Johannesburg 24/5/17-27/5/17

Shall finally post this after a one-year hiatus. 

— 

Off we go for our first A380 ride! 

Before all else, standard Dubai ritual: Shake Shack 

Day 1

Finally, landed, met our driver, got our SIM; then off we go to the accomm. Nice weather and our driver speaks 6-7 different languages! 

First look at this place 

Maboneng is Sutu, and it means City of Light  

Nice hipster accom with a rustic double bedder 

Booked tours and decided to Uber to Constitutional Hill before we head back for our evening Cycling tour (which sounds more exciting than it actually is) 

Gandhi was first arrested in SA for not carrying passbook; subsequently for his movement against apartheid - never met Nelson Mandela (whose political career took off after Gandhi's death) also; some Indian tourists were sharing that Gandhi's assassin is regarded as hero in some part due to religious differences (Muslim vs Hindus - think Bangladesh and Pakistan; some diehard Hindus thought Gandhi was too lenient with the Muslims) and also due to the cast system (those in upper cast wanted to protect their privileges) 

All cages up 

Solitary cell 

And there, the hill. Bump into a gang of Singaporeans on our very first stop of the trip. Pretty much the last time as well... 

44 Stanley next; hipster place. 

Courtyard alfresco. First meal: Salvation Cafe, nice food and nice cake

Slacked and went for bike tour but after 15s of downslope strolling, we have our first stop for an hour; chilled with Felicity (Melbourne - nurse recently working in Saudi) and Dominique (Montreal working in NPO in the field of aiding aspiring entrepreneurship in sustainable development); all of us gave up after short dinner and asked for refund from the Cycling tour and we ended up playing a new card game at the hostel's hideout bar! At least the sunset was nice! PS: this is the only street with 24 hour security in this pet of town! Other places are way scarier especially at night...

Crazy rowdy night. Got back, did some workout, packed up, and we're done for the night 

Day 2

Next morning was coffee at hostel cafe with Dom (and got to know that, apparently, Canadians don't get married and her Son is learning mandarin), she also says how well mannered we are  and are prettier than the other Singaporeans she met; glad we salvaged her opinion of our people! It's been awhile but the kiss-on-cheek goodbye is still awkward for the Asian in us haha. 

Motivational morning 

Then breakfast at Canteen at Arts on Mains with Fel and her dorm mate Zac, from Latvia. Took awhile for food to come so we gotta rush back for our Soweto tour. 

Made it and off we go! 

Literally SOuth WEst TOwn

Soweto born-and-bred Jazz (from Orlando West - most vibrant town in Soweto - where the uprising students, Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela all lived) was our guide and we had Boss as driver. 

Jazz taught us that Sunnibonani/yeabo are the greetings in Sutu, and we made good use of this info for the rest of the trip. Jazz also shared that there’s a local saying, where when “Soweto sneeze, the whole country catches a flu” - everything starts from here 

Largest township in SA. More interestingly, He told us that there are 13 languages in Soweto: 12th is sign language exclusively used for taxi hailing (point index finger down for local; up for city); and 13th is for miner, mixing every available languages that miners from different ethnic groups used. They do have a common nation anthem (and with other countries)  in God bless Africa though. History time: there are 153 Acts on Apartheid; in 1948; the National Party won election against British and a Pencil test was held to determine which side mixed-race kids to go... arbitrary but sounds kinda familiar... 

First stop: FNB Stadium - where the kick off and finals of SA World Cup was held. Incidentally, they also have the largest trauma wards in the world (10th largest hospital in the world) nearby... hmmm 

Kiddos chilling outside Nelson Mandela’s house


The township itself. This is Kliptown: first town in Soweto upon forceful relocation. These slums reminds me of the favela in Brazil, only more vibrant

We left our mark here! 

🤙🏿

Along the way we came across local protest against government where roads were blocked off halfway (stones were the only tools students had against guns). 

We also met with taxi war fighting for passengers (FYI; the taxi industry is the only industry that's 100% owned by black people). Apparently, even in Soweto, people are divided by race; there's even a Chinese and Malay community here! 

We then visited a Shebeen i.e. illegal place to drink (tho some are legally licensed now, the name stuck). That’s Jazz drinking a ...

Joburg beer. Kinda like Yabeer (Yacult+Beer) 

Apartheid museum after was very informative; in fact, it was abit too much for an afternoon 

I was White for a day 

Headed back to Curiocity for Braai night! Nua while we waited...

Asked our host about his heritage and we were blown away: German, France, Holland, Indian, Black. And we even thought he's just black at the beginning! Shisha with the host and found out that he's an entrepreneur who's been working on many projects doing good with the society, working with the First Lady etc. And he's only 21! Another trivial: SA National anthem comprises of all 11 languages! And that concludes Braai dinner, which was really good but Ms Blur was sleepy halfway thru no thanks to the mojito she ordered... 

Day 3

Uncle Mere's for breakfast (with the best Portuguese tart ever) 

Then friendly security who took a nice couple shot for us. Really like this pictorial representation of Jo’burg and our experience here: colourful yet dangerous, free but caged in...

Boss is our driver for today again! Told us about his original name (means origin); talked about Jackie Chan's movie (Who Am I?) and also gave some tips on how to avoid getting mugged in cars. 

Also told us we were lucky cos Mrs Plett just returned to the cave (tho we didn't see it - evidently from the photo above - anyways). More DYKs: Kwaito music is a mix of all 11 languages and traditional instrument; how fossils are formed is via Breccia rock, which is dirt deposit plus limestone over, with preservation, leading to fossil

This is us before we enter the Cradle of Humankind! 


Drove thru Blomfontein (very artsy and fun architecture), Hillsborough (very vibrant, but dangerous, where many African migrants and drugs etc are not uncommon), and you know there’s one in every major cities in the world - Chinatown. 

East gate shopping mall; did grocery and ice cream. Could easily mistake this place for any European Mall really. 

 

Boss returned to send us back shortly. Met a Paraguay guy in our accomm who’s an economist as well, and, having came from the Kruger, showed me some photos of the Safari. Got me all excited! 

Worked out and had our last meal here at Pata Pata (Super worthwhile steak and ribs!)

Rested early and got up early as well to Uber to airport, checked our luggage, and had the best Portuguese tart ever, then off we go to Cape Town! 

Always thought it’s FlySafari but nope. It’s FlySafair 🤔

12.12

Always a good time with the gang over at PGB. Always missing my time there whenever I meet them for their events... Thanks for always welcoming us back with open arms!

终于结束的起点

Mayday concert is coming and I just decided to finally download Spotify. For the first time I was listening to Chinese songs on my phone and somehow I just decided to loop Mayday's 突然好想你 - though I normally avoid looping something I've already heard countless of times. The irony, I know. 

Scrolling through Facebook on the bus (as I usually does after getting tired of my books) the news of your engagement appeared. It was really quite overwhelming how the stars aligned - it was precisely this song I looped then and precisely because of our break-up that it was looped endlessly. But I genuinely felt happy for you! And the chat we had after that in the same morning was comforting to say the least. We have indeed came a long way; two long non-parallel lines that intercepted early in our lives and to diverge further and further from that fateful point onwards. 

Coupled with the wedding earlier this weekend, that 散场的拥抱; it's as though fate has it to rush me forward; to move on. I have. And while you have all found your respective parallel lines to complete your run; I have mine as well. 

Sometimes good, sometimes bad

Been having bouts of ups and downs. I've always told myself during the bad times that it'll all be over someday. Nowadays, I tell myself this even during the good times as well. 

In any case, everything's gonna be over eventually, isn't it. Just thankful that some things remain constant throughout this rollercoaster journey - like her, and her screams and struggles hahaha 

I thought you should know

That I received two warnings from my DD for going for "too many" Dragonboat trainings (and the numerous, "how many more trainings do you have?!").

That I attended the trainings nevertheless, risking my fucking APA or perhaps even my career. "I think it's down to the fact that you don't have enough trainings" - yes, I agree. I really do. 

That I wanna thank you and the team for entrusting me with the responsibility, as a newbie, to row for team 1. I am really really happy that my commitments were recognised, thankfully. 

That I am more upset and angry than anyone else that I fucked up the heats. That more than anyone else, I wanted to put in my best in return for the faith and expectations all of you have placed on me. All the hard work and screwing up my career progress. I tried. I fucking did. But I slipped. 

That I hate all these expectations because expectations are somehow meant to be exceeded, and I haven't been, or perhaps I never will. I'm fucking mediocre. Stop. 

That I'm sorry. We didn't even manage a top 3. I didn't fuck up in the finals - but it wasn't enough. 

I thought you should know. I thought. 

--

Sometimes I wonder why do we stress ourselves out with these kind of "extra-curriculum activities". Like, if I don't join, I won't be facing all these stress and unhappiness and screw ups. 

But then I remembered - these are what makes life liveable; these are what makes us stronger...

Ho Chi Minh City/Mui Ne 22/4/17 - 25/4/17

This is way overdue... 

 

So here we go! 

 

Somehow I didn't remember being here before but this scene was so familiar... Then I realised haha I did a transit at HCMC during my OCIP trip to Hue few years back lol 

 

After some miscomm, got onto 7-seater grab, wrong destination but all's well, we managed to find Ms Neo! And this is the outside of her apartment haha. Washed up and off we go! 

 

Vegetarian lunch was so good; not that I have had many vegetarian meals in restaurants but this is legit one of the best I've ever had! 

 

Nice setting as well (and this is a nice photo haha) 

 

War museum nearby was next

 

Some exhibits gives the chill 

 

And this, one of the most famous photos of the Vietnam War. Narrative is understandably biased - as it always is, bcos history is written by the victor, always - and this perspective feels a little uneasy since we're used to hearing the West/Democracy winning but this is not the case. Even more awkward considering the fact that we are from an Asian ally country that is highly westernized. In any case, the diabolical use of Agent Orange is not something new to us, but staring the photos in the eyes and reading the highly vilified narrative really sends shiver down the spine 

 

And what's Vietnam without coffee! 

 

Packed up and off we go for dinner in two uber; Seafood was fresh and delicious! 

 

Roadside dinner: do as the locals do 

 

Bahn Mi (but too full, nice definitely, but diff from the Hue kind I had with the weird veg which we all hated lol) 

 

Walked down towards the backpacker district, checked in for our sleeper bus and chilled; found this night market where we whiled the short hour away before heading back for our "bed" for the night

 

Bus was more comfortable than expected but "por por, wehhh, tzh tzh tzh" (bus horn, baby crying, and bus going over speed check stripes) happened along the way meant sleep was intermittent haha 

 

Reached a deserted Mui Ne, nothing of a party town I was promised. Checked in to our large room (budget but pretty luxurious), rested (cos we reached early) but was almost late for our activity in the morningafter the other room missed their alarm 

 

Start of Mui Ne tour in this cool jeep! 

 

Early morning shag face, and we're obviously underprepared for the cool wind chills haha 

 

White sand dune was massive (and weird ATV economics so we didn't get the one to drive on our own haha)

 

Off we go! 

 

Go VJC 

 

那些年我们一起去的沙丘

 

Warm up for the group shot later 

 

Hello, sexy and cute 7! 

 

Red sand dune was less impressive (but for the jump shot, worth it) and the locals selling tasty local food were friendly too! 

 

Touhuay with ginger thingy was abit too sweet but still love it 

 

And this local soon kuey thingy was really tasty (with shrimps and mung bean flavours) but was a tat too oily for my liking; Chilli padi was shiok tho! 

 

Fishing village is meh but the catch was interesting, many never before seen. The round bowl shaped boats were rather captivating too... You know, captivating? Haha 

 

Delicacies~ 

 

Walking on water would have been more exciting 

 

Fairy spring was refreshing until we had to climb up the red (hot) sand knoll for a worthwhile view 

Not too shabby but not worth the exhaustion  

 

Limestone lookalike structures turned out to be sandstone but not sure where the red came about; and why did the stream have such a steady flow?! Haha. Also, black petrol residue-like soil is titanium, apparently

 

Geographers and Chemists in is is triggered 

Then finally back to hostel for breakfast and a short rest . Few of us then rode out for a lighthouse that we never reached but saw from afar after almost 2 hours of riding lol. So near yet so far. On the way back, Ceri pillioned zac! We then had to raced against depleting petrol until it went almost empty and the impending rain that never came (as with any other Mui Ne day, according to the guide, where dark clouds are not rare but rain is). Back to pick up the rest and took two trips to fetch everyone to the dinner place.

 

Dinner was awesome as usual, especially this rice wrapper thingy with our steam fish 

Settled our logistic (confirmed bus, booked Cu Chi, collected passport before hostel counter's closing and returned our bike). Chilled and played cards until time to leave this day-only party-town. Sleeper bus back was surprisingly pleasant (no more horns and crying babies) though 5 of us squeezed into the last row. Reached HCMC earlier than expected so washed up at Therese's then dropped our bags at our final night's hostel (boutique!) then off for breakfast.

 

This is not our hotel, this is Stark Tower. Kidding, it's Avenger's HQ. Haha 

 

Failed attempt to find Muslim food so macs it was; still, grilled pork rice (and a generous selection of sauces available haha) 

Next up: Cu Chi tunnel! 

Mr Binh - war veteran with mixed heritage was our guide. Not sure how true his stories were but shall just take it as a third person narrative haha. He kept harping about how there were no HCMC back then, only Saigon; everything is Saigon. He's "half-American" you see. 

 

That's him, explaining about the 250km Cu Chi tunnel: longest tunnel in the world that took 17 years to built. Dogs smell the tunnel's smoke vent, so to fool them, smelly 'tiger trap' simulating tunnel toilet like the one pictured was used. North Vietnamese also wore shoes opposite and walk home to "fuck with my mind". Lol 

 

Classic 

 

We even got a go at the (enlarged) underground network 

 

Met Therese for lunch at Di Mai restaurant, rather up market but still casual enough. Therese overslept and came late but we still made time for shopping at Saigon square! 

Checked in while the two guys packed up then chilled at Therese's favourite alley bar (where she's a "shareholder") before we bade the two guys goodbye (don't know where all the photos went tho) 

 

HCMC night scape

 

Changed to another rooftop bar 

 

Came back to our hostel's own Zuma Bar and played pool 

And that's all for the night! 

 

Woke up naturally, packed up and checked out 

Breakfast at a nice Muslim restaurant Restaurant Melayu. Shopping at Ben Tahn and Taka Plaza then lunch with Therese at Ben Tahn (Bahn Beo Hue) after which she went back to work

 

Was very local and I liked it! Mung bean is featured again. 

More shopping at Ben Tahn and back to Saigon Square. Got cheated (we guess) by a taxi driver to the nearest supermarket but didn't manage to get anything. Walked to the Notre Dame and Post office to get postcards before heading to Vienmart to continue hunting for coffee, which I eventually bought. 

 

Notre Dame 

 

And the inside of the post office, featuring Mr Ho Chi Minh himself 

Split ways to speed up the shower while zac and sham continued more shopping. Bathed and off for final meal of the trip with our "local" guide 

 

Spot her with the pink helmet on her GrabBike 

 

Nice little rooftop restaurant with nice food! 

 

And off we go, back to reality~