17 December 2005

It All has to Come to an End!

Everything good in life will come to end, but something else better will come along and surpise you out of your mind. This has been probably the best year of my life with all the ups & downs. Describing and have experianced it as just PERFECT, nothing less and definately nothing more......

Well, I decided to start blogging after basically calling it peer pressure.....everyone I knew had a blog and like me, I also had to have one. So many stories, thoughts, feelings, pictures and just special moments were put on paper to basically define me as who I am today and I could go back and look how I have progressed.....To be quite honest, this is who I am today and I do feel very happy of being myself and what I have achieved during 2005.

2005 isn't over yet, but this will definately be my last blog.......for this year at least! It still amaze me with what speed this year raced to it's end, but it makes me smile is to I know that there will be another, soon. If I have to summarise 2005 and explain what I have learned in only a couple phrases, it will be:

1. Experiance (good or bad) builds character......
2. What you truly love might not be what you truly need......
3. Being yourself just dictates your happiness......
4. Change is good, because you learn much more about yourself then you would have otherwise....
5. Life is not about what you have, but definately about who you are and what you believe in......
6. Taking that first step towards your goal is crucial for your own level of success......
7. Worrying about tomorrow supresses the enlightment of today.......
8. Deviding reality and dreams leads to open mindedness.........
9. Believing in yourself is the key to success........
10. Real friends are forever, it doesn't matter where they are.......
11. Making the decision now is better than living the problem later......
12. PHOENIX is awesome beer.....

For me, this was quite a short paragraph, but my experiance of 2005 will live on forever. I'm not afraid what tomorrow will throw at me, what I'm afraid off is that I might not have accomplish what I intended for yesterday. Time moves on and you can never make up that time...it is gone forever, so live the moment being yourself and you could be sure that you will be happy at the end of the day.

For me 2005 was a year of decisions.....some of them were wrong desicions and some of them were good, but I stood with that decision and I can honestly say I'm still around and I will live another day. Fortunately I had people to guided me into a direction of self satisfaction and I will and can not say that there was one moment that I wanted to do it differently. It made me who I am today and made me believe that our paths are planned for us ahead. The desicions we make determines how we going to live our life.....I guess my motto from now on will be.......Jump on the HAPPY wagon and live the moment, because yesterday is gone and tomorrow is still only a vision. What do you have to loose otherwise? What?

I definately guarantee you all that 2005 has taught us more then we bargained for. Why would 2006 be any different? It is now the time to say thank you for being with those who makes us happy. My dear friends, Christams is 1 week away.......

Enjoy it, you all deserve too. New year is 14 days away, then you have to saddle up because life will take you through another journey that we can not bargain for. It's really all what life is about.....Enjoy the journey while it lasts....No regrets!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.......

PS: Thanks for joining me on my journey through 2005, but hold on, 2006 will blow our minds away. Bru loves y'all!

Ciao


One of our Diving spots and an island just off the mainland about 1.5km with NO inhabitants....And you can go rent a boat and spend a day with someone SPECIAL on the island....and drinking & BBQ are alowed (There is nothing else to do!)


World, meet my new diving friend....Mr. Crabby Muffy!

15 December 2005

Christmas Wish List!

Well, it's that time of the year again. For me, na, there is not really anything I wish for. Just really lucky to be around and do what I do. See the world and meet new people with different stories to tell, but here is something I have actually forgotten to tell you guys when I was with you on the island. I can not believe how this has slipped my mind. So, this is how it goes.

In Johannesburg (for those who don't know where this is, it is the capital for business in Africa and situated in the Gauteng Province in South Africa and funny enough, it is also the city where I stay.) there is this Radio station that really rocks, but much more famous because of their incredible presenters. They do have good music, but much more better with their talk shows. Ah, the station is known as Highveld Stereo (94.7FM in Johannesburg). To cut a very long story short, they do this talkshow (this time of year) starting at 7am in the morning all the way to 9am (I think-haven't been back there during XMAS in a while) and it's called the CHRISTMAS WISH LIST.

How it works is that someone will contact the station telling them about some weird and sad story like a child that needs desperately surgery or would die and they do not have enough finances to pay for the operation. Catch my drift? It's like mostly real unprivilege children, dying children or just anyone who does not have enough money or food to have a good Christmas and then the Radio Station will organise for some sponsorship or funding to help out depending on the circumstances. Now my loyal readers, this is real tear pulling shit especially if you stuck in traffic on the Ben Schoeman Highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg. It's really so sad, when you are driving like 10km/hour in traffic and you suddenly notice like everyone is crying in their cars. You just see tissues and make-up all over the show, but it is sometimes really just so fucking sad and you feel just sooo great if something good comes from it very sad situation. Even though you didn't do anything and you hear a very good ending to a very sad sad story. Eish......Goosebumps........

That is what make South Africans so special. They are very hard headed, but they really care about others when push comes to shuff.........I feel very lucky to be a Suth African, really, I do! The sad part is that I just found out the last show was held yesterday, but they have posted some of the good wishes for this year. So, if you guys want to look into it, here is the link below:

http://www.highveld.co.za/thelounge/events/xmaswish20051114/wishes8.asp

All and all, I just miss to be around my own people for once and miss to be in a vibe where it feels really special. You guys know what I mean....That place where people just appreciate who you are and what you are trying to accomplish. That place where you find support in times of need and sympathy in times of sadness. That place where people do not care who & what you are, but simply for being there. The place where all your love one's are....The place I call HOME. Ahhh, I guess it's just that time of year.......I hope for those of you who are going on holiday now, I do wish you a merry Christams and an incredible 2006....This might just be the year you all have been waiting for so long. For the others, my official best wishes will have to wait for a week or so.

I just would like to make a special announcement......My beloved mother turns tomorrow the 16th December 2005 the BIG 50. Ma, die lewe is nie altyd maanskyn en rose nie, maar wees tog gelukkig dat daar so baie mense om ma is wat werklik bly is dat ma daar vir hulle is. Ek is defnitief een van hulle en ek glo dat daar nog baie goeie jare vorentoe is. Ek mag dalk nie daar wees in vlees nie, maar in gees, defnitief. Ek wens ma hartlik geluk met die groot 50 en soos hulle se, die lewe begin nou eers. Veels geluk ouvrou en mag die Here jou nog baie jare lank seen soos wat hy reeds gedoen het. Weet net dat ek altyd daar by julle sal wees en ek is moerse dankbaar vir als.....my skamele 26 jare teen ma se 50......Ek mis julle almal baie en ek is lief vir julle almal. Groete my ou girl!

Guys, have an incredible evening.

Ciao

14 December 2005

I Pretend - Life of Agony

Great song with a lot of soul and distortion! For those who loves the music with hard banging distortion peddles and banging the strings...Ultimately a great song and definately one of my favourites!

In the stillness of the night
My eyes are closed
My mouth is wide
I could see her face
Her beautifull hair
I could recognize
She looks at me cold
She probably don't know who I am
Mommy it's me
It's Keith
You had me back when
But sometimes i like to pretend
That she knows me
That she holds me
I guess I can't
Because she doesn't know who I am
My mind it's dreaming
God it's so misleading
Do you think it's 'cause I've grown old
Is it true that what I was told
You cried to leave me
You know I know it's not your fault
You had a husband who was selfish and cold
Believe me I know
Now I hear you used to treat me cold
You disappeard and left me all alone
I'm sure you didn't know right from wrong
'cause both of you were always getting stoned.

13 December 2005


God, this was the morning after!

Put Me Under Pressure!

Heading that perfectly fit my profile at the moment! God, what happened with this year? It seems like yesterday that I've met Jess and the German team at Kenzibar. A time that best described me as just going out and having just plain ordinary fun and getting just so fucking wasted. It was exactly one year ago when we had to take our client out for the Year End function and afterwards headed to Kenzi and Buddah. Man, that morning Dirk phoned me so that I shouldn't forget to pick him up for work and it was already 6am and I was still at Buddah. Look at the picture above, a perfect explanation of the morning after....jesus.....

Anyway, this year flew by like the Concorde to New York from London and 6000 British Pounds later. What happened? All that I know is that all my friends I met are now spreaded around the world, me moving up in the food chain in my company and sitting in a even darker Africa. My life changed so incredibly and I have seen so much more than I would have back in South Africa. Meeting all those so interesting people and those not so interesting people and experiance all their independant stories.....from East to West.......

I just can go on and on about everything, but the fact of the matter is that the fucking year is over and I hope another great year will be ahead. God, so much I still want to accomplish.......finish this plant, diving, safari's, my visit to Germany (which is probably everyday in my mind) and just basically living out 2006 to it's maximum....that's all!

But for now, I still have to get this one totally over......A trip Mwanza through Arusha this weekend and next weekend chillin with my friends and family......god, I just can not wait. Crashing drunk at some friends house after breaking the world record for the most beer consumption during one week and just enjoying the sight of South African ladies in their bikini's....ahhhh.....I love this holiday vibe! So, before I get ahead of myself and I should just try and impress my contract's manager (who by the way also read this blog) by saying that "baas", there are 1.5 weeks of real hard work still ahead. Bru, forget it.....You know me....typical South African by saying....Fuck you....It's holiday time and you will struggle to get the work out of me......Ach toch Dirk, jy weet mos net ek terg jou net......PARTY Brothers.....My philosphy of life......

Anyway, just could not controld that party vibe right now......Probably got to go and kiss ass from tomorrow again (which is by the way a public holiday in Tanzania again.....African Election), but I will be a great slave and work so that you can pay me over time....GET IT?

Anyway, I hope y'all will have an excellent week and please I beg y'all......GET IN THE PARTY MOOD!

Ciao

11 December 2005

Call it just Me!

Well, it's 3:15am and I just came from a party where I met up with some South African people. Funny how we all just stick to one another, no matter where in the world we might find ourselves. Like they say, we are all one of a kind.

I think they should ban the internet from drunking net surfers.....I might regret tomorrow morning what I've posted, but you you know what.....fuck it. It's my thoughts right now and that is why I've started this blog or blogging anyway. We had a real nice time with a good couple of people that are really in a the true sense of the word, good people. But I couldn't help noticing how much I really do miss my friends out there. yeah guys, I really do miss you guys badly where ever you all are. I'm thinking of Anne, Uma, Jess, Timo, Nachi, Joel, Jorn, Kerstin, Wolle, Kevin , Lars & last of all, the girl that changed my world of thinking and my heart forever. You know who you are and I do miss you tremendously. Why, I do not know. The sad part of this posting is that I'm really drunk and focussing on how to write and think English perfectly, but I guess I'm struggling a bit and that is because it's not my native language at all.

Mostly, I just would like to say I miss you guys so much and to make things even worse is that I'm listening to Streets of Philidelphia from Bruce Springsteen. Edina, I do miss you so much and I hope you are doin just OK. For what it's worth, I still do LOVE you and I do not know when this shit will end. I really hope I haven't said too much already, but guys, I hope you are all doin just fine and that you are all just so happy.

I miss you all and may the South Afican force be with you all.

Ciao

08 December 2005

Weekend Info!

Eish......It's almost Friday and the week has just gone by so fast. Almost the same as the rest of the year and we are one week closer to 2006. I can't belief.......Anyway,

Tomorrow is a public holiday here in Tanzania and I will attemp to go cross country and drive across Tanzania in just 2 days. Well, it's only 1200km, but do remember it's African roads and drivers as well, soooo........

I will leave tomorrow morning at 6am and will go all the way up to Arusha where I hopefully will see Mount Kilimanjaro and stay over for the night. On Saturday morning I will attemp to drive across the Sarengethi and spend the day driving through wild nature and hopefully get to see a lot of animals. I will stay over hopefully just outside the reserve's gate where it is much cheaper. To be quite honest, DIrk fucking warned me if I spend the companies money rediculously and if so, this will be my last "company trip". OK Baas....! Sunday I will hopefully reach Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria and I will leave the car there and return by air and be in Dar on Sunday evening. If everything goes well, I think this will be definately be a trip to remember for a very long time.

Other news.....Ja, we are 2.5 weeks away from Christmas and New Year's Eve is just 6 Days later. With gratefull thanks to Dirk and Degremont, I will go back to South Africa for a week and 2 days. Reunite with the people I haven't spent time with for so long and maybe 2006 will be my year. I already have plans for New Year's Eve and I really think the time in South Africa will be a jol. Party is up at my buddies house, Wayne...(Uma, you have met him before on your return from Tanzania at my house in F&F-remember). He was actually one of my many bosses back in South Africa and now that I'm in Tanzania........Well he still pays my salary, so technically speaking he is still one of my many bosses. We will have sooooo much fun....ah, I can't wait. I really do not want to know how I will feel on my flight back to Dar on the 1st.....Eish......Any advice guys?

So, this is the plan of action for this weekend. I hope all of you guys will enjoy your weekends and have so much fun. Anne, I hope we can SKYPE again on Sunday night...say 8pm german time?

Miss you all and have fun.......

Ciao

Thursday Morning Quicky!

There was a German, an Italian and SIPHO on death row. The warden gave them a choice of three ways to die:
1. to be shot
2. to be hung
3. to be injected with the AIDS virus for a slow death

So the German said, "Shoot me right in the head."Boom, he was dead instantly.

The Italian said, "Just hang me."Snap! he was dead.

Then it was SIPHO'S' turn, and he said, "Give me some of that AIDS stuff." They gave him the shot, and SIPHO fell down laughing. The guards looked at each other and wondered what was wrong with this guy. Then SIPHO said, "Give me another one of those shots," so the guards did. Now he was laughing so h ard, tears rolled from his eyes and he doubled over.Finally the warden said, "What's wrong with you?"Then SIPHO replied, "Eish you guys are so stupid… I'm wearing a condom."

The best resolution for 2006!

Before you set off to conquer the world, set out to improve yourself. Build character and discipline on the inside, and you'll be able to handle any goal or challenge on the outside.

When you set for yourself an outer goal, be sure to also create an inner goal. Fully become, within yourself, the person who can reach that goal in the outside world, and you will.

When you feel the need to change others, seek instead to change yourself. Meet people where they are, with true understanding and acceptance, and the relationships you build will bear sweet fruit.

The person you are on the inside determines all the things you become on the outside. Nurture your inner life, and your whole world will prosper.

The solid physical reality of your life is built upon the quality of your innermost thoughts and feelings. Use every opportunity to give power and positive purpose to those thoughts, and every corner of your life will benefit.

In each moment, in every situation, seek to build lasting, genuine value on the inside. And that value will quickly spread outward from you, as far as you can see.

Believe is all about faith. Change your world and your world will be changed forever.........

07 December 2005

Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls

I'm trying to tell you something 'bout my life
Maybe give me insight between black and white
And the best thing you've ever done for me
Is to help me take my life less seriously; it's only life after all

Well darkness has a hunger that's insatiable
And lightness has a call that's hard to hear
I wrapped my fear around me like a blanket
I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it; I'm crawling on your shore

I went to the doctor,
I went to the mountains
I looked to the children,
I drank from the fountain
There's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive,
the closer I am to fine,
The closer I am to fine

I went to see the doctor of philosophy
With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee
He never did marry or see a B grade movie
He graded my performance, he said he could see through me
I spent 4 years prostrate to the higher mind, got my paper and I was free

I went to the doctor,
I went to the mountains
I looked to the children,
I drank from the fountain
There's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive,
the closer I am to fine,
The closer I am to fine

I stopped by the bar at 3 A.M.
To seek solace in a bottle or possibly a friend
And I woke up with a headache like my head against a board
Twice as cloudy as I'd been the night before, and I went in seeking clarity

I went to the doctor,
I went to the mountains
I looked to children,
I drank from the fountain
We go to the doctor,
We go to the mountains
We look to the children,
We drink from the fountain
We go to the bible,
We go through the workout
We read up on revival,
We stand up for the lookout
There's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in a crooked line
And the less I seek my source for some definitive,
The closer I am to fine,
The closer I am to fine
The closer I am to fine

06 December 2005

My Bru!

A coloured guy, sitting outside his home about to be evicted from his house, was contemplating how the future would be after he had divorcedhis wife, lost his children, lost his job.

He notices a crate of beer bottles and walks up to it. He takes out an empty bottle, smashing it into the concrete wall swearing, "You are thereason I don't have a wife", second bottle, "You are the reason I don'thave my children", third bottle, "You are the reason I lost my job".

He notices the fourth bottle is sealed and still full of beer. He takes the bottle, puts it aside and says, "Staan djy een kant my bru (You stand on the side), I know you were not involved".

05 December 2005

A Thought to Remember!

Well, it seems like I'm realing enjoying updating my blog or that I'm just bored. Now, this was definately not the case. I've heard something that I really never could explain before, but now it makes maybe a little bit of sense and I think I need to share it with you guys.

I've heard it during watching a movie, but it seems that it could be really true and this is the best way I can explain it. We all have loved so much people before. If it was family, friends or maybe just someone special. This is based basically on the LOVE for someone special or very close to yourself. During the phases of a relationship, people grow closer & fond of one another and learn basically to love one another. If the relationship don't work out for some weird reason, we always try to fight back and realise that you love this person. But sometimes people argue that true love doesn't exist and just maybe (I think) the terminology was used incorrectly in this context.

I think LOVE could be classified in 3 levels, namely:
- To LOVE someone, or
- To have BIG LOVE, or
- To have GREAT LOVE.......

Now, I think the first level of LOVE is basically that you will loose this love in just 6 months after the break-up. The second LOVE (BIG LOVE) is the type of LOVE that you will loose in 2 years and lastly the GREAT LOVE is the type of LOVE that you will never loose at all. You will never know at what level of LOVE you have untill you loose this specific type of LOVE during any given period. The only way how I could really try and define the ultimately LOVE (GREAT LOVE) is when you meet this person for the first time, it's basically LOVE at first sight and I think that this type of LOVE is the one type that can really, and I mean really break a person if it doesn't work out.

To try and define the other types are quite easy I think. To use a simple example. When you go into a club and you meet someone very interresting, but not LOVE at first sight, you grow fond and maybe eventually you learn to LOVE this person because of spending time together, growing fond of one another or maybe because of what the other person feel and will do for you, but it'll never be the type of LOVE where it will last forever. Time will kill it for definate. The problem is when you probably met great love and it didn't work out for some shit or unexplained reason and you are trying to fight it, you could end up damaging the relationship even more or even damage yourself. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what happens, you will always love this person. I think it will be better to let it go and if it comes back, you know it's yours to keep.

What do you guys think?

04 December 2005

The Day After Yesterday!

Well, it's back to reality. I guess being left alone with the realm of my mind is not the best thing in the world. I have to admit it was a well deserved break, but a couple will need to follow to put me back on my quest for fulfillment. A mouth full, yeah I know.

I decided to follow the route of the adventurer and take the trip via the Ferry, but it will definately be the last trip on the Ferry. Next time my dear friend, it will by air. Actually time, value and the patience ratio, by air will definately be the way out. At least I can say I have done the experiance and I got the T-shirt....just an add on on my adventure list. To be quite honest, I definately expected more from Zanzibar. But I also have to admit that staying in Mauritius, did in fact spoil me to such an extent that I can only think that there could only be a very small margin ever for satisfaction after the life of Mauritius. To sum Zanzibar up in only a few sentances......

It's very African....Dirty, poor and no infra structure. The roads are definately better than in Dar Es Salaam, but the same driving mentallity. Stone Town, small and flooded by locals that terrorises the visitors to make a quick buck and maybe take full advantage of the opportunity of the narrow passages. I was warned ahead of time to rather walk alone and make it clear to the "beach boys" that less than a referred guide will be unexceptable. So.....Not a good experiance at all. The good thing about Stone Town is that you can see and feel the history in the city, but I guess it could not be comparred to cities like Rome. Another interresting fact that came to ear was that the lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar. After seeing the locals and the picture up in a restaurant that was named after him (Mercury's on the bay), he actually did look like a bit of ARABIC. A gay one I might add!

The most of my time I spent at the local bar at the hotel (motel if I can call that). The bar carried the hospitality of South African influence. All the waiters wore rugby jersey's based on the SPRINGBOK (SA Rugby) jersey, but with the difference of the main sponsor "ZANZIBAR" and the clothing manufacturer "ONE WAY".....The alcohol was there, DART board and a pool table. On Saturday night I met up with a South African couple that did a tour of 1 month through Tanzania (from Arusha, Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and ended up in Zanzibar). We did enjoy the evening in real South African spirit....Drinking, talking Shit, playing pool for 8 hours long and a lot of infirmation exchanges about careers and just almost about everything possible. Just Plain Good Old South African Fun......

Returned Sunday afternoon, with a little patience and not too much of energy. I'm glad that I did do the tour, but my next stop will be Pemba Island. I heard that this is the best preserved diving spot in the world from various sources.....So, Pemba here I come.

PS: Check out my photoblog......I'm quite impressed with my undevelloped talent.....

Wishfull Thinking!

Three tortoises, Mick, Andy and Roy, decide to go on a picnic. Mick packs the picnic basket with beer and sandwiches. The trouble is that the picnic site is ten miles away So, it takes them ten days to get there.
When they get there Mick unpacks the food and beer. "Ok Roy give me the bottle opener" "I didn't bring it" says Roy "I thought you packed it" Mick gets worried, He turns to Andy, "Did you bring the bottle opener?" Naturally Andy didn't bring it.

So they're stuck ten miles from home without a bottle opener. Mick and Andy beg Roy to go back for it. But he refuses as he says they will eat all the sandwiches. After two hours, and after they have sworn on their tortoise lives that they will not eat the sandwiches, he finally agrees.

So Roy sets off down the road at a steady pace. 20 days pass and he still isn't back and Mick and Andy are starving, but a promise is a promise. Another 5 days and he still isn't back, but a promise is a promise. Finally they can't take it any longer so they take out a sandwich each, and just as they are about to eat it, Roy pops up from behind a rock and shouts,
"I KNEW IT'......I'M NOT FUCKING GOING!"

01 December 2005

Gearing Up for the Next Level!

This just has been one of the weirdest weeks in my life. Moving from the ultimate low to a level which I really much prefer. Well, Saturday was definately not of my best days ever (South Africa lost against France in rugby) and maybe a bit of apologising to do....Yeah Nachi....Sorry bru, but I just had to enjoy the amazing victory of ours, but I have to admit you guys came back pretty good. India still SUCK, anyway.......

So, Sunday I just went to the ultimately low. Fuck bru, that was definately one bad ass of a steak I ate. I guess I picked up a bit of food poisoning and that kept me crawling untill Wednesday. At the same time I had a deadline for Wednesday to complete my project of Mauritius and finally the stress levels & working hours are back to normal and I can breath again. Somehow I can see light coming from the end of the tunnel. To celebrate this, I decided to pack my bags for the weekend and head off to Zanzibar for a well deserve rest. I think nothing could be more satisfying than just to sit back and relax on the beach for a change. Maybe some HOT foreigner chicks sneeking around at tropical places could just be what I need....uhm...ja. Gordon is back for this joyride and might want to ride someone else.....hehehehe....

So guys, I will be offline for the whole weekend and just getting away from everyone and everything. Just me, myself and I.......and maybe at some stage a late night snack would do some good I guess. I will update you guys next week with hopefully some spectacular photos and an amazing posting. But we will have to wait and see, don't we? So guys, have an amazing weekend where ever you might be. The guys back on the island, ENJOY and for those in Germany....well ENJOY the fucking cold.....hehehehe. The Americans, guys I miss you guys a lot and have fun. Anyway, Uma, what is your second name? I saw something about you on the web today and the mentioned your name as Amu S. Sanghvi....What is that "S" all about bru?

Miss you all and have fun and be SAFE.....

Ciao