Blogs from Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 23

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto August 26th 2010

A morning tourThursday, August 26. We are supposed to tour Joburg, but half the town is on strike and some of them are behaving badly and others are just crowding the streets so we stay on the freeway that circles the town and drive directly to Soweto, a Johannesburg suburb of over 3 ½ million people. Thoroughly modern freeway system incidentally, complete with heavy traffic. This is just brutalHomes seem to be divided into three types in Soweto. 1) Miles, upon miles, upon miles of tiny tin-roofed shacks make up the majority of homes here. 2) A smattering of larger homes, but with shacks in the yards. Owners of these homes sell space for the shacks. 3) And finally a newer level of homes that belong to the professionals like doctors and attorneys. These are three ... read more

Vestiges of the World Cup are everywhere

South Africa to Zimbabwe Day 10

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton August 25th 2010

Blyde River Canyon shrouded in fog

SusanC

A surprise awaitsWednesday, August 25. 5:30 wakeup call, 6:30 breakfast, 7:30 head out for Blyde River Canyon about 50 miles west of the Kruger Park border. Although socked in with fog, it is beautiful. The river has carved out curves and swirls in the red and yellow rocks with a waterfall serving as backdrop, flowing from a half dozen terraces. The red-sandstone canyon (lichen contribute to a multitude of colors) is supposedly the world's third largest behind Grand Canyon in the states and Fish Canyon in Namibia, but what we see is a tiny fraction of that. Back on the busThe rest of the trip to Johannesburg is fairly uneventful. We stop every few hours for a stretch or a snack or to cruise a little town. We lunch in the small town of Graskop and ... read more

Imagine what it would look like on a sunny day

Freestyle Events

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg August 23rd 2010

Photo 2

mattswrtz

We have had two successful freestyle events at different malls in Johannesburg. The Freestyle tournament visits 4 different shopping malls in Joburg to declare winners that will advance to the Grand Final on November 4th. There are 4 age groups: u12, u14, u16, and a girls group as well. I have included some photos of both events. ... read more

I Made It!

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg August 16th 2010

K 10

First I have to say that I lucked out and got an aisle seat with an empty seat next to me for my 17 and1/2 hour plane ride from Washington D.C. to Johannesburg (Joburg)! What are the chances? Yesssss I got the empty seat, which is currently housing a pile of books, magazines, and extra pillows. Oh, and I just learned that I am stopping over in Senegal. Cool, it would be even cooler if I could actually be in Senegal and not just in the Dakar airport. I have been blessed by a nasally snore from the woman two seats to my right, a group of American tourists ready for their safari in Kruger National Park to my left, and a tv stocked with plenty of movies I have never seen. I have the goal ... read more

Never check a bag at Johannesburg Airport

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg August 12th 2010

honeymoonfirst

Our flight to Madrid and then Quito, Ecuador left from Johannesburg, South Africa at 8:30 PM on Iberia airlines. We had heard that Johannesburg wasn´t such a safe city and since we were enjoying Mozambique so much, we decided to take a bus the day of our flight. We boarded an early bus which would get us to Johannesburg by early afternoon. A few hours into the journey our bus got a flat tire. We were told not to worry as a replacement bus would be there in less than 30 minutes. After the bus change we had only been delayed one hour so we were not too worried. Sure enough, several hours later the bus pulled off to the side of the road and we were informed that the water pump was broken. We sat ... read more

Last Days in Southern Africa....waaaaah

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg August 1st 2010

1-Musicians at the flea market

Avila

August 1st Another night’s sleep in the tent and a late rise from it as well. I had breakfast with Brian and we talked about what to do in Jozi before leaving. There was one other flea market we decided to visit, with Jonathan and Aisha also interested in going. We ended up meeting them there after they had gone to the Apartheid Museum in the morning. The flea market wasn’t much different from the one the day before a lot of the same products and souvenirs. Brian and I walked around for a bit, looking at all the souvenirs we couldn’t afford or have enough room to take with us. We did enjoy some good food at the market however, tasting some Thai curries and Chinese stir fry’s! That was a big highlight! We also ... read more

4-Some sort of march in China Town, Johannesburg

The beginning

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg July 29th 2010

Dorans travels

Prior to leaving for my travels, the dominant feeling was one of apprehension and nerves. These feelings can be attributed to the prospect of me venturing well and truly outwith my comfort zone, but they were mostly from the prospect of flying! So after several paranoid and crazy thoughts going through my head (such as 'there only seems to be middle-aged businessmen on this flght. If god is gonna crash a plane, this one will def be a top candidate'), I survived the 11 hour flight from Heathrow to Jo'burg. I got hee-haw sleep on the plane due to my nerves, so on arrival I was absolutely shattered. After getting a lift from a member of staff from the hostel I am staying at, I arrived at the hostel which is located in a Northern suburb ... read more

Apartheid

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg July 27th 2010

Themba in Sisulu Square

travelingfeet

We arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday morning. We spent Sunday getting acclimated then on Monday we took a tour to some interesting fossil beds called “The Cradle of Humankind.” The best part of the tour, however, was the stories told by our tour guide Themba. He started out by taking the time during the drive to tell us about the end of Apartheid from his point of view. To say he is grateful to Nelson Mandela is an understatement. I have read about Mr. Mandela’s role in negotiating with the Apartheid regime but Themba emphasized his role in convincing black South Africans to accept whites in the society rather than throwing them out like Zimbabwe did. Then I asked him to tell us about himself. He said he was born in and grew up in Soweto. ... read more

Dobsonville Clinic

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Soweto July 24th 2010

Photo 2

mattswrtz

These photos are from a clinic we did about 3 weeks ago after I returned from the playing tour. I had the opportunity of sharing the Gospel message afterward. Although translation was needed, I pray that many kids were able to understand the message of Jesus and accept Him as their Savior.... read more

42 sleeps to go

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg July 21st 2010

Jaxii

Only 42 sleepies till holiday..... So much to do......... ... read more

Brief history of South Africa

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 subjug...more history

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