Luanda Hash Bash

It was the 381st Hash run for the Luanda Hash group. Yesterday after the Hash run there was drink, dinner and dance – a Bash organized from time to time for a small fee. This was my first.

The run started at the BP compound in Miramar. As usual we went through the sights, sounds and smells of Luanda. We did our traditional Hashers song (“Father Abraham had seven sons, …”) along the way on the trail. For the most part we went by some coastal area that had boulders, concrete with rusted rebars sticking out, trash piles, gigantic tires piled up and so on. In some places it was risky negotiating the slippery rocks, boulders and the rebars. Somehow we managed to get back to the BP compound totally exhausted. Then the usual ritual took place – dousing the “virgin” hashers with beer, punishing the hash run violators, saying ‘good bye’ to the expats who were leaving the country for the last time - obviously all of these by dousing with beer. It’s all in fun.

Since our staff house wasn’t far from BP complex, two of us got back to the house to take a shower and to go back for the bash. As always, Quintas drove us back and forth. As we headed for the bash, I gave Quintas some money to have dinner instead of waiting for us till it was over. There was plenty of beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks etc. before the main meal. Dinner was catered from a Chinese restaurant called Asia. There was karaoke music and people started singing and dancing. It was a party atmosphere. With a memorable and enjoyable experience, we headed back to the house around 9:30 PM (indeed a very long day for me since opening my eyes at 5:00 AM). Others stayed back to dance and drink some more. The night was too young still and who could blame them for having fun for a change in a place where there wasn't much social life.