City Lodge -Bloemfontein-

... Jo’burg, fear of the past and fear of the future… life is no present. But on the suface everything’s fine, S.A. sprucing up for next year’s World Cup, and the new Prez celebrating his first hundred days. The trip starts off with a prayer, as usual in these countries, but this time not only do they play gospel music, but also play corny Christian-themed movies about such thorny issues as how to translate God’s will ...

... contre 30 000 en 3 ans grace a la techniques de la terre brulee associe a une idee toute nouvelle celle de la creation de camp de concentration pour les femmes et enfants (Boers). Et oui, les anglais ont crees les camp de concentration il y a un siecle. Le musee etraient tres riches en photo et en reconstitution.

Our next stop was South Africa's judicial capital with its business based on that fact. Many law offices and those of big companies are located here. We sent our time staying at a great B&B and visiting the Oliewenhuis Art Museum for a late meal in the garden and next a visit to the Anglo-Boer War Museum. Both were very interesting and we learned a great deal about the history of South Africa during the 1890's.

Continued from previous entry... We decided not to stay in Bloemfontein but continue all the way back to Klerksdorp so we simply drove through the city before heading north to Kroonstad. It was a very long drive but as both of us wanted to have a nice relaxed weekend with Leon it was a lot nicer getting there late Friday night than having to spend half of Saturday driving, especially as there was rugby on.

... I went into the South African/all other passport holders line while Rebecca and Victoria waited in the Lesotho line. Hoping to beat the other pair Madeline and I chatted away paying no attention to the visa stickers being issued. Once through we looked over in triumph to see Victoria and Rebecca still waiting. Here's where the problems arise. As the kind immigration officer was about to place the much coveted 3 month visa sticker in ...

After our side trip to Lesotho, we headed back to Bloemfontein for a day to make a presentation to a group of about 40 individuals from various HIV/AIDS-related health care divisions in the Free State. Not a lot of new findings, but we seem to have their buy-in.

Just checking out this travel blog thing to see if its any good. Currently writing this in a weird pseudo-waterfront Mall in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Simmultaneously appalled by it consumer-blandness and soothed by its familiar branding, both cultural and commercial.

From Amphitheatre -> Cintsa = 979 KM. Joy. Stopped over in Bloem en-route to avoid a single hellish day. NOthing much to report, came, watched INto the BLue at the cinema and stayed at a former water pumping station ...which was different. 0600 the next day, off to the beach! Mariano - I hear you, will get pics uploaded as soon as i find a USB cable!

Bloemfontein, 27 t/m 29-09-2004 On a Monday-afternoon we take a bus to Bloemfontein where we arrive late at night. The free pick-up is not going as far as we expected, so we have to take a taxi. The chauffeur is giving us a city tour with a lot of explanation. We don't even have to pay extra... that's a lot different then in Asia. Naval hill Backpackers is located on a hill and used to be an old water pump station. A very original location. The next day we walk trough ...

... for the night, which was literally in the middle of nowhere! Again our accommodation was solar powered log cabins. We had dinner in the main house, an old farm house and then made our way to the bar - clearly the nearest in 50 miles, where we hit the drinks again- amongst other things to initiate Johan our trainee guide! Oh dear! Details of the night a bit hazy but I'm sure I made a total fool of myself!