I have been something of an accidental traveller. Over the last 7 years I have been to 5 countries, viz.: Kenya, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom, in that order. This was all by chance, thanks to the jobs I chose. My first visit outside of South Africa was to Kenya in 2005. It was a good one month stay, that I must admit gave me enough time to explore the country. Whereas there is a usual excitement about visiting a new country, it is true that on the 3rd week in that country homesickness tends to get the better of you. This happened to me twice. My stay in Sweden was also a month and on the third week I felt sick, literally. Even normal food caused me to vomit; it was a strange feeling. In Kenya I thought I had Malaria. This was so serious so much so that I had to see a doctor. It turned out I was perfectly fine. I then suspected Malaria tablets, and had learnt later that they have terrible side effects. They actually make you sick!
It is probably this exposure to travelling that led me to buy Sihle Khumalo's first book, Dark Continent, My Black Arse. Sipho embarked on a trip from Cape to Cairo by road (using public transport) to celebrate his 30th birthday. Sihle told us recently that he was inspired by an Australian, who after breaking up with his girlfriend, decided to conquer Africa, as it were, by traveling from Cape to Cairo using public transport. This jilted and forlorn Australian was Peter Moore and his travels and travails are immortalised in the book - Swahili For The Broken Hearted.
Of course, of all the countries I have visited, I enjoyed Kenya more. At this time I was dabbling in the music of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), more especially its popular exponents like Franco, Mbilia Bell, Madilu System and Tabu Ley. I was surprised to learn that these musicians were well known in Kenya and by other Africans who had travelled for the same purpose. I think it is trip that really ignited my interest about Africa more.
Sihle's books, three in total detail how he endured life on the African continent on a shoestring budget,using erratic, if at times decrepit taxis, and sleeping in low cost backpackers. His second book, Heart Of Africa was about discovering the source of the Nile River. Earlier intrepid travellers like John Hanning Speke are credited with having discovered the source of the Nile river, and so Sihle wanted to follow on their footsteps, so to speak. His latest, Almost Sleeping My Way To Timbuktu, is really about the drudgery of travelling in West Africa. After reading the book you are left wondering why people in West Africa use public transport at all. But then again, what choice do they have? To get a perspective of how dire the situation is, Sihle would note that a distance of about 600km will take a full day and sometimes night to cover. It was either the taxi, in the case of West Africa a Peugeot, had broken down or the road was in an appalling state or both. Despite of these difficulties, Sihle was having fun. Perhaps I should celebrate my 40th birthday like Sihle - travel across the SADC.
Sihle's books, three in total detail how he endured life on the African continent on a shoestring budget,using erratic, if at times decrepit taxis, and sleeping in low cost backpackers. His second book, Heart Of Africa was about discovering the source of the Nile River. Earlier intrepid travellers like John Hanning Speke are credited with having discovered the source of the Nile river, and so Sihle wanted to follow on their footsteps, so to speak. His latest, Almost Sleeping My Way To Timbuktu, is really about the drudgery of travelling in West Africa. After reading the book you are left wondering why people in West Africa use public transport at all. But then again, what choice do they have? To get a perspective of how dire the situation is, Sihle would note that a distance of about 600km will take a full day and sometimes night to cover. It was either the taxi, in the case of West Africa a Peugeot, had broken down or the road was in an appalling state or both. Despite of these difficulties, Sihle was having fun. Perhaps I should celebrate my 40th birthday like Sihle - travel across the SADC.
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