Molo South Africa!
In and around South Africa
Molo South Africa! An amaXhosa hello. I'm heading out of Pittsburgh on the morning of Wednesday, December the 13th to arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa Thursday evening local time, fast forwarding my watch 7 hours. The flight takes me from Pittsburgh into New York, then a 7 hour leg to Dakar, Senegal and a mere 8 hours more in the air to Jo'burg, as it's commonly called.
I'll spend until the 23rd there in Johannesburg, getting to see an old friend, his name, Lukanyo. It's been highly recommended that while in Jo'burg I see Golf Reef City, built on the grounds of a former gold mine, a recreation of what a town would have looked like during the gold rush times, hosting the Apartheid Museum as well. I am looking forward to indulging in the numerous food and music venues of which I've been told. I'll hopefully connect with a former boss who's currently in South Africa and some faculty connections at Wits University in order to find possible projects to assist on while my friend works. There will be plenty of time for reading, relaxing and reflection, as well. After all, those are the goals of this month in South Africa.
On the 23rd, Lukanyo and I head off to Hazyview, where we'll wake up with the animals at 5am on Christmas day to make our way through Kruger National Park. We may get to see some historical towns along the way, Pilgrim's rest, Graskop and others. Then it's on to Drakensburg where we'll do some subdued hiking. We'll return to Johannesburg for the first week of January, then set out again, this time to Port Elizabeth, Lukanyo's hometown. We'll go to Grahamstown as well, visiting Rhodes University, his alma mater.
Friday, January 12th, I'll return to the States refreshed and ready for what comes next on the road of life. Glad to have you keep me company during my travels!
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler La Hermosa Vida
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1
A Slice of the Holidays
Before we all went off in different directions for the holidays, Shernell put together a little party at her place for us to enjoy one last shindig be... Continue reading » -
2
On the plane, stopping through Dakar, Senegal
My seatmate proved to be a very interesting travel companion from New York to Dakar, Sengal. He was returning home after spending three weeks... Continue reading »
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3
Arrival in Jo'burg
I arrived in Johannesburg around 5:30pm, 7 hours ahead of the US, and 50 or more degrees warmer. Lukanyo had been able to get to the airport from work... Continue reading » -
4
First day in Jo'burg
Lukanyo prepared a "continental breakfast": ham, cheese, fresh bread, muesli cereal, and tea. We were properly nourished to head out for my first d... Continue reading »
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5
National Day of Reconciliation
We got up ready to take in the day's events in celebration of Reconciliation, a day which "reconciles" the official holiday during apartheid w... Continue reading »
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6
Soweto
Sundays host the rooftop market at the nearby shopping center with many craft tables, some food stands, and usually a bit of music as well, so we w... Continue reading »
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7
Time to Read and Reflect
December 18th: Happy birthday Daddy!
Today was the first day of getting to sit down and record some of what I've been learning. Lukanyo... Continue reading »
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8
Tapping Hearts
The Killarney Mall is within eyesight of Lukanyo's place, Killarney being the suburb of Jo'burg in which Lukanyo lives. Since I had spent the day i... Continue reading »
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9
Global Warming, Sustainability: One penguin can make a difference!
Through the day I did my reading and journaling. For the evening, we met up with some of the same friends of Lukanyo's at a jazz place for dinner,... Continue reading »
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10
Walk to Zoo Lake Bowling Club and Tsotsi
Did the same reading and reflection during the day, detailed in my journals. Lukanyo got back on the early side, so we set off on a walk to have a... Continue reading »
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11
Nelson Mandela Square and Lekgotla
My day consisted of further personal reflection. In the evening, we went to dinner at a really nice place called Lekgotla in the Nelso... Continue reading » -
12
We start our travels today
We set off on Saturday the 23rd in the afternoon for what we thought was a four or five hour drive to Hazyview, a town just short of Kruger Nationa... Continue reading »
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14
Christmas Day at Kruger
Monday December 25th 2006
At 3:45am the alarm rang as we both groaned and slowly got up for our 4am, Christmas morning, game drive. We were i... Continue reading »
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15
Mpumalanga Sights
Tuesday, December 26th 2006
We had left the 26th open to either drive to our next destination, Dakensberg in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, o... Continue reading »
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16
Tugela Falls
We had ended up at the familiar Gecko Bushpackers in Hazyview for Tuesday night, even got the same room. It served as the rest we needed befor... Continue reading »
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17
Lesotho
The next day we were up for an early start again to head to Lesotho ("lahsootoo") this time, packing passports to enter into the country within Sou... Continue reading »
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18
Back to Jo'burg
We took our time to return to Johannesburg, had a relaxed and uneventful day. The next day, Sunday the 31st, we met Fakazani and Una for... Continue reading »
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19
Flying to Port Elizabeth to be there until Wednesday
So we're off again for the final jaunt for my time here in South Africa to see Lukanyo's hometown, university, and spend some time at the beach ...... Continue reading »
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