I suck at cars
Last day in Swaziland, and again no shortage of adventure.
I'd planned to leave at 9am, check out a traditional Swazi wedding that Mthunzi invited me to in Mbabane, the capital, and then be on the road for about noon to get back to Pretoria. It didn't work out that way.
The rental car has a security keychain, which requires that you press a button that sends an infra red signal to the immobiliser verifying that the car isn't being hotwired. You press the button while you turn the ignition.
You remember how I was in that waterfall yesterday? Guess what I had in my pocket while I had water pouring all over me?
The car wouldn't start. I was meant to be giving everyone a ride to Mbabane for the wedding and by the time a replacement car came (electric windows and air-con, woo!) it was 2:30pm. Bugger! I suck at rental cars.
I drove Laura and Mthunzi to Mbabane and Elmer got a ride with one of the people from the rental agency. The deal that I'd made with Laura and Elmer when I agreed to drive them to Swaz' was that they would chip in for the gas. They were fairly short on cash, so I decided that if they offered the money without being prompted then I would refuse it because I don't really need it, but if they didn't offer I would ask.
Unfortunately, they didn't offer, and right before we parted in Mbabane I asked for a contribution. I asked for 50 rand, which is equivalent to about $10, in exchange for me driving them for 5 hours to Swaz' and Mbabane. Laura gave me the money right away, but Elmer argued with me and said it was too much. I pointed out that I was paying for gas (which ended up being 250 rand) plus 1500 rand for the car, that I'd only had the car one day more than he had, plus I'd done all the driving. He gave me the money, but what a bad final impression. I hate cheap people. And of course if I hadn't asked I never would have got anything. What an asshole.
It was good to be on the road by myself again, in a better car with a decent stereo, driving through the hi-jacking hotspots under the African sunset.
By the time I got to Pretoria, De Wet and Karinda had already left for a nearby town and I have decided to stay the night with their parents and get a good night's sleep before my flight at 9:30 in the morning. South Africa and Swaz' have got me really pumped about Uganda! Once again the hospitality here is wonderful. This family is so nice.
I'd planned to leave at 9am, check out a traditional Swazi wedding that Mthunzi invited me to in Mbabane, the capital, and then be on the road for about noon to get back to Pretoria. It didn't work out that way.
The rental car has a security keychain, which requires that you press a button that sends an infra red signal to the immobiliser verifying that the car isn't being hotwired. You press the button while you turn the ignition.
You remember how I was in that waterfall yesterday? Guess what I had in my pocket while I had water pouring all over me?
The car wouldn't start. I was meant to be giving everyone a ride to Mbabane for the wedding and by the time a replacement car came (electric windows and air-con, woo!) it was 2:30pm. Bugger! I suck at rental cars.
I drove Laura and Mthunzi to Mbabane and Elmer got a ride with one of the people from the rental agency. The deal that I'd made with Laura and Elmer when I agreed to drive them to Swaz' was that they would chip in for the gas. They were fairly short on cash, so I decided that if they offered the money without being prompted then I would refuse it because I don't really need it, but if they didn't offer I would ask.
Unfortunately, they didn't offer, and right before we parted in Mbabane I asked for a contribution. I asked for 50 rand, which is equivalent to about $10, in exchange for me driving them for 5 hours to Swaz' and Mbabane. Laura gave me the money right away, but Elmer argued with me and said it was too much. I pointed out that I was paying for gas (which ended up being 250 rand) plus 1500 rand for the car, that I'd only had the car one day more than he had, plus I'd done all the driving. He gave me the money, but what a bad final impression. I hate cheap people. And of course if I hadn't asked I never would have got anything. What an asshole.
It was good to be on the road by myself again, in a better car with a decent stereo, driving through the hi-jacking hotspots under the African sunset.
By the time I got to Pretoria, De Wet and Karinda had already left for a nearby town and I have decided to stay the night with their parents and get a good night's sleep before my flight at 9:30 in the morning. South Africa and Swaz' have got me really pumped about Uganda! Once again the hospitality here is wonderful. This family is so nice.
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