Be a Tourist in Your Own City

The funny thing about places is that, if you live in them, they lose the exotic mystique that they have from afar and everything people travel halfway across the world to see seems to fade into the background as we whizz past it caught in the oblivion-inducing race of living.

Though it’s a little hard to imagine, the truth is the mire of taxis, smell of constantly braaing meat and the unholy mess of Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, Damara/Nama, Herero, English and German thrown together to create the almost incoherent slanguage of “Namlish” is what makes our city beautiful. And endearingly insane.

That’s why, in honour of World Tourism Day, instead of rolling our eyes at senseless foreigners trying to sweet talk livid Himba women, we should rediscover our venerated patch of the Earth and be a tourist in our own city.

Here’s how:

Take Public Transport

When you’re a tourist, especially one on a budget, you do as the Romans do. And in Namibia, most people make their way around our fine city clinging to dear life in the bowels of a taxi. Not only are they relatively cheap and cheerful, they are also omnipresent and a great way to meet an average Namibian talking Namlish on their cell phone while a considerate driver turns up the latest from Tate Buti.

Buy A Curio from a Street Vendor

What is being a tourist without buying a locally made trinket from someone whittling away at their handcraft under a frayed umbrella? Be it wooden, beaded or baked in a kiln, fare from vendors is a wonderful way to support the men and women who add colour to our streets while creating the little art pieces that make sure Namibia remains visible to visitors via mantle.

Keep Your Sights on the Skyline

As everyday rats in the race, we keep our eyes on the ground. However, when we have the freedom of holiday and the mood of curiosity, the sky seems to be the limit… And we look up. Being a tourist in your own city is as simple as taking in the skyline, the architecture and the bright blue skies that we were blessed with replete with the relentless sun, which colours our skin this happy hue.

Eat Street Food:

When you’re travelling, street food is your best friend. Not only because it’s easy on your wallet but also because all the international cuisine you leave a spleen on deposit for at restaurants is now readily available. In terms of Namibia, our cuisine is meat. In hot dogs, as kapana or thrown onto a braai. Eat it neat from the street from vendors, single quarters or a car wash for an authentic taste of your own city.

Visit Tourist Hot Spots

This is as simple as following white people in safari packs. I’m kidding. Sort of. From the Christuskirche to the Alte Feste to the Parliament Gardens, the museum, the National Art Gallery, John Muafengejo Art Centre and Zoo Park, Windhoek is full of statues and places, which have seen their fare share of existing. Be a tourist in your own city by reading the inscriptions on buildings and statues as you make your way around on foot.

Walk Around

Walking is what being a tourist is all about. Not only do you get to make your way through the throng of local humanity, walking also allows you to slow down and really take a look around rather than whizzing by unmindfully in a car. For beginners: get a taxi to drop you off in town and walk the length of Independence avenue and Town Square. Marveling at the hawkers, skyline, graffiti, coffee shops and curiosities you encounter just on that street is guaranteed. And sojourning in Zoo Park like the most horizontal potchocho in all the land is recommended.

Sit on a Bench

When you’re a tourist, a bench can be the holiest of grails. You see one and suddenly all that walking catches up with your muscles and you want nothing more than to park your posterior while waiting for someone to appear with two Cokes, a hotdog and a Segway. Sitting on benches is also a great way to watch the world go by while it wonders why you’re smiling at it from a bench.

Go Somewhere You Have Never Been

If your family or friends came to visit your city where would you go? When we’ve lived somewhere for a long time, often we get bored or even neglect to go out. Being a tourist in your own city means you go somewhere you have never been before. The result is that suddenly your city seems novel again and you may even stumble upon your new favourite night club, coffee spot or restaurant to boot.

Give to the Needy

Being a tourist is often a lesson in altruism. With pictures of your host countries poor seared into your psyche, giving to the homeless and handicapped is all part of the gawking gig. Be sure to spare a couple of dollars for people less fortunate than yourself on your tourist day out. And remember, for many, your easy N$10 means transport home from wherever you find them.

Take Photos and Upload a “Tourist in My Own City” Album

The first rule in the Gawking Tourist handbook is: Take photos of anything and everything. This includes statues, weird birds, meteorites, you eating street food and you jumping in the air in front of something touristy. Oh and be sure to roll your eyes at locals who amble into the frame when you’re trying to take pictures of something as outlandish as a store front. When all this is said, done and oddly out of frame, upload your photos from your day of being a tourist in your own city to Facebook. As one does. You know, to show everyone it’s real.

If you take some time to be tourist, send me one of your snaps pertaining to one of the ten points and win lunch at my favourite spot in city centre, a curio and fifteen minutes of fame in my column.