Johannesburg

Whilst in South Africa, I am probably not going to write as many blog posts as I have been previously. This is mainly because we are often just doing day to day things, like going to the shops or going out for lunch with my family. We are basically living here for the next 3 months, so as you can imagine we won't be super busy that whole time. However, if we do something worth writing about, I will write about it. Which bring me to the 9th and 10th of September. Over the course of these two days we went on a bus tour of Johannesburg and Soweto. It was the open roof red bus tour that you see all around the major cities of the world. We had seen them all around Europe but had never been on the tour, so we decided to give it a go. I felt like such a tourist.

We booked the two day tour, so we didn't have to rush through it. On the first day we went on the Johannesburg city tour. The first place we stopped at was Gold Reef City. Gold Reef is a theme park and old gold mine. We didn't go on any of the rides, but we went down the old mine. Since it was a week day, the park wasn't very busy so we were the only ones on the tour down the mine! It was really cool, we got a guide all to ourselves and were the only ones down there. I feel like we learnt a lot more alone, than if we had gone down with a group.

We only went down to the second floor of the mine, but this still meant a one minute ride in an elevator down into the Earth, We were given torches, and at some points they were the only light we had. We were shown the equipment that was used to mine the gold, and how to tell if there is gold in a rock. We got to see holes that had been made in the Earth to get to the gold, and shown how they transported it back to the surface. It was very interesting, and I am really glad that we got the opportunity to do it.

The next place we stopped at was the Apartheid museum. For those who do not know, the Apartheid was a dark time in South Africa's history when the government separated the population according to the colour of their skin. It was a time of white supremacy, and black people where treated horrifically. The museum documented life for black and coloured people during the Apartheid, and how they tried to fight back. It was a really interesting museum, especially for Harrison as he had never really learnt anything about the Apartheid or South Africa's history. Our next stop was the Origins Center at the big university here in Joburg. We got there an hour before it was due to close, so we had to rush through it a bit. The origin center documents the origins of human life, found in Africa. It was mainly rock paintings, and just rocks, which was a little disappointing. As we had to rush a bit we didn't get to see everything, but it was still pretty interesting. We had been out on the tour the entire day, and were quite exhausted, so we decided that was the last stop of the day. Even though we had only stopped at 3 stops that day, we had spent a few hours at each stop. We started the tour at 10:00am, and finished up at 5:30, so it had been a really long day. Although we didn't stop at all the stops, we still got to learn quite a lot about the stops and Joburg in general, as there was commentary that you could listen to on the bus. So it was good for Harrison to learn more about South Africa and Joburg, and I learnt some things that I didn't know as well.

The next day we went on the Soweto part of the tour.

Soweto is the biggest township in Johannesburg. During the Apartheid, townships were set up as places where black and coloured people were forced to live. Nowadays anyone can live in the townships if they wish, but more often than not they are where the workers live, and are primarily populated with black people. We got off the big bus at Gold Reef City, to get onto a mini bus, or a taxi here. The taxi's take people to and from the townships. We were not on a public taxi, it was a mini bus owned by the tour company, but it still felt like we were in one of the taxi's that transport people to the townships. On our tour, there were only two other people as well as us, not including the driver or the tour guide. It was nice to have such a small group. Before entering Soweto we stopped at the soccer stadium that was used when the soccer world cup was held in South Africa.

I had always thought that it was the ugliest of the soccer stadiums in South Africa. However, our tour guide explained that it is meant to represent a calabash, which is traditionally used to drink traditional beer out of. The white waves on top, are meant to represent the beer inside the calabash. I think that it is a really cool idea and representation. I still think it is not the prettiest stadium, but now that I know what it represents, I can appreciate it more. Our next stop was at the biggest hospital in Africa, and the southern hemisphere. We didn't get to go inside. but we drove past it. And it was absolutely massive! I can't believe how big it was! We got out of the taxi at the next stop, and met a guide that was going to take us on a bit of a walking tour of the streets of Soweto. We went down Vilakazi St, which is the street that Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu's houses are on.

We didn't go into the houses, but it was cool to see them. We were taken into a shebeen, which is like a pub. During the Apartheid black and coloured people were not allowed to drink in pubs or bars, so they began to open their own illegal pubs known as shebeens. Now, obviously anyone is allowed to go into a pub or bar if they are over 18, however shebeens are still found around South Africa, as ways to preserve culture and a sense of community. The shebeen we went into had roof made out of tin, and was really tiny. They made their own beer, and played traditional African music. It was awesome to see!

One thing I didn't like about the tour, was that the guide made us stop at these stalls on the sides of the roads, where people sell things that they have made. Usually I like stopping at these stalls, as the things being sold are always interesting. However, the guide was really pushy in trying to get us to buy stuff, which made the shop owners pushy and expected us to buy things. It was just very uncomfortable. Once we were done with the walking tour, we got back on the taxi and saw some more of Soweto. It was a super interesting tour, I really enjoyed being able to see something that is part of South Africa's history. We were taken back to Gold Reef City, and got back on the big bus to finish the tour. We decided to stop at one more stop on the big bus before heading home. We stopped at a place called Constitution Hill, which is where a jail was during the Apartheid.

We got to walk around the old jail and see the cells and learn about how the prisoners were treated. We were the only people walking around the jail which really gave it an eerie feel. We also got to walk on top of an old fort, which gave us an awesome view of the city. I really liked walking around the jail. Although it was sad to see how badly the prisoners were treated, and how poor their living conditions were, it was still interesting to see such a horrible part of South Africa's history. I think things like the jail are extremely important to today's society, as it helps us to remember the bad times and make sure they never happen again. The two days on the bus tour were great! We both learned a lot, and got to see a lot of the city.

On Friday, it was time for Harrison to get a tattoo! We went back to Lyndsay's work, and the same lady that did my tattoo, tattooed Harrison's leg. He got an awesome forest tattooed around his leg, and it looks incredible!

It turned out so great and he is very happy with it! I also got a matching tattoo with Lyndsay. We got the word Raine tattooed on our legs, which is both of our middle names. We had always wanted to get matching tattoos, so it was great to finally get them! Very special.

Harrison's tattoo took 5 and a half hours! He was really struggling by the end the poor thing!

On Saturday my Aunt and Uncle took Harrison and I to some markets. The first place we went to was the Maboneng Precinct, where there was supposed to be a food and art market. However when we got there it seemed to be closed! We found out that there was an art exhibition being held there so the markets were closed that day. We still got to walk around and see some art, and some cool stores that were still open. Once we had seen all that we had wanted to see, we moved on to the next market. This one was called The Sheds. It was a market in an old warehouse and there were all sorts of food stalls and other cutesy stuff.

As we walked in, Alyson and I went to the champagne stall and got a glass of champagne each! We wandered around the markets, sipping champagne and looking at all the awesome stalls.

We came across one stall that was selling gourmet popcorn! We tried gingerbread flavoured popcorn and espresso popcorn! I bought some peanut and chocolate popcorn, and it was delicious! After wandering around for a bit, we settled down for some lunch. I got a prawn and calamari combo, it was yummy!

Harrison tried decided to be brave, and tried a crocodile kebab. It was actually pretty good. I also got a chocolate brownie milkshake, which had an actual chocolate brownie floating on top! It was amazing! One of the best milkshakes ever! After lunch we got some Belgium waffles. Alyson's were good, but mine were sadly not cooked properly and weren't that nice. Eventually we had to leave, otherwise we would have spent all our money, and eaten ourselves into a coma! It was a really great day!

Last night we had a braai (BBQ) as an early birthday dinner for me! It was really great to be with my family, and have dinner all together. Poor Harrison is really sick again, and has been out for the past two days. We are taking him to the doctor today, so hopefully he gets better soon!  
    

London and South Africa

The overnight coach ride to London was what we expected. Long and tedious. It didn't help that once we had chosen our seats, a guy with the worst BO ever sat behind us. We looked around trying to find two free seats, but we were dismayed to find that the coach was full. So we had to endure that the whole 9 hour trip. It was a fairly uneventful ride. We did had a bit of an issue at the UK border though. We had to go through border control at about 4am. So we were already not in the best mood, and really tired. We got to the front of the long line and went to two different border control officers. The guy I went to asked the usual questions, but then asked to see my ticket for our plane trip out of the UK. Being so early in morning, I completely forgot that I had my itinerary on my phone, and didn't put together that he wanted the itinerary since he asked for a ticket. I told him that I didn't have my ticket. He said that without the ticket I wouldn't be able to enter the country. Harrison's guy had been nicer and had let him through, but mine was just refusing. He said he couldn't believe me, and he thought I was coming into the country to work illegally, as I had already been there earlier in the year. He also didn't seem to be able to comprehend that I had been born in South Africa, was living in Australia but was now going to visit South Africa again. Finally I remembered the itinerary on my phone and asked if that was what he wanted. After looking at it, he hesitatingly stamped my passport and let me through. Once I was finally through, I was shaking like a leaf! I honestly thought that he wasn't going to let me back into the country. It was a stressful situation.

Nevertheless we made it to London. We arrived fairly early in the morning and caught the metro to our hostel. Luckily it wasn't too far from where the bus dropped us off. It was so nice to be in an English speaking country again. After not being able to understand locals, road signs or just anything really, it was great to be able to read something and know what it said. The check in for our hostel was 11am, so we left our bags there and went to find something for breakfast. Since it was a Saturday morning, and fairly early nothing was open yet. We sat around until we saw a restaurant open. We had a really nice breakfast. I had eggs and bacon, and Harrison had porridge with caramelized apples and berries. We finished breakfast earlier than 11, so we sat in the hostel until check in time. Once checked in we both fell into bed and I fell asleep. The room we were staying in had 9 beds. 3, 3 bed high bunk beds. It was crazy! They were the tallest bunk beds we had ever seen. After a nap we decided that we needed to get out and about. So we went back to our favourite place in London, Camden Markets! We went to the food markets and got an awesome lunch. I got roti bread filled with chicken masala, and Harrison got a bourbon steamed burger. Both meals were absolutely delicious. After lunch we wandered around the markets for a bit and did some souvenir shopping. For dinner we had purchased some groceries to make a nice dinner, however the kitchen was so busy all night that we just gave up and ate the snacks that we had left over from the bus trip.

The next day we got up and made our way to Leicester Square to see if we could buy some cheap theatre tickets. We managed to buy tickets to a show called Stomp for later that night. We wandered around the area for a while before heading back to the hostel for lunch. We finally managed to cook the food we had bought the previous day for dinner. The time came for us to leave, so we made our way back to Leicester Square to watch the show. Stomp was absolutely brilliant! If you haven't heard of Stomp, the show is basically a group of people who make music out of everyday things. For example they use brooms, pots, pans, bins etc and make some really awesome music! It was such a fun night, we both really enjoyed it! And it was really cool to be able to see a show at a London theatre. ( If you want to watch some of the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ7aYQtIldg )
Once the show was over we went in search of some dinner. We found a restaurant right in the center of the bustling square, and got a seat watching out over the people and going ons of the street. We had a lovely dinner out. It had been a really great night.

We had hoped to have a nice picnic lunch in a park the next day. However we awoke to pouring rain. So that completely ruined that idea. We had to check out of the hostel at 10am, and our flight wasn't until 9:30pm, so we knew we had to do something during the day. We couldn't just sit around the hostel. We decided to find a cinema and pass the time by going to see a movie. We found a cinema that was close by and went on our way.We entered the cinema room that the movie we were seeing was in, and were greeted by the tiniest cinema I have ever seen! There were probably only about 25 seats in the whole cinema, and the screen was right in front of you no matter where you sat. It was really cute, and kind of made you feel like you were in a private screening or something. We saw a movie called Vacation. It was okay, not the best movie but was a good way to pass the time. Once the movie was over, we still had a while before we had to leave to get to the airport. It was still pouring with rain, so there wasn't too much we could do. We made our way back to the hostel and sat around reading and trying to pass the time.

The time finally came for us to leave to catch the metro to the airport. We packed up our stuff and went on our way. The metro right by our hostel went directly to the airport which was really lucky for us. It was a really long train ride, but we made it there on time. When we got into the airport we got our bags wrapped, and checked in. Once through security we found a nice place to eat dinner. It was an Asian restaurant, and it was alright. Harrison's food was better than mine.

Once we were finished with dinner, we went to check our gate number and found that we actually had to change terminal buildings to get to the gate we needed! We were a bit panicked, as we only had 40 minutes before boarding. However, there was a very fast and convenient train transfer within the airport that got us to the terminal we needed in all of 10 minutes. We didn't have to wait too long to board which was good. We found our seats and waited for the journey to begin.

Once up in the air, we flew through an absolutely horrific storm. I have never in my life experienced turbulence that bad. I was terrified, and almost in tears. For about an hour there was constant turbulence, and looking out the window you could see the forks of lighting crashing down around the plane. They lit up the entire sky so much it looked like daytime. I don't think I have ever been that scared before. After the horrible hour, there was turbulence on and off for a few hours after that, but nothing as bad as before. Harrison managed to get quite a good sleep on the plane which was really great. I slept on and off, the turbulence kept waking me up. Plus I just can't seem to sleep well on planes. Apart from the storm, it was a pretty good flight. We arrived in Johannesburg right on time, and made it through passport control surprisingly quick! We collected our bags, and were happy to see that they were okay and had not been tampered with. The time had finally come to see my family again! I was more than excited! We emerged from the arrivals gate, and there was my Nana waiting for us!

It was so great to run into her arms and smell her perfume again. It was like I had never left. Nana and her friend had come to fetch us, and drive us back to her house. It was quite a long drive back, as the traffic was really bad. But it was okay, it gave Harrison the opportunity to see Johannesburg.

We finally arrived back at my Nana's house and were treated to a delicious brunch, of eggs, sausages, beans and toast. Nana had also bought us the cutest beaded hearts with our names in them as a welcome present.

After we had eaten, we crashed and had a nap. We aren't staying with my Nana, so later in the day she took us to my aunt and uncles house where we would be staying. We have been totally spoilt here, and have been given our own flat to stay in whilst we are here. It's an adorable little flat with a kitchen and bathroom, and is just to the side of my family's home so we can see them whenever we want.

That night we were treated to a delicious dinner out at my family's favourite restaurant. I am so lucky to have such a loving and caring family.

It was so great to sleep in a nice bed again, and have our own space. After being in dorms for so long, I appreciate the fact that we have our own place so much. After a good sleep, we got up and went and had breakfast with my cousins at a lovely little cafe down the road. We had the best chocolate croissants ever! It's so funny that we have been in Europe, where the pastries are supposed to be the best, but now I can say I've had the best pastries I've ever tasted in Johannesburg, South Africa! After breakfast we went to the grocery store and got some South African food that Harrison just had to try. It is so great being back in South Africa, seeing all the food I used to eat when we lived here and seeing all the brands that we used to buy. It has been a big few days of reminiscing. Later in the day we went to the shopping center close to home and got a SIM card sorted out, and had a great lunch. We got some much needed socks and undies, and Harrison got some new shirts. Over the course of our travels we have both lost most of our socks and undies. I have no idea where they have ended up, but they have just seemed to disappear. So it's nice to have some new socks and undies. We had our first proper home cooked meal in months that night and it was so amazing. Another thing I have come to appreciate whilst being away, home cooked meals and veggies.

We got up early the next day and went with my cousin Lyndsay to her work. She works at a tattoo and piercing shop, that also has a bar attached to it. It is the coolest tattoo studio I have ever been to! We went with her because I was booked in to get a tattoo! Harrison also wanted to get some piercings done. Whilst we were waiting for my tattoo artist to set up, Lyndsay pierced Harrison's nose a second time for him. It looks great! Once my tattoo stencil was drawn up and placed on my leg, we began the long and painful process. The whole session took 5 hours! But we got through it, and got the whole tattoo finished in one day. Whilst I was being tattooed, Harrison got three more piercings in his ear. They also look really cool.

The 5 hours spent in that tattoo chair, were possibly the most painful of my life. I have never experienced pain like that. It felt like the tattoo artist was peeling off pieces of skin from my thigh. But I am so glad that I managed to endure it, because I am absolutely in love with the tattoo! I have wanted this tattoo for so long, and I couldn't have asked for it to be done better. It is so beautiful!

I am beyond happy with it! I had done so well with the tattoo, until we got home and I went into shock at the dinner table. It wasn't too bad though. Just a bit of shaking and nausea. My aunt Alyson dosed me up with anti-nausea and sent me to bed.

When I woke up the next day I felt fine! And was still just as in love with the tattoo. The weather wasn't the best, raining and really freaking cold. Harrison and I went to see a movie. We saw Paper Towns, and it was pretty good! I introduced Harrison to the salt and vinegar popcorn of my childhood, and he loved it! We did a bit of grocery shopping, and then headed home. After some lunch I baked some brownies. It was great to be in a kitchen and baking again! I have really missed being able to bake and cook! It felt so good to do it again. After dinner that night we went back to Lyndsay's work, where they were having an event at the bar. We hung around there for a bit and got some drinks, before heading to another bar. By this time my leg was causing me grief, so Harrison and I left the second bar a bit earlier than Lynds.

Today is just as cold and rainy, so we are just chilling in our PJ's at home. Which is also something that I have missed! To just be able to veg on the couch and watch TV, or read, or just lay around. It is so nice to be able to have a break, and relax. The last 4 months have been hectic, with the constant moving around. So it is nice to be in a stable home, and not have to be constantly on the go. It is the best feeling to not have to be living out of a suitcase, and be able to unpack. I had the most amazing four months travelling Europe and the UK, but it is so nice to be in a home with family.