Bloem was actually my original location when I first came to SA. I only moved moving to Johannesburg in July 2004. Just a quick insight about Bloemfontein, it is the capital of Free State (also known as the Orange Free State - don't ask me why Orange. I am anal retentive to historical details). Tiny little city, more aptly a town. It was once considered to be named the Capital of SA - something about Nelson Mandela or some main government building - but for whatever reason, Pretoria was named the Capital instead. As mentioned earlier, I do not retain certain information too well. I only remember the main points - Bloem, nearly Capital, Government Building, Pretoria. The End.
And yes, read carefully - PRETORIA is the Capital of SA, not Johannesburg.
THEY WHO ARE AFRIKAANSBloemfontein is known to be the country side of SA. I don't know how I managed 1 1/2 years there but somehow I did. It is a VERY Afrikaans town/city (whatever) so we are talking about a very conservative community. The Afrikaans primarily speak Afrikaans, the people look like they are stuck in the 1980s, their mentalities stuck in the Victorian era, and the foreigners (i.e. Taiwanese and Chinese) living there are not much better - Taiwanese (not Mei-nan aka Hokkien. That's again association with China) /Mandarin is/are their first language. It is a closed up community where everyone knows everyone thus a breeding ground for gossips. Quite freaky actually. It is like watching 'The Stepford Wives' or something. The smiles are not what they seem and sweethearts.... it is year 2004. Throw out your 1980s clothes, hair and make-up!
Move on with life.
Get a life.
Understatement.
Life in Bloemfontein? Let's see... these are the main features of Bloemfontein -
- Mimosa Mall - the only shopping mall in Bloemfontein
- Waterfront - where all the restaurants and cafes are. Oh! And by the way, I spent exactly one year 'hanging out' at the waterfront, almost the same time every night (that is when my colleague did not overstretch his elastic time) , spacing at House of Coffee (they serve the best coffee - Illy) and drinking the same drink - Cafe Mocha with Double-Espresso; and I mean double espresso IN the coffee, not separately.
- Preller Plein - Where my favourite Woolworths (not like the Woolworths in London. It is like the Marks and Spencer equivalence in SA) and other branch of House of Coffee is.
- Brandwag Centre - Where the Pick and Pay Supermarket is. I don't go there. I am faithful to Madam Woolly's.
- 2 Cinemas - One at Mimosa Mall, the other at the Waterfront
- 1 Macdonalds - Opened five years ago
- 1 KFC - Don't know when that opened....
- Naval Hill - Where couples go to make out
- City Centre - where none of us go.
BLOEMFONTEIN WATERFRONT
Click on the picture to enlarge it
If you squint your eyes hard enough, you will see House of Coffee
Doesn't take much imagination to figure out how enjoyable living in Bloemfontein was. To be fair, I did like Bloem alot whilst I was living there. Being such a small, residential town, it provided ample peace after a mad day at work and/or after-travels. It was boring no doubt. But still, it had its own little allures. And it was, during my time there, the safest place to be as it was such an Afrikaans-dominated town. I was informed that armed robberies occured some time back, speculated to be masterminded by Chinese/Taiwanese syndicates.
But one year of going to the same place, having the same drink with the same person every single damn day was sheer monotony. It is even more wrenching when the waitresses still remember my coffee order when I pop back to Bloem now and again. Saturdays at Bloem(after House of Coffee) is not much better. We would faithfully go to Stones (a disco cum pool place) to play pool. Stones is the only pool place (minus pubs/bars with only 1-2 pool tables) in Bloem and mind you, their tables are a wreck, the cue sticks are crooked and the balls had more pock-marks than the holes on my face.
That's life in Bloemfontein. It is like watching an art film where life goes on at the back of your head whilst you sit at this one place, unaware of the real world. My only access to the outside world? Internet and travels.
English is not a first language amongst the Afrikaans. It is a speak-only-when-needed sort of language. And what is it with that nasal "Neh" at the end of each sentence? How many times I had to control my laughter when talking to some bank personnels.
"You know neehh, your account neeehhh....."
You get the idea.
Pretoria is the other Afrikaans-dominated city. I like Pretoria though. Somewhat reminds me of Singapore - without the humid weather. My favourite area in Pretoria? Brooklyn. Beautiful houses and nice area to sit back, relax and have coffee. However, Afrikaans are Afrikaans be it Pretoria or Bloemfontein. To neh to they part. For better or for worse.
Speak English! I can't understand a flippin' word of Afrikaans.
Bier Dankie. (I don't even think I spelt Bier right)
Lakker! GENERAL QUIRKS OF SA:
- Afrikaans (the people) = not Africa-Afrikaans = not Blacks Africans = White South Africans
- Afrikaans (the language) = a supposed Dutch-Like language evolved to what WAS the White South African's language.
- The hooga-hooga people that I've been asked about are the Zulus.
- There are many Black tribes and languages. Don't ask me to name all of them. I can't even pronounce them. The main black language in SA is Sotho (I think that's how it is spelt).
- South Africa is the wealthiest State in Africa.
- South Africa does not have wild animals roaming on the streets.
- Rhinoceros and Lions are not my neighbours
- Do not mix South Africa up with North Africa
- Cape Town (Western Cape province), is the most multi-cultural city of South Africa, mainly of European origins - i.e. Dutch, Portugese, English etc.. So English naturally becomes the first language in Cape Town. Slow-paced and relaxed lifestyle. I wonder why.....
- Durban (Kwazulu Natal province) is the Indian capital. Chaos (this I quote from an Indian himself).
- Johannesburg (Gauteng province) is the Mad capital. Hustle and bustle, you spend your time caught in traffic jams, wondering why people in JNB is always in such a big rush. Is it productive rush or rush for the sake of rushing? Both perhaps.
- CT, DBN & JNB are the first cities to get all the latest technologies and products - which could sometimes have a time lapse from the rest of the world. Then maybe lucky enough, Bloemfontein would get it five years later. Obscure towns - don't even think about it.
- You do not go to the City Centre on your own if you are a tourist.
ROAD QUIRKS OF SA : - The car plates depict the province you are from, thus GP = Gauteng, FS = Free State, ND = Natal-Durban etc. Bearing an FS car plate (like mine) is a disgrace. Free State is known for bad drivers.
- SA is rated second for the best roads in the world. That I do agree.
- SA's road etiquette is fantastic. Apart from the 3 major cities, driving on the motorway is a breeze.
- On single lanes, drivers move to the road shoulder to let you overtake them
- On the right lanes of wide roads, drivers GRACIOUSLY change lanes to let faster cars get through (Asia : road hogs or tail-gaters)
- At T-Junctions with stop lines, vehicles stop and first vehicle to stop gets right of way. The rest disciplinely follows suit (Asia : I would imagine all vehicles have a gathering right in the middle, curse, swear, centre-finger, honk and no one gives way. That explains why there are T-Junction stop lines.)
- Hazard lights = thank you after overtaking a vehicle who gives way
- Single High-Beam Flash = You're welcome (Asia : Mutiple flashes only. It means 'get out of my f***in' way)
- Double High-Beam Flash from opposite direction = Traffic Cops ahead
- Multiple High-Beam Flash from opposite direction = SLOW DOWN NOW! Traffic cops just metres ahead (normally too late of a warning....)
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