When I was on a trip to Swaziland, it struck me that I did not ask about the need for a Visa to get into Swaziland. Everybody I spoke to earlier gave me the impression that Visas were not required when crossing the border from South Africa to Swaziland.
So I’m at Swaziland immigration with [...]
I took a looooooooong day’s walk around Milwane game reserve. I reached the two major peaks: The fire tower and the execution rock.
On my way back to Sondzela where I stayed, the rain caught up with me. I ran to the nearest roof I could find in the wilderness. And this roof was that [...]
After two or three South Africans mis-identified me as Chinese, I concluded that it was contextual. There aren’t many Filipinos in South Africa. But there are many Chinese. So South Africans are quick to conclude that Orientals they meet are likely to be Chinese.
It was a bit expected for South Africans to mis-identify me [...]
I rode a Public Taxi from the Carlton Centre in Joburg, going back to my backpacker lodge. The “mini-bus” is a combi, it’s the equivalent of an FX or a jeep in the Philippines. I took the front seat.
It was an old rundown Combi, second-hand and imported from Japan. I had to slam the [...]
That’s an exaggeration, you may have surmised. But for the hundred or so people I interacted with in South Africa and Swaziland, it was the first time ever for most of them to meet a Filipino. In fact, they don’t know where the Philippines is.
When asked which country I come from, I always reply: [...]
I have a lot of Johannesburg and Swaziland stories. They’re just waiting to be written, some are just waiting to be published.
I wish I could arrange them in some order. But my mind isn’t that way. I just write the story which I’m in the mood to write at the moment.
So expect a [...]
Our guide’s name was Ambeth, a young man in his early 20s. He was with his father, the kutsero, who in his old age appeared to be hard of hearing. As we drove off with the snap of a whip and the click clack of the horse’s hooves, Ambeth began telling us about Intramuros – the walled city.
I’m going to Joburg and I can’t leave my tech addictions behind.
I’m at the lounge of my airline. Free food, free drinks, magazines to read, movies to watch. But which do I choose?
Internet! hahahahaha!
You’re on a trip and you have no more clean shirts. You want to wash a shirt but will it dry overnight?
This is what I do:
* spread out a towel (a hotel towel maybe) flat
* squeeze off any excess water from the newly washed shirt
* put the damp clean shirt flat on the towel
* roll [...]
What’s the rule of thumb when exchanging currency for foreign travel? Where do we get the best rate?