Golden Leopard Resort - Manyane Pilanesberg National Park

... drum.

I'm not a fan of street markets, generally because the aggressiveness of the vendors really puts me off looking at anything. It's always an exercise in trying to rebuff all the advances and offers that I don't get to really enjoy anything. Here was pretty much the same. I arrived at the market, was accosted by a seller names Thomas and was given the big spiel about what his work means and how he'd like to visit the US one day, if ...

Departure Day! Dave finally has a plane. We have talked it over and have decided that we must put the problems we've encountered behind us and not let it ruin our trip of a lifetime. We're taken out to Lanseria airport by a van. Too bad the driver has no idea where to drop us off. Dave is finally delivered to his 182 and will taxi over to meet everyone else. It's a very hazy day. Not sure if it's ...

... for the country. A few weeks ago, the ANC party leadership changed hands from current president (and Mandela successor) Thabo Mbeki to Jacob Zuma. Though Zuma is likely to become the next South African President, "Madiba" (as Mandela is nicknamed) will continue to play an important role as an elder statesman. After finishing up in Soweto, Keiran took us for a memorable lunch inside his own township, a few km's away ...

... There are, similarly, pockets of crime everywhere, and crime indeed can even be thought of as general throughout the area. Robberies and break-ins occur just as much, if not more, in the wealthier, "safer" suburbs to the north near Sandton. However, Jo'burg is not the hellish anarchistic city that many people choose to describe, from which they choose to warn travelers away. There isn't much to do as a traveller, and everything is a car-ride away, so it's not a great ...

Thursday, I woke after deep sleep and made hashbrowns and eggs for Crosby and myself. Jo'burg is damn cold in the winter! It almost froze. You have to find sunlight to sit in all day. Crosby's house is nice for reflection and meditiation with giant windows overlooking Jo'burg and northern South Africa. I took a nice long bath and got ready for U.S. customs by putting my various seeds in my pockets. Then it was time to go. Crosby got me ...

... Friday today - like it Chicago, First Friday is an office meeting when the partners present the monthly firm update. I had to introduce myself as well... fun. We got an especially nice lunch (see pictures below). Please enjoy the pictures as well... my new co-workers already think I'm a freak. I couldn't stop snapping photos of the office and food. Don't you know I'm Asian?! That's what we do... take pictures of food. I'm a bit ...

... the coffin into the ground everyone was singing and swaying to the music. The night before the service they slaughtered one cattle and then they put the skin on top of the coffin before covering it with dirt. We all waited as each man pitched in to help put at least on shovel full of dirt on the coffin. One other noticeable fact was that the cemetery was huge. The cemetery was right outside of Soweto and was full. When we left there was a traffic jam ...