Things I love about Jo'burg - The People

How easily a city becomes 'home' to you depends entirely and solely on its people. I fell in love with Jo'burg more for its people than for anything else. A melting pot of different races, countries and colour, the people here are warm, approachable and genial.

And it is the people here that have made our settling in this city so much easy.

A long shadow

Melrose Arch is a very popular mall in Jo'burg. Besides the usual array of stores that almost any mall has, Melrose Arch also has some very chic restaurants and cafes in the main square.


I took this picture on my phone in the afternoon while we were waiting for a table at a restaurant. I love the outline the dark shadow creates on the mosaic tiled floor.


(Melrose Arch, off Corlett Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg)

People who inspire - 1

“If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.”

Leader of South Africa's struggle against apartheid.


The first democratically elected President of the country.


Nobel Laureate.

Revered Statesman.


Nelson Mandela

That 4 letter word

Today, I heard a story, one that showed me (once again) that one should never give up hope. One that told me that with hope, perseverance and little sprinkling of luck, you can indeed move mountains.

Never ever give up HOPE. Never ever.

(picture from archives, taken at a curio store in Clarens, South Africa)

Weaver Bird Nests

I have been stalking these weaver bird nests for a while now, trying to get that perfect picture of the bird with its wings fluttering at the entrance of the nest.

There are about 9 nests on the trees in our garden, but I've had no luck getting that shot I want.

I waited and waited thinking I would get lucky with this bird who sat adjacent to nest for a long time, but didn't get in there at all! Finally, I lost patience and stopped stalking the birds.

This is a shot I managed to take about a week ago, but it is still not what I had in mind.



Considering how obsessed I am with getting that picture, there certainly will be more pictures of these fascinating birds on this space!

A Flower and A Bee

"It takes a bee to get the honey out."
~ Arthur Guiterman

I have been stalking weaver bird nests for a while now but haven't managed to capture a good picture, the bee was far more obliging!

Things I love about Jo'burg: Deep Blue Skies

When I was young and I didn't know why the sky was blue, I used to think that God spray painted the sky in blue.

If that young me had looked up at the sky over Jo'burg (and indeed, all of South Africa), I am sure she would have said that after God had painted the sky over the entire world, He had some paint left and so He sprayed an extra coat on the sky above SA.

Yes, the sky is a beautiful deep blue here and I am completely awed by the colour. And the wonder of it all is that the sky is as blue in winter.....

as it is in summer.......

 

Things I love about Jo'burg: Jacarandas

We were told that they, the jacarandas, were beautiful. That they were a sight to behold. That, in all probability, we would not have ever seen anything as beautiful as a jacaranda tree in full blossom.

They told us, but when the jacaranda trees finally blossomed, we were still unprepared for how beautiful they looked.

Everytime I came across a jacaranda tree, it would take my breath away. Everytime I drove on roads lined with the jacaranda trees, I would slow down the car and shake my head in amazement and gratitude.

Every time the wind blew hard at night, I couldn't wait to drive down the avenues in the morning for I knew the flowers would carpet the roads; flowers overhead, flowers on the ground and for a few metres, I would feel as I if I was driving through a fairy wonderland.

What they didn't tell us, however, was how short the flowering season was. One day the trees were laden with flowers and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.


Just a few blossoms here and there that still cling stubbornly to some branches and  everytime I see those few blossoms, I wish the whole tree were covered once again with the flowers and I wish I had pulled out my camera sooner and clicked a few more pictures.

Seriously Addicted

Peppadew peppers....that is my addiction these days. I can have them any time of the day, sometimes even popping a few straight from the jar.

So what are they?

Found in the Limpopo province of South Africa, these sweet piquante peppers look like a cross between bell peppers and cherry tomatoes and belong to the capsicum family.

Peppadew is the brand name under which they are marketed; the recipe for pickling the peppers is a closely guarded secret as is the distribution of the peppadew plant material. Read more about it here and here.

My favourite ways of having Peppadew Peppers (other than having them straight out of the jar):

1. Drain them and then stuff them with cream cheese. I use sweet chilli cream cheese. You could also stuff them with guacamole.

2. Forget the olives, use these peppers on your pizza.

3. Skewer them with a cube of cheddar/gouda cheese.

4. Finely chop and add them in butternut squash soup.

5. Toss them in your salads, I love to add them in my sprouted mung bean salad for that flavour burst they give.

6. Saving the best for last....eat with a piece of dark chocolate.


And now if you'll excuse me, I need to get my chocolate - peppadew fix!

Some Statistics

Johannesburg, also known as Jo'burg or Jozi.

Capital of Gauteng province.
Largest and most prosperous city in all of South Africa
Hub of all commercial, financial, industrial and mining activities in the country
Land area: 1645 mt sq
Altitude: 5751 ft or 1753 mts
Boasts the largest man made forest in the world with over 10 million trees
Source of large scale gold and diamond trade
(source: wiki)

To me, most importantly, it is a city that we now call home.





 

Tiny

So tiny that I almost missed the little fella in the flower. In fact, I saw the bug only through the camera lens zoomed out to 300mm!

Girls will be girls

A few days ago, I was loading groceries into my car. Another car came and parked alongside our car. The lady stepped out and strapped her infant child into a baby sling.

Ever since, my daughter has been carrying her "baby" like this all over the house!

Coincidence

coincidence: (noun) a chance occurrence of events remarkable either for being simultaneous or for apparently being connected.

In the last week of December 2011, we went for a short holiday to Singapore. On the 5th of January, we boarded a flight to return home to Jo'burg ...... it just happens that it was on the same day last year that our move to Johannesburg was first discussed!

Change

I am someone who thrives on change. Routine scares me. Staying in the same city, the same apartment bores me to no end.

Exactly a year ago, a 7 letter text message brought the magic of change into our lives once again.