Category: Africa 2012

Caroline BachLeave a comment

Joburg to Maputo in 9 hours.

The busride from Joburg to Maputo went fine, actually it went great. As always, the movies shown on the bus were from the 90’s and really bad, but entertaining. I was sitting next to a Mozambican woman named Florinda and we communicated in Portuguese/Spanish about her enormous family, about her job and about life in Maputo. We shared food and made sure the bus didn’t drive away without either of us. When we arrived in Maputo we exchanged contacts and hugged. The ride took nine hours, eight hours more than a flight would have taken. But I got so much more out of it; beautiful landscapes, personal stories, border-crossing adventures.. oh, and about 250€ saved.

And I took pictures, with my phone. Nothing special, but some glimpses. The last two pictures are from inside Maputo – I’m in a state of bliss about this city.

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Caroline BachLeave a comment

Joburg evenings

And right, I have to show you that amazing steak we just had. Evenings in Joburg have been simple and nice, South African wine, talks, Al Jazeera and giving the puppy some attention. Now I really need to pack all my stuff back together into that dear backpack of mine. It weighs 25kg, and my little backpack weighs another 9kg so I’m actually carrying about 35kg apart from my body weight. That’s a lot – but I deserve it. I will be living on the 6th floor without an elevator and have to carry this weight up there all by myself even if it kills me. Anyway – I’m so tired right now that I really need to go to sleep soon. I have quite a lot of hours in a bus in front of me tomorrow. I’ve been really lucky with this internet connection so you’ve gotten most of my time here, but it will probably not be the norm so don’t get upset when there are no pictures coming, ok? (Mami – this comment is especially for you.. haha)

Caroline Bach2 Comments

Nelson Mandela & The Apartheid museum

The second part of my day today was spent at the Apartheid Museum. It was forbidden to take pictures inside the museum but I took some photos with my phone of the Nelson Mandela quotes that were outside, which was at least something. Something that was very well thought out and striking was at the very entrance of the Museum. On the ticket, you would randomly be classified as WHITE or NON-WHITE and have to choose the entrance according to that. It was as simple as it was brilliant. I was non-white.

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Nelson Mandela is a higly inspirational figure – I managed to find one of the videos that was shown on the exhibition on youtube. It’s the first interview that was made with him, with the british journalist Brian Widlake.

“You don’t have to have an education to know that you want certain fundamental rights, you have got aspiration, you have got acclaims – it has got nothing to do with education whatsoever.”

Nelson Mandela, 1961

The apartheid museum is definitely a place to visit if you have a moment in Joburg. It’s as important as it is touching and for some, inspiring. It made me think of the situation in Israel and Palestine, as well as the current issues in Syria. I was also very touched by the exhibition of photos by the great photographer Ernest Cole. Heartbreaking stories, really.

 

Caroline Bach3 Comments

Soweto by bike

Had an amazing day in Soweto today. I took a biking tour with the lovely guides from Soweto Bicycle Tours which was a really great experience. I got to taste local beer, some meat they referred to as cow cheeks, ice lollies and a huge and incredibly fatty sandwich. I must have high-fived like a hundred kids and not a single person we saw on the way didn’t greet us. We also got a great explanation by the guide on the Hector Pietersen memorial site that was so touching I couldn’t stop my eyes from flooding over. Going by bicycle was a great way to both see the old house of Nelson Mandela and actually get to meet and talk to real people of the Soweto township. Highly recommended if you’re around.

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Caroline Bach1 Comment

In Joburg with Axel

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Just arrived to Johannesburg and I am dropping my huge backpack at the place of a cousin of a dear friend from Barcelona. Meet Axel, their energetic puppy, we’re already buddies.

When I arrived at the Joburg airport earlier they were playing “Sunshine reggae” and when I came out to the arrivals hall, they were playing “Lady in red” while people stood with little plastic flowers and glittery hearts waiting for their loved ones. If the soundtracks of this place are going to continue being this hilarious I’m not even taking my ipod out.

Anyway – flight went good. Turkish Airlines are really great and they give cute little gifts on board. Even the food is nice.

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Oh, and just now, when I was taking the Gautrain from the airport – a guard came up to me:
“Hello miss, how are you feeling today?”
“Well, fine thank you – how about you?”
“I’m very good thank you – Eating?”
*cookie in hand* “Um, yes, eating.”
“Eating..”
“Yes?”
“Eating, drinking and even chewing is strictly forbidden on the Gautrain miss.”
“Oh, oh – sorry!”

D’oh haha..

Okay – now a shower and then out walking this place. Ciao!

Caroline Bach2 Comments

Code

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Once again my whole existence fits into these for me completely logical little colour codes and categories.

Green is for gadgets.
Red is for medicine and survival stuff.
Yellow is for summery dresses and skirts.

Obvious, right?

I could publish a packing list if somebody found that interesting. It has too much nerd-gear compared to a normal traveller. Also, as I actually will be going to an office on a daily basis, the usual “3tshirts, 2shorts, 1skirt” probably wouldn’t work.

Looking forward to stuffing my backpack with loose Indian pants together with shiny formal clothes, random gadgets (who travels without an extra LAN cable?) and a bunch of disposable cameras.

Nighty.