Today I publicly transported myself from one part of town to another. A rather interesting experience, I tell you. I have been cooped up in the house for much of the last couple of days. This was largely due to the fact that I have no mode of transport at my beck and call.
So off we went walking towards the bus stop. Crossing main roads and dodging vehicles as in Zambia, cars and not pedestrians have the right of way. On the bus, I sat next to all sorts of people, some funny, others funky, if you get my drift. I hadn’t ridden a zambian bus for years and a public transportation bus for a while (not since I left New York and even then, the last time I think was in July of 2008). I have nothing against the bus or riding the bus but truth be told, it is always an experience of some kind, being that close in proximity to the humanity of others.
We got into downtown Lusaka and then trekked by foot from Kulima Tower (the bus station) to Kamwala Market. My friend Busiku was headed to a driving school to find out the rates and sign up for classes. The driving school is in essence a large clearing where a number of enterprising gentlemen had gathered cars that they had purchased and stamped extensively with caution signs and large L stickers indicating that they had a “learner” driver. They also had little tents on the top of the cars similar to those of Jimmy Johns (I am a sucker for a #5 sandwich, bad breath and all), broadcasting their names, Matuta Driving School, Valileo Driving School and so on and so forth. In this clearing they had set up cones and the novice drivers drove around and around within this small block. A detailed driving lesson package costs about K750,000.00 (equivalent to $150.00) and that in essence amounted to 40 minutes of driving for 21 days. I’m not sure that I think that’s sufficient but I’ll keep my comments to myself for now.
After the driving school chapter, we headed into Kamwala, so that I could buy a chitenge. I didn’t have enough space to pack a towel when I came out and whilst at the hotel didn’t need one but now that I am out and about, I need something and a chitenge would come in handy. I went in expecting only to buy 1 but then after having bought 1, I stopped at a wholesalers and found another 2 that I fell in love with and as they were rather affordable, I now have 3 new chitenges.
Busiku and I then got a ride to Manda Hill where he met up with one of his friends and I went to check out Mr Price. When I lived in Zambia, we didn’t have a Mr. Price and so shopping at Mr. Price was a real treat whenever we went to South Africa. I was a little disappointed. I wasn’t planning on buying anything but I was bummed that the quality of the products left much to be desired. As I had some time on my hands, I decided to try on some pairs of shorts to see if they fit. Acknowledging that I am built like an African but not as well-endowed as most Africans are in the rear aperture, finding shorts that fit is not always easy. I thought, well here’s a store with clothes specifically for Africans, surely I’ll find shorts that fit. Nope. No luck. My rather [comparatively speaking] minute rear aperture had trouble not falling out of these shorts, even when I went up a couple sizes. It is a bit disconcerting and I am not quite sure just how to respond. I guess I am just glad that I am not currently in desperate need of shorts.
On our way out, we stopped off at Hungry Lion to pick up some good yummy greasy chicken. Another let down. Granted we didn’t eat till we got home, about an hour later, but the chicken was dry and blah. I hope I can get to Kabwe, where my favorite Hungry Lion shop is located, to restore my faith in this brand of greasy chicken.
Getting home though was another wonderful challenge in itself. Standing at the bus stop in Manda Hill, we could not get on a bus; all the buses that rolled past us were full to capacity and not just any capacity, developing world capacity standards. Seriously, like the #24 Star Tran East Campus buses at the noon hour. So to get home, we walked up the road to the next mall, Arcades and were able to get on a bus there. All in all, I was glad to be able to make it home before it was completely dark outside. Granted there was no power welcoming us home and so it was dark at home but at least here we can lock out undesirable adventures….at least to some extent!
Adventures in Zambia 2009 