Am at Hong Kong airport now ... it's hard to believe I'll be home in less than 12 hours!
Had a day entirely full of shopping today with my uncles ... buying a new camera, mp3 player, cheap glasses (you wouldn't believe the bargains here!) and souvenirs ...
Gotta go, must try and beg for an upgrade to business class on the way home!
Blessings
john
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Hong Kong, the antithesis of Africa
Well, flew into Hong Kong today, my least favourite place for weather in the whole world! It's either ridiculously hot and humid - or pouring with rain - or, as has often been the case, both at the same time!
It was an amazing feeling to be surrounded by Asians again once I got off the place. Whoa. I guess, going to Sydney and then San Francisco, I'd better get used to it! =)
It was also an unfamiliar feeling to be surrounded by everything working ... escalators working, no holes in the roads, trains that come every 3 minutes, posters at the train station that encourage me to "relax, my train will only be 3 minutes" (only in Asia!)
It was also strange to be absolutely crammed again. Here's the view from my window ... it absolutely reminds me of Sao Paulo, Brazil, all over again!
Also - note that I will be BACK very soon - on the morning of the 24th June, in fact (assuming no disasters/delays take place inbetween now and then)! Wow, that sure is soon ...
It was an amazing feeling to be surrounded by Asians again once I got off the place. Whoa. I guess, going to Sydney and then San Francisco, I'd better get used to it! =)
It was also an unfamiliar feeling to be surrounded by everything working ... escalators working, no holes in the roads, trains that come every 3 minutes, posters at the train station that encourage me to "relax, my train will only be 3 minutes" (only in Asia!)
It was also strange to be absolutely crammed again. Here's the view from my window ... it absolutely reminds me of Sao Paulo, Brazil, all over again!
Also - note that I will be BACK very soon - on the morning of the 24th June, in fact (assuming no disasters/delays take place inbetween now and then)! Wow, that sure is soon ...
A visual tour of South Africa’s poorer peoples – now in Black and White
Okay this is a bit experimental, but see how it goes. All taken today, on a community tour of (1.2 million people living in the slums!) (Though this pales in comparison with Soweto, outside of Johannesburg – where 4 million people live on the poverty line) It was VERY like Mozambique …
Children playing in the playground. All of this has been recently built, after 1994.
Parents out, locked in!
Watchful.
Cold!
Warmer after a biscuit.
The joys of seeing yourself on a digital camera for the first time!
A little kid who insisted I take photos of him at an indoor music performance. Note the writing on the bucket next to him ... this could be an ad for World Vision!
Small kid, big fences.
A couple I was with - newly married Italians! He has his sights set on love, As for her, she is more interested in scenery ...
Yours artistically,
john
Children playing in the playground. All of this has been recently built, after 1994.
Parents out, locked in!
Watchful.
Cold!
Warmer after a biscuit.
The joys of seeing yourself on a digital camera for the first time!
A little kid who insisted I take photos of him at an indoor music performance. Note the writing on the bucket next to him ... this could be an ad for World Vision!
Small kid, big fences.
A couple I was with - newly married Italians! He has his sights set on love, As for her, she is more interested in scenery ...
Yours artistically,
john
A depressing goodbye to Capetown
In all my posts about Capetown, I've mentioned the infamous Table Mountains. And they really are amazing - a flat city surrounded by huge mountains! And so, every day, I've been trying trying trying to get up there, waiting for the clouds to clear.
And of course, on today, my last day, I got up early in anticipation for a (as forecast) beautiful winter's day with NO CLOUDS. Instead, I got miserable Melbourne weather. Which didn't clear. As a sat in a cafe eating, drinking, and waiting ...
... As afternoon fell and I realised my Table Mountains cable car / photography extravaganza would be on hold until I come back (when, not if?!), I took a taxi up there anyway and tried to get some good photos of the view from the foot of the mountain.
What did I get? Nothing ... apart from moody, mysterious photos like this
The depressing thing is that that photo was taken in COLOUR!
I had a good night out in the end with two girls who were friends-of-friends of one the people I worked with in Mozambique. We went to some cool places ... Mount Nelson Hotel (this famous 5 star hotel painted pink!) and a gourmet burger joint ... yummmmmmmmmm
The irony of course was that, the morning I left (at 5:30am in the morning, still in the dark!) to catch my 2 hour flight to Joburg and 13 hour flight to Hong Kong), it was clear enough to get nice shots of the city by pre-sun morning ...
Next time, Capetown! (I'll show you!!)
And of course, on today, my last day, I got up early in anticipation for a (as forecast) beautiful winter's day with NO CLOUDS. Instead, I got miserable Melbourne weather. Which didn't clear. As a sat in a cafe eating, drinking, and waiting ...
... As afternoon fell and I realised my Table Mountains cable car / photography extravaganza would be on hold until I come back (when, not if?!), I took a taxi up there anyway and tried to get some good photos of the view from the foot of the mountain.
What did I get? Nothing ... apart from moody, mysterious photos like this
The depressing thing is that that photo was taken in COLOUR!
I had a good night out in the end with two girls who were friends-of-friends of one the people I worked with in Mozambique. We went to some cool places ... Mount Nelson Hotel (this famous 5 star hotel painted pink!) and a gourmet burger joint ... yummmmmmmmmm
The irony of course was that, the morning I left (at 5:30am in the morning, still in the dark!) to catch my 2 hour flight to Joburg and 13 hour flight to Hong Kong), it was clear enough to get nice shots of the city by pre-sun morning ...
Next time, Capetown! (I'll show you!!)
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Capetown's waterfront - one of the most beautiful inbetween Europe and the East Indies
After church on Sunday morning, it was time to head up to the famous Table Mountains. Unfortunately, after a family from church drove me all the way up there, we decided it was too cloudy, and instead I headed down to the almost-as-famous Capetown waterfront ...
... which is a pretty amazing place. Along with Darling Harbour (and the beaches in Rio of course), it is a very impressive harbour setting - with the shops and boats spread out with magnificent views of the table mountains in the background ...
It was also Father's day (strangely?!), which meant there were free hats being given out (I felt right at home), as well as random marching bands, such as this crew ...
Capetown waterfront has a HUGE shopping complex right on the water. Which would've been great if I was in the mood for shopping. Instead, I was in the mood for taking photos of shopping centres ...
... and shipping. I took a ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 17 of his 27 years as a political prisoner, for a tour that featured a drive around the island, and a look inside all of the cells, guided by an ex-prisoner! It was pretty good. In fact, here is the walk from the prison cells back to the island port, otherwise known (officially? i'm not sure) as "the Long Walk to Freedom" ...
By the time we got back, it was evening ...
And time for a long walk back to my backpacker hostel!
OK, I lied ... I took a taxi =)
blessings
john
... which is a pretty amazing place. Along with Darling Harbour (and the beaches in Rio of course), it is a very impressive harbour setting - with the shops and boats spread out with magnificent views of the table mountains in the background ...
It was also Father's day (strangely?!), which meant there were free hats being given out (I felt right at home), as well as random marching bands, such as this crew ...
Capetown waterfront has a HUGE shopping complex right on the water. Which would've been great if I was in the mood for shopping. Instead, I was in the mood for taking photos of shopping centres ...
... and shipping. I took a ferry to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 17 of his 27 years as a political prisoner, for a tour that featured a drive around the island, and a look inside all of the cells, guided by an ex-prisoner! It was pretty good. In fact, here is the walk from the prison cells back to the island port, otherwise known (officially? i'm not sure) as "the Long Walk to Freedom" ...
By the time we got back, it was evening ...
And time for a long walk back to my backpacker hostel!
OK, I lied ... I took a taxi =)
blessings
john
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Welcome to Capetown: One of the most magnificent cities in the world
When I came back from Rio de Janerio (trivia note: that name means ‘River of January’ – pretty ordinary, huh?) many people commented to me that Rio was one of the beautiful cities in the world (something which I completely agree with). When I asked these people what they thought the other beautiful cities in the world were, the answers were very similar: almost everyone added Sydney (yay!), San Francisco, and Capetown.
Now I’ll be in San Fran in September and Sydney next week, so, given that I had to go through Johannesburg anyway, taking a $50-$100 flight (ah … discount airfares) to visit Capetown on my way through was an absolute no-brainer.
I have been here for 24 hours and I am not disappointed. Geographically, Capetown is EXTRADORDINARY – a beautiful, flat city with colourful houses surrounded by glorious mountains. I was sitting on the window on the flight in and the sheer visual appeal of Capetown I can only compare to flying over Sao Paulo. Wow.
So, a few quick visuals of the place …
Mountains surround the built-up city of 3 million. Which is amazing, particularly around dusk …
There are houses built at the foot of the city (in fact, the backpacker lodge I am at is right at the base of Table Mountains). What makes Capetown special is how CLOSE the mountains are to the city … kind of like how in Rio, the beaches are right next to the city ….
Capetown from the air is magnificent – a combination of being wonderfully organized, so flat, and such colourful houses …
Many of the houses in the richer areas are brightly coloured (Such that they clash!). Apparently they repaint them every few years upon special occasions …
… though the colour of these houses on the beach is a bit ridiculous … =)
Blessings
John
Now I’ll be in San Fran in September and Sydney next week, so, given that I had to go through Johannesburg anyway, taking a $50-$100 flight (ah … discount airfares) to visit Capetown on my way through was an absolute no-brainer.
I have been here for 24 hours and I am not disappointed. Geographically, Capetown is EXTRADORDINARY – a beautiful, flat city with colourful houses surrounded by glorious mountains. I was sitting on the window on the flight in and the sheer visual appeal of Capetown I can only compare to flying over Sao Paulo. Wow.
So, a few quick visuals of the place …
Mountains surround the built-up city of 3 million. Which is amazing, particularly around dusk …
There are houses built at the foot of the city (in fact, the backpacker lodge I am at is right at the base of Table Mountains). What makes Capetown special is how CLOSE the mountains are to the city … kind of like how in Rio, the beaches are right next to the city ….
Capetown from the air is magnificent – a combination of being wonderfully organized, so flat, and such colourful houses …
Many of the houses in the richer areas are brightly coloured (Such that they clash!). Apparently they repaint them every few years upon special occasions …
… though the colour of these houses on the beach is a bit ridiculous … =)
Blessings
John
Friday, June 17, 2005
Goodbye Mozambique … so long, farewell
Last night – my final night in Maputo – my friends at work threw me a farewell party at my boss’ house. It was GREAT. About 20 people gathered for a night of – well – not doing that much, really. But there was LOTS of food and LOTS of Diet Coke, which I consumed about six cans of (ah … sweet caffeine/Nutrasweet) …
It was sad to say bye to everyone for the last time … but, actually, I’ve gotten a bit used to it. I’ve been on the move every 2 weeks since I’ve been here, and during my time I’ve gone through so many “stages” of meeting with different people. When I reflect on it now, it’s amazing how many people I’ve gotten to know really well over 2-3 weeks, and then one of us moves on … =(
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The biggest surprise of the night was dessert. Unbeknown to me, after my numerous presentations and mental calculations/spreadsheets on chickens, I had gained a nickname – ‘Pentium 5’. (?!!) (I know, I’m still in shock it wasn’t “hot stuff” or “stud muffin”). To celebrate this, the guys at work made a HUGE cake in the shape/colour of an Intel Pentium logo!? I was very flattered.
That’s the sad part about living the life of an ex-pat … moving on.
Still, at least I have Capetown this weekend to console myself with … =)
Blessings
john
It was sad to say bye to everyone for the last time … but, actually, I’ve gotten a bit used to it. I’ve been on the move every 2 weeks since I’ve been here, and during my time I’ve gone through so many “stages” of meeting with different people. When I reflect on it now, it’s amazing how many people I’ve gotten to know really well over 2-3 weeks, and then one of us moves on … =(
The biggest surprise of the night was dessert. Unbeknown to me, after my numerous presentations and mental calculations/spreadsheets on chickens, I had gained a nickname – ‘Pentium 5’. (?!!) (I know, I’m still in shock it wasn’t “hot stuff” or “stud muffin”). To celebrate this, the guys at work made a HUGE cake in the shape/colour of an Intel Pentium logo!? I was very flattered.
That’s the sad part about living the life of an ex-pat … moving on.
Still, at least I have Capetown this weekend to console myself with … =)
Blessings
john
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
A weekend in Inhaca - a beautiful resort island
Hey everyone,
well, counting down the days until I leave here - via Capetown - via Hong Kong - back to Sydney. I feel pretty sad to leave. =( But I'll get to see all of you again! =)
For my last weekend in Mozambique, me and the boys (you know who you are) decided to go to Inhaca Island.
The quickest way to geto Inhaca Island is via a 10 minute flight courtesy of an old Russian jet propelled plane. It's a bit dodgy, noisy ... but you get some great views of Maputo city ...
Inhaca is SMALL. It has about a population of 5,000 - almost all Mozambicans (our friend Andrew on the island is one of a few ex-pats). In fact, this is the main street that greeted us ...
Consequently, there's not much to do on Inhaca except sit on the beach ...
... which we kept doing until evening fell. It was so gorgeously peaceful there (Apart from the blaring African Hip hop music in the background).
It was soon pretty cold. We managed to befriend a bunch of South Africans who had rented a holiday house there and set up a fire ...
... In somewhat ironic fashion, they were all Nando's chicken shop franchise owners. There were many interesting discussions about chickens me and my team were able to have! Using our convincing analysis, we won all the arguments about chicken imports (or maybe it was because they were very drunk?!)
The next day we kayaked (into the wind = ouch) to a small island nearby, Portuguese Island. There is NOTHING here (not even drinkable water). Except we came across a bunch of fisherman who had just caught fish - so we bought two off them and proceeding to cook them (one of the benefits that having friends that smoke is always having matches). Here's my mate julio with our fish - $1 each! (beautiful sand too, huh!)
All that was left was a quiet ride hime ... I thought I'd take the boat this time. Just as well, because there were some GREAT sunset shots of the city ...
Blessings
john
well, counting down the days until I leave here - via Capetown - via Hong Kong - back to Sydney. I feel pretty sad to leave. =( But I'll get to see all of you again! =)
For my last weekend in Mozambique, me and the boys (you know who you are) decided to go to Inhaca Island.
The quickest way to geto Inhaca Island is via a 10 minute flight courtesy of an old Russian jet propelled plane. It's a bit dodgy, noisy ... but you get some great views of Maputo city ...
Inhaca is SMALL. It has about a population of 5,000 - almost all Mozambicans (our friend Andrew on the island is one of a few ex-pats). In fact, this is the main street that greeted us ...
Consequently, there's not much to do on Inhaca except sit on the beach ...
... which we kept doing until evening fell. It was so gorgeously peaceful there (Apart from the blaring African Hip hop music in the background).
It was soon pretty cold. We managed to befriend a bunch of South Africans who had rented a holiday house there and set up a fire ...
... In somewhat ironic fashion, they were all Nando's chicken shop franchise owners. There were many interesting discussions about chickens me and my team were able to have! Using our convincing analysis, we won all the arguments about chicken imports (or maybe it was because they were very drunk?!)
The next day we kayaked (into the wind = ouch) to a small island nearby, Portuguese Island. There is NOTHING here (not even drinkable water). Except we came across a bunch of fisherman who had just caught fish - so we bought two off them and proceeding to cook them (one of the benefits that having friends that smoke is always having matches). Here's my mate julio with our fish - $1 each! (beautiful sand too, huh!)
All that was left was a quiet ride hime ... I thought I'd take the boat this time. Just as well, because there were some GREAT sunset shots of the city ...
Blessings
john
Friday, June 10, 2005
One last visit to Chimoio, one last night on the farm ...
Hey everyone,
this week I had to make one last 48-hour trip to Chimoio/Beira to talk to a few key chicken and chicken feed producers.
It was GREAT. It was a bit like coming home, in some ways. It was great to see the people I'd worked with, the Brazillian guys I hung out with each night, the bed and breakfast which I'd stayed in for months (and their friendly dogs!).
But most of all, it meant that I could spend one last night with the first family company I was helping, on their farm 45 minutes out of town.
Since I'd been there last, a new calf had been born (confusingly, a brown calf to a black set of parents?!) ... see calf in the middle of her proud parents ...!
But the best and worst part of it was having to get up at 5am in the morning in order to make an early morning meeting in Beira, 2 hours away. It was tiring, but at least the sunrise was great ...
Goodbye Chimoio...for the last time! =)
Blessings
john
this week I had to make one last 48-hour trip to Chimoio/Beira to talk to a few key chicken and chicken feed producers.
It was GREAT. It was a bit like coming home, in some ways. It was great to see the people I'd worked with, the Brazillian guys I hung out with each night, the bed and breakfast which I'd stayed in for months (and their friendly dogs!).
But most of all, it meant that I could spend one last night with the first family company I was helping, on their farm 45 minutes out of town.
Since I'd been there last, a new calf had been born (confusingly, a brown calf to a black set of parents?!) ... see calf in the middle of her proud parents ...!
But the best and worst part of it was having to get up at 5am in the morning in order to make an early morning meeting in Beira, 2 hours away. It was tiring, but at least the sunrise was great ...
Goodbye Chimoio...for the last time! =)
Blessings
john
Monday, June 06, 2005
Return to Catembe - this time not for work!
Work's been pretty flat out the last week - a LOT of meetings with people and arranging how the recommendations from the project will be implemented ... all good stuff. I haven't got long to go, too. Also had a really good presentation to the International Finance Council (IFC?) - part of the World Bank - for a client, which went great, but was again a LOT of work.
So ... I decided to take it a bit easier on the weekend. Well, kind of. It was actually VERY hectic - I've become addicted to hanging out with ex-pats (particularly Brazilian ones), and ended having 7 meals/gatherings with different groups of people who I've met - from work, church, friends of friends, randoms ...! Cities like Maputo are great for that.
Anyway, one of the highlights of the weekend was going out to Catembe again - where, 2 weeks ago, my team worked for 2 days to finish the presentation - this time, for fun. Can I present to you ...
People of Catembe: Photos Edition
Here is a picture of my friends that came with me - Chaminda from Sri Lanka, Alex from Russia, Julio from Brazil, Sara from Canada, and a fellow Aussie - Richard. (The sixth guy in the shot is NOT me.)
On the boat there was this really cute kid sitting next to me ...
... But the guy who sat out the front whose job it was to tie the rope at the end of the boat was clearly having a bad day ...
When you get to the jetty, you appreciate the little trading activiites people are doing in order to make a living - even on the weekend - most of it being carried on their heads. Note the big ferry in the background (the way I got to Catembe last time) ...
No trading for us, though. For some of us (including me) it was sitting around, for others, playing frisbee ...
... then we all started playing cards, except me ... (note the city in the background - you can see where I'm staying if you squint really hard!)
In fact, I mostly just focused on relaxing, reading and eating. Including buying fruit from the mini markets there ...
... or from the little kids trying to sell peanuts on the beach. This kid ripped me off by selling me soggy peanuts!
... but it was worth it - look at where his shirt is from?!
blessings
john
So ... I decided to take it a bit easier on the weekend. Well, kind of. It was actually VERY hectic - I've become addicted to hanging out with ex-pats (particularly Brazilian ones), and ended having 7 meals/gatherings with different groups of people who I've met - from work, church, friends of friends, randoms ...! Cities like Maputo are great for that.
Anyway, one of the highlights of the weekend was going out to Catembe again - where, 2 weeks ago, my team worked for 2 days to finish the presentation - this time, for fun. Can I present to you ...
People of Catembe: Photos Edition
Here is a picture of my friends that came with me - Chaminda from Sri Lanka, Alex from Russia, Julio from Brazil, Sara from Canada, and a fellow Aussie - Richard. (The sixth guy in the shot is NOT me.)
On the boat there was this really cute kid sitting next to me ...
... But the guy who sat out the front whose job it was to tie the rope at the end of the boat was clearly having a bad day ...
When you get to the jetty, you appreciate the little trading activiites people are doing in order to make a living - even on the weekend - most of it being carried on their heads. Note the big ferry in the background (the way I got to Catembe last time) ...
No trading for us, though. For some of us (including me) it was sitting around, for others, playing frisbee ...
... then we all started playing cards, except me ... (note the city in the background - you can see where I'm staying if you squint really hard!)
In fact, I mostly just focused on relaxing, reading and eating. Including buying fruit from the mini markets there ...
... or from the little kids trying to sell peanuts on the beach. This kid ripped me off by selling me soggy peanuts!
... but it was worth it - look at where his shirt is from?!
blessings
john
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