So its been a while and the reason I never lived up to my promise of blogging at least once a week, was because for the most part I had no passion in me to blog. The other part I got swamped with work and took on more then I could handle with some freebie work I was doing. Yes say it, I know you thinking it anyway – Douche Bag I am!

So the passion to write is slowly returning and the freebie work that I was doing was actually all about writing. I was writing blog posts and reviews for some sites out there. [No I am not sharing it with you, if you find it you do, if not it doesn’t have anything to do with you.]

I’ve also been jamming up my weekends with the Football mania that is gripping my beautiful country South Africa.

Managed to make it to the opening game of Soccer City, Johannesburg. Thanks to my lovely friend Aasia for organising the tickets and making sure I got there. Was so unreal to hear about 80 000 plus [close on to 95 000 I hear] fans blowing vuvuzelas*, cheering their team and bottom line getting into the spirit of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, though it was a Nedbank Cup final between Wits University and AmaZulus.

Capacity crowds at the opening of Soccer City

Then Sunday was all about chilling but Monday brought on another bought of Football Fever. Headed to Soweto once again to see my country South Africa take on Bulgaria. I felt the stadium tremble under the feet of the supporters, I head shouts and screams and vuvuzelas from people of every colour and race. I felt a country united and I had goosebumps, not from the cold, the entire night.

I also learnt that my country will be behind the player 101% even when we know they could be doing better, much better.

I could criticize the players here but that’s for a different blog and a different audience.

Orlando Stadium, Soweto, behind Bafana Bafana 101%

Another exciting and interesting event in the last four days with regards to football was the Kia Street Soccer experience. I watched Under 13’s play with such skill that would make grown men feel ashamed. I heard the streets of Alexandra township come alive cheering for teams of 6 players which had to have 2 girls in their team play to win a trophy. Also I heard that Kia will be taking all 4000 kids who participated in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to a 2010 FIFA World Cup game, to be part of it and for these underprivileged kids to be able to say “I was there”.

Makes me realise that this world is such a beautiful place with so many great people who will always try to make a difference in peoples lives no matter what.

Winning team from the Kia Street Soccer - Soweto Young Ones

Thank you to the beautiful people out there with the biggest hearts.

PS: Did I mention I also watched GREASE at the theatro on Tuesday. Was amazing and once again Thank you to Aasia.

*Vuvuzelas: are horns or trumpets that are blown at almost every football game in South Africa. It increases the experience by 10 folds but can leave you hard of hearing or short of breath or even both . More info find it here and for pics you can find here.

Nelson Mandela's walk to freedom - 11 February 1990

On this day 20 years ago one of the greatest men walked out of prison to the welcoming arms of his people.

Many people in South Africa today are remembering this day, but like many I was one of those too young to realise the meaning of it all. Sure my parents had set me down countless times and told me why this day was important and who Nelson Mandela was, but a six-year old only knows the excitement that surrounds her and not what is happening. I remember running around the room waiting to see the first images of the man everyone kept talking about.

Not only was is a memorable day because of his release to me, but it was also a hot, sunny one in Durban, meaning pool time for sure. Yes, thats how I remember it.

One thing though that everyone today seems to be forgetting is the if it wasn’t for the push and the person FW de Klerk is, we really would not be having much to celebrate. Mandela is a great man especially for calling for peace and holding a country together which threatened to spill the blood of innocent people, but I personally also have to give credit to de Klerk. Yes, he was part of the Apartheid system, yes his morals and ethics need questioning but he did set free the man who brought this nation together.

Thank you to de Klerk and thank you very very much to Tata Madiba, for giving me the opportunity to grow up FREE and to let me finish school, go to campus and be the person I want to be – in – SOUTH AFRICA!!!

***YouTube vid of the events of that day…20 years ago!!!***
BBC News: Nelson Mandela released from prison

I’ve been promising to write all I can about my trip about a month and a half back to Maputo, Mozambique. But along the way I lost the plot a bit. This is me here trying to rectify this little mishap.

Listening to Nickelback blasting in my ears and writing this hear quick summary of Maputo. Hoping the pics below express more then my words. As words fail me when describing places. It’s all about the senses when you travel Africa.

The sight, smells, sounds and tastes are hard to put down on paper. Maputo is no different. The experience there is nothing compared to Johannesburg and anywhere in South Africa for that matter.

Maputo ‘International’ Airport is small…no wait its TINY… in comparison to OR Tambo International. Security is almost non-existent… except every bag checked through is scanned and checked for items that can somehow be used to bribe you the traveller into parting with a few meticas (me-ti-cash) [local currency] or ZA Rands or US dollars… kaching!!

Balcony allows you a view of the runway…stand there long enough and if an Boeing lands [one of few that would land there] you can lose an eardrum. Or 2.

Maputo’s climate reminded me very much of my hometown Durban. I mean I was there in winter and its so hot outside that I can walk around in t-shirt and 3quaters. But at night a light pull over was needed. Lovely beautiful weather. Streets dusty and lined with sand. Sand running through my toes. Hair flying in the wind. Cool salty breeze from the ocean a street or two away.

Maputo is even more chilled then Cape Town and I have no idea if that’s a compliment of insult to Cape Town. Siesta on a Friday in Maputo is a 2 hour lunch break…don’t expect to get anything done at all during that time. Not even a street vendor in sight.

Decided on the one day off that I had, that I would tour the town. And tour I did. Not only was I fasting but I had this insane idea that I could walk about 20km plus with out eating and drinking just so that I could discover the fish market, the fruit and vegetable market and take to the beach and ocean.

Sand flying everywhere walk I did. The fish market for me was something else. Walking through rows and rows of freshly caught fish, lobsters the size of my arms, tiger prawns, mussels, crabs as big as my head was wow. <- Only word left in my meagre vocabulary that could describe the sight and sounds and smells.

Locals bargaining is definitely a sight to witness. Not that I understood much since Portuguese is foreign to me. The market ends with rows and rows of restaurants…waiters lining up to take your freshly chosen fish or squid or what ever you bought to make it up in the most amazing Portuguese basting around.

Only reason I know this is because we headed there for supper the one night and I ate the lobster that I had eyed out at the market the day before. Yes the same one that was as big as my arm. The multicoloured lovely fleshy lobster. I think the entire meal came to less then half of what you would pay in a South African restaurant. Lobster done Portuguese style over an open flame… amazing.

Not only that I think I ate most of my week away at nights. Nandos has nothing on original flame grilled Portuguese chicken. I think they need a lesson in that one.

Ok enough on the food, more about the place. Maputo like the rest of Mozambique is recovering from a civil war. You can still spot bullet holes here and there and the occasional demolished building. But it’s a thriving city. Lined with loads of development. Sky scrapers popping up everywhere and all Chinese investments at that.

They say you can judge a country by its roads…well Maputo has loads of work to do on their roads then. Potholes make JoBurg roads look safe. But then again no on in Maputo drove over 60km/h from what I saw. There were a few late night dodge mad capped drivers but in the 10 days I was there only saw 3 of those types. Every other person drove so slow I felt like telling them to step on it.

The police though and army officials are dodge. As soon as they notice you a foreigner well I hope to god you have your passport on you. Bribery is nothing compared to how hard they can make a simple stroll from where you just ate to the hotel a misery even though its only half a km away. ALWAYS carry your PASSPORT in where ever you go in Maputo!!!

Mozambique’s population is one of the poorest around but they definitely try hard to make an honest living. Selling oranges on the street that are peeled and cut at the top so that you can squeeze the juice out, to selling sim cards and credit and gum to even running someones stall at the market, they try. Outside the city on one of our excursions to a cashew factory and to where they grow vegetables to sell at the market I saw something amazing.

A tall towering stadium being constructed. Yes 2010 means enough to them as it means to us. New stadium in a poor area, because South Africa is willing to share some training matches with the neighbouring countries. Goose bump inducing moment. I only hope that the money was used in the best way and Mozambique can benefit while it watches its people suffer from hunger and floods and diseases.

Check out the pics

[View with PicLens]

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It’s Ramadan, and during this time most people hate travelling. Somehow though it always happens with me that I get sent away to some African country. First year in Jhb and lucky I was sent to Madagascar about 2 weeks after Ramadan. Second year in Jhb [last year] I get sent to Accra, Ghana. This year the beginning of my third year I get sent to a country on South Africa’s doorstep, yet I haven’t visited till now…Mozambique.

I started typing this delightful blog entry in Maputo, but it got forgotten when the workload came in. So excuse the late posting of this here simple piece…
“””
So here I sit in Maputo typing this and wondering how much longer to go till I can break my fast. Supposed to be paying attention to the training programme that Inter Press Service Africa is running with journalists from all over Africa, but my priority is food right now.

Maputo is an awesome place. I’m one of those weird types who loves travelling Africa. So far every country I’ve been to is awesome in my book. And Maputo is no different.

Flight sadly was delayed so landed only at 9pm [SA and Maputo share the same time zone]. But the plane ride alone was an experience and a half. If you’ve been on a rollercoaster you know the feeling when it falls and the pit of your stomach just goes upside down. Well it was exactly like that. Travelling in a brand spanking new LAM small plane – smaller then the conventional plane we use travelling between cities in SA – the take off went smooth but the ride just got bumpy. Any turbulence hit sent the plane up and down like a rollercoaster — only thing missing was the loop the loops and the funny twists and turn.

Landing the first thing I noticed was that Maputo is a brightly lit city, no different from Johannesburg or Cape Town, BUT the streets are heavily lit and not really the houses. An oddity to say the least.

The hotel we were accommodated in was the same one the conference would be held in. the Fanrpan dialogue, would be an interesting one as only their name alone can suggest. FANRPAN = Food Agriculture Natural Resources and Policy Analysis Network – Regional Policy dialogue.

Yes that’s exactly what I attended. A mouthful and a half to say the least.

So first thing was worrying about sehri for the next morning. Yes I know as a traveller, I did not have to fast but I wanted to and I also felt that I needed to as my journey was not a difficult one and neither was it an entirely different time zone. So I fasted and it was easy. [well some what easy – have to admit I had moments where I wished I wasn’t fasting but I kept them all]

Sehri was provided by the hotel kitchen before I headed to sleep. Two rolls and some butter. Its very hard trying to communicate with them if they only speak Portuguese. Water in my hotel room and I was sorted for suhoor. Why didn’t i just order room service? well for one it ends at midnight and two because they were terribly expensive! No idea why but they were!

I was lucky that my old housemate Zakiyya’s sister is married and staying in Maputo as well. Hajra took it upon herself to make sure I had food for iftaar and sehri every day till I left. Thanks to her I was sorted for the one week from Monday till Friday. But the Friday to Sunday I fended for myself. I had carried some Kajoor so that again was no problem, the hunger and thirst though was madness. Use to head straight out from the conference to my room and hunt for some chips [crisps] and junk food.

After though I royally indulged in the delicacies that make Mozambique famous. Portuguese chicken, fresh fish, crab curry, prawns and even a huge lobster was on the menu for me when I joined my colleagues for supper around the town.

I think I most probably put on more weight in Maputo then I have ever done in any other Ramadan.

I hunted for a mosque near where we stayed, but found none sadly. I was though shown one on one of the field trips slightly out of the city. Managed to catch Iftaar with some of the locals. Portuguese bread is amazing. Not like the synthetic rolls we get here.

definitely my highlight moment.

Next blog… all about Maputo.

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Mosque approximately 12km out of central Maputo. They all sitting on the stoop for iftaar waiting for Azaan to be called.

Another year in Johannesburg, completion of my second to be exact, but its my third Ramadan here. If people tell me once more that life gets easier remind me to cut them off from my life. Life doesn’t get easier, it gets weirder and at times harder.

Ramadan is one of those difficult times in the year. Times like these you wish you were at home surrounded by family. Mum who somehow even though she is working has food for iftaar ready, and dad who is always there making sure you wake up for sehri.

But truth be told, even though Ramadan is difficult alone, I love the month. It’s a time when I seek myself again. When I try and figure out who I am and where I want to be in the next year.

Ramadan for a person staying away from home always starts at least a few weeks earlier. Especially if they the unmarried ones [yes meaning me].

So what do I mean by weeks earlier. Well the usual preparations may happen at home as per normal, but ours begins with the first phone call from mother dearest. “You want samoosa’s, pies what else must I prepare for you.”

Dearest mum is trying to freezer pack everything she can for me. Which also means that a special trip to Durban would be needed to ensure that I collect everything or hopefully a friend will be able to bring it up.

But I’m the weird kind. I hate putting my mum out of her way so I tell her not to make everything and I will be fine. So I head to Durban over the long weekend for my cousins wedding and sure enough my mum has stuff ready for me. Not as much as the last two Ramadans, but enough that I know for at least 2 weeks I wont need any fries or pies.

Love my mum for doing this but there are also the calls from my aunts and most def my grandmother. Love them all to bits but seriously there is only so much place in my freezer and I share it with 2 other girls.

And the really really bad thing about it is that when I fast and I break fast I need FOOD. Not samoosas and pies but food. Yes I’m that kind of person. I wont need a lot but I will want and need food.

So the long rambling process that I am getting to is that people please check out Ramadan.co.za for full world coverage of this years fast. Get in touch with your spirituality, find some good recipes and live everyone’s experiences and understand the similarities and differences of Muslims from across the world.

Inshallah this year I hope to get a chance to blog from Maputo, Mozambique for the blog. Somehow I always get sent for work around Ramadan. I think it’s a test and I welcome the experience. Last year was Ghana, this year Mozambique…next year who knows.

Remember me in your duas and remember your fellow Muslims across the world.

Ramadan Mubarak!!!

Picture taken on Hajj trip 2005/2006

Was feeling a bit lost since I hadn’t written a blog post in a while.
My down side is that I usually write when I feel passionately about something, and if that’s the case then sadly these days I’m not a very passionate person.

So I visited my old blog home. Went through some deadly old posts and realised that my virtual world has now evolved to a point where my friends who previously just commented on my posts are now what another friend call it: my “21st Century Friends”.

So got me wondering if I truly believe that these amazing, wonderful individuals are really friends or just acquaintances on my journey through life. Well some are most definitely that…mere acquaintances but the others are not.

I have come to meet some wonderful and weird and arb people in the last three years of my life through the Internet. These people I have also come to rely on and to cherish and treasure for who they are. We have gone past the obscene Internet connection communication and moved to deeper understanding face-to-face love and communication. Built over time these friendships will continue to grow and no doubt be friends who my children will refer to as aunts and uncles.

This is not saying that I am leaving my old school, campus and face-to-face non-internet friends. Definitely not!!! But I am saying that all my relationships are unique and significant in their own ways. And when people question me: can you really have true friends over the internet? I can turn around and tell them YES!!! And when I say it I believe every single word, emotion and meaning behind the word.

To all my friends … 21st century or not… you are my world!!!
I may never call, I may forget to even sms, but i think of you and I miss you and love you!!!

South African doctors on strike on May 29, 2009.

We live in country that has made me proud and sad all in one breath.

Been talking to a doctor friend of mine and came to the realisation that I along with half the country does not actually know nor under stand why the doctors across the country are striking. I convinced the kind soul to enlighten me and along with that the rest of the nation.

His response is below. I suggest reading it completely before judging the doctors and health care professionals who are striking presently. Who we conveniently condemn for leaving their patients unattended.

Have a heart to read the pleas of the doctors, for they are the heart that our nation needs to survive with.

Why Doctors feel the need to strike.

27/06/2009

The current strike happening by government employed doctors gained momentum yesterday when doctors in the Western Cape decided to join the strike action following a meeting at Groote Schuur Hospital. As a doctor at the above institution I had mixed feelings about striking and abandoning our patients in what is seen by the general public as just a dispute over salaries. The protest action is in fact a culmination of years of abuse that medical professionals have endured at the hands of the government.

Let’s start with working conditions. The hospitals are over-capacity, and the doctors are overworked. In my ward, we officially have place for 65 patients. We had more than 85 for the best part of last week. Doctors work 30 hour shifts when they do overtime, working a minimum of 60 hours a week in my hospital, but it’s not like this everywhere. Usually it’s worse. Although, this certainly is an improvement since 2002 when as an intern, I worked 100 hours a week and 30 hour shifts every third day. We are expected to do procedures with needles potentially putting ourselves and others at risk of contracting HIV by needlestick injuries, this even after having been awake and on our feet for 24 hours and more. Yes, just call us Jack Bauer.

If that was all there was to contend with, then it would be bad. But add to that, unsafe working conditions. Doctors and nurses literally put their lives at risk to save others in busy casualties by working late nights, trying to save gunshot victims of gang warfare, knowing full well that someone might just overpower the lone security guard at the door and come in to finish the job. I kid you not. Many of my colleagues have had to dodge a flying bullet.
Supplies. You’d think hospitals wouldn’t run of supplies right? Nope. Gloves. Needles. Syringes. IV fluids. Linen. Antibiotics. Incubators. Two nights ago, on call, I had to place two babies into one incubator, because we just did not have enough. As an Intern and a Community Service doctor, I had to treat patients on the floor. They had to sleep on the floor, because we didn’t have enough beds! Not that there was anymore place to put any beds in the ward. It’s frustrating having to work in a SA hospital. You have nothing to work with, yet are asked to perform miracles. Often the doctor on call, has to decide whether to refuse one patient life-saving treatment, in the hope of saving another with a slightly better chance of survival. This is Africa after all.

All this, in the face of dwindling staff. Nobody wants to work for the state. It’s too difficult. Too stressful. Dying patients you can do nothing for, in overcrowded hospitals, with nothing to help them with.

It’s no wonder so many of my colleagues have decided to jump ship. Go to any hospital in the UK, Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, and you’ll be sure to find at least one South African. This brain drain is going to continue, unless the government starts making amends. It’s a one-way ticket out of South African Medical Schools and into European hospitals. And it’s spiraling out of control. The less doctors in government service, the rosier it looks overseas, the more doctors will leave the government service. And if you think it’s just whites, think again. Blacks, whites, indian, coloured doctors….all leaving in droves. Ironically, I know of many European and Canadian doctors wanting to work in South Africa, in SA hospitals, for experience not money, and the government and HPCSA have them jumping beaurocratic hurdles for years.

Add to that, the government recently doubled the internship time from 1 year to 2 years, and are now looking to increase mandatory community service from 1 year to 2 years. Effectively, if you’re 18 when you enter Medical School, you’ll be 28 when you’d be free to make independent choices about your career. Until then, you’ll be told where you must work and live. This is going to force medical graduates to do internship overseas, never to come back.

Now coming to the salaries…after having spent 6 years studying, and at least R30 000 on tuition alone yearly , one can look forward to taking home around R9000 (after tax) a month as an intern. If you ask me, I think this was an incentive for doubling the internship time and community service time. Where do you get skilled workers to perform life-saving procedures locked into a 4 year contract to earn R9000 a month?

To do the job I do in the hospital I have three degrees in the medical field, but earn less than a gym personal trainer. If you compare my job requirements and qualification to any other professional in the government sector, I am being underpaid by at least 50%. In private practice I would be earning at least 300% of my current salary.
So why do I work in government and not private practice? For most people in my position, it’s a lot more about the job than the money. It’s about the patients. It’s about advancing healthcare in this country, and advancing the field of medicine as a whole, by academic work and delivery of professional service. Medical professionals are amongst the most skilled people in society, as it is almost a process of natural selection that produces these individuals.

But they’re being walked all over.

When the Minister held that press conference on Wednesday, it was a sneaky political move. When has any employer presented a wage offer to the public without first taking it the bargaining chamber? It was a move that they knew would be highly publicized and designed to remove public support for the strike action. In it they announced massive increases for Interns and Principle and Chief Specialist. But it was the grades in the middle that basically got nothing. To use an Army analogy, it would be giving the new recruits and the Generals something to keep them happy but everyone in between got shit. The generals were happy, so they didn’t support the action, and the New recruits were happy so they, who are usually the youngest, most militant, out the group, would go back to work.

But they left out the people that really count. The one’s doing the real work. Medical Officers, Junior and Senior Specialists. The Interns, registrars aren’t going to be around forever, they have finite contracts. But the Medical officers and specialists working in the government have made it long-term career choices. This is not the first time that we are being duped either. We were promised that this OSD would come into effect July 2008. It’s now one year later, and we’re still waiting. We want what we were promised.

And those that ask is it worth it? Is it worth patients dying for higher salaries? That’s a difficult one for us, but in the end, it comes down to what’ll happen if we don’t do anything. And the simple answer is this: Our health system is at breakpoint. It’s close to crumbling, and the government has chosen to ignore and put band-aids on it. It’s as if they don’t care. When Manto got her new liver, she didn’t lie in a government hospital.

So, since most of us don’t have the heart or inclination to abandon our sickest patients, doctors in the Western Cape have decided to continue running emergency services, critical care and theatres only. All outpatients and elective surgery will have to close. We’re not doing medical teaching either. Sorry students, we’re fighting for your future too.

If we don’t do something now…it’s going to cost much more lives in the future.

We humbly ask that the public support us in our endeavors. In the end it affects all of us.

Dr Y.J.

Proud supporters of the South African National Team

Been meaning to post my thoughts on the previous matches I attended but I’ve just gotten more and more carried away with events happening around me. Some may find this post seriously delayed but this is my blog [I reiterate] and I have the joy of posting what I want, when and how I want it.

Honestly no matter what people say and the shitty press coverage South Africa seems to garner… there’s just one thing I can say… SOUTH AFRICA YOU CAN BE PROUD!!!

These last few weeks of intense football has shown the world we can pull it off. Bring on World Cup 2010, bring on the world!! We have what it takes and we going to show you how a nation still stands together. A nation just in their adolescent years.

I am proud and honoured to be a South African. To being in the stadium last night [25 June 2009] and singing the national anthem with pride and a little tears in my eyes. To hear 49 000 people cheering on both teams and to know that on the world stage ‘Our boys’ [Bafana Bafana] can perform.

We did not stand in awe of the likes of Kaka and Robinho but fought to the end to win and be the champions, to be the ones who go into the finals knowing that a nation stands behind pushing, encouraging and blessing you for bringing us all together.

But alas that was not so. We lost but only in the dying minutes and I am proud of the way my country has performed. From where we were three months go to playing like this. I am loving it.

The Confederation Cup is seen as the pre-empt to the World Cup and as a training so that the world cup can go smoothly. Well this was indeed a training mission for the South Africans and the Gauteng administrators.

I have to say that there definitely were teething problems, but as I said it was TEETHING issues. Nothing majorly catastrophic like a stampede.

My first match was the Egypt vs. Italy match and the major concern I had after the match was the ‘Park and Ride’ facilities. It was at this point that I realised that a lot had to do with poor organisation and the nature of the crowd. Yes this is my one and only grip with the Local Organising committee.

The park and ride worked beautifully going to the ground, as most supporters arrive in various different batches. It’s after the match when things get a bit ‘unruly’ and crowd control is lacking.

My second match was the Brazil vs. Italy at Loftus, Pretoria. The organisation on was perfect and brilliant. Clear boards pointed you to your awaiting buses, people were helpful and friendly, no pushing and no shoving, but then again the crowd here was mediocre.

SO I know that this Confederation Cup was a test and I hope the guys in Johannesburg will learn from their counterparts in Pretoria.

Many have complained about the Vuvuzelas at the game, but this is South Africa, this is Africa. It is part of our games and it should stay [even if I at times get irritated by them]. Why? Because Fifa you brought the beautiful game to Africa, so let us have our African atmospheres, shouting, laughs and tears. Europe it may disturb and infuriate you but this is AFRICA and not Europe. Give us our freedom of expression!!!

South Africa I am proud to be called South African, I am proud to be living in this country during this historic moment and I am proud of our players, supporters, organisation and friendly smiles.

I am proud to be able to watch a match where our supporters come from every race, creed and background. TO know we have come this far from being nowhere.

I am a PROUD SOUTH AFRICAN today!!!!
SA fans in action

for more videos check here
for more pictures from Egypt vs. Italy, Brazil vs. Italy and SA vs. Brazil

It beens a while since I posted or blogged for that matter on either of my blogs. Theres been a reason for this. More then anything i wanted to start anew. I thought that once I found the right host and started creating this site, I would find peace and my love for blogging would continue.

But damn was I wrong. Not only did I start learning xml/html/design I became so fussy to a point of going through countless themes till I found the right one. A few of my friends even helped me out by other offering pearls of wisdom [thanks Saaleha] or testing out whether my themes actually worked or not on the various browsers available [thanks to saaleha, nafisa, killa and Aasia] and also for letting me know how much some themes SUCKED!!!

Guessing that’s what friends are for

So to new beginnings and foundations and endeavours and here’s to hoping that I can maintain this blog. Its been and uphill and it still feels like one, but you never know what the future holds and brings.

[damn i sound so cliche ]

Please all friends change your link love to this brandnew spanking one.

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I have been running around like a headless chicken and suffering from a huge dose of insomnia. Due to this I have been very much online with Twitter and the likes there of. No wonder on Wednesday night I got a little tweet to tell me about the events unfolding in Mumbai. I was shocked, horrified and dismayed.

Staying up till the morning [or rather not sleeping at all] I tracked events and at the same time felt helpless without satellite news and a working internet connection. Thank god Twitter can be easily accessed through your phone and as most of you know I can be highly addicted to my phone.

But this is not about twitter, though it was the first to bring the breaking news to people across the globe. Big thumbs up to citizen journalism and yes there is a place in the world for you guys but I have to say it is restricted to breaking news.

This is about the thoughts and horror stories that filled my head while watching events unfold. And know that its still happening 2 days on.

My first thoughts were of course who is claiming responsibility for these attacks. Will they again go after the usual “Muslim Terrorist” – those crazy fundamentals? Will India blame Pakistan for the attacks? Can this lead to a nuclear war? [Not forgetting that India and Pakistan both have nuclear warheads lying in their backyards]. Also was this was turning out to be India’s 9/11. What action will the country take? Those questions can’t be answered as yet since the gun battles are still going on. Attacking the Taj and Oberoi hotels was extremely clever planning and these gunmen were definitely not ‘normal’ islamic terrorists. Precise planning and tech capabilities are allowing them to run havoc in the financial capital of India.

Worrying as this all was I was sad that I was missing from the action. I was actually wishing I was there reporting being in the thick of it all. Reminded me of the adrenaline rush I felt during May this year in South Africa, when the xenophobic attacks were happening.

No I am not saying that I condone the attacks. I CONDEM it completely but as a journalist its in my blood to want to be there, to feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. To let it all subside and to let the tears come at the horror that you see and witness. I am human and tears will be natural for I am a girl with feelings. But I would still want to be there. I want to tell the news and I want to tell it as it happens. If it was not for those witnessing it first hand I would not have heard about it till the next morning like a lot of my friends.

Where am I leading with all this?

Well no where exactly. Its just me putting my thoughts down and letting you all know about it. Its me agreeing that citizen journalism rocks for breaking news. Its me showing that I’m a little crazy wanting to be in the thick of things and not caring about my own self. Its just all about me.

On another note on me, another reason I have been running around without a head [see first line on chickens] is I’m writing a few articles for World Aids Day on Monday. Have you ever tried coordinating an article with a round up from all parts of Africa?

Yicks its an intense hard process, but I pulled it off. Now its wait and see if the editor loves or hates it. [hoping loves it!!!]

Its hard doing these stories. You meet people living with the virus who give you hope and show you that love exists and then you meet others who make your heart break into a million pieces.

Hoping to have something written up for my blog on Monday. All depends on the madness that will arise with my stories from today till Sunday night.

Be safe everyone

And my condolences to the families in Mumbai and to everyone effected and affected with HIV/AIDS!!!

Peace

PS: and there was the #27Dinner this week…awesome people out there. Photo Credit to Za5

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