...c

On my way home last night I parked my scooter outside this DVD shop to run a few errands. Got greeted by the shop assistant and I went on my way. On my way back he was still standing there smiling. So I walked in and took a look. He told me he has been there since about lunch and has not sold a single DVD.  He would really just like to make one sale. Give me any price, he said. You choose and just say how much you want to pay...LOL!! Think if you have read my previous blog entries you will know where this is going. Yes he had an Indian accent.  Needles to say we ended talking about my trip through Kerala and his own home town in India. And YES I bought a DVD after haggling a bit ( big smile )....As I got on my wheels he waved and closed-up shop.

So what?

On the 30th of April (Queens’s day in The Netherlands) I had the day off and went with a good friend of mine on a bike and wine tour here in Stellenbosch. We planned for a 21km adventure ride. Cell phones in freezer bags since the forecast said there WILL BE RAIN. At 07h30 we were on our way to Long Street to our meeting point with our guide. He wasn’t there yet so we went for coffee. Got back and then waited for the other people in the group to arrive. They arrived and we waited some more. Then we left for the station and waited some more. So by about 11h00 we arrive at the bike shed. We do a 2km ride to the first wine estate. There after the tasting we get told: we were going to have lunch at the next estate but there restaurant seems to be closed on Mondays. So now were not sure what to do. Luckily the deli at the current wine estate was open so we had lunch there. At lunch Mr. Guide says: Good thing you are all South Africans, otherwise we would need to do so much more effort to be on time and everything and go through all the tastings and things.”  WTF!!! Am I not good enough for proper service!

After lunch we set off for the next wine estate. It starts raining and suddenly we find ourselves being guided back to the bike shed. OK we will take you to the other two wine estates by car and that will be it unfortunately due to the rain.....WTF again! Both guides were bad smokers and heaving with red faces after the next 2km ride back. I was wondering if it didn’t rain how on earth they would have been able to take us on the 21km ride.

Great fantastic service we as South Africans our proud of. Am sure this doesn’t happen all the time but wow, is this what our beautiful country and its people deserve! I can go on how other things irritated me that day and how I gladly declared my Dutch pride for the Queen, but no point right now. I am proudly South African and believe you as the reader are too!

I’ll quote again: “Good thing you are all South Africans, otherwise we would need to do so much more effort to be on time and everything and go through all the tastings and things.”


Namaste!

...c



ps: Why did I write this? Just to send the link to the company in question and to let you know if you ever want to go on a bike and wine tour, ask me first so I can tell you which one NOT to use!

Unfortunately I cannot share more pictures cause I am to decent to embarrass people online.