
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