Hello, my name is Neo Mohlatlole

I am a tourism fanatic. Busy with my tourist guiding qualification, with the help and support of Continental AG and Energy Guides via Tourvest Inbound Operations (TIO) and Interface Marketing. In possession of an incomplete travel and tourism operations qualification, (apparently I need a 6 months work experience to get the full qualification) I am currently staying in Auckland park, one of the suburbs in Johannesburg. I love going out and taking my brand to the people. I love parties, movies, theatre and once in a while I just want to be around nature. I would love to run my own tour operating business, I am busy with the name reservation process now. I register close corporations for extra pocket money, I also supply waiters to catering companies (haven’t got any jobs in the past six months though). I am looking at getting modeling and voice over artist gigs.

I heard about the program from Riaan Momberg, who is in charge of Human Resources at Tourvest at a tourism Indaba in Durban (Kwazulu Natal). I then forwarded my resume to him and then I was called for an interview, then like they say the rest is history. The main reason I joined the program, was to get experiential training, so I can get my travel and tourism operations qualification. I was not aware that I was going to learn so much in such a short space of time.

I must say my time at Energy Guides was well spent. It has equipped me with the necessary skills to guide my own tours am also designing potential routes and itineraries for my upcoming tour operating company. But that’s a story for another day. I have learnt more on dealing with difficult customers through the SA Host workshop, which I feel all South Africans, should attend in order to receive tourists in a friendlier way. One of my favorite learning experiences was definitely the meet and greet module were we learn and implement the art of meeting tourists from the airport and escorting them to the necessary hotels or sites they need to go to. And the best part about Energy Guides modules is that you get to visit the sites you learn about.

My typical day starts at 05h30 I exercise for 15 minutes, take a bath, have breakfast, prepare for my day. I usually leave my place around 06h45. Wait for a taxi for about 10 minutes, at this point I am still sleeping but the taxi drivers hooting wakes me up. The taxi takes 20 minutes to get to Cresta mall. Where I catch my next taxi to Randburg and get off at Prinsloo Street at the Energy Guides campus. Usually on time, or a minute or three late for the German class. After the German class, we start with the lesson of the day. Tea break at 10h00 till 10h30, lunch is from 12h30 to 13h30. We knock off at 16h00. After work I walk to cresta mall, wait in a queue for a taxi. At this time you are lucky if you get a taxi before 17h30, and most of the taxis are already full, you just get crammed, the taxi Marshall will be saying “four, four masihlalisane(lets sit together)” this is the most depressing part of my everyday. Besides being packed like sardines, the traffic on the way to town is draining. Even though the taxi is full the taxi drivers is still on his hooter.

For some weird reason I always find myself squashed between some big boned people, who are always complaining about the abuse from the taxi drivers, funny enough they never take their complains to the taxi organizations offices. In winter I didn’t mind that much, but in the summer heat this is not ideal as a lot of people had had a long day and their perspiration is almost like a concussion to knock you unconscious.

As we get nearer to my place the taxi driver wants to make a detour to avoid the traffic, as there’s a big media house, the SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) and the University of Johannesburg. At this point everyone is on their way home. So we have to debate whether he joins the traffic or drops me off there and we have to argue in isiZulu and my Zulu is not that good. If he drops me off I get a full refund, if we go through he is on my case until I get off. In the meantime the other 15 passengers are also moaning that they are going to miss their train or bus from town to wherever it is where they stay.

Today though I must get home and get changed, I have to be in Pretoria for a 19h30 performance by one of South Africa’s top male vocalist Ringo Madlingos, whom I feel is the most underrated musician in the industry. He has performed to full house audiences throughout the country he is well received by the public. He is one of those guys who is never in the media for silly reasons and most of his songs are in isiXhosa, he adds a bit of Venda and Tswana every now and then.

So I got complimentary tickets to the show and one thing you should know about me when I r.s.v.p to an event I make sure I come to the event. From there I will probably go to Fashion TV lounge or Cofi in Brooklyn, haven’t been there in a while from there I will go home and rest. Saturday I will be putting the final touches to my assessment, which I must submit on Monday. Might go to a friends’ birthday braai
Or just relax, need to recover from my pervious week/end (Hectic)

Last weekend I went home to Limpopo for my cousins lobola negotiations(traditional wedding were the grooms family pays for the bride), at which I was running around like a headless chicken setting up the braai stand, and getting the fire started and performing the actual braai. When the deal was sealed we had to return most the hired equipment, which was not fun, when I finally came back to Johannesburg on Monday morning I was extremely tired.