Blogs from Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 13

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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng January 30th 2014

After unusually spending a Christmas and New Year in Scotland this year, we flew out to South Africa mid January. Very pleased to be leaving behind the dark grey and wet days. Our first job on arriving was to look for a vehicle to replace the old Hilux that we had sold a few years ago. It had served us very well but was getting to the point where it need to be retired or overhauled so we decided reluctantly - I swear Andy shed a tear when it went - to sell it and now were looking for a replacement. On our first day we found a Landrover Discovery which I immediately thought was the car for us. Apart from Landrover just being what I remember as THE vehicle for Africa, it was a very ... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng January 15th 2014

This is basically a practice run in using this blog site. I've had the dream of going to Africa since the mid 80s. I studied African anthropology at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies and went to talks given by a member of the ANC. It was the time of apartheid, and we Australians were suitably horrified, without necessarily looking at what we were doing in our own country, a form of informal apartheid. I started reading everything I could find about Africa- travel books, histories, books about South African and African politics. We went out dancing to all hours in African clubs around London. Oh the music! It's been my favourite ever since. Hundreds of African dance workshops later, my torso refuses to act like it has that extra hinge. My ... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg January 11th 2014

On the 23 I didn't do much I was still healing form my sunburn. I mostly just watched tv and sat at home. Having fun well Dad went shopping. Later we went to Mug and Bean's for a Christmas supper. It was every nice, we had every body there with us and had a great night. When we got back to the house we opened presents. I talked to Mom then we had a fun night. I got some really cool stuff. Like a beaded motorcycle. Good night.... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg January 5th 2014

For 2 days after we return from Sun City I did nothing because of my sun burn. I made a big mistake of not putting enough sun screen on. When I was feeling better we went to Gold Reef City. Once a mining city now an amusement park. I went there with Chris, Diana, John, Dad and Arlene. The Anaconda is biggest and scariest one in the park. I went on Thunder Mountain a log ride with Arlene, Dad and I. The Thunder Mountain I think is designed to cool you down from the heat because it's so hot. I got really wet because I was in the front I got waves full force. We then went to the huge Ferris Wheel. The cages were really cool they had a black metal bottom with metal bars ... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Boksburg December 23rd 2013

We arrived in Johannesburg in the morning. We were picked up by Arlene and her family at the air port. It didn't take too long to get through the security and find them. We drove back to the house and met very one besides the ones at work. We got our bags upstairs and settled. A short time later we all went to the lion park which was about 30 minutes away. It was extremely hot that day and I was dying of heat and so were the lions. We first went and play with the cubs and saw the Giraffes, Ostriches, Meerkat, Cheetah and Hyena. We were in with the lion cubs for just a few minutes. We got to pet and take pictures with them. Arlene, Dad, Chris, John and I went into the ... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg November 26th 2013

Africa. A contenent as diverse as it is expansive. The word Africa ignites the imagination into expanses of open land, wild animals, beads, grass huts, and the opening song from the Lion King. While there are areas like this, maybe without the theme song, there are also major metropolitan cities, cars, roads, people making money from oil, children fighting gurilla wars, construction, people starving, innovation, malls, tradition, universities, mining, fossils of human origin, music, and so much more. An unknowable truth till it is experienced, Africa is a place everyone should go to once in their life, or at least thats something I've always believed. South Africa is a destination of dreams for many in other Sub-Saharan African countries. The hope of work/ an ability to provide for their families, city luxuries (technology, plumbing, food, clean-ish ... read more
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Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg November 26th 2013

Africa. A continent as diverse as it is expansive. The word Africa ignites the imagination into expanses of open land, wild animals, beads, grass huts, and the opening song from the Lion King. While there are areas like this, maybe without the theme song, there are also major metropolitan cities, cars, highways, people making money from oil, children fighting guerrilla wars, construction, people starving, innovation, malls, tradition, universities, mining, fossils of human origin, music, and so much more. An unknowable truth until it is experienced, Africa is a place everyone should go to once in their life, or at least that's something I've always believed. South Africa is a destination of dreams for many in other Sub-Saharan African countries. The hope of work/ an ability to provide for their families, city luxuries (technology, plumbing, food, clean-ish ... read more

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg November 25th 2013

Geo: -26.1538, 28.0389This morning we left at 5am as we wanted to get back to Johannesburg before sunset. From there Brett and Barney still had to drive back to Nambiti Game Reserve, as they had to work tomorrow. An hour into the journey we were stopped at a police road block. The policeman checked our car papers and asked a few questions. We told him that we were on our way back to South Africa. He then asked for some Coca Cola. I told him that we had none left, only cordial but he wasn't interested in that, he sadly waved us on.The rest of the journey was uneventful. We drove the back roads to avoid the capital – Maputo. We crossed at the Ressano Gracia border. Here there were so many people just hanging around, ... read more

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
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Alex and Kwesi "working" in the kitchen
Klara, Alex and Kwesi - and the Pi!

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg November 12th 2013

A topic that has been on my mind recently is the idea, or rather I should say act, of immediacy. I believe if we live our day to day lives more immediatly we will lead peaceful, more fulfilled, happier, appreciative lives. Here's why. We often hear this idea, this way of life, expressed with great gusto; Be here now, Live in the moment, Tomorrow is not guaranteed, You only live once. How often do we actually apply the action of these ideas, the act of immediacy, into our every day lives though? When you are with friends or family, at work or school, how often are you on your phone? How often are you day dreaming about vacation or the weekend? When you are eating lunch how often are you thinking about what to have for ... read more
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writing on temple at Burning Man 2013




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