The Moon in Africa…

…still looks like the moon.

It is strange.  I had just begun to really feel that London is ‘home’ and now I have come back to Johannesburg and it is amazing and I feel at home again.  So much has changed here in approximately 18 months and it is all for the better.  Crime is still a major problem and there is currently very little work available so I guess that every silver lining has a cloud.  I have very little Internet access at the moment and have spent all my time with family and friends who no doubt appreciate their privacy so I’m afraid that there is little that I can post on my blog at the moment.  I’m certainly enjoying the technological break!

Guest Post: Hostels in South Africa

Ahead of my big trip to New York last year, the fantastic team from HostelBookers.com wrote a guest post for me on New York Hostels.  I had been a bit wary of staying in a hostel but this was a great post that showed just how much the standards have improved in hostels and how they are certainly not the dives they used to be. 

With the upcoming World Cup in South Africa, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to do a post on South African hostels and so I contacted HostelBookers.com again and they kindly agreed to write another guest post for me.  Enjoy!

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Hosting the World Cup has thrown South Africa into the spotlight. Not since the country’s movement from apartheid to a multiracial form of democracy back in 1994 has it courted such attention. While the 2010 event may reveal deep-rooted flaws, at long-last, many more will consider travelling to South Africa and start to unearth some of the country’s beautiful attractions. And the accommodation on offer is certainly one of those.

Fortunately for budget travellers, comfortable and quality hostels in Johannesburg and other cities around South Africa are not hard to come by. Many are concerned with giving customers a real ‘African’ experience providing good home cooking, barbeque braai or tropical gardens for guests to relax in.

CAPE TOWN

Cape Town is all about spending time outdoors. Living in the shadow of Table Top Mountain makes for a dramatic backdrop and travellers are always eager to hike, climb or picnic at the summit. There are leisurely walks along the stretches of beach and, for the more energetic, windsurfing.

A room at the Backpack and Africa Travel Centre

The Backpack and Africa Travel Centre (shared dorms from €15, private from €34) is really in touch with local goings on and ideal if you’re looking for something with a bit more personality. It ranked in the top 3 of HostelBookers Awards for Excellence in 2010 for ‘Best Atmosphere’. Pleasant and comfortable furnishings, there are also self-catering facilities or a restaurant for lazier evenings. They encourage guests to bring their soccer boots and give neighbouring kids a few tips so it’s probably the most ethical choice of all the Cape Town hostels.

Playing football with local kids, Backpack and Africa Travel Centre

The rooftop garden at the Penthouse on Long (shared dorms from €10, private from €20) offers wonderful views of the city. You are right in the cosmopolitan heart of Long Street with cafes, restaurants, theatres and clubs. But if it’s peace and quiet you want after a day of sightseeing, you can relax back at the hostel in the communal lounge and bar areas.

A dorm room at the Penthouse on Long

JOHANNESBURG

Both travellers and South Africans agree that Johannesburg offers a ‘more African’ experience. The city is both frantic and bustling and suffers from high crime levels, which has in the past, deterred many tourists. But give this city a chance and you will unveil a live music scene that is unrivalled throughout South Africa, arty hotspots in the Melville area and a community dedicated to its sport.

Accoustix Backpackers Hostel

If it's music that attracts you to Johannesburg, pack your instrument and join in the jamming sessions at Accoustix Lodge and Backpacker (shared dorms from €8, private from €11). For those lacking musical talent (and not willing to bang a drum) you can still sit back with a drink and listen, have a game of snooker in the cellar bar, swim or read a book from the library.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

The main attraction of South Africa’s east flank is the Kruger National Park, one of the best game parks on the continent. The size of Massachusetts, it covers 20,000 square kilometres and operates open-top safari drives with rangers

The Kruger View Lodge (shared dorms from €13 and private from €14) is situated on the banks of the Crocodile River overlooking the animals roaming Kruger National Park. The garden is perfect for lazing in and you can cool off in the pool. As the sun begins to set the barbecue braai offers delicious and traditional dishes. If you are eager to visit the park or any of the surrounding area, tours can be arranged by staff at the lodge.

DURBAN

After Cape Town, Durban holds much appeal for travellers to South Africa. British in origin it also has a large Indian and Zulu community. Visitors will enjoy the many historic Victorian buildings complete with fanned palm fronds, developed beachfronts but muddled with temples and the scent of curry wafting through the air.

Rock pool at Hippo Hide

The Hippo Hide Backpackers (shared rooms from €10, private from €13) does well to keep to ethnic African decor. Complete with tropical garden and rock pool, the accommodation is an oasis in the heart of the city. For those after local knowledge or help booking tours, staff can arrange safaris or excursions.

If you decide to explore the wilder coastline and spend a few days on the outskirts of Durban, the Blue Sky Mining Backpackers and Lodge (shared from €12 and private from €15) is 30km south of the city. You can enjoy breakfast in a tropical garden surrounded by coconut, banana and papaya trees with a 180° sea view. The nearby Aliwal Shoal is one of the top ten diving sites in the world with wrecks, reefs and abundant marine life. But you’re not far from clubs, bars and a pleasant arts and crafts market.

JEFFREYS BAY

With a reputation for prime surfing along the Eastern Cape, many travellers visit Jeffreys Bay hoping to try the sport for themselves or take some time relaxing on the beautiful stretches of beach. You are not far from the Whale Coast which offers some of the best onshore whale-watching in the world.

Island Vibe Backpackers in Jeffreys Bay

The beach is on your doorstep at the Island Vibe Backpackers (shared from €11, private from €17). The private doubles have access to balconies with spectacular views and even a breakfast-in-bed service. The hostel can arrange surfing tuition and horse-riding, quad biking and sandboarding are all popular sports to try too.

Bonfires on the beach at Island Vibe in Jeffreys Bay

Madeleine Wilson is a travel writer for the budget accommodation website, HostelBookers. She specializes in guides and low-cost travel solutions for destinations around the world.

You can follow HostelBookers.com on Twitter (@hostel) and Facebook too.

Window Into SA: Zanele Nhlapo

We’re back in the interior of South Africa this week to meet with Zanele Nhlapo.  Zanele is a successful business woman who lives in Soweto and works in Emmarentia.

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What is the name of your website or business?
Phakisa Communications (Director: Zanele Nhlapo)

Whereabouts in South Africa are you?
6 Linden Road, Emmarentia, (011) 888-6518

Tell us about what you do?
Phakisa Communications is a one-stop-shop communications & multimedia company, with its head office situated in Joburg. Our core competencies are PR, Marketing & Communications campaigns & strategies; Advertising; Photography; Corporate Videos; Events management; Print layout & design; Multimedia & Graphics; Corporate branding, imaging & signage; and Promotional items. We’ve been in business since 2001, and have a large range of governmental, parastatal and corporate clients. I (Zanele) am one of the directors of the company. 

Are you a football fan?  (rugby, cricket or football)
Football

Which team will you be supporting?
Bafana Bafana/ Brazil

Which is the nearest football stadium to your home?
Soccer City

Will you be attending any games?
No, I prefer to watch from the comfort of my couch.

Are you near to any historical places or places of interest?
Hector Peterson Memorial in Soweto.

How would you describe South Africa to someone who has never been there before?
South Africa is a beautiful and colourful country that has mountains and rivers that flow in all of its 9 regions. We have a very rich and diverse culture – hence the term “Rainbow Nation”. The people of South Africa are down to mother earth, and are eager to help at any time. Treat them with respect, and they will always be of help to you. Remember, not all people in Mzansi speak English, but you can always try hand signs for directions.

What would you say is the single best thing about South Africa?
South Africa is a place of peace and controversy, where various cultures are merged to form one colourful Mzansi culture.

What is the number one attraction that tourists must visit in South Africa?
Anywhere on a safari.

Where in South Africa do you go on holiday?
Seafront / Kruger National Park

Do you have any advice for tourists and visitors?
Do not carry your valuables with you all the time and at least not openly. If you are lost, just stop at any garage; petrol attendants are usually very helpful with directions. South Africans are generally a friendly bunch of people, so don’t be too paranoid… being alert and aware is a good thing though.

What can South Africans do to make the country a better place?
Be more helpful to tourists, especially when they are lost and need directions.

What is your dream or vision for the future of your city and country?
Clean, friendly and free from crime.

What is your favourite South African charity?
Othandweni (home of the destitutes)

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I asked Zanele for a couple of photos of their office and environment but they reminded me it was just a boring old converted house.  Here are two photos of the Phakisa staff.

I love how the staff really represent South Africa’s Rainbow Nation!! The insanely pretty girl in the front on the top photo and at the back left in the bottom photo is my very good friend Jean.  We met at Wits University.

Window into SA: Helene Strauss

This week in “A Window Into South Africa” we step away from Jo’burg and take a journey down to Stilbaai to chat to author and writer Helene Strauss.  Helene is the author of the book Steps to Financial Freedom.

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What is the name of your website or business?
Write-4-U

Whereabouts in South Africa are you?
Stilbaai (Or Still bay in English)  PO Box 939 Still Bay 6674

Tell us about what you do?
I write and edit learning material for corporate clients such as Clicks’ Pharmacy Academy and other learning institutions.

Are you a football fan?  (rugby, cricket or football)
Rugby, cricket and football

Which team will you be supporting?

Has to be Bafana Bafana

Which is the nearest football stadium to your home and work?
Cape Town stadium

Will you be attending any games?

No

Are you near to any historical places or places of interest?

Yes, Pinnacle Point in Mossel Bay where remains of prehistoric man have been found

What is the number one attraction that tourists must visit in South Africa?

Cape Town

Where in South Africa do you go on holiday?

Still Bay

Do you have any advice for tourists and visitors?

Be aware and check with locals to make sure you’re safe

What can South Africans do to make the country a better place?

“Shout” against crime; blow the whistle  and stop breaking the law by driving too fast, littering, etc.

What is your dream or vision for the future of your city and country?

Equal opportunities for all; we can only eradicate crime once we have closed the gap between the haves and the have-nots [amen to that!]

What is your favourite South African charity?
Usindiso shelter for abused women and children

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I asked Helene to send me a photo of Stilbaai and this is the gorgeous photo she sent along:

Helene moved to Stilbaai at the end of 2009 but had stayed in Florida up until then.  Coincidentally, Florida is right next door to Weltevreden Park which was the part of Johannesburg I lived in so we were practically neighbours!!! I can see why someone would want to move down to Stilbaai though – it looks gorgeous there and reminds me of the Cape coast that I fell in love with last year!

Helen’s book Steps to Financial Freedom gives clear, achievable ways of escaping the cycles of debt and getting a handle on your finances.  You can find the book on Facebook too.

Window into SA: Vanessa

Wow!  What a week it has been in South Africa – we need all the positive news and vibes we can get!  This week’s interview is with Vanessa and I’ll dive straight into the questions.  Be sure to look out for her photos at the end of the post.

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What is the name of your website or business?
http://www.sehnsucht.za.net

Whereabouts in South Africa are you?
Johannesburg

Tell us about what you do?
I am an IT girl. More specifically, I do server support at the outsourcing division of a very large IT company. My blog covers all my hobbies though - reading, writing, watching, listening, laughing, taking pictures - because it is important to have a life outside of work, especially when you work in IT, because often work consumes so much of our private time too.

Are you a football fan?  (rugby, cricket or football)
Not really. I will watch the games if South Africa's team is in the final of the world cup (any of them), but that's as far as I'd go.

Which team will you be supporting?
South Africa, who else?

Which is the nearest football stadium to your home and work?
The Ellis Park stadium is the closest to me.

Will you be attending any games?
I doubt that very much. But, if Bafana Bafana make it to the finals, I will gather round all the geeks and we will crack open a couple of beers, probably throw something on the fire and watch the game together.

Are you near to any historical places or places of interest?
You know, in Johannesburg, everything is quite close together :) I live in the eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, and quite close to Houghton, where former president Nelson Mandela now lives. I am also quite close to Constitution Hill, Horwoods Farm and Linksfield Ridge. As far as shopping goes, I live close to Eastgate, Greenstone, Sandton and Rosebank - each a great shopping centre that caters for a wide variety of tastes and requirements.

How would you describe South Africa to someone who has never been there before?
South Africa is a very versatile and controversial country. We have some very stupid people of all colours, just like we have some very bright people of all colours. But, where else in the world could you live in a massive city, and only need to drive 30 minutes to be in the middle of a savanna, complete with lions? South Africa has a unique beauty, rich and diverse, and it is hard to grasp the beauty of the land and the people until you have been here.

What would you say is the single best thing about South Africa?
Diversity. In culture, language, origins, food, fauna, flora and everything else. It makes it a very exciting place to live. Scary sometimes, but exciting nonetheless.

What is the number one attraction that tourists must visit in South Africa?
That's is just not fair - limiting me to one option. But if I must chose one option, it will have to be The Entire Country :). Seriously though, there is so much on offer. If you like beautiful scenery, I would suggest the Western Cape (yes, all of it) but I think for a truly South African experience, visit Soweto.

Where in South Africa do you go on holiday?
The Garden Route area. Most of my family live there now, and, to me, it is the most beautiful part of our country.

Do you have any advice for tourists and visitors?
Be vigilant, but not overly paranoid. Make sure you always have cash on hand, especially if you want to buy local arts and crafts, and always check your change. Drink the water. Enjoy our cuisine and our weather, but be sure to also bring something for the cooler evenings - in winter, temperatures here can drop below 0°C, and because our summers are so hot, we don't generally have fantastic heating systems in our homes.

What can South Africans do to make the country a better place?
Work together without any prejudice or preconceived perceptions. Our biggest problem is that we have become incredibly selfish and self-centered, and many simply do as they please. This is an awesome country - it is beautiful all over, rich in resources with some really incredible people. If the people of this country can look past the differences and see the beauty, it can be truly incredible.

What is your dream or vision for the future of your city and country?
I would love for all South Africans to live truly free - free of fear, hate, anger, hunger (and Julius Malema *grin*) - so that each person can appreciate the country we live in and be proud of this country again.

What is your favourite South African charity?
Not quite a charity, but rather a very important NPO, The Teddy Bear Clinic. They do such good things for abused children.

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I asked Vanessa to send along a photo of the city and this was her reply:

(click on the photo for an enlargement)

Ok, so, again, two pictures? Really? choose one picture of the city from the thousands I have taken. No, I think not. So, I cheated a little. The pictures chosen were chosen for very specific reasons.

There is a beautiful view of the west rand, taken from the rooftop of one of my customers' buildings in Randburg. I chose this because often the only view one sees of Jo'burg is the skyscrapers, and one misses the fact that Jo'burg is the biggest urban jungle in the world - which I think my picture shows a piece of.

The second picture chosen is one of the Campus, where I work. It shows our beautiful blue sky, and was chosen simply because of the blue sky (and I am rather proud of my place of employment, that is very green conscious and has  won multiple awards celebrating its contribution to a greener world).

The third picture is of a set of cranes, which I took in Sandton one afternoon. The country, currently, is a boom of construction and development - physically and otherwise - and I like to think of that when I see this picture.

The last picture is of the sun setting over afternoon traffic, with a new building to the right hand side. I included this simply because it is pretty :)

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Like I said, it has been a difficult week in South Africa (some of which I spoke about in my political blog) but chatting to someone as positive and inspirational as Vanessa puts it all back in perspective.  How are you enjoying the Window Into South Africa series?  Do you know a prominent South African blogger or business person who would like to be featured? 

Window into SA: Justin Cohen

Justin Cohen is a motivational speaker and author from Johannesburg.  He is the man behind Big Little Stories which is a website featuring inspirational and motivational videos that speak about kindness, gratitude and power.  Justin’s message is unmistakably South African and I believe he is an incredible ambassador for the country.  Justin very kindly replied to my request for an interview.

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What is the name of your website or business?
Justinpresents.com

Whereabouts in South Africa are you?
Johannesburg

Tell us about what you do?
I am an international conference speaker and author. We also produce inspirational videos documenting our clients success stories: www.biglittlestories.com

The Big question: Are you a rugby, cricket or football fan?
I am that rare breed of South African who is not a sports fan (gasp!) but I am a patriot and look forward to one major party over the world cup period.

Which team will you be supporting?
Bafana Bafana

Which is the nearest football stadium to your home and work?
Ellis Park

Will you be attending any games?
Nothing lined up yet, but I’m sure I will.

How would you describe South Africa to someone who has never been there before?
The best place to live if you can stay alive!

What would you say is the single best thing about South Africa?
I once had the privilege of visiting Sting’s house in London, it is beautiful but on a middle class income you could afford the same size house in South Africa with a better view and much better weather. The quality of life here is extraordinary.

What is the number one attraction that tourists must visit in South Africa?
Maropeng, Takes you on an inspirational journey from the birth of humankind to the present. I have attended many museums around the world, this is the best! (I agree! It is a brilliant place!)

Where in South Africa do you go on holiday?
Cape Town, Bantry Bay is my favourite.

Do you have any advice for tourists and visitors?
Come to South Africa!

What can South Africans do to make the country a better place?
Be more positive.

What is your dream or vision for the future of your city and country?
Crack crime and this will be paradise.

What is your favourite South African charity?
Child Welfare South Africa

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This is the first one of Justin's videos that I saw, the video that made me seek him out:

A Window Into South Africa

A long time ago, when I was at school, we learnt about inner city decline and reform.  In those days, it was safe to walk around the streets of Johannesburg and the cosmopolitan area of Hillbrow but within years of me finishing school, decline was well and truly setting in.  As a property manager I managed a wide portfolio of properties and I got a unique perspective into the difficulties in maintaining buildings in rapidly declining neighbourhoods. 

Throughout all of that, I knew that inner city reform was on the way.  This was reinforced when a man bought one of the buildings I managed in Hillbrow.  When no businessman would go near the inner city, this man had a vision to set up a franchise of bakeries while refurbishing the buildings they were in and converting old office space to low-cost, affordable residential units.

In October last year, he and I briefly chatted about the idea of an interview as I was so interested in the spirit behind this man’s decisions and the vision that he had to invest in and improve a part of the inner city.  That idea ran around my head for a couple of months until it exploded in my mind, as my ideas often do.

You see, it occurred to me that many people have no idea of what life is like in South Africa and how normal  South African people feel, think and act.  Sure, you know me but I’m hardly representative of a whole nation of individuals.  Stephanie from Little London Observationist has a fantastic feature that she runs on Saturdays called Listen to a Londoner and she inspired me to think about doing something like that too. 

I had a grand idea that I’d like to interview South African business owners and individuals too to show how normal South Africans think and how they are gearing up for the World Cup.  I started contacting a couple of people and finally started getting some positive responses.

So, starting this Sunday, I’ll be running a weekly feature called “A Window Into South Africa”.  I think you’ll be surprised at how optimistic, hopeful and genuine South Africans are.  The plan is to run it until the World Cup starts in June but who knows? Perhaps it will really take off!

(And fingers crossed – maybe the man who started it all will agree to share his thoughts with us!)

Shout South Africa

Another great South African musical initiative and once again, stolen from the lovely Vanessa (I stole You Make Joburg Great from her in January).

Shout SA is a movement that was started by South African musicians Danny K and Kabelo Mabalane after the murder of musician Lucky Dube.  The video below features the cream of South African musicians as they band together to give South Africans a voice in the fight against crime.  All South Africans have been touched by crime in some way and most know someone who has died as a result of crime, be it from an unlicensed vehicle skipping a red light or during a robbery or hijacking.

The song is great and I loved that I recognised the musician’s voices before their faces.  I’m trying to find out how we can buy a copy of the song from outside of South Africa.

The most important message is that the responsibility for change lies in all South Africans and that no crime, no matter how big or small, is acceptable.  That has always been my biggest observation in England, that citizens here are more acquiescent and law abiding as a whole than in South Africa.

You can follow them at Twitter @ShoutSA but their Facebook appears to have committed suicide.  They also have a YouTube channel.

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I’m trying to set up a couple of interviews with every day South Africans in the run up to the World Cup but although there has been interest, I’ve not had any replies.  If you are in South Africa right now and would like to chat about who you are and what you do, then please contact me.  South African bloggers are most welcome!!

You Make Joburg Great

I found this wonderful little video on my friend Vanessa's blog.  It is all about what makes Joburg great and I think all Joburgers are in agreement that it is the people.

You can visit the You Make Joburg Great website if you’d like to learn more.

The main song in the video is Prime Circle – My Inspiration.  They are one of my favourite South African bands.

Holiday: Johannesburg 2006

Wednesday 20 December 2006:

At sparrow's fart, Ste and I trotted off to Carol O'Leary, an animal behaviourist in Fourways. It was a really good meeting and she was able to point out to us that Molly often struggles to settle down and she was quite a highly strung dog. She explained the whole thing about dogs being pack animals and how they are chancers - they will always test you and take a chance, no matter how well trained they are. The bad news is that Josey is probably still going to try eat my kittens (haar haar haar - she wishes she were fast enough); but the excellent news is that we have now been suitably trained and the dogs aren't continually fighting for our attention. We've become a lot stricter and our dogs don't lie on the sofas any more (scandal) but Molly is quite a serene little thing now and I can see the difference in her. Josey's position as top dog has been respected, and in fact all dogs are now fed alone. They also eat their food now instead of attempting to play us. Verdict: we did the right thing, and our dogs are much more settled for it.

Later on that day I went for a very much needed massage and pedicure at Virgin Spa in Randburg. If you play it right, their treatments can really be reasonable. The masseur is really skilled and I actually had small bruises the next day in the small of the back. I know that doesn't sound good, but I'm one of those that needs a very hard massage.

Thursday 21 December 2006:

Second day of holiday, and once again we were up at 5am or something ridiculous. The reason was that my cousin Michael was arriving from England. He arrived just after a plane from Brazil landed (never seen so many people taken off for searching). We settled him in, and then we went off to Nelson Mandela Square for lunch. We went to the Butcher Shop which I seemed to be going to a lot at that time. Thank the lord the Christmas eating season is over.

Friday 22 December 2006:

We got up early and went for a breakfast at Wimpy. Michael was pleasantly surprised to discover that our Wimpy is nothing like the ones overseas. We had bacon, eggs and sausages, and then we trotted off to The Lion Park. I could honestly go to the Lion Park five times a year - it is so awesome and exhilarating. We drove in and did our usual circle around the main reserve, where all sorts of antelopes and other animals stay. One of the highlights of this experience was getting this shot.

This is a gemsbok. He was a lone male and you can see from his broken horn that he has been fighting for territory. I absolutely love the grey fur of gemsboks, I think they look absolutely majestic. In any event, I was about one to two metres away from this lovely young man and the picture was shot through an open window. There were lots and lots of impala out on this day, but they were just too far away to get a decent picture. It's a pity, as impala are one of my favourite antelope. Who am I kidding? I have severe Bambi Complex. I love all of them.

This picture was taken before we went into the big cat enclosure, so once again it was through an open window. This is a young cheetah and I imagine it was a male if he separated himself from the rest of his family who were lying in the shade. Obviously, the picture was taken from inside of my car - I'm not thick enough to get out for a closer picture - there are animals that climb to the very top of trees for a little shade and comfort. There are five lion enclosures at the Lion Park, and so once we'd driven around the reserve, we headed off to the lions. One of the things I love most about the Lion Park, is that the lions are really beautiful and well kept. Drought and fighting for resources can often lead to scraggly and emaciated lions in the wild and anyway... you'll never get this close to lions in the wild (and I don't mean through David Attenborough either):

This is a white lioness. White lions are more rare than normal lions and their appearance is a rare genetic anomaly. I think they are absolutely amazing and my heart fills with joy when I see them. Judging from the age of this lioness (I estimate 5 years), this is probably one of the lions I held as a cub when I was on my honeymoon in 2002. Amazing. Oh, and this little girl is yawning not roaring, although you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise if your car is parked next to a yawning lion!

This absolutely majestic male is obviously an alpha male. He is a little bit older and is quite confident and self-assured. We were pleased to actually see a lion standing and walking as it was an absolute scorcher of a day. This male is in a wonderful condition, his mane looks like it has been washed and combed out (I promise it hasn't) and his body and fur is in a beautiful state. I wanted to take him home with me, but Michael wouldn't get out of the car. (Edit: these pictures have not been enlarged - I really was this close to the lion, but it was taken through a window of course!)

And of course, Mandy's favourite. I got to stroke the lion cubs and chat to them for a while. The lion park finally figured out that the cubs don't like thirty million tourists holding them a day, so while I'm sad that I wasn't able to pick them up, I am more then happy that they'll get some peace and quiet now. Don't you love their spots? Apparently the Rhino and Lion Park has cheetah cubs, so I want to go there really soon. I've not mauled played with cheetah cubs before. Meeps! Look at their white lion webcam!!! *faints* These things must be five or six months old. So pretty.

Saturday 23 December 2006:

Michael and I got up early on Saturday morning and trotted off to Maropeng in the Cradle of Humankind. Maropeng is a discovery centre, which takes you through the birth of the world and of humankind. The most interesting things I learned was that all of humankind today descends from the Australopithecus africanus that hailed from Southern Africa. We are in fact not descendant from Neanderthal man at all. Neanderthal man occupied what would today be Europe, Asia and the polar regions, I think. At some stage, Australopithecus africanus (or descendants thereof) moved north and met up with the Neanderthals. Despite them both being hominid creatures, the two species were unable to procreate. Over time, the Australopithecus africanus became dominant and the Neanderthals became extinct. Very interesting in light of certain racist doctrines, which say that interracial procreation is not natural. If it weren't natural, it wouldn't be possible. No pictures I'm afraid - they weren't allowed inside and it was too damn hot outside to stand taking pictures.

Sunday 24 December 2006:

Once again, Michael and I trotted off early and this time we went to Constitution Hill on the boundary between Braamfontein and Hillbrow. I think I'm going to cheat a little, and copy and paste what this place is about: "Constitution Hill is the new home of the Constitutional Court, the protector of our basic rights and freedoms. Constitution Hill is also the site of Johannesburg’s notorious Old Fort Prison Complex, commonly known as Number Four, where thousands of ordinary people were brutally punished before the dawn of democracy in 1994. Many of South Africa’s leading political activists, including Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, were detained here."

I cannot begin to explain how awesome this place is. You get to walk through the cells and the complex of what was once one of the most over-crowded and squalid prisons in South Africa. Hundreds of activists were held without a trial and many were imprisoned under evil, inhumane and arbitrary laws. We were in quite a hurry, so I only managed two photos:

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were held at Ste's parents house. It was nice to see the whole family, and I managed to avoid being in any photos :0). Boxing Day was held at my house. We had our usual brunch and were all passed out by 2pm. The thing I miss MOST about holidays is my daily afternoon nap.

Wednesday 27 December 2006:

Once again, we headed off early and met up at the Apartheid Museum with Caryl, Boris, Sara, Donovan, Keira, Michael, Stephen and I. The Apartheid Museum is a phenomenal place and is a comprehensive and astonishing collection of over 40 years of Apartheid. Unfortunately, photos are not permitted inside the museum, but these are the pictures we took approaching the entrance: