Photoshooting in Mtuba

Well, basically it didn't go that well, we were looking for a roof rack and chatting too much and personally I don't like looking like a tourist especially in Mtuba. 3 photos...

Chinese store in Mtuba, yes we are that westernised!

Market

The doc-herbalist healer

The chinese store owners misspelt Mtuba! Its not MAtuba even if it sounds so sometimes. Unless matuba means sth else in zulu of course, does it? They either didn't ask anyone (no friends in Mtuba) and  couldn't read the roads signs either.  OR they have a really good sense of humour...! You never know until you ask...

Also, dunno if you can see it but the doc can give me my dignity back. Finally!!! It's never too late my friend :)

I took a hot shower this morning

The reason why I tell you this lame story about my personal hygiene is simply because just 15 minutes adjacent from me (Riverview) in KwaMsane Township is someone who turned on his/her tap on this morning and no water came out pouring, running down her nice soft, succulent skin, dripping down slowly down her body, making her...(oh sorry about that, I kind of drifted off to another article)... Anyway my point is simple, I always have running water in Riverview...always. Well it boils down to entitlement really, I feel that I am entitled to have running water because I stay in the suburbs of riverview village. But is that really so? anyway let me continue...I have heard people from the township say this countless times. "We are entitled to have running water because we stay in the township, we can't suffer as if we were staying in reserve locations, like rural somkhele, nkodibe,emachibini, etc". Yes it sometimes sounds as if its a matter/question of entitlement. But let us look into this boring but sensitive issue for sec. Who is really entitled to clean running water? Riverview residents? KwaMsane township residents? residents of the rural outskirts of mtubatuba? or the plants? vegetables? fruits? or weeds? [not that weed :)] Okay, weighing entitlement and privilege is senseless just like the "ay" in "Okay". lastly there is a general acceptance that people living the in outskirts of rural Mtuba have,they feel they don't deserve most of the basic services, and they have come to accept this as the norm. Anyway to cut the long story short, we are all entitled to have a hot shower in the mornings.

Welcome to Mtubatuba (2)

Locals, national and international visitors welcome to Mtubatuba. I have only been living here since January 2011 but I assume that gives me the right to say welcome. Or should I say wellcome? (sorry inside joke). My contribution to this blog will be the one from the foreign lady's point of view. I am very sensitive to racist, sexist or xenophobic comments/posts so will suggest complete removal of them.

Mtuba is magic. Mtuba is crazy. It is rural but not really. It lacks a decent bar. Random potholes appear after the rains. The roads in KwaMsane are indeed shit. But it's more than that. International people come over and make strong friendships amongst them in short periods of time. If they are smart they will learn to be humble, sharpen their diplomatic skills and be patient in order to make friends with locals. Takes time and effort and probably depends on one's background/past and whether they are willing to temporarily set it aside. Coz the locals won't do it easily! But that's another story, not a welcome story.

What is Mtubatuba for me? It is heat, driving, summer storms, mosquitos, shisanyama, driving, running, nights out in St Lucia, ocean, waves, surfing, animals, rugby, good food, bad food, driving, macho men, racism, big smiles, black and white, insane drivers, strange fruits, good friends, driving, power cuts, challenging friends, have I mentioned driving? Not all good and not all bad but a combination most of the time.

Mtuba is not an easy place to live in. Especially if you are a woman. Not sure if the skin colour makes any difference in this case. Coz it seems to still make in most of the cases...See, I get the right to say welcome as I have said the phrase "its because I am white" more than once... But hey, there is hope. I am proud to have witnessed change with my own eyes. It is worth living here for these moments and only. Welcome to Mtubatuba.

Welcome to Mtubatuba

This blog spot is for all those who know and deeply love to hate our beautiful little town. Mtubatuba is centrally located at the heart of the KwaZulu region. This group allows you to connect or reconnect with your fellow hommies and share your stories about your experience staying in Mtubatuba. This group is open to everyone, tourist or resident, South African or from abroad. We are convinced there is something you would like to share. Feel free to use any language you most feel comfortable using, we would however appreciate if you write in English or Zulu in order for your views to be understood by the wider audience. I'm sure you have many stories to share about this place, the good and the bad. Thought it could be a good idea to open this platform specifically for that. Feel free to say whatever is on your mind, your views are your views, and will remain your views. However we do promote that we keep this blog space peaceful, respectful and clean. This is a platform where you can express your views about things that interest you or you deeply hate in 'our' small or a small town that some of us have found ourselves in :). This platform also include the entire demography of Mtubatuba, including but not limited to KwaMsane, Bhoboza, Nkombose, Somkhele, Nkodibe, Mpukunyoni, etc. Express your views on love, sex, relationships, up to government and service delivery (my favorite), to empowerment articles.