Tag: Travel postcard

For the category, Postcards To Home

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Africa Ethiopia Postcards to Home

DISCOVER WHY BLUE NILE FALLS SHOULD TOP YOUR ETHIOPIA BUCKET LIST

Joanna Rath

December 8, 2025 6:28 am December 8, 2025

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Exploring One of Africa’s Hidden Gems: Blue Nile Falls (Tis Issat) in Ethiopia Dear Family, Hello from Tis Issat (Blue Nile Falls) in Ethiopia. As you know, I…

Exploring One of Africa’s Hidden Gems: Blue Nile Falls (Tis Issat) in Ethiopia

A waterfall — The Blue Nile River cascades over the escarpment on its way to meet the White Nile River.

A waterfall on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. — Blue Nile Falls (known locally as Tis Issat) drops 45 metres in a cloud of smoking water to a pool below.

Dear Family,

Hello from Tis Issat (Blue Nile Falls) in Ethiopia.

As you know, I love waterfalls, and Blue Nile Falls did not disappoint. They are known locally as Tis Issat, meaning “the water that smokes”. It’s an apt name – when the Blue Nile River is in full flow, the falls send thick clouds of spray high into the air like wisps of smoke, leaving you feeling quite damp.

Located about 30 kilometres downstream from Lake Tana, the source of the Nile, Blue Nile Falls are the second largest waterfalls in Africa, after Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Regardless of its ranking, as the river plunges over a basalt cliff that is 400 metres wide and 45 metres deep, what I saw was a breathtaking display of power and beauty.

Leaving Bahir Dar, where I was staying on Lake Tana, my guide and two other women drove to the small town of Tis Abay (meaning “the smoking Nile” and the name most travellers know the falls by) for our walk to Blue Nile Falls (Tis Issat).

You might see the Blue Nile Falls called Tis Issat or Tis Abay, so I’ll explain the difference the way my local guide did.

The waterfall itself is called Tis Issat, “the water that smokes”, named for the mist that rises in drifting white clouds.
The nearby town where every visit to the falls begins is Tis Abay. “Abay” is the Amharic word for the Blue Nile, so Tis Abay roughly means “the smoking Nile”, linking the town to the river that feeds the waterfall.

People understandably confuse the two names, but locals don’t – Tis Issat is the waterfall, and Tis Abay is the place you start your walk to it.

From Tis Abay, we crossed the Blue Nile in a small local boat, gliding over a calm, narrower stretch of the river. Once on the far bank, the rest of the journey was on foot, an easy 1.5-kilometre walk following the river on a dirt track and accompanied by several small children trying to sell us souvenirs.

As we rounded the escarpment and the waterfall came into view, I was awestruck, my heart racing with excitement at the spectacular sight. The Blue Nile River thundered down the cliff face into a natural pool with unstoppable force, sending up clouds of spray before dropping again into the gorge below.

Our guide told us we were lucky to see the Blue Nile Falls actually flowing, especially given its volume, because a hydroelectric dam was built between Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls, and the waterfall is only ‘switched on’ on certain days of the week. We were there on a Saturday, and according to our guide, the waterfall is not ‘switched off’ on weekends.

There was a thatched, wooden coffee house within sight of the falls, and we had to stop before heading back to Tis Abay to take part in Ethiopia’s ritual coffee ceremony, practised throughout the country.

As much as I love my coffee, I knew I was delaying the inevitable – leaving Tis Issat. The sound of the water and the quiet of the landscape made me want to linger longer. Blue Nile Falls is not just a sight to see, but one of those places you never forget.

Till the next adventure,

Joanna

A "cafe" made with wooden poles and with a thatched roof. — The coffee house at Blue Nile Falls, where we participated in a traditional coffee ceremony before heading back to Tis Abay.

The top of Blue Nile Falls, seen from the coffee house.

A man stands and a woman squats on the edge of a cliff with a waterfall behind them. — The Blue Nile Falls is a majestic backdrop for my guide and fellow traveller.

The second tier of Tis Issat (Blue Nile Falls) cascades into the gorge below.

Disclaimer: This post contains no affiliate links. All views and opinions are my own and non-sponsored. All photos are my own and remain the copyright of Joanna Rath/Just Me Travel.

What’s a travel moment that took your breath away and stayed with you long after you returned home?

I love hearing from you and look forward to reading and responding to your comments. Please join the conversation by leaving a comment below.

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Author’s Note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and follow government advice.

UNVEILING THE ETHIOPIAN COFFEE CEREMONY: Experience a Perfect Cultural Delight. Journey to the birthplace of coffee – Ethiopia – where coffee isn’t just a drink but a ritual steeped in tradition and social significance. Learn the ritual steps of Ethiopia’s coffee ceremony.

SIMIEN MOUNTAINS ETHIOPIA: When “Plastic Card” Means Warmth (Not what you think!). International travel will inevitably lead to translation challenges. Read about my communication issue in Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains that I can laugh about now, but at the time, it affected my physical comfort.

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Asia Postcards to Home Sri Lanka

POSTCARD FROM LITTLE ADAM’S PEAK, SRI LANKA: Who Said This Was an Easy Climb? (2025 Update)

Joanna Rath

May 26, 2025 9:11 am May 26, 2025

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The Missing Truth About Climbing Little Adam’s Peak in Ella, Sri Lanka. Dear Fellow Travellers, Hello from Ella in Sri Lanka. While in Ella, I agreed to walk…

The Missing Truth About Climbing Little Adam’s Peak in Ella, Sri Lanka.

Two people are walking on a dirt track up the side of a mountain.

Walking up Little Adam’s Peak, Ella

Dear Fellow Travellers,

Hello from Ella in Sri Lanka.

While in Ella, I agreed to walk up Little Adam’s Peak with my sister and brother-in-law. The walk from Ella to Little Adam’s Peak’s summit is approximately 4.5 kilometres (return) and is said to take about 45 minutes each way. The walk was described in four guidebooks as easy, mostly flat, and with a small amount of climbing at the end.

The hotel’s reference to Little Adam’s Peak summed up the expected experience:

This walk is unlikely to make you break out in a sweat, and the entire round trip can be completed in about two hours. The first part of the walk is quite flat … some climbing is required to reach the summit. The view from the top is more than worth the gentle exertion though, offering a splendid panorama of Ella Rock and The Gap.

Well, they were all wrong! All the guidebooks lied.

It was uphill all the way. There was no “flat” and nothing ‘easy’ about the walk.
I did break out in a sweat – big time.
The walk was two hours one way.
‘The small amount of climbing at the end’ was not just uphill; it was more than 300 vertical steps.
As for “gentle exertion”. Nothing was gentle about the blood pounding in my head when I finally reached the summit. This climb was heart-attack material!

Having reached the summit (at the height of 1,141 metres), I was too exhausted and out of breath to appreciate the “splendid panorama”. And I thought I was fit! There is nothing ‘little’ about Little Adam’s Peak.

I didn’t feel a sense of achievement – I just felt jilted by the guidebooks. In hindsight, I should have stayed in Ella drinking coffee and left the walk up to the others to complete.

Walking up Little Adam’s Peak would have to be one of the worst experiences of my life. Well, perhaps not, but it sure felt like it. I left the others at the bottom of the mountain and took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel. It cost me a lot of rupees, but it was worth every one of them.

Till the next adventure,

Joanna

Editor’s Note: I first published this blog post in February 2021 and have since revised it for accuracy, thoroughness, and relevance.

Disclaimer: This post contains no affiliate links. All views and opinions are my own and non-sponsored. All photos are my own and remain the copyright of Joanna Rath/Just Me Travel.

Have you faced a challenging climb? What was the outcome? Did you feel a sense of achievement or not?

I love hearing from you and look forward to reading and responding to your comments. Join the conversation.

Like this post? Save it for later!

Author’s Note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.

Are you seeking additional ideas for your trip to Sri Lanka? Then don’t miss these posts:

HOW TO TRAVEL LIKE A LOCAL – Walk the Railway Line in Sri Lanka (2025 Update). Do as a local and walk the 6.5 kilometres along the railway line from Ella, via spectacular scenery, across the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, and onto Demodara Railway Station. Catch the train back to Ella to complete the experience.

HOW TO SPEND A PERFECT DAY IN GALLE FORT – Your Ultimate Guide! (2024 Updated). Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic landmark on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. My comprehensive guide takes you on a leisurely walk around the fort, where you’ll discover historical sites, hidden gems, and places to eat.

ULTIMATE SRI LANKA ITINERARY – The Best of Sri Lanka in 20 Days. Learn where to find the best wildlife encounters, discover the natural beauty of the Hill Country, explore six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, wander through untamed gardens, and so much more.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR OF GEOFFREY BAWA’S GARDEN, SRI LANKA (2022 Updated). Escape the crowds and visit Geoffrey Bawa’s magnificent untamed wilderness. It is largely undiscovered by tourists, being something different from the ‘usual’ tourist attraction. Organise to have lunch while you are there.