Chandler's Overseas

We recently bought a digital SLR camera, so the invitation from Paul & Heather to join them and Hennie & Dalian for a weekend of camping at Pilansberg Game Reserve was perfect in timing. After a hectic week at work for both of us (many TIFA moments...!) we were so thankful to be leaving town for a weekend away. Without drawing attention to reckless & irresponsible driving, the drive there had us both amused. As were travelling along a very long & straight road in the desert, we ended up behind a police van. Pete was presented with a dilemma. He was already driving at 145km/hr (speed limit of 100km/h however everyone speeds on this road), should he pass or remain behind the police van (which was also driving at 145km/hr). The police van subsequently proceeded to pull into the emergency lane to indicate that Pete should pass. Truth or temptation? Thankfully the police van soon turned off so Pete didn't have to make a decision! Crazy that police are travelling that f...

Our friend Tim got his pilot's licence a few months ago so we put on our brave faces and headed for the sky (no... really Tim is an excellent pilot, landing was so smooth we didn't even notice it)! We flew mainly around 1000-2000 feet above ground level with ground speeds ranging up to 130 knots. Tim took it fairly easy on us with only 1 gut-retching banking turn. He's saving the free fall gravity drop for another time! Our plane! Sandton (new CBD ) in the foreground and proper CBD in distance A typical site from the sky- the majority of housing in the northern suburbs is clusters. Captain Timmy & wingman Pete Sandton CBD - Vodacom tower in foreground & Hillbrow Tower CBD The constant haze from cooking/heating fires that hovers over Soweto (formal settlement) Passenger Jen Pete's office park (Terracotta roofs) Magaliesberg Mountain range, north of Jozi Hartebeesport Dam The ever present divide of rich & poor... rich with large plots of land &...

Dinner at an African restaurant results in everyone having their face painted! Dabbo, Katie, Soph, Ga, Pete, Jen, Loz & Tim

Jen was working at the distribution centre of Pick 'n Pay, a large supermarket chain, a week ago. When I arrived one morning, there was 100 or so black workers congregated out the front of the premises holding signs. After parking and getting out of my car I heard the chorus of protesters and was stunned... Instead of the usual chants and screams from a megaphone, the protesters were singing in unison with multiple harmonies. I got chills down my spine from the incredible sound so delayed going to work for a minute to enjoy the music. Perhaps not the protesters intention but they got my attention!

On Saturday we joined some local friends Paul, Heather, Jeanine & Truan to watch a Currie Cup rugby game. The Lions (Johannesburg) were playing the Western Province (Cape Town). The adventure began on the drive down. Ellis Park stadium is just east of the CBD , ie . normally a no-go area. The stadium precinct is currently under construction due to the 2010 Soccer World Cup so parking is limited to the neighbouring streets & alleys. We found a great park 2 blocks from the stadium & arranged with a 'parking attendant' to watch over our car. We needed to buy some tickets for the match, however to no surprise (!) the security guard on the entrance gate informed us that tickets were no longer being sold as the match had started. Conveniently he had some tickets to sell to us though. After much discussion with the other 10 security guards around him and us being circled by them all we agreed to pay R100 ( AUD $14) for the tickets. It was quite an art watching him at wor...