Blogs from Gauteng, South Africa, Africa - page 83

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Pretoria March 31st 2006

Everyday I learn more about the grim social and political climate that have long plagued this African nation. I am currently reading the Long Walk to Freedom, which is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. It is humbling to read about his meager beginnings and know that he did so much to be the voice of the South African people. He witnessed and participated in the country’s transition from minority white to majority rule. During his adulthood blacks were able to own 13% of the land even though they made up 87% of the population. I will share more about this freedom fighter, former president of SA, Nobel Peace prize winner, and apartheid antagonist in my next summary. Of utmost significance in daily life is the impact and fear surrounding crime. Everyone dreads that he/she will become ... read more

First weekend

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Pretoria March 26th 2006

Breck and Jayson

bone dr

Finally, after a maze of airports (Will Rogers- OKC, DFW-Dallas, JFK-NYC, Dakar- Senegal, and Johannesburg-SA), 36 hours of leg-cramped travel, and the occasional mind-melting B.O. we reached our destination of South Africa. We met our hostess, Renee, at the airport shortly after our arrival. Her accent was peculiar and sounded to me something of a mix between British and Australian, yet her appearance was distinctively Scandinavian (relatively tall, fair complexion, light eyes, auburn hair). My progressive fascination and curiosity with world languages has taught me to look to the history books for my answer. This richest country of the African continent was originally established in 1652 by the Dutch as a supply post for ships sailing around the southernmost tip of Africa to the East. Therefore Afrikaans (a derivation of Dutch) and English are the primary ... read more

From the Zoo

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Pretoria March 25th 2006

From the Balcony

secondhandbreck

So I have officially made it to Africa, the dark continent, as they say. I’m in South Africa, which is in the southern hemisphere so that means that summer is just drawing to an end. Today the clouds are hanging low, threatening to drop a drizzle at any moment. Nevertheless, I can already see why people brag upon the beauty of this country. The bed and breakfast that I am staying at is perched on a hill overlooking much of the city of Pretoria. From the balcony just outside my bedroom I see the skyscrapers of downtown Pretoria on my left and to the right are natures own highrises, the green mountains which circle the city. In between these dualing ranges, the city of Pretoria sprawls out like a plush carpet. That is the perfect ... read more

BIG SORRY

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg March 21st 2006

Tonks

Hey everyone, just a quick one to apologise for the lack of updates to our blog over the last couple of weeks, bit frustrating! just to let you know that we will be having a major update (fingers crossed) that will get everybody up to speed with whats going on! till then i hope everyones doing ok?please drop us an email at tonks01@aol.com our leave a mesage on this very travelblog, be nice to hear from people back home best wishes Nick and Sarah... read more

Outside Pretoria.....finally

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Pretoria February 14th 2006

Crispy lou

Got a bit more of a tan this week..yes!!!! A friend who me and Kelly have made called Louise surprised us yesterday and took us out of Pretoria.thank God and she wanted us to see some townships. this was full on with shacks upon shacks, rubbish everywhere but the bizarre thing was that the people who lived in them looked clean and well dressed - i don't know how? Its crazy that you get so much poverty in one part and then all of a sudden 2 mins down the road there are well off people and gorgeous houses...can't quite get over that! Had a lime milkshake yesterday- it was stunningly lekker (nice) had never tried one before. the weather here is mad with huge raindrops one minute then glorious sunshine the next and massive clouds ... read more

2nd week in SA

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Pretoria February 8th 2006

Crispy lou

Can you believe it is raining in SA for the past few days - Kelly and i seem to have brought English weather with us...but we've been told it won't last..PHEW! i have some tan but will definitly need more. It has been a great first week at the church..learning lots of new things. Kelly, johans parents (who we are staying with) and I went for a hike on monday in a nature reserve and manged to go through every possible route - it took twice the time we had thought it would which was quite funny. Also i am quite glad that i am not driving out here....yet anyway, cos on sunday we were going to the massive church in Jo-burg and when we went to take the turning Marian, Johans mum, who was driving ... read more

Arrival to Johannesburg

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg February 6th 2006

Downtown Jo'Burg

AndrasMtl

February 4 I did a tour of Downtown Johannesburg and went to the Museum of Africa, which details the apartheid-era history of South Africa. Johannesburg is just like any North American big city, it doesn't look very African (or at least not stereotypically african.) It is a very busy big city. February 5 I visited the Sterkfontein Caves, where the first Australopithecus skeletons were found. Afterwards, I did a mini-safari at the Rhino & Lion Park near Jo'burg. It is not the "real" thing (the carnivores are separated from the herbivores and they are fed) but it is cool to see some big anaimals close up. When I was there it was feeding day, and the lions were walking on the road among the cars waiting for their fare! ... read more

South Africa is gorgeous

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Pretoria February 1st 2006

Crispy lou

Hey everyone! I made it safely and am having an awesome time. The sun is shining which is sooo cool. I haven't seen that much of Pretoria yet as i have only been at the house of where i am staying and at the church and airport, although what i have seen is so beautiful. This is just a quick one to let you all know that i am well and having a fantastic time already. must dash but will update very soon wiht lots more detail. Lots of love xxx... read more

Johannesburg

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg January 30th 2006

Johannesburg

pg003

5 Day Teaching Course in Johannesburg... read more

Port St Johns to Jo'burg

Africa » South Africa » Gauteng » Johannesburg January 25th 2006

Port St Johns

Laura JohnInAfrica

January 19 - 22 2006 We arrived in Port St Johns after an unexpectedly long bus ride. We were in East London waiting for the bus for two hours before it arrived, because it had been filled with the wrong kind of fuel in Port Elizabeth and had to be drained and refuelled. It wasn’t a big deal, except that we had to just sit around and wait for the bus, because we weren’t sure when it would arrive. After a four hour bus ride, we arrived in Port St Johns, which was a beautiful town. It has mountains and lush vegetation, but also a beautiful beach and river. The hostel we arrived at was a total hippy hangout with a lot of ‘chill out’ areas. It was totally relaxing though, and the owner made excellent ... read more

Brief history of South Africa

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 subjug...more history

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