Cape Town to Vietnam

The day finally arrived for my long awaited holiday to vietnam. Now let me tell you that when i say "long awaited" I am talking years. Vietnam has had a piece of my heart for as long as I can remember. 

The day of my flight I was still expected at work to finish off some important issues and I needed to go to court to pay a fine that i had forgotten about. It was a crazy day and i was running so far behind time that when i went to draw some cash for said fine i forgot my pin and blocked my card! Can you even believe that? The card that has my money on it for my holiday was blocked! FML! 

Oh well, fast forward a few hours and we are finally on our way to Dubai to catch a connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh City! All goes well until.... we land in HCMC. We get caught up at immigration. There was some minor issue with our visa. Minor issue as in WE DIDNT HAVE A VISA TO ENTER VIETNAM!! 

The travel agent we booked our tickets with advised me that we did not need a visa and as a result i did not follow up any further. 

We get pulled aside and the immigration officer tells us that without a visa we have to go back to Cape Town on the next flight. I start panicking and start crying, tears and snot everywhere. The man explains to us that we can apply for an emergency visa but it will cost us 160USD EACH! Warren takes charge, because as you guessed i cant speak properly. (Oh man i was such a mess.) He tells the man we will pay the money if it means we can get in. 

We got in to Vietnam 320USD later. We pay the man, he gives us our passports with our emergency visa's in and you know what it says?? THE DAMN VISA ONLY COSTS $25!!! We got conned out of $270!!! DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT THAT AMOUNTS TO IN RANDS??? 

IM A POOR PERSON YOU SOB! 

Anyway, we get to our hotel, check out the night-life and stop at a street corner to try some local barbeque. We had octopus, pork ribs and chicken skewers. The octopus was delicious. 

The next day after getting over how we were conned, we decided to walk around the area and check out the local market and some of the sights in the area. This old man and his friend on a scooter comes up to us, because they can see we were lost and offers to take us to the sights on his scooter. He gives us a rate and it works out to about R10 a trip to each spot! Bargain! Oh no. He takes us to one legit market and then the rest of the time he takes us the long way. We stop at banks, jewellery shops etc and then stops at the war remnants muesem and says ok tour over you pay now! I asked him if he will take us back to the hotel, he says "no you walk i must go now". Warren takes out the cash to pay, he takes a 500,000 dong and his friend grabs the other 500,000 dong and walks away. That was the last straw. That bullshit tour cost us R600! I was fuming mad, Warren is forever the optimist and believes its all part of the adventure. Adventure se voet, my money is running out and i have no card on me to draw cash! 

Its not all bad though, on our long walk home we found a street foods market and a night market. 

Today we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels and tomorrow we do the Mekong Delta and floating markets. 

Will do a more in depth post on that with pics later. 

Have a great weekend ya'll 

Love 

COCO 

Believe in thy Selfie!

I used to get so annoyed as I scrolled through Facebook and saw selfie after selfie after selfie. Bathroom selfies and car selfies and Sunday Selfies. People were literally looking for any excuse to take a selfie and that used to really annoy me. I won't lie, people in general annoy me so it didn't really take much, but then selfies became a "craze" and I could not handle it.

Since owning an iPhone though, my views on selfies have changed. For one reason my front camera is boss!! I had an LG cellphone before and I never took selfies because I looked like a pixelated character from a bad cartoon. I'm beginning to think that my annoyance with you people may have actually been jealousy.  I see that apple has even created a folder dedicated just to my selfies, I currently have 324 selfies stored in it! This may be a small figure next to some of you.

This recent revelation has led me to look at selfies in a deeper light. So here are my two cents on the matter.

Selfies are awesome! Keep taking them! If you look good today and you want to capture it, do so! Selfies remind me of that song by Beyonce: "Feeling myself"
I do reserve a little judgement for my male friends who post gazillions of selfies every day, but that is just the sexist in me. See? Women can be sexist too!

1: Hold the phone lower than you normally do. 2: Even lower than that. 3: Lay the phone down. 4: Stop taking selfies! hahaha! This is a funny picture!

When Warren and I went to Thailand two years ago we laughed at the Asians we saw who all had selfie sticks. Selfie sticks were something we saw on Instagram and in memes, but we hadn't actually come across them in Cape Town. We eventually purchased one towards the end of our holiday and even though it was the norm there, I still felt foolish using it. Back in Cape Town I didn't take it out of the packaging for more than a year for fear of looking like a fool. Now everywhere you turn you see selfie sticks.

I have posted a few selfies below and captioned them so you know what each selfie means, and why I took them.

This Selfie is so that people know that I read and that I am smart!

This selfie is so that people know that I have a diverse group of friends. Black and white!

This selfie is so that the Indian people know that they are also represented in my group of friends. And also I like pink cocktails!

This selfie is to let you know that I have a good sense of humour and can laugh. (at myself, by myself whatevs, I'm just funny and like to laugh) It is also to let you know that I am not an orphan and have a mother and a sister!

This selfie is to let you know that besides pink cocktails, I also enjoy pink milkshakes. And straws (apparantly)

And this selfie is a combination of two of Beyonce's songs: "I woke up like this", because I actually did wake up like that. This selfie was nothing more than a random act of vanity! The sun was hitting my face at the perfect angle and boy was I "feeling myself"







Have a great weekend ahead, be safe and take loads of selfies to capture the special moments in your life!

Coco 

Beautiful

This isn't a post about anything I have done recently, it's just my appreciation for the lyrical genius that is Eminem!
This song, Beautiful by the master himself, speaks to my soul! It is quite possibly my absolute favourite song by Marshal Mathers! And right now I am feeling a very deep connection to the words!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgT1AidzRWM

Lately I've been hard to reach
I've been too long on my own
Everybody has a private world
Where they can be alone
Are you calling me, are you trying to get through
Are you reaching out for me, and I'm reaching out for you

I'm just so fuckin' depressed
I just can't seem to get out this slump
If I could just get over this hump
But I need something to pull me out this dump
I took my bruises, took my lumps
Fell down and I got right back up
But I need that spark to get psyched back up
In order for me to pick that mic back up
I don't know how or why or when
And I ended up in this position I'm in
I starting to feel distant again
So I decided just to pick this pen
Up and tried to make an attempt to vent, but I just can't admit
Or come to grips, with the fact that
I may be done with rap, I need a new outlet
I know some shits so hard to swallow
And I just can't sit back and wallow
In my own sorrow, but I know one fact
I'll be one tough act to follow
One tough act to follow, copy, one tough act to follow
Here today, gone tomorrow
But you have to walk a thousand miles

In my shoes, just to see
What it'd be like, to be me
I'll be you, let's trade shoes
Just to see what I'd be like to
Feel your pain, you feel mine
Go inside each other's mind
Just to see what we find
Look at shit through each other's eyes

But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful oh
They can all get fucked. Just stay true to you so
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful oh
They can all get fucked. Just stay true to you so

I think I'm starting to lose my sense of humor
Everything is so tense and gloom
I almost feel like I gotta check the temperature in the room
Just as soon as I walk in
It's like all eyes on me, so I try to avoid any eye contact
Cause if I do that then it opens a door to conversation, like I want that
I'm not looking for extra attention
I just want to be just like you
Blend in with the rest of the room
Maybe just point me to the closest restroom
I don't need no fucking manservant
Follow me around, and wiping my ass
Laugh at every single joke I crack
And half of 'em ain't even funny like
Haha Marshall, you're so funny man, you should be a comedian, god damn
Unfortunately I am, but I just hide behind the tears of a clown
So why don't you all sit down
Listen to the tale I'm about to tell
Hell, we don't have to trade our shoes
And you don't have to walk no thousand miles

In my shoes, just to see
What it'd be like, to be me
I'll be you, let's trade shoes
Just to see what I'd be like to
Feel your pain, you feel mine
Go inside each other's mind
Just to see what we find
Look at shit through each other's eyes

But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful oh
They can all get fucked. Just stay true to you so so
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful oh
They can all get fucked. Just stay true to you

Nobody asked for life to deal us
With these bullshit hands we're dealt
We gotta take these cards ourselves
Flip them, don't expect no help, now I could have either just
Sat on my ass and pissed and moaned
But take this situation in which I'm placed in
And get up and get my own, I was never the type of kid
To wait but I know to unpack his bags
Never sat on the porch and hoped and prayed
For a dad to show up who never did
I just wanted to fit in, every single place, every school I went
I dreamed of being that cool kid
Even if it meant acting stupid, Aunt Edna always told me
Keep making that face till it gets stuck like that
Meanwhile I'm just standing there
Holding my tongue up trying to talk like this
Till I stuck my tongue on the frozen stop sign pole at eight years old
I learned my lesson and cause I wasn't tryin to impress my friends no more
But I already told you my whole life story
Not just based on my description
Cause where you see it from where you're sitting
Is probably a hundred and ten percent different
I guess we would have to walk a mile
In each other's shoes, at least
What size you where? I wear tens
Let's see if you can fit your feet

In my shoes, just to see
What it'd be like, to be me
I'll be you, let's trade shoes
Just to see what I'd be like to
Feel your pain, you feel mine
Go inside each other's mind
Just to see what we find
Look at shit through each other's eyes

But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful oh
They can all get fucked, just stay true to you so
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful oh
They can all get fucked, just stay true to you so

Lately I've been hard to reach
I've been too long on my own
Everybody has a private world
Where they can be alone
Are you calling me, are you trying to get through
Are you reaching out for me, and I'm reaching out for you

Yea, to my babies. Stay strong. Daddy will be home soon
And to the rest of the world, God gave you the shoes
That fit you, so put em on and wear 'em
And be yourself man, be proud of who you are
Even if it sounds corny,
Don't ever let no one tell you, you ain't beautiful

Do you remember?

Roughly every second month or so I have a get-together with some of the ladies I went to Primary School with. Its great seeing the girls and reminiscing on the good old days when boys were our biggest stress and the Spice Girls were our biggest idols. I must say, not a lot has changed for me, boys are still my biggest stress!
For most of my primary school friends, things have changed drastically as they ALL have kiddies now. And please, don't think that I am exaggerating when I say ALL my primary school friends have children. In my group of old school primary girls I am the only one there without a child! So when every one is talking about their little ones and the day to day drama of being a mother, I'm just like "has anyone seen the latest season of Game of Thrones?" And when my mommy friends talk about the sleepless nights they have due to restless babies, I'm just there sipping my wine reminding myself not to moan about only getting 5 hours of sleep due to me binge-watching the latest series!

This in itself got me thinking about the good old days; when we were in school and life was a lot less complicated. When we didn't have to adult! Adulting is hard work and it's constant work might I add!

Do you remember when we used to write letters to each other? When instant communication in class was done via a hand written note and not whatsapp? Do you remember the fear that would pass over you when the teacher would see the note being passed from one student to the other and would read it out loud? There was ALWAYS something bitchy in those notes (and if it wasn't bitchy it was humiliating), it was never a sentence like: "Do you have an extra pencil that I could borrow please?" Or, "lets meet up after school to go over the maths homework" No, it was guaranteed that the letter the teacher read out had something to do with how cute Gary looked today and how amazing he smelt! Or "Lets not be friends with Sam because she is always talking to Brenda and you know Brenda is so fake" Yes, that's the letter the teacher reads!

Do you remember when R10 could practically buy you a house? I realise how very old I sound by mentioning this, but this is one of the things I miss the most about being a child. Going to the corner shop with that R10 note clenched tightly in your hand and then giving the shop owner your order like a boss. "Can I please have a colddrink, a packet of chips, a chocolate, a packet of biscuits, a pair of Nikes, a Levi Jeans and lose sweets with the change?" Ooh don't even mention when some drunk uncle of yours gave you a R20 note! Then you be straight up ballin' like a G!

I don't know about you guys, but I used to get my ass whipped if I misbehaved. Now, let me state that I am in no way missing this part of my childhood. I don't get how some of you freaky dicky people out there enjoy getting spanked for pleasure. I can tell you now, that if my partner ever spanked me I would turn around and slap him shitless! I don't find it sexy, it brings up some dark moments in my past and unless you want me lying on the bed in the foetal position crying, rocking myself to sleep I suggest we stay far away from spanking.
Oh my word, this topic took such a turn! The point I was trying to make about spanking is that even though I don't miss it, do you remember how well behaved you were in public. For those of you who were also spanked, we were terrified of misbehaving because we knew we were going to get it! And get it good!  My friends have really well behaved kids, and spanking should probably also not be given to naughty children. Naughty is fine. Its rude children I have an issue with! When I hear a child shout at his/her parent, or disrespect them in public, or roll their eyes at their parent. I stand (usually at the mall) and watch to see the parents reaction. Like I'm literally staring, waiting for that mother or father to raise his hand and smack some sense into their little one. Most times nothing happens. And most times I am that person who shakes her head and says under her breath: "Chi chi chi! No manners that child has! - Say that in your most indian aunty voice.
I think we are trying so hard to become "new age" that we over look basic manners and allow our children to disrespect us and others. And let me guarantee you that if your child has no manners with you, they have no manners with others either!

                                                      

Do you remember the sleep overs we would have as kids? Building forts in the house from the sheets and blankets, sleeping on the couch pillows for the bed. Staying up late at night, talking, watching movies, eating junk food. My best friend in primary school, Jeanine used to have the coolest sleep overs. We would watch movies upon movies upon movies and just camp out in either her room or the tv room. It was the best. My other childhood friend, Ziningi was the pits when I would sleep over. From a tender young age she would be the first to pass out. We would still be having a conversation when I would notice her eyes closing. Her famous line was always: "my eyes are closed, but I'm still listening" It's funny because even till today she is in bed super early!
About a month ago, a few friends and I wanted to recreate this childhood sleep over, we had so many ideas of how the evening would go, but most of the guests cancelled and we were only three in the end. We still had a great time, but it just wasn't the same. I still want to do that old school sleep over, so if you are keen let me know and we can do one, but the adult version ofcourse!

Lets not let being an adult make us dull and boring! Despite having to adult on a daily basis lets still have some fun and be childish every now and then!



Have a great week ahead!

Coco

A quick update

I haven't posted anything lately and not because I don't have anything to say, but simply because so much has happened I cant seem to tell my head from my arse.

So here is a quick update of what has been happening in Coco's world.

* a tiny back story
In October of last year I left my job at ResAfrica for an exciting challenge at Berco Indoor Gardens, I loved it and 5 months into my contract with them I was offered a promotion. I am now the Customer Care Liaison for them. For the first time in a long time I am really enjoying what I am doing! Its an amazing feeling. I no longer dread getting up in the morning and going to work. I actually look forward to what the day brings. I am on the road a lot visiting clients so I'm not stuck in the office behind my desk whole day. Variety is after all the spice of life!

I booked and paid for my holiday in Vietnam in October. Well actually I just paid for my flights. International holidays are expensive and I needed to do this in stages. So even if I end up staying on the streets of Vietnam at least I will be guaranteed a flight there and back home.
I literally cannot wait for this trip! I have always wanted to travel to Vietnam, its been on my bucket list for the longest time. October seems so very far away though. I have this crazy crush on Bobby Chinn he is a restaurateur and an ambassador for Vietnam. I partly fell inlove with that place because of him.
The fun will start soon when I plan my itinerary! If you have been to Vietnam before and have some useful tips, please do let me know in the comments section below. All suggestions are welcome.

Cocopop (my car) has a new bump on her. She looks like she has two cellulite spots in her bum. That's how I look at it, it makes me feel better about being such a horrible owner.
I have also started washing her myself. Mainly because paying for my trip has made me broke and I cant afford luxuries... such as food and car washes. I finally get why guys wash their own cars, there is a sense of pride you are filled with when you see her all shiny and sparkly and knowing you did that yourself. No more job creation for me, no more growing this economy by employing people to wash my car. I shall do it myself from now on. I will still use my "little people" to wash my car. I don't think of it as exploitation (and you shouldn't either), I think of it as valuable life lessons that I am passing on to the youth of today.

I bought myself a hamster, her name is bubbles. Its possible that she is actually a he, but since she cannot speak for herself she shall be a she and I shall call her bubbles.
I have been pinning some cute D.I.Y obstacles to put in her cage on Pinterest and I cant wait to get started on it. (If you know me, you will know that those pins will stay just there. On Pinterest. My intentions are good, but my follow-through needs some work)

Reading this post I am actually embarrassed that that is all that has happened in the last few months and I didn't make time to post anything. I really thought I was busier than that! I mean it's not like I have had babies to look after or husbands to tend to, or weddings to plan. I don't know how you people with children do it. (and by children I am also referring to the children of the adult kind)
I shall get into the swing of things again soon.

Have a great week further.

Coco

The pursuit of happiness...

2015 was a brutal year for me. With all the personal drama that unfolded in my life last year I could probably write a best seller. "The trials and tribulations of Chanelle"

This year started off with a bang, guns blazing, fireworks you name it, and might I add it wasn't the good type either. Not the kind of fireworks you want to watch from the beach. The kind of fireworks the animals experience. Loud and scary.

This year all I want is to be happy. That's it. I don't want more money (though that would be awesome and I would never turn it down) I don't want to travel the world in 80 days. (though travelling to Vietnam is something I would like to do this year) All I want is to sit down on December 31 and look back at the year that unfolded and think to myself: Damn that was a good year! I was happy!

This year I am not doing anything that does not make ME happy! Fuck you and you and you if what I do does not fit into your plans. This is my year! And I am all about making sure the number one person is happy. ME!

Christmas cheer for whaat??! For who?!

Christmas time is here again. *Sigh* didn't we do this whole "Christmas thing" last year?
Yes, that is cynicism you are detecting as I am very much anti-Christmas. You could even call me The Grinch if you like.

I have 5 main reasons as to why I am against this time of the year.(ok, let me be honest there are many reasons adding up to a lot more than 5, but for your reading sake I have kept it to 5 - You're welcome) I should probably clarify that I am in no way Anti-Christ, I am just against everything this stupid season has now become about!

1) The chaos!
Chaos everywhere! The roads are chaotic, the shops are chaotic, even our homes are chaotic! Retailers have crazy specials on like 2 items and then all of the nation swarm to the shops to purchase them thinking they are saving millions. This time of the year families decide to paint their houses, buy new furniture, new bedding etc and all for what? And might I just add that all of this stuff is purchased on credit, so for the rest of the year you are paying off credit cards and retailers all for one day in the year when you can impress your family and friends? This doesn't make sense to me.

2) Road accidents are on the increase.
Throughout the year our road accidents seem to be pretty stable, then it comes to December and the numbers increase at an alarming rate. Its almost like when it rains in Cape Town and then people forget how to drive. Drinking and driving is a stupid idea on any other day of the year, why do you all go get shit-faced in December and increase the mortality rate on the roads. You fools then make it harder for us law-abiding citizens because the accident rate is so high that we would prefer not to take the chance of getting killed, so we just stay at home. And lets not even talk about the road blocks! We sit in these damn roadblocks for hours because they are trying to catch YOU out!

3) The season for giving.
Since when do we as humans need one season to give? How is humanity meant to prevail if we decide that December is the time we will be generous! How about we give to the needy throughout the year? How about we make the whole year a season of giving? Now look, I am in no way saying we should give hugely to the needy throughout the year, but give within your means just don't wait for December.

4) Jesus wasn't really born on 25 December.
You're aware that Christmas is a pagan holiday right? And you are aware that evidence in the bible shows that He wasn't really born on the 25th of December? I've known this for a while now, and surprise surprise I found this out in a church. I get annoyed with people who follow this holiday blindly and put up Christmas trees, not knowing the full story behind them. I won't kill the buzz for the kids who enjoy Christmas and want to decorate the tree, but at some point I will let them in on the truth. We follow traditions blindly set out by our forefathers not questioning them for a second. I would much rather start my own meaningful traditions with my family than to just follow like a sheep what our predecessors have done.
(I found a website that shows evidence that Christ wasn't actually born in December. Read about it here.)

5) My father was in a car accident on December 25th.
I think this may be the main reason behind my annoyance of this season. For those of you that don't know, my father was in an accident on Christmas evening and died two days later in hospital. The driver was drunk and this ultimately led to his passing. Christmas with my grandfather was such a sad affair as he always spoke about my father's passing. I don't think he ever really got over his son dying before he did. He always told me that a big part of him died when my father did. So yeah, Christmas time makes me miss my dad, and even though all of my above points are very valid I think this is the over-powering factor for my "grinchyness" over this period.

To end off I just need to point out that I was never like this my whole life. This only came about in my later years. I used to love Christmas, I loved the hustle and bustle of this season. I loved the gift giving, but that feeling sort of disintegrated over the years. My mom always made Christmas super special for me so it is sort of sad that I have become this cynical over the years. I must admit though that the part I miss the most about Christmas is spending it with my father's family in Durban. If I could spend Christmas with them every year I believe I may just find that Christmas spirit again.
Also, the person who hates Christmas the most (me) is now dating a guy who's birthday just so happens to be on Christmas! There really is no getting out of the festive spirit for me.