Blogs from South Africa, Africa - page 680

Africa! The very name conjures up images of lions, elephants, jungle, drums, Tarzan and many others. The opportunity to travel to this part of the world to not only experience these first hand but also play Aussie Rules was too good to miss. The Convicts tour was a great chance to be a unique part of history as it marked the first time an Australian team would play a match of Australian football against an African team in Africa. After arriving in Johannesburg we boarded our air-conditioned coach, complete with tour guide and driver, we had hired for the trip. It made life much easier in terms of getting around, and we quickly discovered that our tour guide was a fountain of knowledge regarding the Boer War. Our first night was spent in the safe district ... read more

Since leaving Cape Town I've been heading east along the Garden Route via the BazBus - a hop-on hop-off bus service that picks you up and drops you off at whatever hostel you're staying in at the next town. I think that back home in England the BazBus is pushed pretty hard by places like STA as the only safe way to travel across South Africa. Having travelled for a little while now in South Africa, I think that the security aspects of this country are slightly overstated. Obviously, there are areas which are dangerous and you shouldn't head to after dark - just like in any other city across the world, but for the majority of places I've felt pretty secure and safe. With hindsight, I'd have to say that the best way to explore ... read more

Twice in one year I love it so much ! Of course catching up with one of my oldest friends and her gang make it one of my favourite places to visit. Cocktails at Greenpoint, whale watching in Hermanus, sandboarding, sundowners at Clifton, wine tours, Camps Bay beach, Table Mountain, all that shopping at Canal Walk and V&A, what's not to love about it. ... read more

So it's 2.05AM Sunday 30th May 2004 and there's now less than a week to go. Surrounded by every increasing piles of discarded cardboard and plastic I stumble towards departure with an ever decreasing sense of reality. I remember once writing somewhere; "it never get's weird enough for me". I guess the words themselves don't mean much, it's what they're hotwired to, things words can't do by themselves, but it feels like I'm arriving at some kind of cut-off point, a point where it all comes down to throwing onself at the mercy of the elements, and trusting those that, one hopes, can safely navigate them. This is like my first solo expedition as a broadcast TV road warrior carrying all the battery chargers, spare clips plus all the junk you need to make you feel ... read more

Hey You'll, Don't have time to write much, but here are some pics from Capetown.... read more