Background: After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.
July 25th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg Hi everyone,
I'm at JFK Airport waiting to board a 18 hour flight to South Africa. Over the next two weeks I'll be in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana with my mother, stepfather, sister, and g ... [full story]
July 16th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg Back at Base Camp I had the longest shower of my life. By the end I was still not clean! Hit Maun for some lunch and then the airstrip for a flight over the Delta. We were advised it's a good idea to ... 5 photos[full story]
July 17th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg last thursday, despite another late night at ala that threatened to prevent my attendance, i did manage to make it out to mackers’ new band’s first show—1985’s intro gig. a gu ... [full story]
July 19th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg this weekend was the end of the world... party, that is. or at least that was the theme of kiran and gaz's joint birthday festival. i think the idea was roughly- 'it's the last day on earth-- wear a ... [full story]
July 6th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto
We got up on the late side and had to skip breakfast but we did have coffee and tea in the room with some biscuits I’d bought at Paris Airport. By the time my cousin made it onto the bus eve ... [full story]
July 5th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg
Wake up at 5am, breakfast at the hotel (tres French- pastries, yogurt and all) and departure for the airport at 7am
After a 10hour and 20mn flight we landed at Johannesburg international airp ... [full story]
July 17th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg From Rush - We had a long plane trip here, but we had a good conversation with a friend who lives here in Africa. He told us about a creature called the Tokoloshi who takes people who are asleep that ... [full story]
July 17th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg gchat convo in response to me being extremely stressed out over whelmed:
me: luke i'm so discouraged right now
Sent at 6:19 PM on Thursday
Luke: why
job stuff?
me: yeah
so much going on. ... [full story]
July 4th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto Still entralled with my cloistered lifestyle behind the palace walls, I woke up this morning to utter luxury and to breakfast in bed, still sore from whitewater rafting in what seemed to be a world aw ... 6 photos[full story]
July 15th 2008Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg Today was an intense look at apartheid (racial segregation) in South Africa. We began the day with a lecture at the Apartheid Museum about the South African educational system and how it was influenc ... [full story]
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