PostcardJunkie's Guestbook
Comments
Date: 6th March 2010
Crazy
True there are lots of pretty ladies in kampala but how much fun (read bonking) they give you depends on how much you pay them.I would may be agree with this brother, Newyork would be fun!
From Blog: Sluts. I want to bonk them one by one.
Crazy
True there are lots of pretty ladies in kampala but how much fun (read bonking) they give you depends on how much you pay them.I would may be agree with this brother, Newyork would be fun!
From Blog: Sluts. I want to bonk them one by one.
Date: 24th January 2010
Best of luck
Best of luck with the freelance career Chris - hope you still stop by occasionally :-)
From Blog: Happy trails.
Best of luck
Best of luck with the freelance career Chris - hope you still stop by occasionally :-)
From Blog: Happy trails.
Date: 22nd January 2010
The complicated ethnic question.
Thanks for responding, Kathy. I do hope you're right, but I think the particular case of Rwanda is different in some important ways (well, apart from the most obvious ones). For one, as you yourself say: foreigners in the UK (and certainly in the States as well) are expected to embrace a common national identity, but they're still allowed - and even encouraged - to celebrate their own personal heritage. It's why America is the land of hyphenations, and why everyone gets a parade. In Rwanda, you can't be a Rwandan who's also proud of his Hutu or Tutsi heritage. You can ONLY be Rwandan. And as you yourself say, that won't change the person's strong feelings for their ethnic group. (Never mind the very complicated discourse on how fluid those ethnic groupings actually are.) The other, more cynical, point one can make is that "banning" ethnicity is a convenient way to obscure the fact that most of the important decision-makers in Rwanda - i.e., those men and women controlling the security of the state, and those benefitting most from the economic resurgence - just happen to be Tutsi (and, more specifically, Tutsis from President Kagame's own clan). A similar thing happened here in Burundi in the 1980s, when President Bagaza "abolished" ethnicity. It was just a cover-up that allowed his own people to profit. Still, the jury is still out on Rwanda. I do hope the progress the country has made in the past decade has been genuine, and that the benefits will eventually be felt by everyone.
From Blog: You cannot tell people to forget who they are.
The complicated ethnic question.
Thanks for responding, Kathy. I do hope you're right, but I think the particular case of Rwanda is different in some important ways (well, apart from the most obvious ones). For one, as you yourself say: foreigners in the UK (and certainly in the States as well) are expected to embrace a common national identity, but they're still allowed - and even encouraged - to celebrate their own personal heritage. It's why America is the land of hyphenations, and why everyone gets a parade. In Rwanda, you can't be a Rwandan who's also proud of his Hutu or Tutsi heritage. You can ONLY be Rwandan. And as you yourself say, that won't change the person's strong feelings for their ethnic group. (Never mind the very complicated discourse on how fluid those ethnic groupings actually are.) The other, more cynical, point one can make is that "banning" ethnicity is a convenient way to obscure the fact that most of the important decision-makers in Rwanda - i.e., those men and women controlling the security of the state, and those benefitting most from the economic resurgence - just happen to be Tutsi (and, more specifically, Tutsis from President Kagame's own clan). A similar thing happened here in Burundi in the 1980s, when President Bagaza "abolished" ethnicity. It was just a cover-up that allowed his own people to profit. Still, the jury is still out on Rwanda. I do hope the progress the country has made in the past decade has been genuine, and that the benefits will eventually be felt by everyone.
From Blog: You cannot tell people to forget who they are.
Date: 15th January 2010
Simply one people
Just taking the ethnicity of a person from their passport or identity card will not change their feeling of belonging to that group or make them forget the history of that ethnicity. Even in the United Kingdom, despite our passports stating we are only that we are British citizens, people from each country that makes up the kingdom are very well aware of what country they come from. I don't think of myself, first and foremost, as British, but as English (although I am now also Australian and proud of that, too). And try telling a Scot or Welshman that they are English (a mistake made by many visitors) and see what it gets you! However, despite the bloody history and past hatreds, most of us who make up the UK are now content to be one nation (parts of Northern Ireland being the obvious exception), while still retaining our individual identities, and in some areas a language other than English, too. I think it highly unlikely that we will suddenly have a civil war that tear the UK asunder (again, with the possible exception of N Ireland). If the government in Rwanda starts to treat the people as equal, not just in their identity cards, so that the fear and anger are lessened, then maybe they, too, can stand some chance of becoming a single, peaceful entity while still keeping their own history and ethnicity.
From Blog: You cannot tell people to forget who they are.
Simply one people
Just taking the ethnicity of a person from their passport or identity card will not change their feeling of belonging to that group or make them forget the history of that ethnicity. Even in the United Kingdom, despite our passports stating we are only that we are British citizens, people from each country that makes up the kingdom are very well aware of what country they come from. I don't think of myself, first and foremost, as British, but as English (although I am now also Australian and proud of that, too). And try telling a Scot or Welshman that they are English (a mistake made by many visitors) and see what it gets you! However, despite the bloody history and past hatreds, most of us who make up the UK are now content to be one nation (parts of Northern Ireland being the obvious exception), while still retaining our individual identities, and in some areas a language other than English, too. I think it highly unlikely that we will suddenly have a civil war that tear the UK asunder (again, with the possible exception of N Ireland). If the government in Rwanda starts to treat the people as equal, not just in their identity cards, so that the fear and anger are lessened, then maybe they, too, can stand some chance of becoming a single, peaceful entity while still keeping their own history and ethnicity.
From Blog: You cannot tell people to forget who they are.
Date: 8th January 2010
Blog of the year 2009, for the Africa/writing cathegory
Check this out :) http://www.travelblog.org/Topics/22180-1.html
From Blog: You cannot tell people to forget who they are.
Blog of the year 2009, for the Africa/writing cathegory
Check this out :) http://www.travelblog.org/Topics/22180-1.html
From Blog: You cannot tell people to forget who they are.
Date: 5th January 2010
good
i am chartered accountant, basically i am farmer family, while seeing the image of farm i remembered my farm. Thanking you Rajashekar gouda Chartered Accountant.INDIA
From Blog: Namialo and the essential Cyndi Lauper.
good
i am chartered accountant, basically i am farmer family, while seeing the image of farm i remembered my farm. Thanking you Rajashekar gouda Chartered Accountant.INDIA
From Blog: Namialo and the essential Cyndi Lauper.
Date: 6th December 2009
Nice piece of work
i like the way you described the event cause it was exactly like that. Chongo is a great friend of mine and you really brought out is picture in the story.
From Blog: All the president's men.
Nice piece of work
i like the way you described the event cause it was exactly like that. Chongo is a great friend of mine and you really brought out is picture in the story.
From Blog: All the president's men.
Date: 14th October 2009
All the Indian Congress President's Men
I loved it from beginning to end. Especially, "During the night heavy winds toppled the dais, Heads craned in the crowd to get a glimpse of the president’s balding pate as it emerged from his vehicle. The president climbed the steps to the dais and took a seat beneath a picture of himself. " This is so reminiscent of the Indian political party heads'(and there are so many in India, that we have lost count)whirl wind trips across India at the tax payers expense, supposedly to bring cheer to the village folk who never know when they will see light at the end of the tunnel. Make shift arrangements to receive the political big wigs , collapse like a pack of cards with every shift of the wind! Whille millions of farmers starve and regularly commit suicide when Government promises fail, the show still unmindfully goes on, with these great 'netas' (as they are called) rumbling into pockets of poverty, in their convoy of Government owned Ambassador cars. The 'netas' are heavily flanked by Commandos as their lives are in imminent threat of being blown up by suicide bombers from across the porous LOC. These 'netas' are feted and fed lavishly in each impoverished village , after the ceremonial garlanding and photograph session is over. Petitions and posies are pressed into their greasy palms, which are immediately transferred to the waiting grasp of their ADC's and forgotten immediately. Christopher you have brought out the meaningless visits of political heads so brilliantly. Only one line brought out a twinge of sadness "The 20 bulls swishing their tails nearby would be bought for immediate slaughter that day, as a gift to the local communities." Thank you for this delightful blog Radha The 20 bulls swishing their tails nearby would be bought for immediate slaughter that day, as a gift to the local communities.
From Blog: All the president's men.
All the Indian Congress President's Men
I loved it from beginning to end. Especially, "During the night heavy winds toppled the dais, Heads craned in the crowd to get a glimpse of the president’s balding pate as it emerged from his vehicle. The president climbed the steps to the dais and took a seat beneath a picture of himself. " This is so reminiscent of the Indian political party heads'(and there are so many in India, that we have lost count)whirl wind trips across India at the tax payers expense, supposedly to bring cheer to the village folk who never know when they will see light at the end of the tunnel. Make shift arrangements to receive the political big wigs , collapse like a pack of cards with every shift of the wind! Whille millions of farmers starve and regularly commit suicide when Government promises fail, the show still unmindfully goes on, with these great 'netas' (as they are called) rumbling into pockets of poverty, in their convoy of Government owned Ambassador cars. The 'netas' are heavily flanked by Commandos as their lives are in imminent threat of being blown up by suicide bombers from across the porous LOC. These 'netas' are feted and fed lavishly in each impoverished village , after the ceremonial garlanding and photograph session is over. Petitions and posies are pressed into their greasy palms, which are immediately transferred to the waiting grasp of their ADC's and forgotten immediately. Christopher you have brought out the meaningless visits of political heads so brilliantly. Only one line brought out a twinge of sadness "The 20 bulls swishing their tails nearby would be bought for immediate slaughter that day, as a gift to the local communities." Thank you for this delightful blog Radha The 20 bulls swishing their tails nearby would be bought for immediate slaughter that day, as a gift to the local communities.
From Blog: All the president's men.
Date: 11th October 2009
I absolutely agree!
Ed's absolutely correct. This is one of the best-written blogs I've read so far. Thoroughly enjoyed, and traveled with you!
From Blog: All the president's men.
I absolutely agree!
Ed's absolutely correct. This is one of the best-written blogs I've read so far. Thoroughly enjoyed, and traveled with you!
From Blog: All the president's men.
Date: 9th October 2009
Amazing blog
Fascinating and beautfully, professionally written, I really felt like I was there and could picture the people, places and atmosphere. I can't believe I've not spotted your blogs up until now! They are without doubt the best-written on Travelblog. Thank you!
From Blog: All the president's men.
Amazing blog
Fascinating and beautfully, professionally written, I really felt like I was there and could picture the people, places and atmosphere. I can't believe I've not spotted your blogs up until now! They are without doubt the best-written on Travelblog. Thank you!
From Blog: All the president's men.
Date: 27th August 2009
DO WE KNOW
Do we know the image Kenya has towards the world? Kenya could be one of the best countries to live in if only we corrected the simple mistakes that we do everyday life. We know that all this little sectors that we call Mungiki and some others are only destroying the good work of our forefathers. I real don’t see any reason why we should kill each other; if you have a reason then you must be the one, the few that never real know the meaning of human, its origin and what they represent in life. During the elections we lost more people that we can imagine in the name of election. We did not kill this prominent MPs or such. Can you tell me why we kill each other? Can I have an idea why? Still we see a lot of us regard human race as nothing. We real need to be better than this; we were never created out of nothing. The police force need to step up their games and to me to be a police officer you should have some college level skills, a lot of times this police officers make bad choices in a way that it affects the community as a whole. This word Kitu kidogo is affecting the country overall. I found out even the MPs give Kitu kidogo, what a shame. MPs are supposed to help enact laws but a lot of them break them. Recently I travelled to Kenya, my own country and was treated like a dog by the law enforcement, they demanded money from my family member because I had pulled on a wrong side of the curve, instead of them helping me they wanted to pull me out of my car by force, luckily enough I we knew the superintended of one of the post and we were let go. Later we went to the police post and found the police who wanted to arrest us and had a good talk. These cases happen every day life and as Kenyans we are tired. I full blame the president, prime and MPs for not doing their job.
From Blog: Mungiki, matatus, and why Nairobi is nothing at all like Mogadishu.
DO WE KNOW
Do we know the image Kenya has towards the world? Kenya could be one of the best countries to live in if only we corrected the simple mistakes that we do everyday life. We know that all this little sectors that we call Mungiki and some others are only destroying the good work of our forefathers. I real don’t see any reason why we should kill each other; if you have a reason then you must be the one, the few that never real know the meaning of human, its origin and what they represent in life. During the elections we lost more people that we can imagine in the name of election. We did not kill this prominent MPs or such. Can you tell me why we kill each other? Can I have an idea why? Still we see a lot of us regard human race as nothing. We real need to be better than this; we were never created out of nothing. The police force need to step up their games and to me to be a police officer you should have some college level skills, a lot of times this police officers make bad choices in a way that it affects the community as a whole. This word Kitu kidogo is affecting the country overall. I found out even the MPs give Kitu kidogo, what a shame. MPs are supposed to help enact laws but a lot of them break them. Recently I travelled to Kenya, my own country and was treated like a dog by the law enforcement, they demanded money from my family member because I had pulled on a wrong side of the curve, instead of them helping me they wanted to pull me out of my car by force, luckily enough I we knew the superintended of one of the post and we were let go. Later we went to the police post and found the police who wanted to arrest us and had a good talk. These cases happen every day life and as Kenyans we are tired. I full blame the president, prime and MPs for not doing their job.
From Blog: Mungiki, matatus, and why Nairobi is nothing at all like Mogadishu.
Date: 22nd August 2009
Weather in Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate in summer is too hot around 45 C° Ouarzazate in winter is too cold around 7 C° day, it is located in the feet of the high Atlas.
From Blog: Destined for the desert.
Weather in Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate in summer is too hot around 45 C° Ouarzazate in winter is too cold around 7 C° day, it is located in the feet of the high Atlas.
From Blog: Destined for the desert.
Date: 5th July 2009
great stuff
hey Chris..this is great stuff....I am moved by the bit of having a plan as writer...we need to talk about this at length for I am in the same basket. Otherwise good luck with your work. Allan Kigali
From Blog: The green hills of Africa.
great stuff
hey Chris..this is great stuff....I am moved by the bit of having a plan as writer...we need to talk about this at length for I am in the same basket. Otherwise good luck with your work. Allan Kigali
From Blog: The green hills of Africa.
Date: 3rd June 2009
Mungiki
how Large is the Mungiki clan
From Blog: Mungiki, matatus, and why Nairobi is nothing at all like Mogadishu.
Mungiki
how Large is the Mungiki clan
From Blog: Mungiki, matatus, and why Nairobi is nothing at all like Mogadishu.
Date: 22nd May 2009
Literary Talent
Sir: I am a travel writer and I find your entries worthy of exploration for publishing. I will be reading more, especially about Mozambique. Cheers, Rich.
From Blog: Meet the press.
Literary Talent
Sir: I am a travel writer and I find your entries worthy of exploration for publishing. I will be reading more, especially about Mozambique. Cheers, Rich.
From Blog: Meet the press.
Date: 14th April 2009
on the move!
wow, i was just suprised to see what this was on this site, im mean it's impressive just to see the titles and read the titles, well i don't whose initiative it was but that was a good outlook on Rwanda, which leaves me eager to know what could be happening elsewhere in the world,anyway it's a travelling site i hope something new is also coming.
From Blog: We are all Rwandans.
on the move!
wow, i was just suprised to see what this was on this site, im mean it's impressive just to see the titles and read the titles, well i don't whose initiative it was but that was a good outlook on Rwanda, which leaves me eager to know what could be happening elsewhere in the world,anyway it's a travelling site i hope something new is also coming.
From Blog: We are all Rwandans.
Date: 13th April 2009
13th April 2009 - Publish Day
Great to see you blogging again! - I've got some reading to do now :)
From Blog: A funny thing happened on the way to Tanzania.
13th April 2009 - Publish Day
Great to see you blogging again! - I've got some reading to do now :)
From Blog: A funny thing happened on the way to Tanzania.
Date: 22nd October 2008
...and then the circus left town! Another wonderfully shrewd and funny post. Thanks.
From Blog: I don’t think in Hollywood they grow potatoes.
...and then the circus left town! Another wonderfully shrewd and funny post. Thanks.
From Blog: I don’t think in Hollywood they grow potatoes.
Date: 12th September 2008
Exemplary piece of writing and reporting
This is the kind of article that justifies travel writing and turns it into something more important than a canned travelogue in written form. Articles like this are why I still look to the travel section for literature and enlightenment in the news format. Articles like this are also a strong argument against the syndication of travel writing, which tends to move the discipline towards a too-safe, McTraveler outlook on the world. Travel and travel writing, because its premise is that the traveling author has a different and broadly-informed perspective, offers us a real opportunity to re-view how we live. But to get back to you particular experience. Have your views on the opposing motives -- moving the rwandan nation forward vs. facing and resolving its racial strife -- develop further over the course of your stay? I, for one, would welcome any further writing on this subject.
From Blog: We are all Rwandans.
Exemplary piece of writing and reporting
This is the kind of article that justifies travel writing and turns it into something more important than a canned travelogue in written form. Articles like this are why I still look to the travel section for literature and enlightenment in the news format. Articles like this are also a strong argument against the syndication of travel writing, which tends to move the discipline towards a too-safe, McTraveler outlook on the world. Travel and travel writing, because its premise is that the traveling author has a different and broadly-informed perspective, offers us a real opportunity to re-view how we live. But to get back to you particular experience. Have your views on the opposing motives -- moving the rwandan nation forward vs. facing and resolving its racial strife -- develop further over the course of your stay? I, for one, would welcome any further writing on this subject.
From Blog: We are all Rwandans.
Date: 10th September 2008
Thanks for the kind words!
I'm not sure I agree with the "very few words" part, but I appreciate your encouragement all the same. It's good to be back!
From Blog: Everyone here, they are very happy.
Thanks for the kind words!
I'm not sure I agree with the "very few words" part, but I appreciate your encouragement all the same. It's good to be back!
From Blog: Everyone here, they are very happy.
Date: 9th September 2008
Thanks again.
Another great diary, thank you. You have such a gift for describing people so vividly with very few words.
From Blog: Everyone here, they are very happy.
Thanks again.
Another great diary, thank you. You have such a gift for describing people so vividly with very few words.
From Blog: Everyone here, they are very happy.
Date: 7th June 2008
Well written and very insightful. Thanks for the effort.
From Blog: Yes, yes, we have guns.
Well written and very insightful. Thanks for the effort.
From Blog: Yes, yes, we have guns.
olivia
non-member comment
ma doggy
hio mat ime kufa.nyinyi ni madwanzi.bloody f@#ukin
From Blog: Crunk ain't dead.