It is interesting to read that you think black people taking (stealing) stuff from white people can be associated with Robin Hood. People from all over Africa is pouring into CapeTown. There is an upcoming black middle class. Sadly the government is building houses but the black people then sell the decent houses to go and live in townshipos where the services are free.That is what thye are used to.
Before pointing a finger to SA society do some more reading please. You sound ignorant.
Your views are typcial of those who do not have a clue on the socio-economic issues in SA.
Awesome read Hi,
Having lived in Zimbabwe for 20 years and explored most of Southern Africa - I have become obsessed with the continent and plan on doing the rest of Africa some day in the not to far future. I throughly enjoyed reading your blog. Well done.
Shabdini
Fantastic journal! Thanks for providing a well written and well informed blog.
My wife and I are currently on a 6 month journey through SE Asia, NZ, and Australia and have learned so much ourselves about many of the things that you talk about.
Bravo!
Great writing, great stories Hi Tom,
You're at the end of your journey now so I just wanted to write to tell you how much I've enjoyed your blog entries on Africa. You write very well - most professionally - and it's been a joy to follow along on your travels.
what a great insight - unfortunately most of us know very little of Africa but don't let that get in the way of the prejudices and stereotypes referred to.
Be great to have you back mate, when you do eventually re-appear.
From a South African hey i just wanted to say i really enjoyed reading your views, i am a south african living in cape town and i think you have great comments and insights on our lovely city.
Surfing? No photos of you surfing Tom? If you get back to Sydney by Saturday Brian Wilson is doing a free concert in the Domain and you can really get into his Beach Boy lyrics with new understanding! Happy New Year mate.
Come home! OK Tom. We still have a week of school to go, and here you are swanning around South Africa. Come home, the government has changed, there's an amnesty on all your previous crimes, and all is forgiven.
Great insight into the rainbow Nation. I'll be fascinated to see what you make of its future, and also its preparations for the World Cup in 2010 - do they see that as a chance to really make a splash on the world stage?
Merry Christmas mate,
Bernie
How can you not give up what isn't yours? It's hard to refuse to give up something that isn't yours. Shame on the King of Morocco for terrorizing the Sahrawi people. They grab people off the street who dare to protest the occupation. They take them to detention centers where they are brutalized. There are many pictures online showing the results of beatings. They even beat children. They throw out any journalist who tries to go there to see what they're doing. It is shameful and disgusting. Free Western Sahara!
Watch this film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86mvXy-8wjY
"Morocco's campaign of oppression against Sahrawi students through the eyes of filmmaker Carlos González, as he is detained, interrogated and accused of being an agent of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez."
HIV/AIDS and polygamy I am currently studying in Senegal, and we are taught in our university-level classes that polygamy is an effective way of keeping the number HIV/AIDS cases low. So far Senegal has been lucky, as their infection rate is very low, but it is terrible that polygamy is helping to destroy other countries.
I really enjoy reading your blogs. :)
Kate
Greetings from Jo'burg Sweet baby Jesus, if you think that Maputo is safe compared to cities in South Africa, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Cape Town and Durban are fine to walk around in. Johannesburg's city centre is to be avoided and in any case Johannesburg does not really have a walking culture like, for instance, New York. Alas it has more of a Mall culture. Very sterile. Very urban.
You will probably avoid Johannesburg. Everybody does. Without a native showing you where to look I would avoid it too. I love it though because unlike Cape Town, which has a very European feel to it, Jo'burg feels like you're in the belly of the beast. This is where things are changing, the social dynamic is incredible, it is cosmopolitan. No, it might not have grinning natives in colourful tribal gear in thrall of the white man's wizardry, but it has a new breed of exciting youth with great ideas and exciting vibrancy.
Hope you have fun,
Greg
Hey Tommy, Sorry to hear about the fucker cops. Sounds like you played it well. You should write to the LP and tell them to downplay the danger in the rest of the continent, and emphasise that you should get a cap from the bus stop to the hotel in Mozambique.
Almost brought a tear to my eye... Hey Tom, I don't suppose you managed to catch little Johnny's farewell speech??? Moving, inspiring and thought-provoking it wasn't, but I nearly felt sorry for him. Nearly. And not sure what is going on at home, but Clare Martin, Syd Stirling and Paul Tyrrell (head of Chief Mins department, allegedly more affectionately known around the department as "the anti-christ") have resigned... am digging for gossip but no one is spilling. Yet. Watch this space.
Scotland are gonna kick some Italian ass tomorrow... Alright geezer? First you bump into me and then you meet another famous blogger - you should buy a lottery ticket before your luck runs out! Shame our paths didn't quite cross on the lake but there'll be another time for me to whip you at scrabble. It's brass monkey weather here in Glasgow so enjoy that radiation while you've got the chance. Keep the blogs coming....
The Meeting That is soooo cool how you met up with le flow (aka Bobbie)! I've been following both of your blogs almost religiously - I love Africa and dream of spending much time there later. A meeting of travelblog legends :) How unexpected that you've even known his girlfriend since childhood! What a small world!
Loved this story! Oh I love it! I think many people follow Bobbie's blog...( I love his too and I also share the same name... so even better!) what an awesome experience for two very good bloggers blogging on Africa to meet. The world is a small place, so often you do meet people you know on the road.
You ask the question how could a country yearning to be a part of the "developed world" leave a person dying on the street...I guess in the same way that your "developed" Euro world continues to wage war on the rest of the planet with your fake alturism, guns bombs, poison foods, violent/propagandized media and never ending quest to conquer and steal what does not belong to you.
Travel happens when I can fit it in, nowadays, but it will always be my favourite hobby. Here's my list of the best bits so far, in thirteen years of hopping around the world:
Asia Angkor Wat (Cambodia) Taj Mahal and Varanasi (India) Annapurna Range and Kathmandu (Nepal) Bagan (Burma) Koh Phiphi (Thailand) Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City (China) Peshawar and the Chitral-Gilgit road (Pakistan) Istanbul and Butterfly Valley (Turkey) Luang Prabang (Laos)
Americas Teotihuacan and Mexico City (Mexico) Lake Atitlan and Tikal (Guatem... full info
Ernst
non-member comment
It is interesting to read that you think black people taking (stealing) stuff from white people can be associated with Robin Hood. People from all over Africa is pouring into CapeTown. There is an upcoming black middle class. Sadly the government is building houses but the black people then sell the decent houses to go and live in townshipos where the services are free.That is what thye are used to. Before pointing a finger to SA society do some more reading please. You sound ignorant. Your views are typcial of those who do not have a clue on the socio-economic issues in SA.