I love travelling as it gives me a chance to explore different people, cultures and ethnicity. I think this time, I would like to share my experience of visiting South Africa. I enjoyed my tour around Cape Town for about a week but it’s a different story in the North Province of South Africa, entirely!
The dark continent, Africa is a hotbed for witchcraft and voodoo. T he sad truth is that it is still part of life in the poorer countries. In South Africa, dark practices are still rife.
In the Northern Province, ritual murders are common. Women are often murdered and their parts of bodies are ‘harvested’ and sold on the black market as medicine. Can you imagine eating this medicine?
‘Muti’ means traditional medicine but is more often associated with murder for body parts. Witchdoctors buy these parts to make more powerful magic. Body parts obtained from children under 12 are supposed to be the most potent. Oh my God!!
The witchdoctors treat infertility and bring good luck. Do you know what are the treatments? One of the ‘finest’ examples is hands are burnt and mixed with herbs to cure patients sufferings from strokes. The body parts fetch between 500 rand for a testicle to 1,000 rand for a kidney and 2,000 rand for a heart. Desperate people living in poverty believe murder is the last resort.
Many of them believe that they are ill because they’ve been cursed. Some people who stepped on the land of North Province have disappeared without a trace( lucky me)
* Kudos to the young and pretty girl, Angeline (not her real name) for sharing all the stories with me when I was there!
~ I wrote this to share my experience, no offence! Different people, different beliefs!
~ It’s good to know that many witchdoctors use herbs ONLY for treatment than the earlier days.
~ Despite all this beliefs, South Africa is an amazing nation. Interesting places, beautiful and stunning tourist spots and their hospitality touched my heart. I will surely land my feet on the land of South Africa again if I’m given a chance!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
HAPPY DEEPAVALI TO EVERYONE!! (27/10/2008)
~EN INIYA DEEPAVALI VALTHUKAL!!
Woke up at 6.00 am .
Realized that the henna on my hand had dried and some peeled off and dropped on my comforter…my bed was dirty...phew!!
Washed away the henna and was happy to see the colour.
Went downstairs and wished my mum. Promised her that I will be assistant chef of the day.
Prepared everything for cooking.
By the time I took my oil bath and prayed, my dad and bro woke up. I wished them too. My bro was over excited as Liverpool defeated Chelsea!
All of us ate our phutumayam together. Love the taste. Thanks to my mum.
We started cooking and everything was done by 12.00 noon.
Where’s Chai Lian, my pretty roommate? Received a call from her after a while.
Went to Klang train station to fetch her! Thanks for coming gal.
After eating the cookies, CL took her lunch. She told my mum that she likes the chicken rendang. Hope she enjoyed the food.
Later, Fharyl and Doreen came to my house. Thanks for the beautiful pink bouquet girls! Btw, I love pink!
CL went back followed by Fharyl and Doreen.
Rested for a while and started to cook again.
It was about 7 pm and we welcomed the newly married couples to our home. My neighbours, Uncle Henry and his wife married on the eve of Deepavali. Shall I call him Uncle? He’s only 20 something by age. Huh?
Later, about 8.30 pm, Uncle Chua( dad’s friends) came to my house. He’s son is cute .. lol.. very young..too bad = ) and I realized he was crazy of cars!
We ‘closed’ our house around midnight..lol.. was too tired and I was terribly full! Just couldn’t resist the delicious cookies, sweets and food.
Went to bed with good memories. Hope the lights of Diwali shines and brightens all our lives!
Woke up at 6.00 am .
Realized that the henna on my hand had dried and some peeled off and dropped on my comforter…my bed was dirty...phew!!
Washed away the henna and was happy to see the colour.
Went downstairs and wished my mum. Promised her that I will be assistant chef of the day.
Prepared everything for cooking.
By the time I took my oil bath and prayed, my dad and bro woke up. I wished them too. My bro was over excited as Liverpool defeated Chelsea!
All of us ate our phutumayam together. Love the taste. Thanks to my mum.
We started cooking and everything was done by 12.00 noon.
Where’s Chai Lian, my pretty roommate? Received a call from her after a while.
Went to Klang train station to fetch her! Thanks for coming gal.
After eating the cookies, CL took her lunch. She told my mum that she likes the chicken rendang. Hope she enjoyed the food.
Later, Fharyl and Doreen came to my house. Thanks for the beautiful pink bouquet girls! Btw, I love pink!
CL went back followed by Fharyl and Doreen.
Rested for a while and started to cook again.
It was about 7 pm and we welcomed the newly married couples to our home. My neighbours, Uncle Henry and his wife married on the eve of Deepavali. Shall I call him Uncle? He’s only 20 something by age. Huh?
Later, about 8.30 pm, Uncle Chua( dad’s friends) came to my house. He’s son is cute .. lol.. very young..too bad = ) and I realized he was crazy of cars!
We ‘closed’ our house around midnight..lol.. was too tired and I was terribly full! Just couldn’t resist the delicious cookies, sweets and food.
Went to bed with good memories. Hope the lights of Diwali shines and brightens all our lives!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
EVE OF DEEPAVALI
EVE OF DEEPAVALI (26/10/2008)
Celebrating Deepavali this year was a little different for me. Perhaps, it’s because this is the very first time I’m celebrating it in my new house. New environment .. huh? I went back home on Thursday itself and the greatest thing of all, I have 11 days of holiday. How did 1 day became 11? Charm of ALL 10!! ..lol..
Well, I enjoyed the eve of Deepavali. Went to Klang@ Little India~ last minutes shopping..hmmm..And I had a doubt whether it was Thaipusam or Deepavali due to the crowd. It was 11.55 pm and I was sitting down at a stall opposite Mydin for a girl to draw henna on my hands..cost me RM 10 but I think it was worth it!
It was already 12.00 midnight(27/11/2008). I was lucky to be part of the celebration in Klang. Firecrackers everywhere..Beautiful!!
My mind : Firecrackers? In Malaysia? Illegal right? But this celebration took place in the
middle of the city..so..huh?
My heart : Shalini, please stop thinking and enjoy the celebration.. don’t even bother if’s
it’s legal or not .. It’s Deepavali gal!!
I followed my heart!! Opposing the phrase follow your mind but bring your heart along…
Hey Shal are you wearing a black T-shirt? That’s the sms that I received from a friend, Jonathan when I was busy searching for some flowers as decoration. I was like oh my God! Was he somewhere around here?? We sent many messages and called each other several times but ended up not meeting each other..so sad.. sob sob.. so near yet so far. Told you it was like Thaipusam. Bought some flowers. RM 50 flew away.
I went back home at 1.30 am. Couldn’t sleep.. It’s Deepavali!! I woke up at 6.00 am. Gotta pray and help my mum to cook. Was happy to see my henna.. Kinda red coz I slept with it the entire night!!
Celebrating Deepavali this year was a little different for me. Perhaps, it’s because this is the very first time I’m celebrating it in my new house. New environment .. huh? I went back home on Thursday itself and the greatest thing of all, I have 11 days of holiday. How did 1 day became 11? Charm of ALL 10!! ..lol..
Well, I enjoyed the eve of Deepavali. Went to Klang@ Little India~ last minutes shopping..hmmm..And I had a doubt whether it was Thaipusam or Deepavali due to the crowd. It was 11.55 pm and I was sitting down at a stall opposite Mydin for a girl to draw henna on my hands..cost me RM 10 but I think it was worth it!
It was already 12.00 midnight(27/11/2008). I was lucky to be part of the celebration in Klang. Firecrackers everywhere..Beautiful!!
My mind : Firecrackers? In Malaysia? Illegal right? But this celebration took place in the
middle of the city..so..huh?
My heart : Shalini, please stop thinking and enjoy the celebration.. don’t even bother if’s
it’s legal or not .. It’s Deepavali gal!!
I followed my heart!! Opposing the phrase follow your mind but bring your heart along…
Hey Shal are you wearing a black T-shirt? That’s the sms that I received from a friend, Jonathan when I was busy searching for some flowers as decoration. I was like oh my God! Was he somewhere around here?? We sent many messages and called each other several times but ended up not meeting each other..so sad.. sob sob.. so near yet so far. Told you it was like Thaipusam. Bought some flowers. RM 50 flew away.
I went back home at 1.30 am. Couldn’t sleep.. It’s Deepavali!! I woke up at 6.00 am. Gotta pray and help my mum to cook. Was happy to see my henna.. Kinda red coz I slept with it the entire night!!
Friday, October 31, 2008
With and without my laptop !!
Without my laptop, I'd...
-stay caught up with laundry
-probably actually cook instead of sit and going online
-likely get more sleep, since I wouldn't be unable to sleep because I can't turn my brain off of going online
-exercise parts of my body other than my fingers
-not have to constantly rewind TV shows on the DVR because I get distracted and miss all the action
But without my laptop, I'd also:
-never have the chance to cross bridges and expand my horizons by reading the beautiful words of others who have their own stories to tell.
-not have all of you here to cheer me on, make me laugh, and help me not feel like the only one walking around
Who needs a clean house, a homecooked meal, mountain rain-scented laundry (that is also folded and put away), eight hours of continuous sleep, anyway?
How long can you go without your computer before you start again? I made it about 5 days 43 minutes 7.3 seconds before I started again!
Seriously, though - what do you value most about your computer and Internet access?
-stay caught up with laundry
-probably actually cook instead of sit and going online
-likely get more sleep, since I wouldn't be unable to sleep because I can't turn my brain off of going online
-exercise parts of my body other than my fingers
-not have to constantly rewind TV shows on the DVR because I get distracted and miss all the action
But without my laptop, I'd also:
-never have the chance to cross bridges and expand my horizons by reading the beautiful words of others who have their own stories to tell.
-not have all of you here to cheer me on, make me laugh, and help me not feel like the only one walking around
Who needs a clean house, a homecooked meal, mountain rain-scented laundry (that is also folded and put away), eight hours of continuous sleep, anyway?
How long can you go without your computer before you start again? I made it about 5 days 43 minutes 7.3 seconds before I started again!
Seriously, though - what do you value most about your computer and Internet access?
What life means to me??
As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone
you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every
sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin.
I'm thankful that God still reward me a chance to live in this world.. I'm rocking and trying to enjoy life and count my blessings..Hope you too!
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone
you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every
sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end,
be afraid that it will never begin.
I'm thankful that God still reward me a chance to live in this world.. I'm rocking and trying to enjoy life and count my blessings..Hope you too!
I will be there for you!!
My dear friends (especially the 6 stars..5 excluding me..lol)
In times of trouble,
In times of need,
If you are feeling SAD,
You can count on me.
1,2,3,
I will give you a wink,
Until you smile,
give you a hug,
And stand by your side.
I'll be there for you till the end,
I'll always and forever, be your friend =P
In times of trouble,
In times of need,
If you are feeling SAD,
You can count on me.
1,2,3,
I will give you a wink,
Until you smile,
give you a hug,
And stand by your side.
I'll be there for you till the end,
I'll always and forever, be your friend =P
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