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 a tour group, then I get called. My passport is stamped and then I walk on. But I get called back. They say I need a visa! Whu-wat? I claimed ignorance! I didn’t know. (I was one of the two people in our tour group who’s nationality needed a Visa to get into Swaziland. Everybody else, the Americans and Europeans, did not require a visa).

I was permitted to pass through. When I spoke to the tour guide, I asked for an explanation. I told him that I thought I asked him about Visa. He said (he claimed), “I thought you were American”!

Whu-wat? American? Ka Edong, an American? I asked him why he thought so. He explained: “You speak English so well.”

Yeah right. I wouldn’t know if he was just making excuses. But my wife would probably agree that I might sound American at times. I guess it’s this diction I learned while I was in AIM, having to pronounce words more clearly and with less of a Filipino accent so that foreigners can understand me better.

1 Comment »

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 of a horse stable.

I could hear voices. I found myself in the company of a jolly group of four South African employees. We started chatting. After the usual “what country do you come from”, we broke into giving each other language lessons.

And what other topic shall men discuss? What else, women! They wanted to know how to say “I love you” in Filipino, just in case they had guests from the Philippines in the future. I taught them, of course. They took note.

Then Jablan started singing. I took out my Smart Phone and began recording his song. When he was through, I let him hear it! He was amazed! He wanted more (or maybe it was I who wanted more). It didn’t take much prodding, he sang the first line of an African song, complete with hand gestures that would put Michael Jackson to shame. The two others chimed in! They were singing a three voice melody! Another minute into the song and they were dancing and stomping their feet!

Their stomping was part of the song. It gave rhythm and movement and synchronicity. I myself was trying to dance with them.

It was a beautiful song, sang with passion, with a raw and imperfect voices that tried to catch breaths in between notes. The song rolled into a chant. I was so eager to find out what the song meant.

The song winded down to a choreographed stomping. Accentuated by a final stomp and then the exhilaration and laughter of a song beautifully sung!

What did it mean? Sa madaling salita: Isang Linggong pag-ibig.

Listen to it. I asked Jablan to write down a rought translation and the chorus. It became one of the anthems of my trip.

Sengyahamba (translation)
She fell in love with me
Our love lasted for two days
The man say goodbye now
“I’m going, my sweetheart, goodbye.”

Chorus (in Swazi):
“Sengiyahamba Sala Kahle S’thandwa Sam”
(I’m going, goodbye my sweetheart.)

Download the audio clip: Sengiyahamba (wav file, 300Kb++)

Edwin

No Comments »

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?!

No Comments »

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

No Comments »

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

1 Comment »

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

No Comments »

I had a guest from the US last month. She’s French but studying law in the US. Let me call her Vi. She spent only a few days in Manila for official business. It was her first time to visit the Philippines. I lent a hand as she conducted her interviews here, and showed her around a few places during her short stay.

We happened to be in Intramuros for one of our meetings. We had more than an hour before our next meeting so we decided to take a walk around the walls of Intramuros. As we stepped down the rocky steps beside one of Intramuros’ gates, we were offered a Calesa Ride. Might as well.

The Calesa ride around Intramuros is a quick 1 hour tour. They have standard rates of P250 for the regular Calesa. There’s a bigger calesa that can accommodate more than 10 persons at a bigger price too. In some parts of the tour, the passengers can alight to see more details of the walled city, take photos.

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.

Ambeth showed the way, told us about the sites, explained some of the details. He was speaking in broken English and I appreciated the effort. He was trying to communicate with Vi who would nod when Ambeth explained things. Sometimes Ambeth would run out of words and would speak in Tagalog. I would tell him: “Inglesin mo, para ma-practice.”

Along the way, Ambeth found out that Vi was French. He uttered a few French words (that Vi couldn’t understand until after a few repetitions). Ambeth shared that his sister lives in France.

Ambeth showed us one corner of the walled city which was both a prison and a venue for executions during the Japanese occupation. It was an eerie thought, but the heat of the sun and our hurried pace prevented us from “feeling” the place.

Ambeth told us about the many universities and what they used to be (seminaries, government buildings etc.). Ambeth showed me Jose Rizal’s former school, Letran. We alighted at another corner of Intramuros where there were 18th century canons. Ambeth showed Vi the City Hall and its clock tower. He added “Canons look like they shoot city hall.”

Ambeth also showed us the old Malacanang. I couldn’t believe that this run-down building used to be the presidential palace. I hope he wasn’t pulling my leg.

I told Ambeth that he had a namesake, a popular historian who writes on the Inquirer. He just smiled, he was not aware of his namesake. I told Ambeth “I learned new things from you today. Salamat, keep up the good work”.

We gave Ambeth and his father their well deserved P250 plus a generous tip. We were rewarded with a hearty smile and a warm thank you from our historian-guide, Ambeth! Merci!

Travel tip: When on tour, take extra effort to gain rapport with tour guides. It makes the tour more personalized, more enjoyable and more memorable.

ka edong

(first published in Pinoy.Travel.Blog

No Comments »

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! Spent half an hour tweaking some of my blogs and sending emails.

Tama na. Enough of using the computer. I might be missing other experiences. Mamaya nalang ulit ang computer pagdating ko sa Singapore! hahaha!

ka edong

No Comments »

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 the towel and shirt into a tight roll, like rolled newspaper or california maki

Let towel absorb the dampness of the shirt. You can step on the rolled towel & shirt to increase absorption.

Unroll the towel and shirt. Hang the shirt to dry.

Try it!

ka edong

No Comments »

What’s the rule of thumb when exchanging currency for foreign travel? Where do we get the best rate?

Before Maya and I went to Singapore, my bestfriend, Jorey, said the exchange rate in the Singapore airport is good.

When we were at Singapore, our friends told us it’s better to exchange in the city, at any of the many money changers.

Back in Manila, another friend said it’s better, in general, to have pesos converted to foreign currency here in Manila before travelling to another country.

Do you have a rule of thumb for this? Any thoughts?

Link Tip: www.xe.com/uc … Or something like that…

- ka edong
tomorrow is Visa claim day

No Comments »