Our big move from Melbourne to South Africa

An opportunity presented for us to uproot our predictable lives in Melbourne, and embrace a new challenge and experience in South Africa. We wanted to forge our own paths, take the untrodden route and see where it would lead us.

Pete would be employed by Hatch on a huge project currently underway on the Eastern coast. We would be based in Johannesburg with the intention of staying a couple of years. Jen secured employment through an affiliate accounting firm based in Sandton, Johannesburg, prior to our departure even without needing to attend a job interview. Pete in fact met with the firm partners whilst he was on a business trip to RSA and obviously provided a clean character reference to secure my job!

1. 6 week visit to RSA by Pete to get started on project and secure accommodation, transport, set-up etc

2. Return to Australia for marriage to Jen

3. 2.5 week honeymoon to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

4. Pack up house in Armadale and move to RSA within days of returning from honeymoon

There is no denying it was a busy lead up to our departure, however we firmly believe life is meant to be lived with purpose, excitement and new experiences. Onwards we go.

Landing in Johannesburg with 2 cubic metres of our possessions in October 2007 was the start of this adventure. This blog is a collection of our adventures, varied experiences and photo's as a newlywed couple settling into life in a fascinating country rich in cultural diversity and full of contrasts.

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Harrison James Chandler - born 9 June 2009

Harrison James Chandler arrived at 14:30, Tuesday, 9th June 2009. Weighing in at 3.86kg and 55cm long, he was delivered via c-section surgery. Both Mum and boy are in great health. Dad is besotted with them both even after changing the 1st nappie!! Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! Tipping the scales at 3.86kg (8,5lbs)

Luxury 'camping' at Toorfontein

The Little Karoo is a broad valley stretching east to west hemmed in by the Swartberg mountain range to the north and the Outeniqua mountains to the south. Whilst the environment appears very vast and arid, the windswept plains are broken by mountains with deep ravines and breathtaking passes. Jen put on her 'travel agent' hat and found stunning accommodation at Toorfontein tented camp which would offer a completely different African experience for Jackie & Stu. To break the drive we stayed at The Fernery on Friday night- the only hotel at the base of the Tsitsikamma Mountains which has views of the rugged coastline, deep gorges and surrounding forests. Our lodge was nestled against a small waterfall of the gorge which made for pleasant background noise as we braaied on our patio. On Saturday we meandered along the Garden Route, breaking for coffee at a French cafe in Plettenberg Bay and a picnic lunch in Knysna. We continued over the spectactular Outeniqua Pass from George...

Camping at Monks Cowl, hiking the 'Berg

Due to this weekend being a long weekend in SA (and also to celebrate our birthdays), Pete & I along with British expats Gareth & Sophie decided a weekend getaway trip was required and the Central Drakensberg Ranges was chosen as the destination. We camped at Monks Cowl which is nestled in the picturesque Champagne Valley at the base of the Central Drakensberg Ranges in Kwazulu-Natal. In training for the Mt Kilimanjaro hike that we all hope to hike whilst we are based in Africa, we ventured off on Sunday for a long and hilly hike. We first headed to Blindman's Corner, an 11km return route from the camp. This route takes you steeply up a berg to The Sphinx and then along a flat and meandering grassy plateau to the base of the summits. However, upon arriving there we felt like a further challenge so subsequently climbed 1/3 of the way up Sterkhorn Mt. And up we climbed... at times the hill we were climbing had a gradient of >55 degrees! We rested for lunch perched precari...

Chandler's Overseas

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