Biyahe Tayo! » Johannesburg

Sengiyahamba

ka edong — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 04:11:41 +0000

I had spent the whole day communing with the wildlife in the Milwane game reserve, Swaziland.

Now dusk has set in and the lightning and thunder in the horizon threaten to rain down this walk back to Sondzela backpackers.

Then it starts to rain. I muster a slight jog with my tired legs and aching knee. And seek shelter at a horse stable.

I am met with smiles from four Swazi young men. We take this cool afternoon shower in liesure and exchange stories. And when three or more men are together, what else is there to talk about? Women!

Hahaha! We spoke of the Philippines and Swaziland, the difference in courtship and marriage. We exchanged experiences, stories and jokes.

And then one of them, Jablan, started singing a tune - just to himself. I whipped out Brosia, my SmartPhone, and recorded Jablan’s song without his knowledge.

When I played it back, all his white teeth showed behind his smile! They decided to do a song that I could record.

Ah … here’s an article in Technobiography, including an audio file of Sengiyahamba that you could listen to.

edwin

Napagkamalan 2

ka edong — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 00:26:14 +0000

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 as Chinese. But it was really funny when Chinese would speak to me in Chinese! The South Africans think I’m Chinese, the Chinese think I’m Chinese!

Tomorrow: Napag-kamalan 3 - Amerikano?!

Napagkamalan 1

ka edong — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:23:50 +0000

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 door to get the rusty door to close. When the taxi stopped to pick-up a passenger, the door right beside me opened and threatened to flatten the face of the pedestrian on the road. I was quick to grab the door and pull it back in time. Whew!

Then the driver told me: “You must know kung-fu!” gesturing a karate chop with both his hands.

I said: “No, I don’t.”

Driver: “You are a liar! I know all Chinese can do kung-fu!”

I whispered: “I am not Chinese. I am a Filipino from the Philippines.”

Tomorrow: Napagkamalan II - Chinese Chinese

Ang pinaka-unang Pilipino sa Joburg

ka edong — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 00:23:49 +0000

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 am from the Philippines in Asia!” If they look like they don’t know where the Philippines is, I am quick to add: “South of China and Hong Kong, above Indonesia.”

Tomorrow: Napagkamalan I

Joburg Stories

ka edong — Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:21:39 +0000

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 lot of random stories in the next many days.

Stories about encounters with people, poems, photos (via i.ph), reflections and all sorts.

keep coming back for stories of my Joburg adventures …

ka edong