the vibes of Soweto!!

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hello, howzit, unjani?

SO i arrived at the OR Tambo, formally Joburg Int'l Airport,
yesterday morning around 7,30 am. The driver from the
back packers was almost two hours late due to extreme traffic,
which we experienced on the way back as well. SO this gave me time to run up to Woolworths and buy a cellphone
which by the way the number is [phone] !!!!!
so I bought some airtime and was ready to go. once the driver arrived, we tossed my bags in the minibus and
headed to SOWETO. I have wanted to visit Soweto for quite some time, it has a very intense history. it includes Klip, Meadowlands,
and Orlando.. some of the original homelands set up by the Apartheid regime in the 1940s. The township is now very mixed, some
of the original houses built by the old govt are around, yet many successful families have built or added on to their homes.. some very nice houses now share the streets with your standard matchbox houses. The vibrancy and spirit that I love in SA was all around me.
The staff here is very friendly and made me feel at home. I could see the great sun over Africa, smell that very distinct air that I love and here the sound of the kids in the park playing soccer. I love this place. I missed the bike tour, which I am doing today, but I decided to
head out on foot to check out what's around. I met some happy little kids, all of them wanting to know my name and smiling when I spoke Zulu. The main language around here is Tswana though, but everyone speaks 5 or 6 languages. The US is really so behind on that..eish!! Then I met up with Simon and Thomas, two really helpful guys that changed my day. they said I can't wander around and eat by myself so they took me to this great spot. I had a kota, aka bunny chow.. it is a quarter loaf of bread filled with spicy aatchar pickle sauce, chips, beans, veggies in curry sauce.. super tasty and filling. kept me full for the entire day. they then showed me around and invited me to see their homes. Thomas introduced me to his uncle, who had been in the MK.. the armed wing of the ANC during the struggle against Apartheid. I had never met anyone who had been in exile.. in Spain,Uganda,Tanzania,Mozambique.. until he was able to come home finally. I cannot upload pics here, so this will be all for now.. but I am going to try the internet cafe in town.. so hopefully I will have photos up here soon. take care.

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Comments

[Tracie]

hey there
Hey there, glad to know you have made it okay. You seem so at home there and just know Jaden and miss you dearly already, glad to have a way to keep in touch and informed of all of your adventures, much love.

[ThembaThemba]

yes tell him
HELLO from me eh? i am excited to beback.. I hope you are well please take care ma'am

[chris]

I know of a great company in SA to take you where you need to go so next time you dont wait two hours.
Hi there, i had a similar problem with waiting until i discovered this website which was fantastic. Since i travel to South africa so often i find it really useful to make use of them. I found in the begining going from an airport to a resort or back packers it was really difficult as there was always over charged taxis and really bad old cars as taxis at the airports who always think they can take us tourists for a "ride" in terms of ripping us off. So now i pay per vehicle and dont share as well as making a pre booking to make sure they wait for me at the airport terminals. Its really affordable and super great. www.Airportcabs.co.za this seems to be south africas next biggest trend, and it works really well. A pre booked airport transfer taking you straight from your terminal to your destination with a pre price. Great service, thanks guys at airportcabs. so anyone looking to go so SA(great country by the way!) i highly recommend these guys.. Bye...