Johannesburg: Moyo restaurant

Chris suggested that we head to an African restaurant for dinner.  I didn't really have much "African" cuisine while in Johannesburg so I was game.  Even though we were going to dinner (at 7pm) when my body was screaming, "Time for bed."

  

We were serenaded by a guitarist while these cute kids danced along.  (Yeah, why is the guitarist moving but the kids standing still...blame it on my awesome photography skills.)

Face painting!

Some kind of naan-like dish.  It was served room temperature.  Lightly spiced.  Something to munch on before the entree...

I had lamb tagine with couscous.  YUM.  It was really good.

 

This is mieliepap, a North African staple.  Made from maize.  Chris described it as something like polenta.  I tried a bit and it's not something I would eat again.  It had the consistency of mashed potatoes.  It holds its shape better than polenta.  And not as gritty.  It didn't have much taste by itself, which would make sense because it's supposed to be eaten with a stew or braised dish.  In fact, Chris demonstrated how one would eat this--using your hands.  Take a large enough glob of mieliepap, dip into your stew, and pick up some meat with it.  Um yeah...no thanks.  lol

And then we had these awesome musicians coming around to each table.  Pretty cool, huh?  Chris tried to get me to take a photo with them, but it just felt too Disneyland to me.  So I took a photo of them instead.  The instrument was super neat!  Didn't take down the name of it (someone tell me what it is?!?!)

What a wonderful way to end my time in Johannesburg.  I'm sure this will not be the last photo I take with Chris and Penny.  There are times in your life when you meet someone new and you just know that you will make an effort to stay in touch.  That's how awesome Chris and Penny are.  I am so very glad to have met them, not just for the company while in a foreign city, but that they gave me a great deal to think about. My world has gotten bigger, just by having spent 50 some hours with them.  I was struck by how much they loved and respected all people.  This is what kindness is.  You don't choose who you are kind to or need an actual person to be kind to.  What do I mean by that?  Chris and I were getting into his car from the rain.  He got in and then got out again to pick up an empty beer bottle.  He said, "That guy will be backing into this and then get a flat tire."  Chris didn't know the driver and the driver wouldn't know Chris had picked up the beer bottle.  The next time I find myself being unkind, I will check myself and "channel" Chris Green.  Hahaha.