Back in Jo(y)burg

an armed robbery, a show house and a dear jo'burg

2012-03-02T17:43:00.001+02:00

It's almost been two weeks and only can I even dare to bring myself close to a keyboard and somehow try explain what happened to you.

That sounds so dramatic...

But honestly, to me, it was.

Being on the other side of a gun is one of the worst experiences of my life. It's traumatic, it does things to your heart that a hard punch does to your face. It hurts bad and will take time to heal.

And yet somehow I can't bare to just rock up here on my blog and give a detailed account of what happened. What would be the point of that?

So rather, because I do want to somehow talk about it, I'm going to use this space to write to you dear Jo'burg, very much with out the 'y'. Not to sure what I'll say or if it will make me feel a bit better but here goes.

(how I want to start)

Dear Jo'burg,

WTF!!!

(and here is rather how I will start)

Dear Jo'burg,

WT... no wait.

I'm so disappointed in you Jozi. And this disappointment has led me to feeling like an idiot. Not many people are surprised to hear about and armed robbery these days. So why do I still then feel so utterly violated?

Why is that the in the police statement I read things like this: "I did not give the men permission to take my possessions". Are you kidding me? You're telling me that in a city like this the bad guy can get away simply by stating in court "they asked me to take their phone and engagement ring" and there they go? Not that I have much faith in the police, sadly. They didn't even bother giving chase, or taking all the statements from victims involved.

Anyway, I don't want to sound like a pessimistic-must-immigrate-immediately saffa, don't think these thoughts don't often cross my mind, but where does that get me?

You dear Jozi have caused me to go through a million different emotions on a daily basis since that sunny afternoon. Anger like you can't believe and I'm sure can understand. Thankfulness, because I simply open News24 to see that it could have been so much worse for us. Irritation, because why do I have to be thankful in the first place that I only got a slap across the face and not a bullet, this just shouldn't have happened. Sadness because that engagement ring to me is irreplaceable, and material as it may be I miss it like an old friend. Even now just typing these words out it's released a dose of adrenalin that I'm not really sure what to do with.

I don't really know what else to say to you. I have in the last hour typed out paragraphs of 'questions as to what should be done', rants about having to live like this, and heartfelt statements about how I don't want to leave out of fear.
But I keep on deleting these paragraphs every time. So I clearly will just end here.

Please Jo'burg, get yourself together, otherwise there would be no point in trying to find the 'joy in the city' if you constantly have to look over your shoulder and feel nervous every time you see young men black men approaching. (if we were attacked by a pregnant Indian woman I'd replace "young black men" with "pregnant Indian woman")

Yours truly.

USA pictures: a therapy

2012-01-12T12:32:00.000+02:00

Being now again very much "back in jo(y)burg", back to work (yes, I have a job that keeps me from constantly travelling, and well finances the times I do get to travel), back home (as in with my parents, because I have these big plans that need a savings account.. donations welcome), I find some use in sharing my favourite USA photo's with you.

Firstly because, I know how you missed the updates. I know.

Secondly because this blog is part of my therapy to deal with the times that I'm not travelling.

So here for you and for me:

These are from the Washington/Idaho and Montana area:

From the 5/4/5 day, drive 5 hours to Seattle, spend 4 hours, drive 5 hours back... because that's how you gotta roll as a traveller.

Then the most non-disappointing city of all the world:

I'll soon get back into the swing of being a Jozi Tourist again... back to appreciating my own city, stop resenting people who get to to live in Cape Town and New York. Start shopping at intersections again, and love our wonderful weather.

Snow: A beginner's tale

2011-12-13T08:05:00.004+02:00

Up until a few days ago I have had three memorable experiences with "snow".

I say "snow" and not snow because about 2 out of those 3 times some bubble buster had to break my heart and tell me it's sleet. What ever.

Experience number one:

I'm two or three years old, my family, minus my unborn sister at this stage, is driving back from Durban. We hit snow somewhere in the middle. I remember white, I remember my dad making a snowball and I remember crying because of the unnecessary pain that snow causes little two or three year old hands.

Experience number 2:

I was in primary school, and the snow came down hard. Which should have been my first clue that the "snow" was in fact freaking sleet. My memory of this basically involves a very painful snowball.

Experience number 3:

A few decades later I wake up to white windowsills and a silver car turned snowmobile. I wake up my roommate so we can go frolic about in the "snow" that fell early. We built a snowman...FINE ... a sleetman, (8cm tall). I slipped and fell on ice, in front of my neighbours, my then single and handsome neighbours...

Soooo you'd imagine the excitement a southern hemisphere snow-less African like myself would feel when she knows she's about to experience real snow. Super excited, and all this at Christmas time too. What a treat. Just like in the movies, but I could do a whole other post on 'the just like in the movies' American experience.

First real experience: Road trip to Missoula, Montana.

At first I took a million (now) boring pictures like this one.

But truly the magic didn't wear off fast. I've been around old snow, on the Alps of course, but the delight of new, fresh, fluffy, sparkly snow is an experience nobody forgets.

First snow experience excitement dance, right before first snow excitement snowball attack.

I'm still to be in actual falling snow... which better happen North West America!! No pressure. I'm still to build that SNOWman, debating the whole snow-angel thing, is it really that awesome? I like to have that option.

One experience involving snow I can tick off my list is hiking into a forest for 2,5 km taking all my warm clothes off and jumping in a hot-spring. Check.

Hot-water springs in middle of nowhere Idaho.
You'd think the 2,5km hike back would suck, but no, because it looks like this:

Walking back was surreal, I tried not to get too caught up in taking pictures or stretching my limited writing brain at how to "capture this magic". No none of that, just doing my very best at being in those beautiful moments.

Now for the snow to hit Spokane(current and month long location btw)... Why I ask you with tears in my eyes would the weather look like this, and not snow???

You got distracted by the 'jello wrestling' too huh?

(To be fair, there is has been way more sunshine than cloudy days, I just somehow needed to work in my picture of the 'jello wrestling' sign)

Anyway, I think I have a few new top snow experiences for next time I'm searching for small talk topics.

Shopping at intersections: the easiest way to shop this festive season.

2011-12-11T01:13:00.000+02:00

I'm simply amazed at the amount of drive through everywheres and convenience of getting anythings here in the good ol US of A. Wow, America, impressive. I for one want to stop and get coffee just about every 50 meters (or yards or feet or something), just because it's possible.

As one does when travelling, I compare the strangeness of countries. "Ooo you can drink tap water here but not there" "I can afford a full day at the Spa here, but nothing to eat there" "I would go to jail for this in this country but not in that country... interesting".

Out here in the North West of the glorious USA they have a lot more drive through stops. Cool.
Back home in darling Jozi we have drive by intersection shopping. (Yes, this is yet another post about fun at the intersection.)

So let me share just that:
Let's start of the basics, not to uncommon a sight world wide I should think

The newspaper guy.
The guy who started it all. The guy who made other guys think "hey, that guy earns a living selling stuff at redlights... hmmmm, must find a gap in the market and fill it"

So important events created a gap.

Just by driving around on a Saturday you'd be able to know some important game was on. Fail-proof.
Sadly I have no pictures of this but other events like Christmas and Valentines day will surely fill the streets. I'm not home right now but I could bet my favourite Disney character's life on the fact that Santa hats are being sold on William Nicol right now (well not now cause it's the middle of the night now...well)

Then, the basics you'll find just about anywhere:

Sunglasses... because you know, you're driving, you forget your sunnies, you're sad because the possibility of an accident just increased, fret not, this guy will be there for you within stops.

Phone cover guy, this gap must have been created because busy people upgrade their phones like every week, and who has the time to actually go out and buy a shocking pink cover? Clearly nobody.

Again, making perfect sense, license covers, for your car. You're in a car when you see this so it's pretty easy check if you need one.

Food guy

That's one less trip to the store for you. Jo'burg can do convenience too.

And then there must surely be a big market in the kids section. I'm rather childless myself, but imagine the power of buying toys for kids to shut them up works wonders. Or there must just be a significant amount of parents that forgot to buy little Suzzies friend that birthday gift. Now it's Saturday morning, time for the party, but no gift... suspense. No problem Mom can just drive the Beyers Naude route to fix that dilemma.

a barbie poster, fancy?

pink ladybugs, yes?

a marching Winnie the Pooh, wish I had a better picture of this.

a toy bow and arrow kit... hoping that this is a 'toy'

fake snakes, how awesome

There are so many other amusing things sold at traffic lights, I could go on forever, or could at least do this post in volumes or maybe alphabetical order.
Hmmm... coming next. Volume two: Atlas posters to chargers. Volume three: Dinosaur blowups to Tacky paintings... we'll see.

under what to add "juggling plastic chicken guy" ???

And just because I'm in the States at this minute I'll end off with this pretty darn weird thing you can buy at the side of the road.

I heart my backyard

2011-11-17T14:08:00.000+02:00

Honestly the urge, itch, scratch, desire, pain, agony, character-building-in-between travel times, can get so challenging for me at times, that all I want to do is race to the airport like a mad woman and ask anybody, anything if I can climb into their suitcase.

Sadly this is not allowed, and I'm so painfully well behaved, so I have to find other ways to deal.

This blog as some of you know if my therapy for just that. Learning to appreciate what I do have around me, my hometown, good ol Jozi Jo.

So today, with no hope of any free-time in my so called 'flexible' schedule, being overcome with intense despair of not travelling, I decided to go take a picture of my pool and self-help my way to loving the here and now.

Because my backyard looks like this:

which is by no means supposed to evoke pity by the way, I know it's awesome... I'm just reminding myself that it's awesome

And not like this:

Taken this weekend, at Pilgrims Rest

Or this:

my parents having a glass of sunset wine this last weekend

My pool is now the symbol of these happy thoughts to hold onto.

-It's gorgeously hot out today, so yay for having the pool.
-I actually haven't even used it since being back, so a reminder that there is something new to try always, even in your backyard!
-I live in a house with a pool, which means a great many things that I am very thankful for.
-It's a pool, not the ocean, so no danger of Tsunamis have to cross my worried mind.
...Or pirates for that matter
-I don't have to pay 80 000 VND to use it like in Hanoi. Saving me time and money. Snaps for that.

I sincerely hope that this post hasn't wasted your time but in fact has inspired you to: blow up that rubber duck, whip out that bikini and love your own backyard.

Splash xx

***As established in a previous post... I'm a brat, because really, all I have to do is wait 2 more weeks and then I'll be off to travelling the States, can't wait. But o how deeply I will miss my pool! #appreciate!

Dealing with my Afrikaans roots: Voortrekker Monumnet

2011-11-07T18:27:00.018+02:00

I don't sokkie, don't listen to RSG, I don't have a Kurt Darren CD, I don't even like koeksisters for crying out loud!

So you'd understand my blogging block when it comes to writing something remotely entertaining about the Voortrekker Monument, a proud symbol of the Afrikaans people.

I love being Afrikaans don't get me wrong but being Afrikaans leaves one with a few awkward subjects at times. We're the group that gave the world these words: Aardvark and Apartheid... both rather tricky to explain.

However, when I lived in Hanoi I hardly knew any other South Africans let alone Afrikaans speakers, so when I did find the random boertjie I'd talk just for the sake of talking. Speaking Afrikaans then was like hugging the other person with your words.

Well cultural identity crisis aside here is what I can say about the Voortrekker Monument, because I was rather excited to go.

If you'd like to go there yourself make sure you have something like this:Commonly known as a woman, friend, tour guide... Let's call this one Lallie. She's awesome, she actually paid attention in Primary school history, so she could explain basically what the whole monument was about. Well that and she's actually been to the location of the Battle of Blood River, which is the primary reason for the monuments existence.

What also adds to getting a clue about what this history is about it the useful sculptures that can be found within. Talk about a 3D experience, am I right? 20 min of walking about plus a Lallie equals for an instant history buff. This is my favourite part of the wall: women encourage the men not to give up hope. Girl power!

If that's not enough then there's always the embroidery wall on the lower level of the monument, illustrating daily life and historical events of the Voortrekkers. O look the Voortrekkers setting up camp:O yes and that dragon they fought...WTF?? Don't recall that part.

A highlight of the monument is to go to the top, by stairs or lift. For a stunning view of Pretoria (yes Jozi Tourist is out of her depth here). And a bit of an adrenaline rush view of the inside. What you see at the very bottom level is this: Which translates into "We're for you South Africa". Strangely reading this instantly got "De La Rey" by Bok van Blerk stuck in my head as opposed to our National Anthem (old or new)...Odd.

I didn't go to the museum on the property so don't have much to say about that. The lower levels have some old historical significant stuff, that would interest the history nerd. It at least seemed to interest the couple of Taiwanese tourist there, attentively listening to their tour guide.

In closing: I found the monument interesting, I'm not sure if you'll feel the same way if you're not Afrikaans or Taiwanese. I'd give about 1 to 2 hours to experience the place, that's without the museum also on the property. I'd be really nervous taking small kids up to the top for that inside view, but it is super cool. Entrance R45.

Rosebank rooftop market: it's all for you!

2011-11-07T17:57:00.017+02:00

This one is for you, because you're either a tourist or a local:

Dear Tourist
Let's start with you:

Things for your buying and experiencing pleasure:

-Beaded, just about everything you can think of, things:

-Wooden African animals, because NO tourist leaves this country without a wooden giraffe no matter the size

-It's a bit last season, and I'm sure you hated it anyway, but (beaded) vuvuzellas are of course available... and we know you'll buy them and we know you'll misuse them.

-African song and dance... just in case you forgot you're in Africa.

-Driving through Jacaranda trees to get here

-the ability to say that you 'do as the locals do'...

and the locals are here because:

-of the antiques/collectables/second-hand/junk/dead people's treasures

-Thai foot massages, makes us feel exotic, pity it isn't 100 Baht for 30 minutes.

-Ranked the 121 out of 185 things to do in Jo'burg by the Lonley Planet.

-Food, we like food.

-Jumping castles, that's for people with kids, obviously... uhm obviously?

-People watching, we enjoy seeing tourist in our city... makes us wonder if Cape Town is really all that much better... (okay it's just me)

-Jo'burg is yet to catch up with weekend market culture so we don't have much choice but to come here.

Open: 9-5 every Sunday
Where: Corner of Cradock Avenue and Baker Street, Rosebank
Recommendations: Go and try every so slightly to haggle, it's not a given but it does work every now and then. The whole "that's too expensive so I'm walking away now" totally works.

Jacaranda trees: purple makes happy

2011-11-02T16:09:00.004+02:00

Just the quickest of posts to share yet another something with you that has to do with the fine weather and flowers...

(o when will she stop, you say...!? Well round about May, I think? sucks!)

Because if there is one thing I'm sure of when it comes to Johannesburg that simply blows my skirt up, it's the sexy weather and the pretty trees.

So here, a sunfilled snap of my neighborhood:Jacaranda trees turning Fairland positively purple, and we like it.

Jozi tourist, is saving up to go be a real (regte egte) tourist in the land of the free and the brave (U.S.A, U.S.A if only I can stop chanting that as I skip along)... so look forward to some more "free entrance" and "value for money" things to do in Jozi the coming month.

Johannesburg Art Gallery... how about that.

2011-10-25T15:58:00.017+02:00

I, the self proclaimed Jozi tourist, decided that visiting the Apartheid Museum might have worked out a bit much so soon after visiting Constitution Hill, so decided to do something (what I thought would be) a bit 'happier...

Welcome the Johannesburg Art Gallery
I feel like I'm really supposed to love this gallery, but somehow the only emotions that will attach to this place is of some fondness, some disappointment, sprinkled with a few adrenaline drops of arriving, staying and leaving safely.

Like a grown up revisiting a childhood hang out I felt sure that this place used to much bigger than now, maybe blame my Lourve in Paris visit for this. Having said that, I think the gallery is a nice size, not overwhelming like the Lourve, where after the first 40 min your eyes just start glazing over anyway.

The gallery is right next to Joubert Park, with a bit of sketchy reputation.. (well that and the entire Braamfontein area) all the more reason to feel proud of yourself for travelling through such obstructions in the quest of appreciating fine art. Good on you... good on me for going despite being a little freaked out.

The gallery has an almost adorable collection of famous Artist's work, nothing you've ever seen on Cezanne and Dali postcards, but hey, it's here and it's cool in that way. They also have work by Rodin, Van Gogh and Monet. Cool right?

Why I think it's cool and reasons to go:

-It's free, totally free... budget travellers rejoice!

... o you need more reasons than that?? okay

-the Dali lobster phone
-Some really impressive South African Artist art that will make you feel all proud and stuff
These paintings are made from old plastic bags, no kidding.
-Changing Art, in the sense that 90% of their collection is in storage so you can see something different every time.

-Chances are very good you'll have the entire gallery to yourself.

-I like the building, parts of it was built in the early 1900's... so (don't freak out Belinda) it's historically cool.
-Art is good for the soul

And the not so cool part:

-It's a scary part of the city... (traffic rules don't apply here by the way)

-At the time of this going online the temporary exhibition was about sexual harassment and sexual offenders... not exactly the happy escape I wanted.

-A little depressing that no else ventures out here.

In Matric we had to analyse this painting in our final paper, I remember using the word macabre a lot... macabre what a art word, in fact I struggle to describe most art any other way. This is however one of my favourite paintings in the gallery.

Speaking of macabre...
This isn't exactly part of the exhibitions, I being super intelligent (spells intelligent wrong) think it's for schoolkids to do some art after they've seen the exhibitions. But what would stop somebody from calling this art? this table that is... Some guy named Andy called a bunch of Campbell soup tins art and he was right, wasn't he?
I've read somewhere that the gallery might be moved to Newtown (on the Jozi tourist list!), it's sad that they will loose the building but it might be the best.
Then once again the art can fit in with other arty things like jazz and cool people, all this is apparently in Newtown, I'm still to go see for myself.
..Brilliant tips:
-Make sure you know exactly where you're going, not a fun place to drive around in circles
-The parking may look closed but there is a guard on duty.
-Give about one to two hours, and again go in the early afternoon to avoid city traffic.
-Closed on Mondays

Guest post from a real long term tourist...

2011-10-21T10:46:00.005+02:00

When I started this blog a few short months ago my gorgeous previous roommate sent me this message below about where she found the joy in Jo'burg. She's originally from and now back in Cape Town (grrrr...) ((I say grrrr because I want to move there one day when I'm big)). She spent a year and half working in Jo'burg where she had the delightful delight of living with yours truly for a good portion of that year and a half... as if that's not awesome enough right, right Carlene?? .. Uhm.

I found her message so beautifully written, capturing a few Jozi gems as she reminiscences about her time up here. It is however in Afrikaans which limits the audience this post around.

...sorry random Russian and English speaking reader for not translating this for you. For the rest of you please welcome and enjoy my first guest post.

My jaar en 'n half in jo(y)burg; ek mis die groen, die stad is so ryk aan die mooiste en digste bome, as mens van hoog kyk lyk dit soos 'n feetjie woud, en soms vergeet dat die stad daar binne wegkruip, én die mooiste ooitste - die persblommetjies van die jacarandas wat 'pop' as jy oor hul ry. Dan die weer in die somer: die groot reendruppels se reuk op die warm teer, die geluid van die blits en donderweer wat ek skeitbang voor was aan die begin, maar wat ek nou so mis. En daardie donderweerstrale lyk amazing in tussen die wolke, vol krag, en remind ons natuur is soveel groter as ons! En die mense, soveel verskeidenheid en almal het 'n storie, daar bestaan nie so iets soos clicks nie, almal ontvang jou en jy kan chat met enige iemand, alle kleure en kulture meng. Michael (my ou) en sy vriend het elke sondag 'meet a foreigner' dag gehad, ek dink dit was awesome, en dis die ding, jy kan in jozi, en nie net 'n foreigner nie, enigeiemand anders as jyself! Mis al die interessante restaurante en coffeeshops!! En daar was soveel meer goedjies wat joburg vir my joyburg gemaak het! Ek het dit dalk bietjie laat besef ja. Jy was vir 'n jaar en 'n half in vietnam, ek was in jou home town, en wou jou maar net herhinner aan van die joys wat jozi vir my gegee het.

Carlene Albertyn

Dankie Carlene! xoxo

(I did Google translate this Afrikaans/English and doesn't translate thaaat badly, but trust me the Afrikaans is better)

Constitution Hill, tourist on a mission

2011-10-18T18:17:00.017+02:00

Even though Constitution Hill is supposedly one of the more famous historical sights to visit in Johannesburg I wasn't quite sure what to expect or what it was all about.

If you're like me and you're not sure either I'd recommend just a little bit of reading before hand (as in google it on your iphone on your way there), and be sure not to miss the 10 min orientation movie at the start of the tour. Here is the website

There were a few reasons why I wanted to go there at the start of my tourist challenge:
-It's old... I'm sure there is some explanation for a person like me simply loving old buildings and peeling paint, but that's one reason
-It has historical significance and I'm significantly fond of history, especially South African history.
-I read that it's free entry on Tuesdays... this was in fact not true anymore and was stopped just before the 2010 World Cup... clever. (Wow I'm getting really good this whole useful tips thing)
-It fits perfectly into an afternoon, give about 2 hours for the whole experience.
-and as mentioned, I didn't really know what it was all about so was curious to check it out.
What I loved about the complex is that you're pretty free to just walk around and do as you please, even though you can hire a personal tour guide. I loved that it was so empty, given that we went on a Tuesday afternoon, but I feel like that added to the eerie coolness of the whole experience.

I loved the mix of old original buildings that give you the creeps, to the newer buildings trying to incorporate historical significance and stylish African architecture. O and of course the art!

What I also loved, and this is important fellow Joburgers, is how safe I felt there, even though you're right next to Hillbrow. I think that's why most of us don't even think of going to these cool city places, because of the violent reputation. Honestly it felt safer parking my car there than at Cresta Mall.

Don't let the crime be the one thing stopping you from going.

The not so great part was that it didn't feel very user friendly, I would love to see a bit more organisation to the complex. I often had no idea where I was going, the maps and arrows around aren't wonderful.

Secondly there's a whole lot of restoration going on at the moment so I feel like I missed a good 40% of it all.
Parking also seemed like it could be a problem when there's more tourists around.

Do keep in mind when you come visit that it isn't exactly about rainbows and butterflies, it showcases a very tough and sad part of our history, so it's best to prepare to be a little depressed for a while. You'll read stories that will raise the hair on the back of your neck.
People being kept like animals in cells for not having a pass: Sucks!
Constitutional freedom in SA for over 17 years...: Rocks! Viva Democracy...

this is the entrance area (I think) this is also where the car was parked (safely!)

The doors to the constitutional court with the 27 basic constitutional rights for every South African and in every official language including sign language.
the law
an entire section is filled with art inspired by all things constitutional and unconstitutional

In one of the old cells with pictures and information of some of the former inmates. Ghandi being one of themThey make a pretty big deal about the fact that Ghandi used to stay here. Has it's own exhibition section
my attempt at taking an arty picture at a prison

The verdict: I'd recommend going, I suspect history nerds might enjoy it more, but it's worth a visit even if you're not. When: During the early afternoon (so that you miss crazy city traffic out). How much: R 30 per person. Getting there: Get onto Empire and keep going till you see the signs. eh easy enough.

Moving onto Melville then...

2011-10-17T16:19:00.014+02:00

So the problem with the last post was; firstly it was Monday and secondly it was Monday afternoon, which greatly curbed my enthusiasm for all things Jozi. Turns out that most places of interest are closed on Mondays. So there, my first piece of truly useful information posted on a blog.

I have however found a treasure of a list to work myself down in the coming weeks from historical sites to unusual art galleries so watch this space. Some that might only seem appealing to a history nerd like me, so you'll have to deal with that. Unless you yourself are of nerd orientation in which case I hope we connect and become lifelong friends.

I also fortunately have a smoke screen in all my touristing around in the form of an extended American 'guest' which I can use. Who also happens to be great to look at.
So excuses can be made for going to places like the war/transport/apartheid/Africa museums. Excitement is!

I did however in my optimistic notions for finding Jo'burg interesting decide to go to Melville that fine Monday afternoon.

Why are you raising your eyebrow at me? I know 7th street in Melville isn't exactly a historical museum but it is on the top of the list when consulting any guide book on places to be in Jo'burg. So there.
see the tourist bus stops here, therefore it warrants as a Jozi tourist spot

I also just happen to have a favourite little restaurant in Melville so wasted no time in going anywhere else.

Ant cafe is filled to the overflow with cool and kitch things that warms the heart of any hipster young and old. Along with some background music from 60's rock to Karoo classics this place is unique.

And here with yet another useful tip (nogal), visit Ant cafe on a Monday to enjoy their R40 on any pizza deal.

There's not much street cafe culture in Jozi so finding spots like 7th Street in Old Melville feels like a touristy thing to do. There's also second hand book stores, antique and vintage style shops and countless other bars/ restaurants and cafes to choose from. It's going to be cliche and I'm going to say it anyway... but there really is something for everyone.
(that's apart from parking now)

window display at Reminiscence
inside Ant cafe, there's a lovely outside area to the back too by the way
uhm... erotic plant over the weekend... really??

Challenge

2011-10-17T12:16:00.008+02:00

I'm so stuck for words today.

Not only words, but sentences and paragraphs and ideas and topics about the Joy of Jo'burg.

The problem is that 2 years in Vietnam makes for pretty high standards for topics in blogging.. or just in my own mind.

Already and (sigh) again I feel such an itch to be travelling. These blogs I follow on the side don't help much, read them by the way! They all look like the kind of blogs this one wants to be when it grows up...

So I have resolved to become a tourist in Jo'burg... it's easy enough to take on such an identity in the rest of my gorgeous country, but for some reason not here...

Challenge created, challenge accepted.

Okay I'm off now to go visit some museum or something... (and take pictures of jacarandas cause that's a joy in Jo'burg for sure)

Thanks goodness I'm not trying to this in Pretoria.... Challenge acce..... hold on, take it easy now, don't let me hurt myself here.

Dear Tourist...

2011-10-07T14:44:00.012+02:00

Firstly, sorry about the boring first 75% of your trip from O.R Tambo International to the Kruger National Park.

I bet you wish it looked like this:

or this:

I sure wish it looked like this:

but instead you get this:

and this:

But all that boredom after a 16 hour flight and 6 hour drive will be worth it, because you'll end up here:

and find things like this:

and see this, if you're super lucky...

or even this.
Why not capture the next You Tube sensation with your iphone while you're here. Try however to find something different and original in the Park now that we've all seen the baby buffalo survive the lion and crocodile.
Ooo I have a great suggestion... how about filming something like 'South African grandma feeds Australian rugby supporter to a badger during a sunset saffari just outside Lower Sabi'... just a thought.

We hope you have the best time ever!

Kind Regards

a Saffa

a Jo'burg reality

2011-09-28T15:54:00.005+02:00

I woke up to the sound of a police chopper yesterday. It was really close and was circling my area for quite some time.

Before knowing what was really going on in the outside world, (being the suburb of Fairland) countless images race through my imagination. With good reason too, could it be some big shoot out between the cops and the baddies? Or perhaps (living up to the African stereotype here) a group of elephants had escaped from the zoo and now they're going shoot them with tranquilizer guns. Well it was the first, luckily uhm unluckily??!

Now we (we Saffa's/Jo'burgers) hate crime, we can spend hours and hours talking, complaining, sighing about it. It's our thing, in a scary way a part of our identity, sadly. Spend enough time on News24.com and you're instantly carried away in a vision of landing in perfect Perth.

I know my American man often worries at the integrity of my affections towards him knowing that he's a key factor in obtaining that sought after 'green card'. No no darling, it's not like I want to move the US anyway, like whatever, US is stupid... with their at times crime free charming towns where kids still play in yards without fences and...

Moving on,

because I actually have a point to make.

There was an epic commotion going on yesterday morning, something about an armed house robbery in the early hours of the morning, which eventually led to a helicopter waking up all the Fairland late sleepers (by late I mean 07:30am). As well as some blocked off streets and neighbours that hardly say hello asking you and other neighbours for more detail, nothing like the scary things to bring people together right?

Good news, no great news is that they caught all 4 of the baddies, those super cool crime-fighter heroes , and I think that is freaking wonderful. So there is my point. I just want to point out the positive for a change. So forget Perth and Green cards for a while.

Good thing I never went into news journalism judging by these last two paragraphs.

I don't want to get all happy thoughts and rainbows on you I just thought a job well done by the crime-fighting heroes deserved a mention. Keep it up.

a Barks and Trees therapy theory and something about liking Emmerentia

2011-09-26T13:29:00.020+02:00

On a personal note...

Things have not been moving along as swiftly as I had imagined months back, staring out over Hanoi rooftops I had pictured my life back in South Africa and had images of "own place", "awesome job", "weekend breakaways", "a Jack Russel puppy".

Now a solid 3 months on we're still living with my parents, the job market might as well be another fantastical country for which we don't have the right visa and everyday seems like a day closer to the end for my 'sort of a type of a kinda jack russel' dog. Sad face.

But this blog is about the joys of being back so moving on then.

A major joy of going through all these character building challenges is that it forces one to find delight somewhere else. Not selling a house today, sucks. Painting a picture of blue trees, rocks.
No reply from sent out CV's, sucks. Running 3km, rocks.
No control of dstv remote control, sucks. Dog watching (more like stalking) at Emmerentia, rocks.
Delighted face.

I have found three major delights in the last while, them being: Running, painting and the wonder that is the botanical gardens Emmerentia. For today let's focus on the escape that is Emmerentia Botanical Gardens. Why more Northern Jo'burgers don't make more use of this wonderful place escapes me. Going there really helps with those moving to Cape Town fantasies, kicking the electrical fence walls around my parents house in rage cravings and the unhealthy obsessive desire for puppies. Jack Russel for me and a Ridgeback for the man.We especially love the dog walk (more like run free as the wind) section of the park. If you see the only sad couple walking around without a dog that would be us, staring at other dogs like a fat teenage girl on a diet at a cupcake.

We've even taken to borrowing my sister's dog just not to look so suspicious. Also test out how it would feel to take our own dogs there one day when we're grown ups. Like babysitting to check out the whole parenthood vibe.Dogs aside it's honestly one of my favourite places in Jo'burg hands down. I could go there everyday, I almost do. And with all this time that we have at the moment we are taking every opportunity to appreciate the park instead of worrying ourselves into a frenzy.Seems to me that a certain amount of blossoms (and barks) can cancel out certain amount of stress. (I'm still working on the scientific proof on this one) But go test it out for yourself if you're around, try go before the blossoms in the rose garden fade.

Green and Gold... so hot right now

2011-09-12T13:30:00.008+02:00

I consider myself a sort of a stylish gal at times, I'm no slave to fashion, who can afford that anyway, but I do like to stay on top of things.

You'd imagine my disappointment in Marie Claire this month, as I discovered how wrong they have been. Almost the equivalent of discovering that your own mother doesn't eat her vegetables kind of disappointment.
Tsk Tsk dear MC this seasons must have item is not the romantic floral jumpsuit as you declare but rather the 'supporter' look, as in green and gold daahling.
(Because it's the rugby world cup this month which is way cooler than the soccer world cup because we're actually good at rugby...usually)

so hot right now

it's cute but does it say "go bokke go"... didn't think so

The worst part is that I don't own any type supporter rugby shirt. It's embarrassing really, I should be right there along with 75% of Jo'burgers in their gear, especially on match days. Especially because it's so easy to get too. If you're not South African then think 'drive through' but better.

Intersection vendors

That's right, in a matter of yellow to red to green you too can be the proud owner of a bok jersey. Add a springbok flag, and a cellphone cover and a car charger if you're feeling it.

Despite shamefully not walking around in the national colours myself I do love seeing the rest of the city in it. All races, all classes, all sexes, never mind Julius Malema's comments of declaring war on white criminal imperialist something something blah blah blah.

Thankfully the Bokke did win on Sunday (nail-biter right!?) otherwise I'd be surfing copy cat blogs of 1001 things to do with my springbok rugby jersey, like that one guy's blog about 1001 things to do with my ex wife's wedding dress.
Let's hope not.

For now I'll just grace public with my 'of-course-I-have-a-bok-jersey-it's-just-in-the-wash-so-that-I-can-wear-it-again-tomorrow' face. Which I think is way more convincing than my 'I-totally-love-rugby-and-understand-what-off-side-means-face'.
Well that is until I my next red light and the vendor has my size... (for the shirt, not for the actual love of rugby)

Another Spring Fling

2011-09-06T10:50:00.000+02:00

Being the self confessed weather brat that I am I find it quite obvious that this next post is yet another burstful babble of springin' Spring.

I suppose that the biggest reason for my deep love and giggling outbursts are due to the fact that I returned to Jo'burg mid dreary winter, so every week passing by is like Jo'burg blowing gentle kisses my way in the form of new greens and warm breezes. Thanks for that Jozi xxx.

Below is from my " Capture the warm Jo'burg changing weather on my crappy{not as good as Belinda's} phone from the comfort of my bed" collection.

Speaking of September delights;

I'm really looking forward to driving past the cemetery!

Let me explain so that, if possible, you can go look for yourself.

Ever since my first year (just the other day...2004) I fell in love with driving past the Wespark cemetery during the month of September, because of the gorgeous blossoms that line that part of Beyers Naude Drive.
Dark pink, light pink, white.
I love it, I look forward to it, I drive super slow around that long bend and I'll probably try to take pictures of it for "my collection" this year. Yes so look forward to yet another future springy post... maybe.

Keep on skipping along.

Some like it hot...

2011-08-26T16:59:00.001+02:00

I'm a brat... and if you live within in 50km radius of me then I know you are one too.

We Jo'burgers, we're so fickle apart from our hard coreness (as in ooo look at me I live in one of the most dangerous cities in the world and I rock it hard core kinda way). So rush hour and high jacking aside it seems that we have little left in our heart to deal with bad weather. See we're all weather brats, badly!

I know this because I'm so connected see. Thanks Facebook and the likes. Have one cold day when things are supposed to be heating up end of terrible winter, and the the twitter sphere freezes over with icy comments about how unbearable it all is.

Have one real summers day (like today 24C) and all is well with the world again. It's as if people are step away of skipping along and giving out high fives to strangers. I know that's what I feel like doing.

So high five Jo'burg, summer is coming to a lapa, patio, pool, park, air-con less car near you! Snaps for summer.

xoxo blossom brat

Jokes for change at the intersection

2011-08-22T09:15:00.000+02:00

Now see, there is nothing fun about poverty.
Nothing amusing about being at the point where you need to beg for bread.
Nothing funny about unemployment.

And I don't want to make lite of these depressing subjects either. But happily some people do, and the local intersection is just the place.

Other than the weird to pointless gadgets and what-nots that may be purchased at intersections one mostly run into sad signs like these:

Or the heartbreaking guys that beg around the Cresta shopping center in rags, literally going down on their knees for your extra brown cents. They don't even have a sign. I would feel like a real asshole taking pictures of them just for the purpose of a blog, so nothing to insert here.

So, unemployment, poverty and hardships being what they are in this country it's rather refreshing to find someone in that position with a sense of humour. Check out this guy I found on the way to Fourways on Saturday:

I love that the Ninja's are American.
I love that he adds a website (which if you're bored enough to check it out is mostly about teeth by the way).
And just in case you don't get that the sign is supposed to be funny he adds "sense of humour", good job.

Then coming back from where ever I was going on Saturday I found this guy at another intersection:
It's a bit of an action shot, but basically he's like those human statues that will move if you tip them. A rather complicated matter seeing as the man needs to move (or in his case dance) on over before collecting the spare change, all before the light turns green again. But hey he's at least trying to entertain. Give him that.

Introducing...

2011-08-17T11:01:00.000+02:00

I have this problem.

I’m not the only one I’m sure.

But it’s getting to me.

My problem is, is that I think Jo’burg is boring and I need to leave as soon as I can. The fact that I’ve lived in crazy cool Hanoi for the past year and a half has only reinforced this longing.

Where I used to be able to walk out into my alley and take half a dozen ‘cool’ pictures of ‘what-it’s-like-living-here-cause-it’s-so-super-different’ I walk out not into my drive way and I’m I don’t feel like it’s a good idea to walk beyond the electric fence with my nice camera.

Right outside my alley in Hanoi

Right outside my house now, in jolly Jo'burg

I’ll stop there because the above paragraph is exactly the opposite of what I hope to accomplish with this new blog.

So here is my purpose:

Find the joy in Jo’burg.

My tainted and ‘everythings-beter-somewhere-else’ eyes are not trained to spot this again.

I realize that satisfaction and joy and good things in life is a heart thing, not a location thing. So in a way it’s more than just being back in Jo’burg and making it work, it’s about finding the cool in the mundane, the beauty in the face brick apartment complexes and the freedom beyond the security fences.

And here with the first offering:

surprise baby at the Jo'burg zoo