After boarding the inter-state Kombi (R170/S$26.15, less than half the price of taking Baz Bus) in downtown Manzini, the Kombi finally left for Joburg after every possible seat (2 people were sitting beside the driver) was filled up. It soon rained while we were on our way to the border, but the weather did not seem to deter the driver from exceeding (constantly) the speed limit.

The journey took 4 hours as compared to 9 hours if Baz Bus was taken. Alighted at Eastgate Mall as instructed and walked around the gigantic mall looking at the numerous restaurants filled with middle-class South Africans; showing again the vast disparity between various neighbourhoods in Joburg. Got my KFC (2 piece chicken with chips) fix here for R20/S$3.08. :)

Frank and Jack fetched me (as they were coming back from Pretoria) and we went to Chinatown for dinner (real purpose was to help them evaluate if the Chinese food they had been eating is really authentic). The food (Hot and Spicy Soup & Crispy Beef) was ok though I was really hungry. Jack then brought me to a local Shebeen (i.e. an illicit bar/club where alcohol are sold without a licence though it is now generally licensed after the Apartheid) for some beer (a 750ml Castle for R12/S$1.85). Jack bought them drinks and "sensing" the crowd was in the mood for an intellectual discussion, I brought up the issue of xenophobia (or the intense dislike and/or fear of foreigners), since I saw posters (about this) at the Oshoek border post. It sort of created a minor outroar (did not help when I was holding on to a large camera), but Jack was able to control the situation by telling them I was a "photojournalist" trying to do a report about South Africa.

I heard so much stories on Joburg; all of them being how dangerous this city was. Maybe I was enjoying the fruits of the good karma I gained in my last life; I did not meet a single incident throughout my trip. To be fair, all cities suffer from some sort of crime, be it London, New York, Buenos Aries or even Singapore but Joburg probably got more than its fair share. Some locals (they might be xenophobic) claimed the influx of foreigners (or illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries) had caused the violent crimes. It is probably a problem in Africa only to be solved via the African way. Well, let's just hope that they could sort it out before World Cup 2010.

As I was walking around in my relatively empty flight cabin, I thought of the places which I did not manage to visit. The first one that came up to my mind was Soweto. I suppose I cannot have everything I want in my life. This also happened to be the last flight which I would travel as a staff. Felt really strange; I somehow did not want the flight to land. Perhaps I was trying hard not to let go of the past, for I was stepping right into the next chapter of my life.