Protea Hotel Waterfront Pretoria

... invited to spend a couple of days at the farm of Pat Shannon, a church member who lives about midway between Johannesburg and Durban. It should be a fascinating visit since he raises lions, among other animals, on his farm. I’m eager to have a look.

While there, I should also have the time to visit with Peter and Heather Beck, long-time members who live in the same area. These will be my few days of down time on this month-long trip.

... 10 seconds of continuing the ride, I found out why it wasn't the smartest move on this crossroad to test how long the yellow light stays on - 150 meters after the traffic light there was a police department :) So that's why they were hanging around here - usually you never, and I mean NEVER, see traffic police here! I guess these guys were also from homicide, or at least the drugs dept, but wanted to have some fun with traffic hooligans like me...

... call "It's ready!" With looks of triumph on their faces they had successfully managed to fry/burn in the kitchen. We dare not complain, this was a bonding moment for them. Men, (especially these ones) I can't live without them but at the same time, I wish they would listen! All in all, it was a fun night and I would like to say a big thank you to Terry for offering up her kitchen like that. If anyone had balls that night, it was you!! xx

... you don't need to eat - unless you are an important person like a minister, who has to eat in order to deal effectively with running the country. Madness? You decide. Story 1: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/695 9164.stm Zimbabwe inflation hits new high Zimbabwe has had to print new large-denomination notes to cope Zimbabwe's annual rate of inflation jumped to 7,638% in July according to the first official figures to be published for three months. The ...

... en la mayor parte del viaje ha sido también exigida por la temperatura), y a no olvidarse de su pastilla diaria como profilaxis contra la malaria. Pues bien, excepto esto último (aún quedan 7 días de tomar pastillas, según las indicaciones), lo demás se acabó (mucho me temo que lo de la manga larga aún no se ha acabado tampoco). Acabo de llegar de nuevo a Johannesburgo, esta vez tras tres días en el Parque Nacional Kruger, en el noreste de Sudáfrica, limitando ...

... PCS *nd Youth Music GMB Present: Up the Poles! Left Field c*mp*ign for migr*nt workers union rights The Poise Rite H*b*kuk Comedy with: M*rk Steel, Nick Wilty, Steve Gribben *nd MC Rosie Wilbey Ru*rri Joseph Love Music H*te R*cism presents: LMHR discussion with tonights *rtists *nd Derek Simpson (AMICUS) The Ment*lists N*tty No L*y Get C*pe incl Pl*nB Leth*l Bizzle The Noisettes Ak*l* VERY SPECIAL GUEST St*ge 2 Be*ns on To*st Movimientos D*n Donnelly Rhod* D*k ...

... stretch out as far as you can see. They are definitely shocking, a harsh reality as your first impression of the city, once by them you just see the stretch of an industrialized city, high rises and highways in all directions....and I have to say that after landing in Rio a few times and taking the drive from the airport to Zona Sul, there is nothing quite like seeing the mass of the favelas and then passing through the tunnel, shooting out by the pristine Lagoa, with Christo ...

... a tree just a few feet from the road. Next we made our way to Skukuza where we wanted to have our picnic lunch. On the way we were fascinated by more delights including our first spotting of kudu and a lone tsessebe, a kind of antelope. We weren't sure what it was until a guide happened to come along. He said that he had never seen that species in that area before so it was a treat. At Skukuza we had our lunch on the terrace overlooking the river and then took a look at the ...

About 6am another awful din began. This time I was awake enough and there was enough light for me to see what was going on. I leapt out of bed and looked out the window. There, right outside was a baboon walking towards the window. I could see that the kitchen windows were wide open and thought the baboon was likely heading into the house. I stood up and waved my arms about making grunting and hollering noises. The animal took off and I ...

... people of South Africa sound bad or evil.. just to point out that while apartheid may have died officially a few years ago, it is alive and well in the frightened populace. I am very behind in my blog writing.. I'll do my best to catch up. The first few days here were a bit stressful and strange. I can't wait to fill you in on the good stuff, and there is a lot of good stuff.. It's going to have to wait though because internet is REALLY expensive here and I type like a lobster-boy.