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Durban Travel Blogs

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.

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By colindn
January 3rd 2010

Durban Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Total flying hours = 21.5 Total Airport Hours = 21 Current Status = Tired Movies Watched = The Reader, Star Trek Movies Aborted = Swingers, Public Enemies Video Games Played = Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Books Read = Young Stalin Airport Meals Eaten = Sushi, cappucino, starbucks Airplane Meals Eaten = "beef", muffin, free roast beef sandwich, chicken tikka masala, english breakfast Bottles of mini-airplane wine drank = 4 Women accusing passengers of intentionally tripping her 2 year old son = 1 Degrees in Durban = 29 (feels like 1000000000000000) [View Full Entry]

By Kayse
December 27th 2009

Merry Christmas Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Baking Chaos

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. It was great to get to talk to some of you during the holiday season. I had a great Christmas here in South Africa. While it didn’t feel like Christmas and it felt a bit strange to tell people Merry Christmas, it was still a really fun day. I spent Christmas Eve in my kitchen baking up a storm. I got a late start due to sleeping in a bit and getting in a quick run, but I managed in one day to make an eggnog pie, a batch of banana [View Full Entry]

By Kayse
November 9th 2009

Hospital Party and Bollywood Night! Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Beautiful!

Hello! *Caution this blog contains some sensitive topics I think this is a record, a new blog two weeks in a row! I had a full weekend and I am looking forward to a full week. While I didn’t have much time to sleep this weekend it was probably one of the best I have had here so I wanted to get some photos up right away. I will be adding more photos to this blog as I get them from friends but here is a start. I started my weekend on Friday with a Rotary lunch and then hurrying home [View Full Entry]

The kids waiting for us to get started with the party!

By Kayse
October 20th 2009

October Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Rotary Fundraiser

Hello everyone! Phew! All I am doing right now is taking a deep breath! As I have told many of you September was a very challenging month for me, to say the least. I am not exactly sure how I thought I could work part time, write a proposal, and finish my courses all at the same time! I also was dealing with some health issues which added stress. They say the only way to really know a country is to spend time in its hospitals and prisons, I guess I partially know South Africa and I am in no hurry [View Full Entry]

By ThembaThemba
October 18th 2009

Back in KZN Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

our last day in Port St John was slightly hendered by the rain. it began to come down very hard and it was truly pointless to walk outside.. it cleared off a little bit and we were able to walk up to the light house..which I have photos of and will upload later. Nathan and I took a koombi (taxi) heading towards Durban..we were planning to stop in Mzumbe..but I actually fell asleep in the taxi and we missed our stop.. so we just decided to gp through to Durban. Once we arrived, we contacted Norman and Betty, the couple we [View Full Entry]

By lindajbloomfield
June 23rd 2009

Just A Quick One - Variety Show, Drakensberg and Saying Goodbye! Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

The Variety Show was on Friday 12th and was fantastic!! I'm so proud of those kids! Maryna filmed it for us and is going to send me the DVD so I can show you all :). I was however verrrrry disappointed with the staff (though you can't expect much better from them) as only four teachers turned up, and only 2 stayed til the end except for me, Samy, Kory and Jan. AND stupid lazy librarian Kenny Mafuleka - I had an argument with him the other week coz he started hitting kids in my class, and now he's giving me [View Full Entry]

By DonKey44
June 3rd 2009

South Africa #8 Dundee and Durban Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Museum at Blood River

Heading to Dundee and the Blood River Battle Monument we hit more construction on the two lane highway. They closed off mile long stretches with only 1 lane open. After waiting up to 20 minutes, we would drive a few miles and hit another closure for a total of 8 - 10 times. From Kruger to Dundee via Swaziland it took 12 hours. Our B&B, History's Walk, had 2 pit bulls plus razor wire on a fence to keep raiders of the night from intruding. The proprietor wanted to "guide" us to the memorial the next day - wasn't gonna [View Full Entry]

Vortrekker Wagon Monument at Blood River

By Kayse
May 21st 2009

May Update Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

District Conference

May update Next week will be four months since I moved to South Africa. I cannot believe it, time has gone by so fast! I am enjoying every moment but at the same time I was in my study carell the other day thinking Gosh I wish this would never end! I am excited I am in the one year program, partly because I couldn’t afford two years, but at the same time I am so jealous of people who get to spend two years studying in this amazing program! I love my study carrel, the weekly seminars by experts from [View Full Entry]

By Kayse
April 4th 2009

South African Speak Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Hey these are just some fun differences that I have come across here in South Africa. Ill continue to add words as I hear them! SA words - American English Braai - bbq Just now - in a minute Now Now - right now Bakkie - truck Loo - toilet Jumper - sweatshirt Jersey - sweater Biscuit - cookie Crisps - chips Robots - traffic lights Berg - Mountain Cool drink/fizzy drink - soda Howzit - how are you? Bolocks - useless/stupid Lekker - cool Mealie - corn Sarmie - sandwich Takkies - sneakers Lift - elevator Boot - trunk of [View Full Entry]

By LauraShapcott
April 2nd 2009

Week 5 Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban

Hey, Things have been incredibly manic the last 2 weeks which is why im only writing week 5 now. Because of our weekend to Drakensberg we didn't start work at the dream centre again until tuesday. On tuesday morning I woke up feeling really rough and I think I must have caught the stomach bug Malou had last week. I didn't want to pass it onto the patients, who have a compromised immune system, so decided to stay at the 'flat'. It was really strange going up to Thandi's room on wednesday and seeing someone else in her bed. Malou and [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal » Durban