Wednesday 24 October 2007

Indian Culture

This year I have spent so much time with an incredible person, Hasmita. She has been a friend and a study buddy but most of all she has taught me about her culture and religion. Being someone that absolutely loves learning new things about different ways of life soaked it all up!

 

I have tasted different foods like sweat meat that looks like a Christmas decoration its so pretty; certain curries and I hate curry but really enjoyed them all and just traditional dishes like Dokry which is like nothing I have ever tasted which was so exciting, learnt about different rituals and heard stories of the different cultural events like weddings.

 

 I asked Hasmita to get dressed up so I could take a photo of her for this article. Take a look at what the complete Indian traditional out fit looks like. 
Posted by Jules at 09:25:01 | Permanent Link | Comments (33) |

Sunday Stalls Along the Beach Front

Have you ever walked through the stalls along the beach front? It’s a time for the whole family to just indulge in an atmosphere of arts and crafts and delicious smells of sweet fudge and boerewors rolls. I walked through the stalls the other day and realized how many different people were around me. White, black, coloured, Indian, Chinese etc I was really amazed and it just proved once again what a diverse city Port Elizabeth really is.
 While I was there a friendly Chinese man selling these weird little eats called me over and asked me to taste them, free of charge. Being a little nervous I bravely took the smallest one and put it in my mouth. It was a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter and salty all together! I wasn’t really sure if I liked it or not but it was so exhilarating having that different taste in my mouth. Don’t ask me what it was called I wouldn’t be able to pronounce it.
 I think it is so essential for all South Africans to try out new things that are existing within our borders whether its food or basic cultural traditions or arts and crafts. We need to as a society experience them all.
Posted by Jules at 09:22:46 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Down Town and all its forgotten beauty

When was the last time you drove into ‘town’?
 I took the wrong turn the other day and I ended up driving past the Feather Market Hall and the old Library and I really noticed how beautiful the buildings were. The area isn’t in too much of a bad state either. The architecture is something to really admire and I was so excited that I went back to take photos of the buildings. I am so greatful that
Posted by Jules at 09:19:32 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

The Magic in the Townships

Whenever I drive past a township for instance Mother well, I am usually filled with nerves and anxiety secretly hoping that no one will throw stones or hijack my car. It makes me feel terribly guilty because who am I to judge the people living there? Thinking this I drove past the township and for the very first time I saw it in a completely different way.

I noticed the little children playing with a soccer ball, their faces full of life and no sign of worries. I noticed a group of women sitting doing their washing on their little steps in front of their houses, looking so cheerful in the morning sun. I noticed how school children were very neatly dressed walking with pride to school and alongside them were the working members of the townships making their ways to the different jobs.

 After seeing all this I realized that in the townships there is such a diverse amount of cultures, social sectors and families. The colourful houses, the different cars ranging from donkey carts to BMWs, the animals roaming around lazily and the cheerful sounds of the residents really creates such a great African atmosphere.
 I definitely learnt something and that was that yes the townships are dangerous and violent when the sun goes down at night but we really shouldn’t ignore that there are so many people living there with hearts of joy and cheerful African spirits.
Posted by Jules at 09:01:50 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday 03 September 2007

The Different Cultures and Social Sectors in the Shopping Centres

This weekend, I went to Greenacres Shopping Centre. Honestly I am not a fan of this place because I always feel so harassed and exhausted when I get home, especially on a Saturday.

This time round however and due to the fact that I am trying to absorb South Africans culture, I saw it in a completely different way. It is so amazing how many different people we have in our little city Port Elizabeth alone. Families at restaurants, young couples, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and so many more all gathered in a large ‘arena’ for more or less the same reason.

In terms of social circles I noticed that the more ‘upper’ class people will be found near the Mug n Bean section whereas the ‘lower’ class people will be found near the checkers section.

This article is based on my opinion and I don’t have any media related article for it but I had to add it to my blog just to remind my readers that everywhere we go we are exposed to our countries diversity. Just open your eyes!

 

Posted by Jules at 12:40:14 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday 29 August 2007

The Idols Singing Competition - Poor PE!!

This year the Idols singing competition skipped Port Elizabeth . They say it’s to allow the Garden Route a little extra publicity but I really think it is so unfair in terms of PE’s publicity. Garreth Cliff has bad mouthed our little city so much it really is not fair. Ok, I can’t sing and I had no intention of auditioning but I think it’s so wrong that he refuses to come to PE as according to him we are the “armpit of South Africa ”. If that’s his opinion then that’s fine, but really now the other cities have not had that many ‘pretty’ people coming to the auditions. I have watched quite a lot of the Joburg and Cape Town auditions and I found myself actually gasping at some of the people that live in this country. I really don’t think PE is worse than what I have seen!

Let’s wait and see how the Knysna auditions go! I hope that PE people make it through right to the final. I know that there are some that made it to the next round so let’s hold thumbs.Hopefully next time we have the auditions in PE again so that the rest of the country can see that the culture and social sectors are pretty much the same all over. There’s good and there’s bad, there always is.

Have you been watching? What do you think? Here’s an article about the Knysna auditions: http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2007/07/10/news/n05_10072007.htm

 

Posted by Jules at 10:37:49 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

The Festivals Can Teach You a Thing or Two

In the past few months three very well known festivals have taken place, namely the Kirkwood Wildsfees; The Knysna Oyster Festival and the Rasta Festival which is also held in Knysna.

These are all very different types of Festivals which attract different crowds of South African people and visiting tourists. They do however have so much in common in terms of the variety of culture that fills the grounds, the smells of different foods and the different social sectors. These Festivals are simply an exhibition to the world and even an eye opener to South Africans of just how diverse the Southern tip of Africa really is. I still have not attended the The Knysna Festivals yet but i will definitely be doing so next year!

 The Kirkwood Wildsfees

This Festival is a day for the whole family. It is a day to really indulge in the rural sector of South Africa . The Festival is spread out over three days and includes exciting entertainment by the various South African Musicians, the annual Wild Life Auction where the owners of different game parks gather and spend thousands and thousands on the most beautiful animals. The grounds are brought to life with the delicious aroma of the delectable foods on sale and while the fathers and sons are viewing the game the mothers and daughters walk through the stalls and buy little “bits and pieces”.

The Website Below reveals how successful the Festival was this year. Did you attend it? What did you think?

http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2007/07/02/news/n07_02072007.htm

Posted by Jules at 10:27:40 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday 28 August 2007

Taxi Drivers Love them or Hate them

What is your opinion about Taxi drivers? I think that they have almost formed their own culture group. They hoot for the wrong reasons, they break down quite often, they drive really fast, they cut in font of you and they drive through red robots. The worst thing I have witnessed was during the Iron Man Competition when the traffic was completely out of control, I was stuck in traffic and I heard an ambulance siren coming from behind and so I like the rest of the motorists tried to make way until we realized that it was a taxi using the siren to get through the traffic. I really couldn’t help but laugh!

I recently had my first experience in a taxi with a whole group of friends. The music was blaring when we were standing waiting to pile in but then surprisingly, when I got into the taxi the music was not that loud. It really was so much fun. The driver spoke on his cell phone, drove through red robots, hooted at everyone to get their attention for a lift even though the taxi was full. It definitely was an adrenaline rush. I doubt I will do it again but I think every South African should.

What have been your experiences on the road? They might even be good experiences! Take a look at the following article, its all about how the police are trying to put a stop to overloading.

http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/2007/08/16/news/n12_16082007.htm

 

Posted by Jules at 21:45:03 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |