Johannesburg: Pilanesberg Nature Reserve

We drove right to Pilanesberg from the airport.  About a two-hour drive.  I can go on and on and on about how awesome that day was.  I'm certainly not an outdoorsy girl (heh), but that day was magical.  The overwhelming joy that I felt seeing the animals up close and personal and the peacefulness of being in the wild...wow.  It was wonderful to have Chris, an experienced safari guide, tell me all there is to know about the nature reserve--animals, plants, terrain, history of reserve, etc.  He would stop the car to show me animal tracks and droppings (yes droppings) and special plants.  He showed me a plant that could be used as soap and a plant that has sap that could blind you.  He told me what wood to use to start a fire but don't use it to sustain the fire because the smoke is toxic.  I guess if I were ever stranded in the wilderness, these things would come in handy.  Or at trivia night.  Hahaha.  I really really lucked out finding him as my local guide! 

I think he was mildly amused by how excited I got each time we saw an animal.  I mean, I was plain giddy.  It was awesome that he had a sunroof.  Because you're not allowed to be outside of your vehicle.  I mean, do I really want to find out if I'm faster than lions, leopards, or elephants?

When we were driving back to Johannesburg (before I completely passed out), I thought to myself, "This is what life should be about.  Having giddy moments."  Yes.  I'm grinning from ear to ear just thinking about that day.  And I always will.  It wasn't like I have never seen giraffes or elephants or zebras before.  I am reminded of how fortunate I am that I was able to go on the trip.  I am reminded of how far I've come from being afraid of traveling by myself (or doing anything by myself really) to taking this trip.  Yay me.  This giddy moment is the result of me allowing myself to live life to the fullest.  I am not going to wait around for someone to do things with me anymore.  Did I wish to be sharing those moments with someone?  Yes.  But I didn't spend the day or the trip being sad or sulking about it.  I had an amazing time.  I saw a rainbow.  I saw a beautiful sunset.  I saw water so still that it was the mirror image of the mountains behind it.  I saw a herd of elephants running across the plain (yes, running).  I saw giraffes crossing the road right in front of our car.  I saw baboons placing themselves in strategic locations for lookout purposes to protect their own. I saw zebras "horsing" around with each other.  The list goes on and on.

For the sake of time, I'm going to post these first (so you can see that I really did see giraffes and elephants) and then upload the other photos later.  I am still in a bit of disbelief that I spent a whole day at Pilanesberg.  Hahahahaha

Johannesburg: South African humor

Johannesburg: The Apartheid Museum

I thought what I was most looking forward to seeing in Johannesburg was the wildlife.  That is definitely not something I would do in the US.  Yes, I can see elephants and zebras and giraffes and rhinoceros at the zoo, but not one foot from my car like at Pilanesberg.  Little did I know...

 

The museum is divided into two parts: One part about Nelson Mandela's life and the other about the apartheid.  I learned so SO much.  It was awesome having my personal guide through the museum because Chris lived through the apartheid.  And he was not just a bystander.  He knew people who were dragged to prison and tortured.  He knew David Webster, one of the activists profiled.  Mr. Webster was assassinated while walking his dog with his wife.  It was clearly an emotional experience for Chris walking through the museum and telling me about what he saw and heard and experienced.  

There was so much to read.  I couldn't stop.  I felt embarrassed that I didn't know more about Johannesburg, South Africa, or the apartheid.  I remember some of the images from the news.  I remember the acronym ANC (African National Congress).  I remember hearing about the violence...but I didn't really pay attention back then.  It was easy to ignore being a whole world away.  But there I was that day, immersed in photographs and news clips from that time.  It was overwhelming.  I was not only embarrassed by my lack of knowledge about a time that was quite significant in world history, but a bit ashamed that I grew up not having to worry about bombs at the restaurant around the corner or getting caught in a violent protest or any of the awful things that was very much a reality for Chris and his family living in Johannesburg in the 80's and 90's.  He said the events changed him and everyone in his family.  I can only imagine.

What struck me talking with Chris is how much he believed in a better South Africa.  I recognize the same look in the eyes of those photographed.  The look of someone determined to stand up for what he or she believed in.  I walked through the museum wondering how I would have responded if I had grown up in a place like Johannesburg.  Meeting Chris and touring Johannesburg frankly made me ponder my own existence and life's purpose.  I grew up in a bubble!  What do I believe in and what would I be willing to stand up for?

Johannesburg: Neighbour Goods Market

 

Chris couldn't stop laughing when I said, "You're telling me that we need to find street parking because the weekend market takes up two floors of space that is a parking lot during the week."  Hahahaha.  

The Neighbour Goods Market was not a huge market but there was variety.  Most importantly, great ambience.  Just the right amount of lighting with lightbulbs suspended by loose wire and candles on picnic benches, mixed with natural light coming from the sides of the garage.  There was a lot of laughter from patrons enjoying the food and the company.  And the smell of freshly baked goods, paella, crepes, and cheeses.  If I were staying another day and had a fridge at the B&B, I would've bought so many things from the market!

 

 

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.

Clouds #3: Flying out of Johannesburg

Yes, I'm mildly obsessed with clouds.  You can only imagine how many photos I must've taken to have only included these selected few here.  lol

   

 

Bucket list: Seafood dinner

Correction: Seafood feast.  Tiff, Wesley, Lawrence, Nat, and I went to Sam Sing Tsuen for seafood.  It is an area famous for seafood--price is arguably better than the touristy Sai Kung boardwalk.  But it is such a trek to get out there.  (Blue dot: Shatin.  Red dot: Sam Sing Tsuen)  Thank goodness Lawrence drove.

We had to book a week in advanced.  And pre-order dishes.  We ordered six seafood dishes, one vegetable dish, and a seafood soup, thinking eight people would attend.  Lawrence knew the owner so he got us a room.  Awesome.  Well...come to find out a few hours before dinner, it would be just the five of us.  Well, more food for us!   (I should've taken a photo of the five of us at a table meant for maybe ten people, in the VIP room.  Hahahaha.  It was slightly funny.  And we had to box up half the lobster noodles...it was just not going to happen.  TOO MUCH FOOD.)

Razor clams in black bean sauce

Large prawns stir fried in soy sauce

Oysters baked in Chinese wine

Salted pepper stir fried "lai lui ha" (literally translated: peeing shrimp)

 

 

Takes a bit of skill to get the meat out

Baked lobster with noodles

Whole scallops steamed with garlic and glass noodles

Yes, this is ONE scallop

We take too many group photos already so I didn't ask to take one.  I should've.  Haha.  It was super nice of them to make arrangements for this dinner.  Not only was it a trek to get out there, but it was also a pricey dinner.  I have no words (but I'm going to keep writing here...haha) to describe how wonderful it feels to have people make such an effort for me.  The first time I mentioned a bucket list, they quickly chimed in with ideas and then kept asking me what I needed to check off.  When I finalized my departure plans, they got together to make a plan to help me check things off.  They are beyond sweet.  BUT don't give them too much credit...I feel like a burdensome child because they say things like, "I got her Saturday morning and we're doing X, Y, and Z.  You're doing what with her later in the afternoon?"  The weekend I was in Johannesburg, when wishing me a good trip, Tiff and Nat looked at each other and said, "Finally, a weekend all to myself.  I'm going to recover from last week and get ready for the finish line here with this bucket list."  Some friends they are!  lol  I will always remember these comments fondly.

It has been a really long time I've felt this loved as part of a group of friends.  I spent a big part of my adult life nurturing individual friendships that have carried me through the good and the bad, but I'm discovering the joys of being part of a group of friends these past months in HK.  I am so very grateful for this time and it has helped me learn a great deal about myself.  I've also learned a lot about how to be a friend.  It makes me want to cry as I'm writing this.  Well, I'll have time to cry about it after I get on the plane on May 25.  Until then, I'm going to enjoy every moment I have with them--Checking things off my (awesome/awful) bucket list!