Mbabane, Swaziland

Swaziland, Africa

Currency: Swazi Rand (roughly 10R to $1USD)

Weather: Summer, but very rainy and unseasonably cold

Population: 1.2M

Language: Siswati and English

Interesting Fact: This country has a 42% penetration of HIV infection.

Shirley, Beverly, Ayana and I took a roadtrip to Swaziland last weekend.  The trip is about 3.5 hours over the Gobe border of Mozambique and into the lush, beautiful, cloud-covered mountains.  Unfortunately, it rained for the duration of our visit, but surprisingly I was okay with that.  The rain provided an ideal setting to enjoy some “family” time with good people.  Shirley’s friends, Nicole and Eric, and their daughter, Lily, were the ideal hosts.

Eric cooked us gourmet meals each night and day and Lily provided the best entertainment I’d had in months.  She has an amazing spirit and turned every conversation, song or activity into a dance party.  She is honestly, the happiest, most uplifting being I’ve ever encountered.  If she represents even half the spirit of all the people of Swaziland, it should give Disney World a run for their money as the happiest place on Earth.

Emily and Lily

Our first day in Swaziland, we pampered ourselves with one-hour massages at the Camelot Spa in the Royal Swazi Hotel. Then headed off to the El Zuwini craft shops where we met Doug, Elmer, Sebastian and their friend, Rina, for a quick rendezvous and chat.  Rina, I found, is also visiting for a short time and she and I made plans to buddy-up for a trip to Namibia at the end of the month!  I love chance encounters!

We followed it up with lunch and shopping at Sambori Café at Swazi Candles.  Lunch was delicious and the restaurant was surrounded by small specialty shops selling batiks, woven scarfs, tourist goods and there was a candle shop.  There were candle-makers molding animal shaped candles right in front of patrons.  The candles and soaps smelled amazing and looked even better.  They were no ordinary candles, though. They were swirling with colors, shapes and patterns.

 

That evening, Nicole and Eric called some friends over for an amazing make-your-own-pizza party.  We ate, drank and sat prey as Lily administered glitter tattoos to each willing victim.  The wet, cold evening did not stand a chance to the warmth of the fire and company in that home.

The next morning, Eric created homemade “Egg McMuffins”, bacon and sausage for breakfast.  We spent the rest of the morning sitting by the fire telling stories, breaking out in impromptu dance parties and youtubing videos of the Princess of Swaziland rapping….yes that’s right rapping.

Clockwise from the back: Beverly, "Master Chef" Eric, Nicole, Shirley and the fabulous Lily (Ayanna is hiding)

Swaziland is one of very few remaining monarchies. King Mswati III,  is quite young, only 45. Each year, there is a Reed Ceremony where he chooses a new wife.  For the past 5 years, he has not chosen a new wife. This year, however, he did.  Apparently, prior to choosing a wife, he has to ensure they are able to bare children.  So, each wife he choses is already pregnant with his child. He has around 28 children from his 14 wives.  Apparently, he is quite scandalous as 3 wives have escaped and run away.  The entire story is fascinating.  He has one child that lives in New York and another, Princess Sikhanyiso (her rapper name is “Pasha”), that has produced a gospel/rap video called, Hail Your Majesty.  It’s a bit awkward in that she makes reference to her father’s touch in a sensual way…. “the splendor of your touch is magical”, then breaks out in a gangsta style rap and traditional Swazi high kicks midway through.  You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ_xJbxOEco courtesy of our friends at YouTube.com.  Her current viewership is 6294, I'm sure she'd appreciate the extra hundred hits as you will the fabulousness of her video.  Enjoy!

Anyway, it was so nice to feel the warmth of a family, and feel utterly embraced and accepted.  I really enjoyed Swaziland despite only seeing it through a raindrop smattered car window.