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The adventures of Calvarine and Hayley’s “GIRLS TRIPPPPP!!!!!“

Johannesburg: affectionately known as the “City of Gold”, a place where risk-takers and money-makers come to witness their dreams grow into fruition. I love this city: the rush, the adrenaline, the swiftness and feisty attitudes of people. There’s just so much hustle in the air, or maybe in the water? Regardless, living in this place requires thick skin, a thicker bank account, a full tank of petrol - cos’ traffic…

My extremely close friend, Hayley, momentarily come up with an idea to visit Johannesburg for a quick weekend Girls Trip. After watching Girls Trip together, it kinda accelerated the thought of us having a super chilled weekend plus we have never travelled together, anywhere!!

History:
Hayley and I have been friends since grade 8.
12 years down; we are still the closest of friends and surprisingly still have the same goofy conversations that we did at 13. This friend of mine is a High flyer, sports science Honours graduate, has traveled overseas, has her own medical practice, rocks a 6 pack of abs and still maintains relationships with friends, family and her boyfriend. She’s one of those girls who can do anything. I look like a complete blob next to her #Lol.

Hayley, being the Type-A smarty pants, arranged our travel itinerary for the weekend including Flights and Accommodation. I was so excited and grateful for her effort in the entire process. We set flight on 3rd November 2017, a parching hot summers day, from Durban to Johannesburg. Throughout the entire buildup, I would constantly quote phrases for Girls Trip especially the lines from Tiffany Haddish (my new favorite actress) especially because I found it hilarious.

We arrived at OR Tambo Airport around 9h30. Hayley’s cousin, who also happened to graciously be our chauffeur for the weekend, was punctually awaiting our arrival at the pick up zone. Our intentions from the outset was to have fun and create spontaneous memories. Nothing pedantically over planned, no deadlines, just fun. I personally have never done something so daring. Being 25 and having experienced so little in life, I grabbed upon the opportunity to just live, even if it just meant for one weekend.

We drove straight to the Mall of Africa, a place I’ve been wanting to see. After scoffing down a brunchy meal, we proceeded to look around. I was totally in my element looking at all the designer stores with fashion I’ll probably never afford. Besides, I’m not a girl who is obsessed with a label. I also happened to have my first “Starbucks Experience”, a chocochinni frappachino covered in whipped cream. However, I was unimpressed with the waiter who asked me to SPELL MY NAME?! Do they realize they work for Starbucks. Have they noticed that people come there for the fun of guessing if their names get spelt properly?! Side note: urgent HR intervention and staff training is needed at this branch.

We also visited my 2nd favourite shop, TYPO, which is a cute, artsy vibey shop. Time flew and soon, messages from family members started to trickle in asking about our whereabouts. We headed straight to The Barron which looked like a relaxed, white-collared, Friday afternoon location where people sat with their loosened ties and drank Castle Lager. It was cool. Sundowners after a hectic week sounds tempting. We decided to drive to our accommodation only to realize it is peak traffic at 13:00. I’m assuming a lot of people leave work at this time. Traffic was ridiculous. We were entangled with taxis, school transport and working class people, all rushing to the excitement of the weekend.

We arrived at our accommodation (47 on Preston) precisely at 14:00 and checked into our neatly prepared, air conditioned, wifi-zoned room with a stunning pool and views to match. The area was called Highlands North and the houses were impressive. Security was priority for us hence, the 24hr access controlled body guard, secure features and boom gates gave us peace of mind.

Our sweet ‘chaperone’ (Hayley’s Cousin) ensured we had snacks and liquor at our disposal. Skyy Vodka, Savannah and Amstel were on the menu. After chilling and catching up, we had to plan the night. I am unfamiliar with the night life of Johannesburg. We started getting ready and in the midst of it all, another cousin decided to visit us and show us around after all It’s an Indian thing to stick together. This particular cousin was weird. He was soft spoken, very proud, a straight A student, forensic scientist and quite an opinionated person. I am certainly not accustomed to this type of behavior. We didn’t get off to a great start. I’m all for successful people but not the proud ones. I’d like to think that I’m a cool, chilled and open-minded person. I’m always telling people “Don’t Judge” and this was an appropriate time to take my own advice!!

He brought through a bottle of caramel vodka and sipped. Funny thing is, this guy continued to drop hints the entire night of how intelligent, successful and opulent he is. The car he drives, the area he stays, the alumni he belongs to and his career, which is prospering at an exponential rate. Luckily Hayley informed me about this dude. Nothing serious, she just told me don’t worry, he is different from the average guy.

This dude was slightly tipsy at the arrival of our uber cab. I was controlling the Aux cord playing my “fresher than” music. They were not impressed. Seems like these freaking people don’t like Nas and Vic Mensa! Are you even my friends? Ha ha.
We arrive at monte casino, a nightlife spot in Johannesburg, suggested by this cousin. I was actually warming up to him and started to laugh at his jokes. Please don’t any ideas. He has a spouse and over-saturated metrosexual tendencies. Definitely not my type.

The night got funnier. We ate and thereafter entered a place called “3sixty liquid lounge” which has a brilliant live band and serves cocktails, cute baby pink and blue candy floss shooters, bubblegum flavored liqueurs served in test tubes and other unconventional drinks. I loved it. Vibe was cool, we were probably the youngest group of people there, nevertheless, I am a huge fan of Earth Wind Fire and Bruno Mars. We took a quick walk around the casino to my disappointing bewilderment, people were gambling and it was almost 1 am. I hate gambling so I wasn’t pleased to witness people losing their entire salaries on a table. The ride home was hilarious. We got to bond with the weirdo. It was banter the entire night. I wasn’t holding back, neither was he. Safely reached home, thankfully to uber (that driver was relived to drop us). Liquor usually fuels deep thinking so the conversation of religion came up. Uh-oh!

We sat for over 2 hours conversing about religion and there is no decent, happy way to end this conversation without someone getting offended. Throughout the discussion, I was quite level minded and reminded that my Faith is for me, it works for me and I don’t have to justify it. I was also reminded that the essence of a religion is to have faith in God, that’s the basis of Christianity. So when someone wants hardcore facts, times, places and dates - especially when they have a debilitating hatred for Christianity, I will not be intimidated and cross questioned by someone who is out to make a point rather than seeking to understand. Here we are in a very familiar scenario: Christians vs Hindus. The answers were flying back and forth. Eventually we all agreed to disagree and by this time, the dried sweat started to irritate my skin.
They gang was getting ready for bed and the proud cousin who earlier asked why we are staying in this place eventually ended up sleeping in one of the beds.

Funny story: earlier that day, we found banana flavored condoms in the room and wanted to prank Hayley’s ‘cool’ cousin. We even dispensed some droplets of handwash in order to make it seem like it was used. Yuck! We slipped it under the covers and pretended like nothing happened.

Fast forward to later that evening, well it was early hours of the morning, proud cousin decided to sleep in the bed which had the condom. I was only just informed that he is a germaphobe. He felt the slippery substance and sprang out of bed like a cat in water! It was hilarious. Shortly after that, everyone passed out from pure exhaustion.

Saturday morning started off great. We were treated to an in-house breakfast prepared by the Muslim hostess and then proceeded to the Rosebank Mall. En route, I was speechless at the upper echelon of Johannesburg. The buildings, the infrastructure, the complex designs and luxurious apartments. For a split second you even ask yourself, is this South Africa? Are we even in a recession?
Rosebank mall was super cool. From Hamleys to Krispy Kremes, we waltzed our way to almost all the stores and I was majorly impressed.

Our next stop was Melose Arch. I was levitating. I had never been to this place and always heard about it on TV/Radio. We approached the entrance of Melrose arch with Lambourguinis, Porshe, Ferrari, limousines and various other exotic cars parked inside. Funny thing, it wasn’t even a car expo. These were normal patrons who happened to be in this place. Once again, I’m thinking “is this really Johannesburg?! This feels like a foreign place.”. Melrose Arch has various luxury shops, amazing restaurants and beautiful cobble stoned pave ways decorated with Vespas to create an Italian feel.

Jamie’s Italian, founded by the talented chef Jamie Oliver, is an awesome 4/5 star restaurant. I’m a sucker for comfort food so I ordered a gigantic burger layered with different cheeses, sautéd onions, crisp lettuce and holonaise sauce with Parmesan drizzled fries and a refreshing signature Jamie Mojito. We strolled for a bit and went back to 47 on Preston to catch a breather and of course, prepare for our last night in Joburg.

We utilized the convenient services of Uber that weekend and through that, got to see the growth and splendor of our country’s golden city. There are construction sites everywhere possible. Infrastructure and renovations are booming. At the same time, we saw beggars at robots, extremely poor laborers, mostly from other African countries working for minimal wages. It was such a skewed representation. On one hand, we have bugattis and rolls royces lining the street and on the other, we have people digging in bins and hanging out of trains because of their poverty. Mind you, this was one road away of each other. I couldn’t fathom it. It was confusing. Once agin, you’re challenged to think, what are we doing wrong? Are the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. How do we stabilize this situation. For some of us, growing up in disadvantaged communities affects in many ways. When you do well in life, you almost carry a sense of guilt for doing well and feeling sorry for people who have not achieved anything. Must you apologize for your success? Must you feel unworthy of getting a golden ticket just because your peers lacked drive to hustle?

Saturday night was about to go down. We were scheduled to meet some of their cousins on 4th Avenue in Parkhurst, cited as Joburgs version of Florida Road. We did a small pub crawl before settling into a local sports bar. We befriended 2 sisters sitting besides us. They were so sweet and shared their hookah with us. The drinks kept rolling, including my signature drink; 1 Smirnoff storm and 1 tot of Aftershock. It’s light, pink and tasty. Jäger bombs are always compulsory. Me and my greedy self got way ahead of the party and started twisping, experimenting with everyone’s flavors. Marshmallow, honey and red bull flavors mixed with alcohol and a hookah ended off in me wanting to puke. I felt bad for tainting the evening. We hopped into an uber cab and came home. With toothbrush in hand, I was determined to get sober asap, which I did! Straight to bed after a hot bath, we were ready to conquer the morning in high spirits seeing that it was also our last day of “Girls Trip”.

Sunday morning started off with a lovely breakfast. We packed up and proceeded to Rosebank mall which was my request. I needed to get my hands on some Krispy Kremes to bring back home. To kill time, we also attended this rooftop art and crafts market in the parking lot. I was so impressed with the variety and organization of this fete. It was beautiful and eccentric. Foods from every culture was sold, ethnic clothing and creative decor, eclectic jewelry and fashion - it was….. Different.

After obtaining my two dozen of Krispy Kremes, we headed out of Rosebank and straight to the Airport. We checked it with full luggage and a huge, embarrassingly box of 24 Krispy Kremes doughnuts. We thanked Hayley’s amazingly courteous and sweet cousin who gave us such a memorable time and boarded the flight.

In all, this was the best trip I’ve ever taken. No drama, no bickering, no anxiety, just pure fun. I’m was so appreciative of those 3 days and how my eyes got opened to a new way of life. It is vitally important to experience something different from your normal standard of living. Johannesburg is such a beast but contrives such beauty within its streets.

I had to share this memorable experience on my blog and even if it didn’t seem thrilling to you as you read, it meant the world to me.
Here’s to more exciting experiences, spontaneous trips, everlasting friendships and ticking off the bucket list!!

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25 things I’ve learnt at 25:

Lists usually remind us of order…

Grocery lists, itineraries, pros and cons, marked calendars, full inboxes, an array of neon post-its and not forgetting the dreaded PING! of a cellphone reminder.

Throughout life, we go through seasons of pain and gain. It’s inevitable. For me, writing is cathartic. It’s a outlet for my spiritual tap to run open. It’s a window to invite visions and sounds to enter.

Our 20s is a metamorphosis between childishness and real adulting.

Since I’m 25 right now, I’m not relinquishing this opportunity to finally pass on some of my “wisdom” to other people reaching this ‘tender’ age. 

Herewith below is MY list of what I’ve learnt at 25:

1) Age: is just not just a number: you’re half way to 50! “You cannot live the same way for 75 years and call it a life.” Wisdom should grow with age. Be alert, stay woke and make sure you don’t waste your youth for its a short time. 

2) Goals: are very important. Without goals, we live so aimlessly and not driven to be better, live better. Set realistic goals and update them. The “Dragging feet mentality” is the worst feeling. Goals keep you challenged and motivated. Don’t despise moments of difficulty. Cultivate resilience.  

3) Discovery: One of my favourite things about being 25 is that you start to get specific about the things you like and are completely unapologetic about it. I know the type of food I want to eat, places I want to visit, conversations I want to have and the company I wish to be surrounded with. It’s very liberating. 

4) Fix your Axis: start to get serious about your career. Shift your focus on productivity. Live to please yourself. 

Head in the direction of your dream job. Being 25 is probably the oldest age to get an internship so take any opportunity that allows you to be your best version.

5) Nightlife: The club is not as exciting as your cosy bed. Having a rejuvenating 10-hour sleep session trumps a night filled with drunk, sweaty people, loud music and traffic.

6) Your interests WILL change - for example, shopping for furniture is waaaaay more exciting than clothes. Your style changes, your taste evolves, you crave authenticity. You want to eat soul food and drink merlot. It’s quite hilarious. 

7) Happiness. We spend our entire lives and a lot of money trying to attain happiness. It’s all a hoax. Your happiness always begins with you. You are a complete person. Please stop looking for someone or something to complete you. 

8) Stand up for Yourself: It’s okay to disagree with someone but still be graceful. Being 25 means you have lived long enough to have figured out the pattern of life. Have an opinion. Stand for what you believe in. Be strong and courageous. Don’t allow anyone to violate you. 

9) Be responsible. Don’t drink and drive. At 25, you cannot ask your parents to bail you out, sort your bills and rescue you from trouble. Grow up. 

10) Independence: sounds great but requires discipline and maturity. If you wish to be independent, you must be willing to make sacrifices as well. Rent, Groceries and Petrol are more important than Dinners, Movies and Entertainment. 

11) Finances. This is huge one. A proper savings plan and retirement annuity must be implemented. Start thinking critically of your future and be precise of exactly where you want to go. 

12) Friends : by the age of 25, you should already have figured out whose in your life for a season or a lifetime. I don’t waste time being friends with fickle people. Loyalty and respect is what I look for in friends. Quality over quantity any day! 

13) Get smart: my favourite hobby of all time is reading. Get into the habit of knowing what’s happening in the world. You’re 25! You should have an opinion surrounding politics, religion, comedy, entertainment, sport, music. Don’t go with flow, stand out and honestly, don’t be afraid to offend. Of course not maliciously, but if you view offends someone, don’t be hindered by their reaction. 

14) Forgiveness: no matter what religion or values you follow, forgiveness is a difficult but necessary trait to develop. Forgive others and forgive yourself for any past mistakes. 

15) Marriage: this is sensitive and different for everyone. Don’t stress if you’re not ‘Married’. Yes, you might feel dis-heartened that you did not find your so-called 'soulmate’. So what? Stop living your life based on other peoples’ deadlines. I believe in timing. Everything you’re going through is preparing you for a brighter future. 

16) Family: Don’t tolerate an abusive partner, instigating family members. Find your inner peace. Family is not limited to blood relation and true family don’t seek to hurt each other.They seek to build each other. Remember that. 

17) Faith. I am I firm believer in God. I daily remind myself that it’s not about me but actually fulfilling my God-given duties. My purpose before being a daughter, sister, auntie, friend and lover is to be WORSHIPPER. My role model is Christ and I often use the famous “WWJD” when approaching a situation. Don’t worship with emotion but always in spirit and truth. 

18) Dating: I don’t believe in dating people just to pass time or when I’m feeling bored. If I don’t see a future with you, I’m not going to date you and waste both our time. 

19) Value: People base everything upon face-value. You might have received bad treatment because of your race, age or marital status. Ignore it. Remind yourself daily of who you are and who you belong to and that’s God. You are not the tail but the head. 

20) Women in Power: I love seeing a strong woman taking charge, shattering the glass ceiling and successfully leading her home, workplace or any situation. We deserve respect, love and comfort but remember that you must also offer these qualities in order to receive it.

21) Social media: straight and simple. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see or would be embarrassed of in 5 years’ time. 

22) Face-beat: Learn how to do your own makeup but also don’t feel afraid to be comfortable in your own skin. Contouring and highlighting is great when you have a great personality to match it with.

23) Birthdays: are no longer exciting. You get anxious even thinking of getting a year older, especially if you haven’t met your goals for the year. 

24) Time is precious:  spend it wisely on experiences and relationships. You will never have regrets about this. Remember, you can only wear one pair of shoes at a time and no matter how big your house is, you can only sit in one place at a time. Invest in people and do good service for them. Cut down and live frugally.

25) Instinct: at 25, your 6th sense develops in a drastic way. Trust your gut. If it feels suspicious, it probably is. Don’t downplay your instinct. Own your truth and work on strengthening your instinct for it is an asset to your future well- being.

HOPE THIS HAS HELPED SOMEONE, ANYONE.

XOXO

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