Isolated
pockets of Africa have been getting some bad press lately, so we
thought we'd remind you about why Africa is still such a wonderful
place to visit.
Ravinder
Dhaliwal writes about his recent experiences with Kumuka.
One
of the things that strikes you about Africa is that once
you're there you realise that for years you've had the tendency
to think of Africa and its people as some kind of homogenous, uniform
entity - and nothing could be further from the truth. As I travelled
down the east coast from Kenya to South Africa and beyond I saw
just how diverse the landscape, wildlife and people of this continent
are.
Despite
the diversity though, some things are constant and everywhere I've
visited, I've been greeted with nothing but smiles, waves and the most welcoming people you could imagine.
The
landscape does change so much as you head further down the east
coast - from the lush, tropical vegetation of Uganda, to the
stunning fresh water lakes of Malawi, to the stark and other worldly
deserts of Namibia.
As
someone deeply interested in culture and society, I have
to say one of the highlights on this trip for me was my time visiting
the Masai tribes people in Kenya. Not only was it a fascinating
and unique experience, but it demonstrated something really important
- that no matter where we come from, and
what our backgrounds are, there are just some things that are steadfastly
the same about us all.
After
acquitting myself, quite admirably if I may say so, with the Masai
warriors during their welcome dance (this involves A LOT of jumping
up very high), I enquired about whether or not I had what it takes
to become a Masai warrior - on being told it involves circumcision
and having to kill a lion, I decided it was best to politely decline
- that's just two things I really don't want to mess with thank
you very much!
The
Chief's eldest son, then took us on an excellent tour of the village and whilst explaining that the Masai are polygamists and how the
hierarchy of their culture works in respect to having multiple wives,
he then asked us if we had any questions, to which I promptly asked
"How
do you cope with having more than one Mother-In-Law?"
This
dignified man, who will one day inherit the running of his village
and tribe simply burst out laughing and was almost doubled up!
It
just goes to show that even in the remotest parts of Kenya the "Mother
In Law" joke is not only a potent comedy weapon, its a universal
tie that binds us all together.
Football
too is another thing that seems to be a tie. For example,
it's a universally agreed fact that there are actually no Manchester United fans in Manchester! From what I can tell they
seem to exist everywhere else on the planet - in particular, South
East Asia, India and as I discovered in Tanzania from a man trying
to sell me sunglasses - in East Africa too!
It
was a very surreal conversation actually (partly because despite
being an Englishman, what I don't know about football you could
squeeze in to Wembley Stadium) - but he was very knowledgeable and
even explained the advantages of "The flat back four"
system to me whilst we stood there in 40 degree heat! It was a terrific
sales pitch because I ended up buying a pair of very fetching "Ray
Bands" off him for about $4 - despite the price, I'm sure they're
genuine even though they're clearly designed for someone with the
head the size of two year old child!
Of
all the people I've come across though, I must confess to reserving
a special fondness for Ugandans. Not least because they speak so
softly and gently.
When
I asked one of the Ugandan teachers I met, why everyone from Uganda
is so softly spoken she replied - "Well Ravinder, if you have
a point to make, and it is a good point, then there should be no
need to raise your voice" - brilliant! I spent some time thinking
about this in relation to the meetings I have to attend at work,
and quite frankly she is absolutely right!
This
of course was the woman who one day, whilst I was leaning over trying
to get the back cover off a PC at the school, remarked in the most
matter of fact voice - "Ravinder...
You have a very big bottom"
For
one of the few times in my life I was at a total loss for words!
After I got over my initial shock of the comment I asked around
and discovered that this is actually a big compliment !
It means you're healthy and attractive, especially if you are a
woman! Despite all the various things in Africa I've found we all
have in common, I'm pretty sure that complimenting a woman
on the size of her posterior isn't one of them.
Africa
is such a marvelously diverse place and despite the comments about
my backside (!), the people I met and travelled with along the way
have made these few weeks one of the most memorable times of my
life.
I
came across this Africa quote which really sums up my experience
travelling Kumuka style . I'm paraphrasing - "If you
want to travel fast, go alone. If you want to travel far, go together".
I think that beautifully encapsulates my time here - I have travelled
so very very far on this trip.
I
can only hope that on the very last leg of this journey (my flight
back to London), that my economy seat is big enough to accommodate
that "very big bottom" of mine.
Cheers
Rav
Ravinder
travelled on Kumuka's Southern Explorer tour
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