All About Gonder

About me:

2009-12-30T16:35:00.000-05:00

I accidentally deleted my profile:

I am Father Martin Fox, male, and I live in Piqua, Ohio.

Christmas in Gondar

2009-12-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

I wonder what it's like?

Anyone who can offer some experiences, please post...

Weather in Gonder

2009-11-09T11:12:00.000-05:00

This is cool!

Another Gonder blog!

2009-11-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

Find it here.

Lammergeyer Hotel

2009-10-10T12:21:00.003-04:00

If you are planning a trip to Gonder, you may be interested in these reviews of the Lammergeyer Hotel.

My Singapore Concierge

2009-08-25T14:04:00.003-04:00

A fellow player in Blogshares has a business, and shared some information with me about it. I decided to provide it to you, because it sounds like a legitimate thing you may benefit from:

Concierge Service: what does it mean?

This service is a perk the employer can offer the employee; and it enhances the company image. The traveling employee will be a little more rested and productive. I used to travel on business a lot before entering the seminary, and it can be exhausting. If I ever had to travel to Gonder, Ethiopia, I'd sure benefit from this kind of service!

To quote "Froggie": "The employee increases the on the job effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and loyalty to their firm. They are more content with their balance, have happier and healthier home lives and relationships, decreased stress, and a stronger performance desire. The employee knows that their company is aware of the difficulties and strains of meeting the balance of both personal and professional lifestyles. Their company is interested, is concerned, and is meeting the challenge."

Again, as Froggie relates:

Indra Brooks, Vice President of the International Concierge and Errand Industry believes, "The benefits of a concierge service accrue not just to the employees, but to the employer as well. In fact, evidence suggests that concierge services contribute to increased worker productivity, improved morale, and a hiring advantage in a tight job market. For an employer hiring competent people who want to stay, you need to offer something more than a 401(k) and health and dental. Those things are now standard, so what can you offer your employees above and beyond that to show them this is the place they want to work? A concierge service is an inexpensive way to do that."

You can find out more here at My Singapore Concierge located at http://www.mysingaporeconcierge.com/

News about Gonder

2009-08-12T00:09:00.002-04:00

I just found a site with some stories about Gonder.

For example, this story about the Ark of the Covenant, which was part of divine worship for Israel for many centuries until it disappeared: there have been claims for many years that it actually is in a church in Ethiopia. Fascinating!

Check it out here, and search for "Gonder."

Links for Chips Requests here

2009-08-10T22:52:00.003-04:00

As offered in the Blogshares game, I am offering to link your blog from this blog in return for chips. (I will also link other blogs that advance your business interests for the same price.)

It works like this:

1. You request your link via the comments here or in the game, your choice.
2. I'll check out your blog, and decide if it qualifies as a blog for blogshares purpose.
3. I'll also check to see that your is not excessively controversial. By that I mean, not obscene, offensive, hateful, or advocating political causes that, were I to link to them, would cause me headaches. Not making any judgments, just not worth it to me.
4 After that, I'll link you and I'll let you know. You have to give me your Blogshares name so I contact you via the game. If you prefer, you can place your order in the game where I'm simply Martin Fox.
5. You send payment once I've linked you.

Finally, I reserve the right to refuse any link that might hurt my own business interests; and to cancel this offer at any time. But since you don't pay a single chip till I deliver, there's no risk to you!

Sound fair?

The initial price is 1000 chips per link. But that is an introductory rate only, so act fast!

Gondar University

2009-08-09T13:52:00.001-04:00

...seems to be doing well. Read it here.

Another good post on Gondar

2009-08-09T13:50:00.001-04:00

...at this site about touring Ethiopia.

Still haven't found a Gondar blog, but I am finding lots of information about Gondar.

Maybe one of these days, I'll find someone who can tell me which is the correct spelling: Gonder or Gondar?

(Not to be confused with Gondor!)

Gonder is not dead...

2009-08-09T13:05:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, I was telling another Blogshares player about this blog and about Gonder, and I referred to it as a "dead city."

Well, I was mistaken. Gonder has a population of nearly 200,000!

As mentioned in a prior post, it's hard to find information on Gonder (or Gondar); the Wikipedia article, linked in a post yesterday, is the best collection of data I've found so far. Feel free to offer sites in the comments if you know of any.

Here's what Wikipedia says about Gondar: "traditionally was divided into several neighborhoods or quarters: Addis Alem, where the Moslem inhabitants dwelled (as mentioned above); Kayla Meda, where the adherents of Beta Israel lived; Abun Bet, centered on the residence of the Abuna, or nominal head of the Ethiopian Church; and Qagn Bet, home to the nobility. Gondar is also a noted center of ecclesiastical learning of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and known for having 44 churches, for many years more than any other settlement in Ethiopia."

Again, according to Wikipedia, "the modern city of Gondar is popular as a tourist attraction for its many picturesque ruins in the Royal Enclosure, from which the Emperors once reigned. The most famous buildings in the city lie in the Royal Enclosure, which include Fasilides castle, Iyasu's Palace, Dawit's Hall, a banqueting hall, stables, Mentewab's Castle, a chancellery, library and three churches. Near the city lie Fasiladas' Bath, home to an annual ceremony where it is blessed and then opened for bathing; the Qusquam complex, built by Empress Mentewab; the eighteenth century Ras Mikael Sehul's Palace and the Debre Berhan Selassie Church."

Also, Gonder was occupied by the Mussolini's military in the 1930s, and that left its mark as well.

Cool music from Gonder

2009-08-08T18:38:00.001-04:00

What would you like to know about Gonder?

2009-08-08T18:33:00.002-04:00

Since my mission with this blog is to discover things about this ancient capital of Ethiopia, and post it here, you can help: please use the comments to post questions about Gonder I can look up and write about.

Also, if you know anything about Gonder--or better yet, you've been there!--post that as well.

Why did I create this blog?

2009-08-08T13:45:00.000-04:00

Simple:

I play a game called Blogshares, it's a fantasy stock market, with blogs being the companies on the stock exchange.

Part of the game is trading in "commodities"--ideas--generated by the "companies"--blogs.

And there's a need for ideas generated by a blog in the "Gonder" industry. None that I could find, existed.

Hence, there is a crying need for a blog about Gonder. It's a place I never heard of, but it sounds interesting, as do many other places.

So I created this blog to write about, and post information about, Gonder. I am going to invite others to take part if they wish. We'll get lots more information about Gonder out on the web.

Only $1472...

2009-08-08T13:34:00.000-04:00

to fly to Addis Ababa, the current capital of Ethiopia.

Not sure how one gets from there to Gonder, however...

Some great pics of Gonder...

2009-08-08T13:29:00.001-04:00

here.

As you can see, this was on a travel route in ancient times. Recall in the Book of Acts, an official for the Queen of Ethiopia was traveling back home from Jerusalem, where he'd gone to worship, when St. Stephen was brought to him by the Holy Spirit, and St. Stephen preached the Gospel to him and baptized the official.

Perhaps he came this way?

Where is Gonder?

2009-08-08T13:18:00.000-04:00

Here's a great article at Wikipedia about Gonder--aka, Gondar--in Ethiopia.

I'd love to travel all over the world, and have the opportunity to visit places like this. Pretty far down the list, in all honesty, however.