Jo’burg. Jozi. Johannesburg. Wow. Where do I start? I could start at the fact that it seems like it went by so fast, because it did. But I’ll never forget my time there. Mainly because we started the trip in Soweto, which I found out was short for the South Western Township. All my life I was under the impression that this was an African word, but was pleased to be informed of where the origin of the word came from. Staying at the historic Holiday Inn on Walter Sisulu Square was also a pleasant surprise. The party that Smirnoff held in our honor was so cool because we got to party with the locals as well as members of the staff of the hotel. But what was the best part of our time in Soweto? The township tour. I enjoyed it because it gave me a glimpse into the past of South Africa, if only for one day. I gained knowledge, which is always a precious gift. It’s so easy to forget that there is a rich history in all of the countries we will visit during the next nine months (wow, it’s been three months so far. That’s crazy). It’s also very easy to just be thankful for this experience, but it means even more to take away something that touches your soul along the way. Thank you for showing me a piece of history that I will never forget. I’m truly grateful.
OK, on a less spiritual note, I wish we could have spent more time in Jo’burg. I had no idea how big the city was until the very last day when our driver took us around the city. We passed by Nelson Mandela’s home and also went to the Top of Africa building, where we took an elevator to the very top and got a birds eye view of Johannesburg. Prior to this we went to a marketplace in downtown Jo’burg, where I bought a T shirt and another pair of sunglasses (for they are my weakness). I even spoke with one of the merchants who informed me that South Africa was a very special country, filled with warm people and a rich history. I honestly couldn’t agree with her more.
Finally, on a more personal note, it was a treat to meet the family and friends of one of our team members, the fabulous Madame Ju Ju herself; Akona. Meeting the people who make up the fabric of her life gave me a deeper perspective on what makes her the person she is. I hope that this is an aspect of the trip that we’ll all get to experience as we travel to each other’s home countries. I know that when we get to Philly (allllllllllllllllllll the way into the future of next -year, but it’s cool lol) I’m throwing a cookout for everyone at my house. Speaking of cookouts (or BBQ’s as some people more commonly call them, please excuse my Philly slanguage) the team was treated to good food and good times at a BBQ held in honor of our last day in Jo’burg. I know I’ve said this about every place I’ve been to so far but I’m definitely going back to South Africa. It will forever remain on the top of my list for reasons far beyond cosmetics and nightlife. It’s a country that showed me something no other place has so far: the beauty of pride and the honesty of love.
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Not Enough Time
I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I don’t necessarily put things together correctly when I hear it. For instance I remember when we were about to come to South Africa and I noticed that the country itself is at the very bottom of the continent. I think I turned to Akona and said ‘Hey, South Africa is at the bottom of the continent… Oh. That’s why they call it South Africa”. I’m sure even babies know this, but it would take me 29 years to figure it out. I’m a little slow at times, I must admit.
Another thing I really didn’t think about were the two words Cape and Town.
Cape- a point or extension of land jutting out into water as a peninsula or as a projecting point
Town- a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place.
Some people would initially be excited about going to a place called Cape Town because they would be expecting a very distinct town near water. But not Ben. Oh no. I had no idea this city was going to be so damn beautiful. It is absolutely breathtaking in every sense of the word. With a view like Table Mountain that just leaves you in awe of nature and people who are so friendly and warm I just gotta tell you that I’m done. I’m not leaving Cape Town. You can leave me here, I’ll just do videos about different streets in CT for the next nine months.
All jokes aside I wish that I could have spent more time here. The people I’ve met have been so friendly. The food is awesome, the beach is so clean and the water is like something out of a video game. Long Street reminds me of an area in Philly called South Street, but the flavor of Long Street is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I went to the same bar on two different occasions (Zula Sound Bar!) and the vibe was never the same. Once it was reggae music on a Friday night, the next time it was an earthy open mic. Both times were special and will always remind me of the diverse beauty that is Cape Town. Other highlights of this fantastic city include Camps Bay, The Waterfront and Cape Point. I can see myself coming back to Cape Town many times in the future. Hell, I may even move here one day. Luckily, this is not the end of our South African adventure. Johannesburg’s next and I’m very excited. People here in Cape Town spoke of Jo’Burg with so much enthusiasm, and it didn’t seem like that patriotic ‘I have to say something nice because it’s in my country’ type of speech. Though their comments were reassuring, I still wish I could stay here for a few more months…I mean days. Alas, the South African journey continues for us in Johannesburg. Stay tuned…
Another thing I really didn’t think about were the two words Cape and Town.
Cape- a point or extension of land jutting out into water as a peninsula or as a projecting point
Town- a cluster or aggregation of houses recognized as a distinct place.
Some people would initially be excited about going to a place called Cape Town because they would be expecting a very distinct town near water. But not Ben. Oh no. I had no idea this city was going to be so damn beautiful. It is absolutely breathtaking in every sense of the word. With a view like Table Mountain that just leaves you in awe of nature and people who are so friendly and warm I just gotta tell you that I’m done. I’m not leaving Cape Town. You can leave me here, I’ll just do videos about different streets in CT for the next nine months.
All jokes aside I wish that I could have spent more time here. The people I’ve met have been so friendly. The food is awesome, the beach is so clean and the water is like something out of a video game. Long Street reminds me of an area in Philly called South Street, but the flavor of Long Street is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I went to the same bar on two different occasions (Zula Sound Bar!) and the vibe was never the same. Once it was reggae music on a Friday night, the next time it was an earthy open mic. Both times were special and will always remind me of the diverse beauty that is Cape Town. Other highlights of this fantastic city include Camps Bay, The Waterfront and Cape Point. I can see myself coming back to Cape Town many times in the future. Hell, I may even move here one day. Luckily, this is not the end of our South African adventure. Johannesburg’s next and I’m very excited. People here in Cape Town spoke of Jo’Burg with so much enthusiasm, and it didn’t seem like that patriotic ‘I have to say something nice because it’s in my country’ type of speech. Though their comments were reassuring, I still wish I could stay here for a few more months…I mean days. Alas, the South African journey continues for us in Johannesburg. Stay tuned…
Monday, 3 December 2007
A Beautiful Surprise
My time in Mexico City was completely unforgettable, and I had no idea what would be in store for me when I arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I had heard great things about Brazil but everything I’ve ever heard was primarily about Rio De Janeiro. What wonders and joys would be awaiting me?
Let’s start with the people. Can I just say they’re all HOT! And not hot like the women in Moscow, who walked around like their beauty was too painful for them to bear. The people in Sao Paulo were so warm and friendly. You could hear the joy in their laughter. You could see the happiness in their eyes as they spoke to you. And even though the language barrier between English and Portuguese is difficult, it was never a hindrance between interaction like in some other cities. I’m pretty sure I murdered their language when attempting to speak it, but many people would just smile and attempt to understand my broken Portuguese. For this reason, and all of the hotties (and the nightclub Vegas) I will be going back to Sao Paulo after this trip is over.
And speaking of nightlife, where does it end in Sao Paulo? I can report that I did go out in Sao Paulo……A LOT! And I had a blast! I can remember walking home from a club with Kung, Akona and Ania at 5 in the morning. Finally one of the best things about Sao Paulo was getting our 10th member Luiza. She fits in perfectly like the last piece of the puzzle. The team is now evenly split between five guys and five ladies all representing their part of this big world. We’re gonna have an amazing year and will experience so much.
Oh, and one more thing. The food in Sao Paulo was so good. The meat is so tender and plentiful. Oh so plentiful. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it now.
Let’s start with the people. Can I just say they’re all HOT! And not hot like the women in Moscow, who walked around like their beauty was too painful for them to bear. The people in Sao Paulo were so warm and friendly. You could hear the joy in their laughter. You could see the happiness in their eyes as they spoke to you. And even though the language barrier between English and Portuguese is difficult, it was never a hindrance between interaction like in some other cities. I’m pretty sure I murdered their language when attempting to speak it, but many people would just smile and attempt to understand my broken Portuguese. For this reason, and all of the hotties (and the nightclub Vegas) I will be going back to Sao Paulo after this trip is over.
And speaking of nightlife, where does it end in Sao Paulo? I can report that I did go out in Sao Paulo……A LOT! And I had a blast! I can remember walking home from a club with Kung, Akona and Ania at 5 in the morning. Finally one of the best things about Sao Paulo was getting our 10th member Luiza. She fits in perfectly like the last piece of the puzzle. The team is now evenly split between five guys and five ladies all representing their part of this big world. We’re gonna have an amazing year and will experience so much.
Oh, and one more thing. The food in Sao Paulo was so good. The meat is so tender and plentiful. Oh so plentiful. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it now.
Mexico City
I will never forget Mexico City, or DF as it is sometimes called. I wasn’t really prepared for the wonders that awaited me in DF, and boy were there plenty of things waiting for me. For instance, in DF we collected our ninth member - Audette, at La Zona De Combate. I love how Audette makes me laugh and look forward to many, many more good times and jokes with her in the upcoming year. Welcome my sister!
Another event that took place in DF was the MTV Latin American Music Awards, featuring a slew of Latin American artists AND, straight from Canada and The US, AVRIL LAVIGNE AND HILARY DUFF!!! I knew I was in for a treat because who can deny the timeless vocal stylings of Avril Lavigne? Her hit song, Girlfriend, continues to play over, and over, and over again in my head as if it’s a CD on repeat. And Hilary was just so adorable in her blue frock, attempting Spanish for perhaps the first time. It’s a night I’ll always remember.
And the food in Mexico City? Words cannot begin to describe the way it made me feel. I know I haven’t been many places in the world, but let me tell you that you haven’t lived until you’ve sampled the unique flavor of Mexico City’s finest dishes, ranging from free standing taco vendors to even Domino’s Pizza! Yes, something for everyone!
We were even fortunate enough to have a bar located at the top of our hostel. It had a beautiful view of the nearby Cathedral and, at times, it seemed like the bar was always open. Or at least it seemed that way because the actual lobby of the hostel played music all day and the bar itself played music all night. It was like some sort of Disco Hostel.
Other highlights include the cabs and traffic. What unexpected fun it is to take a ride in a cab where sometimes the price is small and other times the price is not so small. This can only be attributed to the heavy flow of traffic, which permeates through the city like a delightful scent of roses. A fifteen-minute cab ride can easily be turned into a fifty-minute ride depending on the time of day. In these instances it’s just an opportunity to see the city in slower, greater detail. And I welcomed every minute of it.
Some clubs worth mentioning: Neon, The Bulldog Cafe (where the final La Zona was held) and Zydecco should definitely be visited if anyone plans on going to DF.
Finally, one of the most life changing experiences for me was when we visited the Aztec Piramides, if for any other reason I believe I lost all my weight after climbing to the top on that beautiful Saturday afternoon lol... In regards to my experience in DF if I had to do it all again there is no other group of people I’d rather spend that two-week period in my life with. I hope that they all feel the same way I do about Mexico City because it is definitely unforgettable.
Another event that took place in DF was the MTV Latin American Music Awards, featuring a slew of Latin American artists AND, straight from Canada and The US, AVRIL LAVIGNE AND HILARY DUFF!!! I knew I was in for a treat because who can deny the timeless vocal stylings of Avril Lavigne? Her hit song, Girlfriend, continues to play over, and over, and over again in my head as if it’s a CD on repeat. And Hilary was just so adorable in her blue frock, attempting Spanish for perhaps the first time. It’s a night I’ll always remember.
And the food in Mexico City? Words cannot begin to describe the way it made me feel. I know I haven’t been many places in the world, but let me tell you that you haven’t lived until you’ve sampled the unique flavor of Mexico City’s finest dishes, ranging from free standing taco vendors to even Domino’s Pizza! Yes, something for everyone!
We were even fortunate enough to have a bar located at the top of our hostel. It had a beautiful view of the nearby Cathedral and, at times, it seemed like the bar was always open. Or at least it seemed that way because the actual lobby of the hostel played music all day and the bar itself played music all night. It was like some sort of Disco Hostel.
Other highlights include the cabs and traffic. What unexpected fun it is to take a ride in a cab where sometimes the price is small and other times the price is not so small. This can only be attributed to the heavy flow of traffic, which permeates through the city like a delightful scent of roses. A fifteen-minute cab ride can easily be turned into a fifty-minute ride depending on the time of day. In these instances it’s just an opportunity to see the city in slower, greater detail. And I welcomed every minute of it.
Some clubs worth mentioning: Neon, The Bulldog Cafe (where the final La Zona was held) and Zydecco should definitely be visited if anyone plans on going to DF.
Finally, one of the most life changing experiences for me was when we visited the Aztec Piramides, if for any other reason I believe I lost all my weight after climbing to the top on that beautiful Saturday afternoon lol... In regards to my experience in DF if I had to do it all again there is no other group of people I’d rather spend that two-week period in my life with. I hope that they all feel the same way I do about Mexico City because it is definitely unforgettable.
Monday, 12 November 2007
Ben Rotten in Buenos Aires
Doesn’t the title kind of sound like a porno? (am I allowed to write that? That’s a funny line lol).
Buenos Dias from Buenos Aires!
The weather sucks, but that’s the only thing bad about this place. I LOVE Buenos Aires. I’ve fallen in love twice. This city is so charming with its friendly people, plentiful steak and wine, and tango! I danced the tango… terribly. We met a tango teacher, Natalia, on Monday night at La Zona De Combate, a party hosted by MTV in conjunction with Smirnoff. She’s a great teacher, even though I could tell she found my lack of rhythm both frustrating and amusing at the same time.
We also met the remaining finalists from South America for the ninth place in The Smirnoff Ten and I wish we could bring them all if for any other reason than I’d be guaranteed to learn Spanish a hell of a lot quicker than I am now. And I took years of Spanish, even though that was years ago before the innocence of my youth was corrupted by too much “knowledge” in college.
Today we’re shooting life on the streets in BA. Oh how I love this city. The people are sooooooo beautiful. I can’t stress enough how much in love I am… with the city of course. I don’t know why I feel so relaxed and calm here. The time when I become most alive is at night though. There’s a sweet whisper of adventure and romance that dances across my soul when the sun sets. The rhythmic come hither trance that is the backbeat of Buenos never lets me down. It continues to fuel the passion I have to see this world and all it has to offer. Next stop, Mexico City baby!
Buenos Dias from Buenos Aires!
The weather sucks, but that’s the only thing bad about this place. I LOVE Buenos Aires. I’ve fallen in love twice. This city is so charming with its friendly people, plentiful steak and wine, and tango! I danced the tango… terribly. We met a tango teacher, Natalia, on Monday night at La Zona De Combate, a party hosted by MTV in conjunction with Smirnoff. She’s a great teacher, even though I could tell she found my lack of rhythm both frustrating and amusing at the same time.
We also met the remaining finalists from South America for the ninth place in The Smirnoff Ten and I wish we could bring them all if for any other reason than I’d be guaranteed to learn Spanish a hell of a lot quicker than I am now. And I took years of Spanish, even though that was years ago before the innocence of my youth was corrupted by too much “knowledge” in college.
Today we’re shooting life on the streets in BA. Oh how I love this city. The people are sooooooo beautiful. I can’t stress enough how much in love I am… with the city of course. I don’t know why I feel so relaxed and calm here. The time when I become most alive is at night though. There’s a sweet whisper of adventure and romance that dances across my soul when the sun sets. The rhythmic come hither trance that is the backbeat of Buenos never lets me down. It continues to fuel the passion I have to see this world and all it has to offer. Next stop, Mexico City baby!
Ben’s top ten phrases to describe Moscow
1. All the Russian women are beautiful and fly at all times. One day Me, Kung and Akona went for pizza at 4 in the morning and the women were still walking around dressed like models, looking fresh and sparkly…At four in the morning? I’ve never been to a city that demands 24hr flyness
2. Separate flights suck! A visa delay meant some of us came in on a later flight.
3. Faithless are a pretty big deal. At the party I was surrounded by mad Russians, and they were losing their minds for Faithless. At one point I had to back away because they were all jumping up and down so much.
4. NASTAROVIA!!!! (Cheers in Russian. Lord knows I said this quite a few times. This and Spaciba, which I’m probably spelling incorrectly, which means ‘thank you’)
5. The centre of Moscow is decadent and classic, but when we (me, Ania, John, Kareem and Akona) took the tube to the living, breathing part that’s where you feel more connected to the city.
6. Thanks DJ Benzo! for the very original music – check our Moscow film to see what I mean.
7. Kelis dropped it like it was hot in front of everyone! Yes Kelis, Trick Me again. You can trick me as many times as you want to lol!
8. VODKA BAR!! Midgets getting tossed around by two well built Russian dudes. Women wearing leather and dancing on a stage surrounded by fire. Can you say Yeah Baby!
9. MARK RONSON. Need I say more? Dude killed his set!
10. Smirnoff may have picked people who all come from different backgrounds and places in the world, but we all have one very important thing in common… WE KNOW HOW TO PARTY!!!!!
2. Separate flights suck! A visa delay meant some of us came in on a later flight.
3. Faithless are a pretty big deal. At the party I was surrounded by mad Russians, and they were losing their minds for Faithless. At one point I had to back away because they were all jumping up and down so much.
4. NASTAROVIA!!!! (Cheers in Russian. Lord knows I said this quite a few times. This and Spaciba, which I’m probably spelling incorrectly, which means ‘thank you’)
5. The centre of Moscow is decadent and classic, but when we (me, Ania, John, Kareem and Akona) took the tube to the living, breathing part that’s where you feel more connected to the city.
6. Thanks DJ Benzo! for the very original music – check our Moscow film to see what I mean.
7. Kelis dropped it like it was hot in front of everyone! Yes Kelis, Trick Me again. You can trick me as many times as you want to lol!
8. VODKA BAR!! Midgets getting tossed around by two well built Russian dudes. Women wearing leather and dancing on a stage surrounded by fire. Can you say Yeah Baby!
9. MARK RONSON. Need I say more? Dude killed his set!
10. Smirnoff may have picked people who all come from different backgrounds and places in the world, but we all have one very important thing in common… WE KNOW HOW TO PARTY!!!!!
Thursday, 20 September 2007
This Is Crazy!
I really don’t know where to start. I mean, every story has a beginning but I’m waaaay too far into the trip to focus on how I got here. To summarize in a few words I am very blessed to be travelling with seven other talented people, and two more to join the journey in a few weeks. I hope whoever they pick is hot! LOL! We’ve been living in a house in East London near the DLR and the area kind of reminds me of home with the fast food places and various corner stores. Even the gas station that’s open all night reminds me of the many, many nights I’d drive to get a Black and Mild from the gas station near Cedarbrook Mall.
Where I am right now is a bit unclear. I’m looking forward to this year long adventure, but it also at times tugs at my brain when I realize that I’m leaving my reality for a year in hopes of a better reality. I can’t go back to the way things were because all that would do is keep me locked inside a vat of mediocrity.
Where I am right now is a bit unclear. I’m looking forward to this year long adventure, but it also at times tugs at my brain when I realize that I’m leaving my reality for a year in hopes of a better reality. I can’t go back to the way things were because all that would do is keep me locked inside a vat of mediocrity.
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