Every day an 18-seater propeller jalopy descends out of the clear sky over Kombolcha town and trundles to a halt where that man is sitting. His job encompasses air traffic controller, baggage handler, customs man, security officer and taxi rep - each role conducted with typical Ethiopian understatement.

You can forego the 40 minute flight and drive to here from Addis Ababa if you have nine hours to spare, and a strong back.

From this spot we drove for four hours in a LandCruiser to one of the poorest provinces in the world, Delanta.