Swakopmund!  Go on try and pronounce that (only those of you who are not from the Town or Namibia).  Doesn’t sound to good?  Not to worry, as the scene it describes isn’t any prettier than the sound!  The translation describes a case of serious diarrhoea making its escape into the ocean!  A term first coined by the Nama and Strandloopers (beech combers)

At the close of the 19th century, the first German “campers” arrived liked the sound of the name (modified it a bit for ease of use) tagged on the “Mund” (German for mouth referring to the river mouth) and hey presto you have a word that nowadays (if translated correctly) will have adolescents rolling around in fits of laughter uttering the words “Diarrhoea-Mouth…he said Diarrhoea-Mouth” between splutters and gasps for breath!  I seriously wonder if those first settlers ever enquired after the meaning of the word when they decided to name the town? Probably not!

Swakopmund from the air!  North to South.

This brings a whole new twist to the holiday season, when farmers, tourists and families head to the coast on their yearly exodus.  Do they really know what they are saying? 

“ I can’t wait to drink in that coastal air in Swakopmund”!  Or, the beaming mother of 3 with a neurotic cleaning diorder, “we have an invigorating swim every morning when we holiday in Swakopmund”!   It doesn’t bare thinking of her reaction should her imagination suddenly and maliciously kick in!

Just north of Swakopmund you can view Flamingos (and other waders) at the Saltpans.

All silliness aside though, Swakopmund is my hometown!  It is where I grew up and although it has grown and taken on a less neighbourly ‘feel’ over the last few years, I never truly feel at home or at ease until I am back in Swakop!  As for the name, you just can’t top it!

Flamingos taking off from the saltpans!

The patchwork of colours at the Saltworks becomes mesmerising when seen from the air!

Reds, purples and a square of white stretch out towards Swakopmund to the South!

Salt forming in its evaporation pond.

Colours!

In aid of Cholestrol and high blood pressure the world over! The Salt Works!

Four kids and a dog play in the surf at Swakopmund!

There is a hypnotic quality to watching water break onto the sea shore.

Swakop at the edge of the world! I know some of you have already seen this and love it whilst others have differing opinions! This is nothing serious just a bit of arty fun! Still it is always great to get feed back!