Teepee For My Bunghole

I was pondering if there will be any music that will remind me of this trip. Like for instance when I went to Bali, MTV Asia had an advert that played every five minutes with a Moby song playing “Oh Lawdy, travelled so hard…“. That got on our nerves really quick but nowadays it’s a pleasant reminder.

And when I did my road trip around Botswana and those places. Chisel had a couple of CDs but what stood out most was that I got to like Pet Shop Boys. Before I always thought they were too electronic for my taste.

Brazil, of course, most of the songs were in Portuguese but anything with a Samba beat will take me back to the carnival. I’m listening to Matafix at moment. Nogal a lekker chilled out CD.

Anyway, I have my passport back with my 3-month holiday visa in it. I’ll have to upgrade it there to a work visa when I actually get a job.

Okay, here’s some pics from the weekend (and some from last week). I’m not going to give details because this blog isn’t exactly a diary or an outlet for my emotions or such kak. It is mostly here for photos and to give info on my travels. Anyway, here’s the pics…

So it’s easter weekend ahead. Happy Easter, Merry Easter, South Easter, Easter Mubarak, whatever… Have a good weekend. I, unfortunately, am kak broke so I’ll concentrate on doing as little as possible. It’s getting hard. The cool thing about quitting in April is that when you work the notice period, there’s lots of public holidays so much days of work to get through. Not so cool though if you’re Broke Like Me.

Hopefully there’s surf or sunshine so that either way I can go to the beach. That seems to be the cheapest option. Not much more Moroccan stuff I can mission on, not that I want to. I sorta smaak that last rush period just before I leave. It’ll give me less time to work things over in my head.

Hopefully after the long weekend, I’ll have some pics.

Laters…

Okay, travel agent lady phoned to tell me that my Visa’s been approved and I should have it Thursday.

Vodacom told me that I can transfer my contract or cancel it, but I can’t defer it for any length of time. Still waiting on CellC to mail me back on the procedure for transferring my other cellphone account onto my sister’s name (it was only under my name initially anyway because she can’t take out a contract as a student).

Miscellaneous Facts:

• 0821958 – the number to call for Vodacom if you want details on cancelling your contract.
• 16 – The amount of minutes I was on hold
• 1758 – The amount of Rands I would have to pay if I were to cancel my contract.
• 2 – The amount of middle fingers I’m holding up in front of Vodakak

I’ll sleep on it and figure something out. Push comes to shove and I’ll just keep the contract as it’ll be cheaper just to pay the monthly subscription. Good news on the visa though.

On the work front, they seem to have no idea what they need to do to replace me. I’m in between getting aggravated and not giving a shit. I suppose it’s mostly not my problem, but these things do irk me.

Yep back at work almost recovered from my 12 round title fight with the flu. Since I didn’t take much pics and didn’t do much travel planning, I’m going to have to write some more crap than usual so that I can keep this interesting.

I was thinking about taking chances the other day and thinking about times I had taken chances. Because there’s a fucking thin line between taking chances and being stupid. Sometimes I worry that this whole packing up and moving to Morocco gedagte is simply a blunder rather than a push at luck that could go either way.

I was thinking all this standing outside the Cape Town Jazz Festival. I had given up a couple of offers of tickets for Friday night (hoping not spoil my chances for the next night) and I had gone down to the Jazz festival on the Saturday night with no money, no ticket and therefore no surety that I would get in to see Jose Feliciano (whom, by the way, turned out to be an absolute fuckin legend on the guitar).

I ran into someone (not literally) – I got in. Even scored an extra ticket for another friend of mine.

Another time I took a chance was when I bought my car. I bought my car with money I borrowed, seeing it for the first time 5 minutes before I bought it and drove it for the first time after I bought it. And while the guy I bought it from was safely on his way home to Scotland with my hard earned borrowed money, I got stuck on the way home. ‘s true as bob.

Three weeks later I was very happy when I actually got my car, but that three weeks also led to a lot of philosophizing about taking chances. But it turned out alright, one of my best decisions ever I think. But potentially it could have been one of my worst.

So what has all this taught me? Fucked if I know. Go ask someone who doesn’t argue with himself.

sick as a dog – will probably take tomorrow off too – going home to pass out – speak after the weekend

I’m off to take my visa to the travel agent. <sneeze> I spoke to the embassy and they wysed me I don’t need proof of accommodation after I explained to them that the only places I can prebook and get proof from want to charge me a gajillion per night. <sniff> That sort of makes up for paying R250 just to send my stuff to the embassy and back. <sneeze>

I’m feeling fluish so I might get some flutex and Corenza C. I need these for my First Aid Kit I need to build up to take with me anyway. <sneeze sniff>

Better tomorrow hopefully…

Finally I went and picket up me e-ticket. Here it is in various sexy poses:

Not quite as satisfying in hand as an actual ticket, but something to look at nonetheless.

I got some quotes for accommodation in Casablanca but they wanted to rush me R1680 for two nights. I kid you not. An airport transfer was R560. Yessus, mense who fall for these must be jas in their heads. Especially nowadays when you can book for yourself over the internet.

I’ve also been kak stupid. Initally when I got a quote for flights I made sure I checked the transfer times at the airports. Having been in KL airport for an 8 hour stretch, I don’t lus to go through that again. Yet… I didn’t check my layover times at Heathrow when I booked my final dates. Turns out its 9hours going there; 2 hours coming back. Too long and too short! Aaargh!

Going:

Leave Cape Town to Heathrow 19h55 16 May Flight time: 11h55 Arrive: 06h50

Leave Heathrow to Casablanca 15h40 17 May Flight time: 3h25 Arrive: 18h00

Returning:

Leave Casablanca to Heathrow 10h50 16 Feb Flight time: 3h25 Arrive: 14h15

Leave Heathrow to Cape Town 16h45 16 Feb Flight time: 11h30 Arrive: 06h15

…

The weekend was pretty good. Jazz festival, braai, played soccer and the Stormers won. Here’s some pics from some of the bewegings:

Cape Town International Jazz Festival [I’m only big into Jazz once a year]:

Surfing on the False Bay: [North wind and sunny skies]

Braai in Newlands Forest:

Random Pics:

On the Morocco planning front, my guide book and phrasebook arrived today. Morrocan Arabic looks completely different to normal Arabic (to my untrained eye at least) and the Rough Guide seems great so far. I still haven’t picked up my ticket but this is the week I need to sort out accommodation in Casablanca and get proof of that accommodation. Then it’s sending all my stuff to the embassy to get my visa. Anyways, laters…

To Whom It May Concern

My time here at Pick ‘n Pay has been a fruitful one and it is with a sad heart that I hand in my resignation. I intend to work my notice period of one month such that the 28^th of April 2006 (being the last working day of April) is my last day of work.

I wish all my colleagues success in the future individually and as a company.

Yours truly,

Ghalied