mambo jambo

it has recently come to my attention that my last few african posts have been full of scorn. downbeat scathing rants. my humblest apologies. it was never my intention to come across as such a moany bum.

sure we've endured some rough times. tough, tough times. we've had trains and buses and matatu's (minivan taxi's) and tuc tuc's straight from hell. we've been lied to, stolen from, sworn at, cursed, cheated, extorted, arrested, beaten, and tortured. well... maybe not arrested, beaten, and tortured... but just about. we've seen folks who are lepers, people who are maimed, disfigured, people who walk on all-fours. we've endured moments of gross incompetence. i mean: my camera got chopped up by a lawnmower goddammit. we've been shitting, farting, burping, and vomiting in almost every country we've been in. we've slept in bug infested sheets, out in the open under the rain, on muddy benches, and on dusty restaurant floors. and the toilets: foul-smelling shitholes... literally. we've been lonely, impatient, frustrated, angry, and broken-hearted. i've even had frank's deep-heat-smeared finger up my ass for fuck's sake.

but like "simple guy" little once said to me: ja... but it's the kind of hardship and complaining traveler's love. what's the point of traveling and not experiencing anything new? anything out of the norm? traveling within your comfort zone? in hardship is where you find the truth... it makes you seek. seek and ye shall find. that's what a wise man once said anyway.

besides there have been some good times. ummm... errr... like... errr... like that one time... ummm... in that hotel... ummm... in nairobi. we were bored and... errr... oh and tiwi beach. that was nice. and the boks winning the world cup. that was great.

also individual responsibility. that is good. no red tape. no blame culture (in everyday living - politics is another subject altogether). there are no railings on a ferry because if you fall off you are stupid. not because you dreamed of having sexual relations with your mother as an infant and therefore society is against you and it gave you suicidal tendancies which were exaggerated by the rail-less ferries which means you can sue the ass off of anyone you wish. no. not here. no lawyers. no attorneys. you fall off, you're stupid. it's your fault.

and the sense of community in africa. people smiling, and laughing, and chatting, and engaging constantly. kids outdoors, playing, screaming, giggling. there are no tv's, no radio's, no ipods to distract them. dialogue. genuine interest in the other person. warm and welcoming. sharing. and the smiles. beeg smiles.

i love the african philosophy and the african way of life. it's not overly complicated. it's simple. the way life should be. you order feesh... you get feesh.

TIA bru. this is africa. this is home. africa can be summed up by fred. our game range driver in the masai mara. the african world according to fred:

question: fred... what are we going to see today?
african answer: eish... let us just see... what we will see. (beeg smile).