An unconventional tour

Our pals Mfanelo and Thobela gave our illustrious visitors a tour of the place that tourists rarely see: the townships. Mfanelo thought we could walk around the Rastafarian area for a change, where neither Patrick nor I had even been. Unfortunately, though, the Rastafarians would not let us walk around their community because they were afraid we'd take pictures of their marijuana ("ganja") crop and call the police on them. The Rasta who kicked us out of their area of "peace, love and harmony" had threatened to steal all of our cameras if anyone admitted to having a picture of anything, though there was no ganja in sight of where we were. It is written in the Rasta constitution, apparently, that they have a right to our belongings if we are in the Rasta area. You learn something new every day.

So after that small glitch, we high-tailed it to Philippi, more familiar turf, where we filled ourselves up with the local braai hospitality and Patrick ate a chicken foot soaked in oil. Only a meager 2 rand per claw.

These are Philippi township kids playing with a wheeled lift in the streets. Supervision is too uncommon in these parts.