This little piece of Africa looks as orderly, peaceful, beach-front "pretty" and as boring as Pismo Beach, California. Enjoy the calm while it lasts.
I'm looking forward to seeing one of your Atlantic sunset shots. Yes, it'll be a touristy shot but there's nothing wrong with that; as I've mentioned before, your photography has noticeably improved over the last year; your photographic skills are catching up with your writing skills.
Water's a little too cold. You have a few people wading in, and I've done that, but I haven't seen anyone swimming.
Vacation season is over in Namibia. A month ago, there were many people at the beach, I've been told.
Swakopmund is a retirement destination for many Germans, and many of them also come here as tourists. I haven't heard this much German since I left Leipzig six years ago.
Lucky for you to "miss" vacation season with its higher prices, larger crowds, and over-all greater hecticness.
I remember accommodations tripling overnight when 2004 Chinese New Year kicked in in Yunnan Provence; what was particularly galling was the young Chinese hotel proprietor saying "very cheap!, very cheap!" over and over after she had just tripled the room price. I left and went hiking (a trip highlight) in the nearby mountains until the post-New Year prices returned to where they had been.
Of course, holiday price gouging exists all over the world, though the customer usually isn't subjected to having to hear what a great deal they're getting to start paying triple the price that they were paying for the same room the night before.
Hello Linh, I love your writings and photographs and snippets of life being lived. Keep on keeping on. And writing. I too am a writer, and will share a link to some of my published works, so that if you do have time to read you will let me know your opinions. Africa is beautiful, is it not? Originally, I am from Africa too, but now in the bowels of the decaying Empire :). What is it that Moritz Thomsen said about travel? It is the Saddest Pleasure :)
Nuertey
P.S. I even have an old copy of Kim Vân Kiều, The Tale of Kiều, in my many many collections of old books, some from even Victorian times :). Fellow bibliophile just like you! :) Get in touch someday, we will have many many interesting conversations on kindred topics.
I've only seen a handful of cities in two African countries, so I shouldn't say anything about Africa in general. It has certainly been a learning experience, and what I've seen is beautiful, especially Cape Town.
Hi Linh, But with your myriad sojourns in seemingly-disparate places such as Italy, Lebanon, Germany and even Egypt, you 'know' Africa already. At the end of the day, it is just people, and culture, and you grokk that already. Always paying attention to your writings, and even having guests of mine whom come to visit me read some of them aloud so it filters into their brain, I always hoped that you would actually go to Africa. For the Mother continent will have more to teach you, and with your astute observations, you can record it well. Africa defies description. One has to see it and live it to understand her contradictions. So there is more beauty that you are going to see and experience as you journey deeper into her.
Do you realize that such noble quests was one of the intentions that Moritz Thomsen wanted to do with his "The Saddest Pleasure: A Journey on Two Rivers"? So you are 'walking in great shoes and great company' indeed! 'Your walkabout' is great to read for us in the desiccated and desiccating Empire. As you said, Africa will save us--all humans--again! For for us in the belly of the empire, things are not good at all, re: Vaccines, sicknesses, COVID, etc. Nuertey
6 comments:
This little piece of Africa looks as orderly, peaceful, beach-front "pretty" and as boring as Pismo Beach, California. Enjoy the calm while it lasts.
I'm looking forward to seeing one of your Atlantic sunset shots. Yes, it'll be a touristy shot but there's nothing wrong with that; as I've mentioned before, your photography has noticeably improved over the last year; your photographic skills are catching up with your writing skills.
P.S. How's the water? Have you gone for a swim?
Hi Martin,
Water's a little too cold. You have a few people wading in, and I've done that, but I haven't seen anyone swimming.
Vacation season is over in Namibia. A month ago, there were many people at the beach, I've been told.
Swakopmund is a retirement destination for many Germans, and many of them also come here as tourists. I haven't heard this much German since I left Leipzig six years ago.
Linh
Hi Linh,
Lucky for you to "miss" vacation season with its higher prices, larger crowds, and over-all greater hecticness.
I remember accommodations tripling overnight when 2004 Chinese New Year kicked in in Yunnan Provence; what was particularly galling was the young Chinese hotel proprietor saying "very cheap!, very cheap!" over and over after she had just tripled the room price. I left and went hiking (a trip highlight) in the nearby mountains until the post-New Year prices returned to where they had been.
Of course, holiday price gouging exists all over the world, though the customer usually isn't subjected to having to hear what a great deal they're getting to start paying triple the price that they were paying for the same room the night before.
Enjoy the low season and stay safe,
Martin
Hello Linh,
I love your writings and photographs and snippets of life being lived. Keep on keeping on. And writing. I too am a writer, and will share a link to some of my published works, so that if you do have time to read you will let me know your opinions. Africa is beautiful, is it not? Originally, I am from Africa too, but now in the bowels of the decaying Empire :). What is it that Moritz Thomsen said about travel? It is the Saddest Pleasure :)
Nuertey
P.S. I even have an old copy of Kim Vân Kiều, The Tale of Kiều, in my many many collections of old books, some from even Victorian times :). Fellow bibliophile just like you! :) Get in touch someday, we will have many many interesting conversations on kindred topics.
nuertey_odzeyem@hotmail.com
https://www.amazon.com/Nuertey-Odzeyem/e/B082GF1QV2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1645142117&sr=8-2
Hi Nuertey,
I've only seen a handful of cities in two African countries, so I shouldn't say anything about Africa in general. It has certainly been a learning experience, and what I've seen is beautiful, especially Cape Town.
Linh
Hi Linh,
But with your myriad sojourns in seemingly-disparate places such as Italy, Lebanon, Germany and even Egypt, you 'know' Africa already. At the end of the day, it is just people, and culture, and you grokk that already. Always paying attention to your writings, and even having guests of mine whom come to visit me read some of them aloud so it filters into their brain, I always hoped that you would actually go to Africa. For the Mother continent will have more to teach you, and with your astute observations, you can record it well. Africa defies description. One has to see it and live it to understand her contradictions. So there is more beauty that you are going to see and experience as you journey deeper into her.
Do you realize that such noble quests was one of the intentions that Moritz Thomsen wanted to do with his "The Saddest Pleasure: A Journey on Two Rivers"? So you are 'walking in great shoes and great company' indeed! 'Your walkabout' is great to read for us in the desiccated and desiccating Empire. As you said, Africa will save us--all humans--again! For for us in the belly of the empire, things are not good at all, re: Vaccines, sicknesses, COVID, etc.
Nuertey
Post a Comment