Most days there are not that many animals crossing the road but today was nuts. It was almost Goat meat stew tonight because this little white goat blitzed it in front of me on the main street. Also a farmer was hearding his cattle across the main street and it seemed like ever where you looked there were a small heard of goats or cattle on the side of the street. Its crazy because the bull always goes with the cattle. So with every small heard of cattle there are big bulls, some rodeo style. But they are tame because there are used to people being around. Still a little freaky though when your walking along and a 2000 pound bull is on the sidewalk.
The other day we went up to the highest place in Mochudi that looks over the entire town. You would never guess that 40,000 people live here but its basically a bunch of small villages that have expanded into on town. On Monday we went up there again and there was roughly 15 monkeys up there. The grey ones with long tails and black faces. So I hung out with them for a bit and played hide and seek with a couple. If they could not see my eyes because of a tree limb, they would jump to another and duck around until they could. Monkey's are known to be vicious so this was probably a dumb idea but they seemed pretty chill.
Hair cut anyone?? These little shacks are all over and everyone gets there hair buzzed here. Men and women. The women's hair is to thick and curly to do anything with so they buzz it down and then tie dreads or longer braids to it. It takes hours but without it they all have buzzed hair. This is the most ghetto hair shack I have seen so far but since I burnt my trimmer out the other day, I think I will be making a stop. This place is not only a hair shop but candy store. The Botswanans LOVE sugar. Little tuck shops are all over the place. On busy streets there are more then one a block. They also eat cheeses like crazy. They buy 4 foot tall bags of cheeses and split them into smaller bags and sell them. Seeing the huge bags of cheeses could almost bring a little puke to the throat, its nasty.
These are a traditional house called a Roundavel (spelling?). Few still live in such home but most have built more contemporary style homes. They still use the old Roundavel's for cooking over wood fires for those without electricity and for an outside kitchen. To buy electricity you have to go to a dealer (gas station or convenience store). You wait in line and purchase more electricity.
When I was in Johannesburg a German guy told me that some people never tear down the old dwelling of their parents because they believe their spirits still inhabit the house so they never touch it out of respect. So you will sometimes see a very old and decrepit Roundavel beside a newer contemporary home that is beside a new home. The contemporary home thats falling apart is likely the parents and the Roundavel was likely the grand parents. Have not herd this said again so not sure if its true. A more valuable source told me that when a mother has a child and it dies, they sometimes bury it under the spot where the mother sleeps so that the child will alway be with the mother. Kind of crazy eh.
One thing that is hard to get used to is the amount of locks here. Every window is bared and every door has a steel security door. To lock up the office there are 6 locks and an alarm on the one side and 4 locks and an alarm on the other side. Each room literally has its own security door and lock. Even if I go into the house from my man cave I have to lock the door and security door. It gets tiring after a while. Almost has a prison like feeling.
When I was in Johannesburg a German guy told me that some people never tear down the old dwelling of their parents because they believe their spirits still inhabit the house so they never touch it out of respect. So you will sometimes see a very old and decrepit Roundavel beside a newer contemporary home that is beside a new home. The contemporary home thats falling apart is likely the parents and the Roundavel was likely the grand parents. Have not herd this said again so not sure if its true. A more valuable source told me that when a mother has a child and it dies, they sometimes bury it under the spot where the mother sleeps so that the child will alway be with the mother. Kind of crazy eh.
One thing that is hard to get used to is the amount of locks here. Every window is bared and every door has a steel security door. To lock up the office there are 6 locks and an alarm on the one side and 4 locks and an alarm on the other side. Each room literally has its own security door and lock. Even if I go into the house from my man cave I have to lock the door and security door. It gets tiring after a while. Almost has a prison like feeling.
