
A peek of an urban pocket abandoned in the whirlwind of an ever-evolving urban landscape is captured from an angle atop the 12th floor of a Bank's headquarters around Beherawi. Withered vehicles nearly etched into the surrounding landscape sit across new cars parked for the day. Addis Abeba is a city brimming with architectural and cultural winds clashing in vibrant and chaotic colours. The recent announcement by the transport ministry to ban petroleum-powered vehicles for personal use represents a deep irony pervading the capital. Hundreds of thousands queue every morning and night, clamouring and occasionally fighting for seats in overcrowded taxis as a country with 1.5 million vehicles for close to 120 million people gets picky over preferred modes of transport.