Over the past ten days I cannot express to you effectively the magnitude of incredible things that I have done. But the trend that I seem to have been following on my excursions is to be dumbstruck and in awe of the smaller things, the details that make me African and not the grand gestures and excursions.
One such moving and riveting experience was a trip to Soweto.
The Uprising
The first thing that really struck me is how embarrassed I am that I have not spent more time in Soweto just going around the places that defined the uprising and struggle through apartheid. I literally felt embarrassed.
Then there was something that really bugged me. Most of the trip I have enjoyed travelling the country as a tourist, not a local, but this part of the trip I actually felt ashamed that I was sitting in a bus filled with [relatively] wealthy American tourists looking out of a window in to the lives, the real lives, of so many people just going about their days in Soweto. I didn’t enjoy that at all and have a disdain for these “white bus trips” through Soweto. But moving on.
We got to see the only street in the world where two Nobel prize winners have lived, Vilakazi street. We saw the spot where the ’76 Soweto uprising began and the memorial built in honour of Hector Pieterson. This is the part where I began to feel affected.
During my three year journalism and politics degree i studied in great detail the Soweto uprising, I have met with journalists who were there, I have met with photographers who took the photos that we reviere today and I have debated the ins and outs of the happenings of that period at length. But I had never been there, seen it, done it, felt it, watched the people who survived it. I had just never done it. And I was shocked at myself for never having done it, I think that was half of the feeling.
Hector Pieterson Museum
The other half was self-depricating white hate. I am not really classified as a white male if you were to look at me, I am more coloured than anything else! But I truly felt shocked to my core and riveted by the images that I was seeing at the Hector Pieterson museum. They are printed out on a massive scale, they follow you, they haunt you and taunt you. But the most surprising thing for me was how many of the photographs featured smiling, happy and peaceful looking youths.
If you step outside at the museum there is a demarkated area for those who died in the uprising, mini tombstones if you will. They area is eery and has a sense of sad upliftment about it. I read each and every name on the ground, many of which were simply marked “unkown”. We have come a long way.
Soweto Holiday Inn
We then headed to our hotel for the evening; the newly opened Holiday Inn in Kliptown.
It is a uniquely South African Holiday Inn that I can promise you is not replicated anywhere else in the world. This makes it a wonder to behold. It is decorated as one would imagine a Sowetan Hotel should be, with images of the struggle heroes plastered in every possible corner, African jazz whistling in the background and a sense of accomplishment evident in every staff member. A phenomenal experience if you have the time and money to venture in to the soul of the city.
The Nightlife
That evening we headed to Namisa’s for dinner and a bit of a party. The food is exquisite and once again uniquely South African. Pap, Samp and dumplings featured and I was grateful that the US Bloggers on the trip got to experience a truely local meal and not one prepared at some five star hotel.
The funniest experience at dinner was seeing a table of Soweto locals laughing at all the white American tourists sitting at the table across from them and taking photos of our group. I can only imagine the stories being told the next morning while looking at those photographs!
We then moved next door the more happening part of Nambisa’s. Unfortunately the masses seemed to have found a hotter spot for a Friday night jam so the place wasn’t as full as one might’ve hoped but nevertheless we got to dancing. Hilarious to see rigid white folk jamming it up with the sultry, grooved out locals.
Kliptown
The next morning, hangover and all, we took the streets of Kliptown with Bolo, our tourguide for the walk. Bolo is a Kliptown local who insists that if you cannot speak at least 5 African languages in Kliptown you are in trouble. We saw the living monuments erected in remembrance of the struggle, the uprising and those who died fighting for our freedom. We went through the monument erected in honour of our constitution and the massive X’s laid in brick to honour the “X” vote of democracy which is laid out throughout Kliptown square.
The markets in Kliptown are thriving although Bolo told us that majority of the market stalls are run by foreigner Africans because locals in Kliptown are too lazy to start their own businesses on the streets. Nonetheless the place buzzes and exudes potential.
For more content from WeBlogTheWorld bloggers visit the WeBlogTheWorld South Africa website.
Similar Posts:
- We Blog the World – A South African Bloggers Tour
- Rosebank Hotel refurbished and rocking
- Lanzerac Hotel is a hidden gem
- Cape Town by the sky
- 3.8Km underground – My experience in the deepest mine in the world
Popularity: 11% [?]
December 13th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Very good post I must say.. Simple but really informative and interesting.. Keep up the very good work!
January 11th, 2011 at 4:22 am
I am normally interested in discovered this one. The article awareness. Do you posthttp://bowtrolcoloncleanserreviews.net/bowtrol-colon-cleanser-%e2%80%93-just-hype-or-a-great-colon-cleanser-read-our-shocking-overview
February 16th, 2011 at 5:24 am
This educational article encouraged me a lot! Saved the site, very interesting topics just about everywhere that I see here! I like the information, thanks.
July 25th, 2011 at 12:00 am
Many thanks for the outstanding release, Ive only directed the url to be able to our step-brother, fully good hell turn out to be any ordinary viewers that time very.
August 30th, 2011 at 3:49 am
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
November 26th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Fed up with all the “pie in the sky”, forex Maverick finally reveals… 00:00. If you’ve got 15 minutes each day, you can plug into the Forex Cash Detective system
April 25th, 2013 at 1:20 am
?> Iˇm no longer certain where you are getting your info, however good topic.As a Newbie, I am continuously browsing online for articles that can benefit me. Thank youPlenty of helpful information here. I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious.In addition, The contents are masterpiece.
?> I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this site.Iˇm sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.choose every advertiser or ad that seems on the net site-many on the
?> I simply could not go away your website prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide to your visitors? Is going to be back continuously to investigate cross-check new posts.unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this hike.You have brought up a very good points , regards for the post.the way it seems. To me, the recipe has all of the crucial attributes for any fantastic breakfast: it speedy and
April 25th, 2013 at 7:47 am
?> I ‘d claim that we website visitors actually are quite blessed to live in a remarkable network with very many special people with very beneficial opinions.wallet-friendly and create excellent fuel mileage, which is paramount in thesePretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it friend
?> Keep doing what you are doing – for sure i will check out more posts.I delight in, lead to I found just what I was looking for. You’ve ended my 4 day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. ByeGood day very nice website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Wonderful ..Fortunate me I discovered your website by accident, and I’m stunned why this accident did not happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
?> Some really superb articles on this internet site , thanks for contribution.calls for the East Coastline ahead of operate, the Central Time Zone during breaks and at lunch and toZippers: Other when compared with the renowned Compact disc Girly purses, wholesale designer purses makes use ofproportion we be in contact extra approximately your post on AOL?
April 25th, 2013 at 8:02 am
エルメス 財布 プラダ 公式 エルメスバッグ Absolutely indited content material, thanks for selective information. “The bravest thing you can do when you are not brave is to profess courage and act accordingly.” by Corra Harris.The series centers on a youthful guy who has had the worst luck when he played for his middle school being a pitcher as they misplaced every single recreation and they ragged on him regularly for it, blaming him for everything that went incorrect. When he created it to his new higher college, he wasn’t going to play but he got caught up in the try-outs and identified out some thing surprising – he’s actually rather the prodigy with regards to pitching. The team before was bad and he didn’t have a excellent catcher that could draw him out which when combined with all the verbal abuse and his place as a relative on the headmaster of the school induced him to have little faith in himself.Sideshow Collectibles have that museum like high quality that begs for tearing open up the box, albeit really meticulously, and letting that toy breathe. Besides I’ve enough toys sitting down in packing containers that haven seen the sunshine of day in years. I’m opening this 1..Males can also get the traditional boot, or they can go for some thing far more just like a shoe, but with all the warmth on the fleece lining. There exists a fleece-lined moccasin shoe, a scuff and a slip-on design named the Tasman. The Tasman has a tough suede upper, is fully lined in sheepskin and just what the business calls “Tasman” depth cut around the cuff.
プラダ 公式 プラダ トート oakley I genuinely enjoy looking through on this web site, it has wonderful blog posts. “And all the winds go sighing, For sweet things dying.” by Christina Georgina Rossetti.That get in touch with bearer and write-up lad is generally known as a youthful kid just who takes downward that area keeping an important the . These supply an improved variety to clients, on account of a number of criteria in purpose. Shopping on-line at these areas offer you .You made a few nice points there.The site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick.
プラダ バッグ プラダ 店舗 ティンバーランド アウトレット I think it will be very good to go a few ounces over as long as you are alright with spending the added income. Sweet Treat also provides toppings that will add for the expense at the same time as include additional energy and excess fat (for many toppings). Attempt to avoid the toppings besides for clean fruit.Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually irritating.I have been reading out some of your articles and i must say pretty clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your site.
April 25th, 2013 at 8:33 am
?> Charles B. Pierce wrote, directed, and starred in it as Brian Lockart, a College of Arkansas professor who leads a group of students into the swamps around Fouke. It was shot on area in Foukebut integrated some scenes shot in the College of Arkansas..The really initial Star Wars Lego established subsequent the partnership in between Lucas Studios (Star Wars) and Lego was the Star Wars X-Wing Fighter. This is set number 6212. This 437 piece established has the original figures in the first film, including Luke Skywalker, R2-D2.Bobby managed to crawl free of charge and was later handled in St. Michael Healthcare facility, Texarkana, for scratches across his back. He was suffering from moderate shock when he arrived.. It had been created by companions Dec, Brad Young and Arturo Gomez with their director of culinary procedures James Gottwald and consultant Paul Lee right after two many years of exhaustive study all over Asia. Chef Rodelio Aglibot seems to Japan, China and Southeast Asia for his inspiration with specialties such as the Meals Buddha’s Crispy Rice with Toppings (hand-cut spicy tuna, seared Kobe beef tartare and spicy shrimp tempura), crab-crusted Ahi tuna with Japanese scorching mustard soy glaze, Malay-style Chilean sea bass with coriander and many other mouth-watering selections like a full selection of sushi. If the cafe is as very good as this video then we are in for any genuine treat!! Click on here and preview the Sunda idea for oneself.I have read several just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.
?> Thank you for any other informative website. Simply a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great layout.I am confident they will be benefited from this website.The poor news for squirrel hunters is that these small critters have several areas in which they might and can effortlessly cover if they’re disturbed. If a squirrel places a hunter he doesn’t need to run really considerably to locate a leafy tree and he will probably scooting through a lot of understory development although he dashes to it. With other phrases, discovering squirrels is actually a piece of cake but obtaining a good place for any clear shot is a quite diverse thing.
?> Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality on the other hand I will definitely come again again.Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of.Still, the posts are very brief for beginners.I have read some just right stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting.
May 7th, 2013 at 6:05 am
Hi there, this weekend is nice in favor of me, since this point in time i
am reading this great educational piece of writing here at my home.
May 9th, 2013 at 8:55 am
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is required to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain.
Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Appreciate it
May 17th, 2013 at 10:48 am
I seldom leave comments, however I browsed a few of
And, if you are writing at additional online social sites, I’d
the comments here Soweto: Hector Pieterson, Holiday Inn, Nambisa and Kliptown | South Africa Rocks.
I do have a couple of questions for you if it’s okay. Is it just me or does it look like a few of these remarks look like they are coming from brain dead visitors?
like to keep up with you. Would you make a list of
the complete urls of all your social community pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
May 21st, 2013 at 4:47 pm
Hello! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa?
My blog goes over a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe
we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to
shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from
you! Superb blog by the way!