Silly Saturday Session, Nata's B'Day, and an Easter Egg Hunt

Arriving back in London, I popped home for a quick shower, to dump my bag, and do a load of washing before heading back out, across town to put in half a day at work. Can't be using up too much of my precious annual leave all in one go! Somehow managed to work, and work the next day too. Nothing like a decent dose of sunshine to cure all!!

Saturday afternoon I convened a Silly Saturday Session on the Queen Mary, to catch up with some of the gang from work, and all the gossip. Charlotte, Laura, Niny and Scott joined me in the sunshine on the boat on the Thames for drinks and goss. All very important, especially after three weeks away. And my chance to catch up with Charlotte before she headed home for two weeks holiday of her own.

Finally managed to meet my new housemate on the weekend too, now that Jenny has arrived back home in Melbourne. Nicole is all settled in now. The trick will be to try and get all four of us home at any one time now!!

Last night Nicole and I met Nata out at The Hit Bar in Hammersmith, with a host of her mates, to celebrate her birthday. A bar not so easy to find, but quite cute, it was good to see Nata in top form.

Today at work we all arrived this morning to find easter eggs hidden all over the office. The office Easter Egg Hunt was all very amusing, although I suspect the hiders had a little more fun than the finders!!

I am sitting in the shopping area of Gatwick airport now, after making record time getting from my desk, to the train, to the airport. Idle time. Better than stressing time!! Hee hee! Off for the long long weekend, can't wait. Yippee!!

Have a great Easter break!

Soweto and the Apartheid Museum

For my last day in South Africa, I joined a tour with some of the Waving the Flag bunch to see Soweto, and then also ventured across to see the Apartheid Museum too, before dashing out to the airport to get my flight back to London.

The minibus left the hostel reasonably early in the morning for the trek across town to the Soweto area. Soweto is the vast area which has developed into a black township said to house around 4 million people, and includes shantytown areas alongside the middle class areas, and also the larger houses of some of the rich black population. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu's former residences are located in the same street in one area of Soweto - the only street in the world who can claim two Nobel Peace winners. Current homes of Winnie Mandela and Nelson were pointed out along the tour.

Driving across to Soweto, we got to see some of the city of Johannesburg, which is typically a no-go area, and thus not something we got a chance to explore. Due to the safety concerns in the city centre, tourists are advised not to even go in there. So we got to view some of the more interesting looking buildings, and the Nelson Mandela bridge from the motorway.

The highlight, and given the lite version of the tour we seemed to get this morning, was the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial. A memorial to the deaths incurred as the result of violence that broke out following a student protest in the peak of the apartheid battle, this museum has personal accounts and moving memorials. (More photos.)

After lunch, a small group of us headed over by taxi to visit the Apartheid Museum. This museum is huge, well spaced out, and very modern. And quite a different tone from the museum we visited in the morning. These displays and retellings of the history of apartheid and it's demise felt very offical and on the record. Having some time constraints due to the airport run, I managed to see about two thirds of all the exhibits, footage and photo history It's very intensive and comprehensive, and definately worth the visit.

Jo'burg has been a bit of an eye-opener as a finale to this trip. Had to get a full understanding of the culture, I think, but the mix of First World riches and Third World destitution is right here for all to see. Completing living side by side here, although not much assimilation or tolerance on display. The divide is so pronounced, so apparent. To me, there is little doubt where the fear, and the crime and violence steams from. I am quite shocked at the state of this city. Jo'burg has got to be the most unsettling, most unsafe feeling places I have visited.

My flight out of South Africa was an overnight one, and arrived back in London this morning. Having heard that it was 15C in London at least once while I was away, I was gutted to hear the captain state that the outside temperature when we would land was just a touch below 0C......Nooooooo!

Clean sweep

Aussie victory yesterday at The Wanderers, with a tense finish, and the first white wash home loss to South Africa since 1895....the same year Castle Lager was established...hee hee.

Day Three of the test was up and down...looking like we would lose, looking like we could wrap it up that day, then going off for bad light in the end, with 44 runs to win, and two batsman down for the count, and 5 wickets down...

A rather large night ensued, starting at The Wanderers Club across the road from the ground, with the ability to see the sun set behind the ground (Why did we go off for bad light when the sun was stil out, I hear you ask??!! Very good question!!).

Drinks back at the hostel got out of hand very quickly, and I blame Evil Johan behind the bar here for my unfit state the next morning, for all his spirit mixing!

Too hungover to fully appreciate and enjoy the last hour of the test match, I was there nonetheless. Massive hour of play, and the run down of the required 44 runs. Plenty of tension when wickets fell, and pressure mounted. But all good in the end, with some very Trent Bridge-like last stand batting from Bing and Kaspa.

Last night a group of us headed out for dinner at moyo, a restuarant highly recommended for it's game meat. I figured if I was not going to get around to seeing the big 5, I could at least eat them!! Hee hee!! Raw Springbok for starters, after going downstairs to sample our wine choices, and then Mozambique Fish Curry, dinner was gorgeous. The restaurant was so cute, with African theme, traditional face painting and music. (More photos)

The Wanderers

Settling into The Ritz (Backpackers), upon arrival, we then set off for the Flagger pre-test get together BBQ. On a AFD (Alcohol Free Day), was a quite one in preparation for the first day of the last test, being a dead rubber.

I have always wanted to go to The Wanderers, have watched quite a bit of cricket from here over the years on the TV, and it's one of those grounds that sounds awesome. And here we are.

After a decent breakfast, we headed down to the ground - a 25 minute walk, which we managed...despite the fact that it seems that no white South Africans walk or get taxis around here in Jo'burg. Talking to the locals, if they don't have a designated driver, it's a no go...interesting!

The Wanderers is a big ground, the bigger of the three on tour. We joined the Waving the Flag crew again, this time in the stands, for the last two days so far. Slow days, slow sessions, the Aussies have fought back today after looking in all sorts earlier on.

Texts from home with the various footy scores going around, the Sherrin still being passed around, and some Castle being drunk. All good.

Aussie victory in Durban

Monday night I caught up with Donna, when she picked the four of us up from our backpackers, and took us out to dinner. I haven't seen Donna since I left after my couple of months in Nashville, back in 1999/2000, when Michelle was aupairing at the same time as her. Was great to catch up with her, after 6 years, remineice about Christmas and that New Years Eve in New Orleans, and catch up on what she is up to now.

We had dinner out on Florida Road, at a place called TriBeCa, before we headed off to check out the SunCoast Casino on Durban for a bit of a look at the massive and very colouful complex.

Tuesday we were set for a very big day at the cricket, with the first ball at 9.30am, it was an earlier start. Ricky off for the day with food poisoning, the day of cricket got quite stressful. Would we lose this, and have an early declaration to blame, would light end it all in a draw, or could the lads take these wickets? It was game on.

The beer started to flow after lunch, and the cricket got tense...but the Aussies came up with the goods, Warne very good.


Winning the series, 2-0, meant that Charles was removed of his now infamous mullet right there on the hill. Some not so tidy work with a few Swiss army knives, and he looks like the old Charlie again. ( More photos )

Celebratory drinks at the ground, some more at the hostel whilst we got ready to head out, before hitting Joe Kool's (again! Even after the other nights! Amazing, but true!) with the Waving the Flag gang.

Turned into a massive night to mark the series win. Still piecing it together today, with stories aplenty! After Joe Kool's many of us headed to The Wonder Bar, which was going mad!! South African players were out, and, well....we had a huge one!!

A hangover to end all hangovers for me yesterday - I swear I am never drinking again!! Well, at least until Tea at the match tomorrow, I guess..... Ohh, so very unwell!!

Today Charles and I have boarded a bus from Durban to Johannesburg, through the mountains and rolling hills, through town, arriving at the unnerving Jo'burg station.

Kingsmead, Durban

On Friday, the second test between South Africa and Australia started here in Durban, at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground. Walking distance from our hostel, we headed down for the opening of play, and joined the Waving the Flag gang on the hill for a solid days' cricket. A century from Punter, all good.

Charles had to retire hurt for the middle session of play, after dislocating his finger during kick to kick on the ground during the lunch break. Taking himself off to hospital for an x-ray and to have the finger put back into place, he was back in time for the final session.

That night Dan, and Jen, came down from Swaziland and met up with us at our hostel. Dan is working up there on the AVI program, and so I haven't seen him since my going away gathering back in Ballarat before I left for the UK. Is so good to see Dan, and hang out.

Saturday saw another glorious day at the cricket, sitting on the hill in the sun, drinking beer, and worrying about little else but that little red ball being thrown around in the middle. Bing taking a 5 for, very good.

Unfortunately, Dan and Jen's car was stolen outside our hostel that day while we were at the match, which has made life alittle complicated for them, having to deal with the police and all that - although on the up side it means they are here till they can sort things out. Shame.

After yesterday's play, we headed out to Joe Kool's on the Durban North Beach for drinks and silly behaviour.

Quite hungover today, I had a nap upon arrival at the ground, and through the first patch of rain for the day. Another ton from Punter, and a bumper over from Gilly, and then play was ended early for the day due to bad light and more rain. Poised for a big day of cricket tomorrow. (More photos)

Wine and the beach

On Tuesday, Charles and I joined the Flagger crew for a tour of the winery region around Stellenbosch.

Set among the rolling hills and stunning mountains, the first winery saw us all flying after tasting each variety. The going sweep for the first spew even went here, and thankfully it wasn't me!!

The guy running the tour was a complete nut, who had apparently won the first SA Big Brother. Total mad man, and very funny, he made sure the group kicked off. Not that the crew needed any help.

Brandy tasting next, and the recall for the day gets a little hazy. A couple more wineries after that, before the final one set in the most scenic of spots...and then more drinks around in Campes Bay again to watch the sunset and take in more fluids at a bar there.

Very fun day....

After a rest day the next day, Charlie and I have caught a flight with the comedian Kulula crew up to Durban. The flight crew make all sorts of jokes while doing the safety demo and announcing most things - which is all fun and games, but they could at least keep the plane steady!! I don't think I have ever felt a plane roll so much! Ewww!

So once in Durban, and checking into the Banana Backpackers, I headed off for a wonder along the glorious beach...all the way down from North to South Beach. Walked around the Water Park area down there, got my toes wet, and just soaking in the calming effects of the rolling ocean. (More photos)