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Published: March 21st 2014
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James' round!
Enjoying a perfect evening at Aus VS SA After a busy week of on-calls, GSWs (gun shot wounds), emergency theatre lists and needle stick scares we were well ready for a weekend break.
First stop, Centurion for Australia vs SA T20. Let's hope the South Africans give the Aussies a good battering!! Sneaking in through a back entrance of the Supersport car park we were soon placed pitch side, beer (and vuvuzela!) in hands and ready for some lighting-paced cricket action. But not before a cheeky appearance on KFC Kids For Cricket Radio!! Surrounded by Afrikaners friends we quickly got sucked into the atmosphere. 6...4...6!!!! The South African openers were putting on a real show! Unfortunately the rest of the team didn't follow suit and on a slow, boggy outfield the Proteas slumped to a measly 135-9. With half time looming the trauma trio went to grab a boerworst roll and a cricket shirt...South African of course!! Win or loose supporting the Aussies was never an option!
After a couple of vuvuzela lessons (we were awful!!) and a couple more beers the second innings started. At 100-1 after only 13 overs things were not looking promising!! Dejected from a heavy loss but with
Trauma Trio in gear!
Hide your vuvuzelas! a fantastic evening behind us our chauffeur arrived to drive us home!
Saturday we enjoyed our first lie in of the trip (and what a lie in!!). Looking out the window sunshine was beaming and we decided to head to the coolest market in town - the Neighbourgoods market in Braamfontein. The smells of bunny chow, South Africa's favourite Balkan burger, paella and hot fresh coffee hung in the air...what a place!! Migrating to the rooftop bar we enjoyed the boutique shops and ice cold drinks in the sheltering sunshine, finally feeling free from the stresses and strains of Baragwanath. Full of good food (and stocked up on souvenirs and gifts) we headed for the botanical gardens. Wandering between cacti and exotic plants we eventually reached the rose garden, adorned with waterfall, topiary and all!! Sunbathing was made for this place! Base tan secured and feeling relaxed for the first time in a month we headed home.
For dinner we had something special planned...CARNIVORE!! This fabulous African themed restaurant was seated in the middle of a 5 star hotel and resort just outside Johannesburg. Famous for its meat selection we were certainly not disappointed!!
Kudu, impala, lamb, beef, chicken, oryx, eland and...crocodile?!! With good going meat sweats on our brows and looking decidedly like elephants ourselves we were done for the day.
Sunday promised a different experience. Thankfully the weather held again for us and we embarked on the infamous Soweto bike tour! Looking around this 3 million resident city, with all it's mess, disorganisation and poverty was certainly enlightening. The whole thing had been put together in a matter of months with complete disregard for planning and it certainly told! The divide between rich and poor in Johannesburg was made even more striking as we wandered from suburb to suburb, between shacks, rubbish dumps, stray wildlife and children playing in the streets. Stopping at local monuments we saw the way in which Bantu education in apartheid had left its lasting mark on the people of Soweto and the consequence of pro-government violence on the overwhelmingly peaceful and friendly inhabitants. Stopping at Nelson Mandela and the Archibishop Desmond Tutu's past houses it struck us...we were standing on a road in which two Nobel peace prize winners had lived, loved and worked!! Inspiring stuff.
Coming to the end of
Neighbourgoods
Shouldn't have eaten on the way there! the tour a fateful feeling came upon us...next stop was the Orlando Towers. This power station, who's role was pivotal in powering central Johannesburg in the height of the apartheid era, now stood towering over Soweto adorned with murals of peace and friendship. It was also the home to the Orlando adrenaline sport centre and bungee jump site!!! With no room for looking back we were quickly signed up and harnessed in. The lift ascended higher and higher up the side of the 100m tall tower...it seemed much higher from above. Biting my lip I wandered towards the jumping platform heart in mouth!! With a few final safety checks it was time...toes over the edge...5...4...3...2...1...JUMPPP!!!! What a rush...but not as bad as the head rush after hanging upside down for 10 minutes whilst they lowered us down!!
Exhausted and pumped full of adrenaline we headed for a recovery beer at a local bar and then home...excited for our adrenaline fuelled adventures to come in Cape Town!
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