Blogs from Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Africa

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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton September 23rd 2016

If there’s one note of consistency between my older writing and now, it’s that I usually have better things to do with my time when I’m tapping these out. In this case a speaker’s note for later in the week. In theatrical parlance, a script of sorts. Just as I am with improv, I’ll be pretty rubbish if I don’t prepare one for tomorrow. But here we are anyways. Let’s see. London was April, which means it’s time to move on to the bigger ticket item from September to November. Faced with three conferences more or less in a row, I opted to stay on the move for close to two months. This meant bouncing from South Africa, to Slovenia, to Russia, sandwiching in about two weeks of telecommuting from various hostels in odd parts of ... read more
hornbill thoughts
Southern White Rhino
Savannah Elephant

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton October 11th 2015

Three weeks in the Slow Town was quite enough for a pair of global travellers. The time came to leave and we found ourselves at the tiny airport of George saying goodbye to Sharon and Gandalf after a frantic morning of packing and cleaning. This airport was to be our playground for the next 6 hours. It has a Wimpy, a coffee shop and not much more. One thing it does have though is a wifi signal. The time went rapidly. After a smooth two hour flight we emerged in Africa's biggest international airport, Johannesburg. We had two main priorities... Getting food and picking up the hire car. We found an indifferent Asian fusion "restaurant" and whilst Lindsey ordered for us both and watched our baggage I went to find the car. I followed signs for ... read more
Half-hearted Police Action
Witkoppen Road
Extent of the Disturbance

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton December 28th 2014

Arrived yesterday after 2 GRUELING flights on Virgin Atlantic. Less legroom than Asian carriers. At hotel adjacent to airport. Drove to hotel in our rental car on the British (wrong side) of the road. Will leave shortly for 8 hr drive (sight seeing route) to overnite in Pilgrim's Rest. Will drive rim of Blyde River Canyon, third largest on earth. #1 in Namibia and #2 is Grand Canyon. Both of these are arid. Blyde is tropical and green. Hopefully we get good pics since weather is rainy. Tomorrow we head out for Kruger.... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton September 14th 2014

Here I go! My first blog ever and chuffed that I've got this far! Four more sleeps till we jet out of OR Tambo and head for Morocco. Woop woop ... the excitement is building. The stacking and more stacking and still more stacking ... and then a little packing ... has begun. Those two little words, "travel light" roll off the tongue so easily, but when push comes to shove, eeeeeek, "what to pack??????". I may be dubious about the clothing to pack but some things I am in no doubt about. My "stash" .... especially for the exciting moment on take-off, feeling the thrust of the jet engines under my butt, for that pensive moment when I spot the hunk sitting in the isle opposite me and especially for the moment that I realize ... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton April 26th 2014

I was supposed to be flying from Manchester to Charles De Gaulle in Paris, then on to Johannesburg. From there I should leave my flight and get on another, to Victoria Falls! Best laid plans and all that eh? Manchester to Paris - easy! Arrived in Paris and saw there were 2 boarding gates for the flight to Johannesburg so I was a bit confused; all was clear when we were boarding; it was the HUGE A380 2 floored plane that looked too big to move, let alone fly! I sat on the ground floor; was pretty nifty really and quite an experience. However, on arriving at Johannesburg we were almost landed when the pilot aborted the landing; it was not nice! As we shot back up at speed the co-pilot said the pilot would explain ... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton April 10th 2014

Mum, Dad, Chris and I flew out from Perth to Joburg at midnight, it was hell. The only positive was the fact we had a spare seat next to us so we could sort off lie down during the flight. There were two twins behind us that cried ALOT!! Dad had also ditched us for business class… >: (Chris and I slept for four hours and Mum for two… dad probably slept the whole flight.) We landed, after what seemed like an eternity, at 4:30 am local time, an 11 hour flight. We got to our hotel at 6 and checked into a temporary room so we could freshen up and relax. We had breakfast (see paragraph7) I had a bacon and cheese omelette. Then we went to Sandton city, like a giant shopping centre – ... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton November 16th 2013

In Johannesburg we were spoiled by our friends Klara and Alex. They have a beautiful home with a garden to envy! The temperature was much cooler in Johannesburg and was a welcome break (at least for me) from the hot and humid Accra.... read more
Vertical garden
Alex and Kwesi "working" in the kitchen
Klara, Alex and Kwesi - and the Pi!

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton October 22nd 2013

Final day Arrived in Joberg and had dinner with Jake , Steve , Suzanne and Don And Holley. All were tired after 4 days of 445 wake ups. Now heading for London as trip winds down... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton September 22nd 2013

Arrived in Joberg early Friday am after 2 long overnight flights with brief stopover in London. Stayed with Jake , Suzanne's dad, who was a wonderful host for 2 days in Joberg. Lunches at the Bryanton and Johannesburg country clubs. Watched a South African wedding and cricket match. Dinner with neighbor Mavis who cooked a Welch Shepard pie. Car tour of Joberg with Jake-realized we were not in America. All the nice houses (white) surrounded with 10 foot walls and barbed wire. Driving on left side of road is a new experience-we will get to try that for ten days later on. Today traveling from Joberg to Dar Es Salaam, then Kilamajero by plane, then brief drive to hotel in Arusha. Should arrive around 7pm at Hotel Arusha. Up early for bush plane flight to Kotagende ... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg » Sandton August 25th 2013

Geo: -26.0541, 28.0646We zijn al begonnen met een vlotte reisetappe. Piet bracht ons naar het Centraal station in Antwerpen, daarna met de trein naar Brussel Zuid. Daar inchecken bij airfrance en met de TGV naar Parijs. om half twaalf vertrok dan de nachtvlucht naar Johannesburg. Met de nieuwe Gautrain vanuit de luchthaven ging het in een kwartiertje tot vlak voor het hotel, alles volgens plan. Vandaag houden we het verder rustig. Genieten van het zonnige weer, eens naar de shops gaan en vanavond gezellig eten op het Nelson Mandela square.... read more




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