Chandler's Overseas

Our first go at video!

After much deliberation we decided to visit Namibia for a short break. We felt we had covered enough game, and it was time to see some varied countryside & ‘normality’ that we had heard Namibia boasted. Namibia was colonised by Germany at the end of the nineteenth century. Evidence of this colonisation is witnessed through the architecture and language still spoken in most corners of the country. Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, felt like a regional city from Australia and emitted a good vibe. We soon headed south for one hour on a luxurious tar road, before exiting to what became the ‘normal’ surface for a road, gravel. We were not to see another tar road for 3 days! The landscape was constantly changing, with each pass we crossed. At one pass, Spreetshoogte Pass, we actually felt as though we could have been on the moon. The surrounding valley pan was incredibly dry, arid and barren with a few imposing rocky mountains adding contrast. There was no evidence of human life or inte...

Well… where to begin. It has been one year since our arrival to new jobs, a new country, new city & new continent. Although a pathetic cliché, where has the time gone! The year has been filled with contrasts, excitement, frustration, learning and contentment. When we first landed at the airport in early October 2007, we weren’t sure what the next 2 years would hold for us. We weren’t even sure whether we would make it to our new home safely from the airport (mostly due to the constant barrage of comments and concerns we received from friends and family in Australia prior to our departure). As is the way with all travel, work or play, go with the flow and bring yourself to give people a chance, ignore your constant scepticism and a good result is usually achieved. This has been a common theme throughout our Stay so far and has got us to see and experience more of South Africa than most South African’s! It has to be mentioned that it is not only our attitude but Pete’s expat wage tha...

As per a previous blog entry (December 2007), Pete is part of the team getting the Port of Ngqura into its first phase of operation. On Wednesday the fist ship arrived in the Port; a big occasion considering construction has been going for nearly 6 years. This ship is large however it seems to look like a toy at the dock that will eventually be capable of fitting 2 Panamax container ships!!

Last Sunday we had our first Aussie visitor in a while. Nelson arrived for a three night stay to unwind in preparation for Phil's & his long awaited holiday to Europe. Nelson was determined to just relax, read and cook for the days he was here which included making as many spring rolls as would fit into our freezer! In preparation we bought wrappers, mince, cabbage and carrot. Feeling slightly guilty we went to work in the morning and let Nelson loose in the kitchen. The result was 100 (exactly, according to Nelson) beautiful spring rolls! Whilst he didn't mind making 100 spring rolls, he did complain about the size of our grater... Nelson grated 1kg of carrots using this grater! We also enjoyed Nelsons Chicken & pork Adobo (a Philippino specialty dish). Thankyou Nelson... come back anytime!

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 &...