Five Cities That are a Must See: Where to Travel

This website will tell you 5 amazing cities that you need to travel to. These are truly 5 wonderful places. It talks all about what you can do, what it is like, and what is best about the city.

Traveling to Italy and Greece: An Itinerary

This website gives a great itinerary for a 10-12 day trip to Italy and Greece. It gives amazing ideas. If you go by this itinerary your trip will be wonderful. It tells you what you can do while being there and it can help a lot with transportation ideas.

Travel Notes #1

This website is in a little series of websites. This and the rest of websites talk about what you can do in Ethiopia and South Africa. It is an amazing trip. It has great stories saying what happened to them while in the countries also!

Travel Notes #2

This website is in a little series of websites. This and the rest of websites talk about what you can do in Ethiopia and South Africa. It is an amazing trip. It has great stories saying what happened to them while in the countries also!

Travel Notes #3

This website is in a little series of websites. This and the rest of websites talk about what you can do in Ethiopia and South Africa. It is an amazing trip. It has great stories saying what happened to them while in the countries also!

Travel Notes #4

This website is in a little series of websites. This and the rest of websites talk about what you can do in Ethiopia and South Africa. It is an amazing trip. It has great stories saying what happened to them while in the countries also!

These are all great websites. They all have helped me more than once. They all give amazing ideas! When I plan to travel anywhere I will first read these websites for good ideas. So if you're planning or even thinking about traveling somewhere first read these websites!

We were not allowed around the embassies for the rest of the trip. After that exciting journey we arrived at Finfine Restaurant Fluha at 5:30p.m., and we had a great dinner. After dinner we went to Addis Ababa National Museum. The museum told stories from pre-historic times to modern times. My favorite part in the museum was the Lucy skeleton which was found in 1974 and is also said to be 3.2 million years old. Once we went to our hotel it was 8:30p.m. so we went down to the pool at our hotel. While we were at the pool an Ethiopian couple was there. We started talking with them about Ethiopia and its history. They told us how the population has been growing a lot so there are housing shortages. Also poverty is spreading all over now, and how Islam is trying to take over the government. Once we finished our great conversation it was 10p.m. so we headed up to our room to go to bed.

We woke up this morning at 7a.m. Colton felt a lot better after that long rest. We went down to Gazebo Restaurant which is inside our hotel. About 7:50a.m. we rented a car at the Bole Airport Car Rental.

We drove down to the Awash National park and Game Reserve. It took us about 2 and half hours to get there. Once we got there we reserved a camping ground, and set up camp. At 10:20a.m. when we finished unpacking we started hiking. Our first hike we took was to Filwoha which has hot springs oasis in its groves of palm trees. While on the trail we past so much wildlife. We saw some gazelles, wild pig, and even a cheetah out in the distance. On the second trail we past the Awash River gorge in the south of the park which had some amazing waterfalls near the park headquarters.

Once we finished with the hikes we went to a museum to look around, and then to a small bar to have some lunch which were both by the campsites. Once we finished there we went to some hot springs we heard about from these other tourist group. Once we finished up with that long hard day we learned that Awash National Park is the oldest and most developed wildlife reserve in Ethiopia. We got back to our campsite around 8:30p.m., and went to bed. Tomorrow morning we will have to get up pretty early to catch our flight to South Africa.

We woke up at 9a.m. and drove Hotel Aloe Ridge where we had a great breakfast. While we ate we had a great view of a river gorge with a pleasant-sounding little waterfall. Once we finished breakfast at 10:30a.m. we went to a Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. We drove throughout the reserve on a tour van with about 5 other people. We saw a bunch of rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo, wild dog, cheetah, and crocodile. Once we finished exploring the park at 3p.m. we stopped at the picnic tables at the park and we had lunch a great lunch. After lunch we drove around Johannesburg and neighboring cities for a while. While we were driving we were amazed at how in some places there were nice expensive homes, but then we went to another place where people had basically nothing at all. We were shocked at all the poverty. Once we got back to our hotel we got all showered and cleaned up because we got really dirty at the reserve. Once we were all cleaned up it was 6p.m., and we drove to Le Canard where we had dinner. Le Canard was a French Restaurant we discovered while we were driving around Johannesburg. When we finished dinner at 7:30p.m.we wanted to see what Johannesburg looks like at night. So we went to Carlton Panorama. Carlton Panorama is the 50th floor of the tallest building in Africa. It was amazing to look over the city at night. We could see forever it seemed like. Being at Carlton Panorama we should really see how Johannesburg has developed over the years. We finished looking around at Carlton Panorama at 8:30p.m., and then we drove to our hotel. We finally fell asleep at 9p.m. at our comfortable hotel.

We woke up today at 9a.m. to the sound of someone talking really loud in some weird language outside of our hotel room door. Later we found out that they were speaking Amarigna, and 32.7% percent of the population speaks it. Once we finished getting ready we walked to a small pub to grab breakfast. Then off we were around 10a.m. to go to Tiya witch is a little south of Addis Ababa. What we learned about Tiya was that it is among the most important of the roughly 160 archaeological sites discovered so far in the Soddo region. The site contains 36 monuments, including 32 carved stelae covered with symbols.

They are the remains of an ancient Ethiopian culture whose age has not yet been determined. We had such a great time. Neither of us has been to an archaeological site before. When we finally got back to our hotel it was 6p.m. While we were on the Tiya trip Colton drunk some water from a water fountain, and tourists aren't supposed to drink they're water or food. So Colton felt pretty sick, and we stayed in the hotel for the rest of the night. During that time we were in our hotel room we read books about Ethiopia, and we learned how Islam is the region's main religion. Also Orthodox Christianity being another main religion in the region. We finally fell asleep around 9p.m.

To evaluate this problem, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (not a new kind of Gin especially for BComms) was tasked with ways of attracting American tourists to this country. To cut a long story short, they decided that Americans, especially Black Americans (Afro-Americans to you), were principally interested in interacting with local people and learning about indigenous culture. Of course, Afro-Americans would be interested in just that, since they have none of their own and each believes that South Africa is his real motherland, despite the fact that most had their origins in West and Central Africa, some thousands of miles from here.

GIBS decided that the best way to encourage American tourism was, amongst other more ordinary ideas, to provide each group with its own photographer (so that DVDs and CDs of the famous trip could be made) and the result taken home to bore all their friends with.

However, the Stellenbosh School of Business was also tasked with throwing some ideas into the pot and they, quite correctly, pointed out that Americans are very security-conscious and that a priority would be the provision of security to each group to ensure that negative perceptions about this country are dispelled. Interesting.

This means that, if these suggestions are taken up by SA Tourism, it will be very easy to spot groups of American tourists in future: they will be issued on arrival with bullet-proof vests, flack jackets, a group of armed security guards (the number of whom will depend on the size of the visiting party), and at least one photographer versed in the art of both digital and movie photography, together with all his paraphernalia.

The groups will leave the airport in armored vehicles, wearing helmets and possibly gasmasks and will be armed on arrival with cattle-prods and devices to electrify their wallets if these were to fall into foreign hands. They will then make haste on the road towards Soweto or Khayelitsha, where, surrounded by bodyguards, they will venture forth to look from a distance at the locals who will be trained to perform such acts as may be deemed “African”. The groups will all wear special protective clothing and will be warned strongly against any direct interaction or fraternization with the locals because of the very real risk of AIDS.

On departure, their planes will be specially checked for any device which may assist a would-be hijacker, and they will be adequately disinfected before being allowed to alight on American soil again.

You think I joke? Wait and see.

In the early 1950s Soweto (concertina name for South Western Townships) was laid out and established; it is still the largest black township on the African continent and was to serve as a huge dormitory area for Johannesburg. Much has been said and written about Sophiatown (most of it through the rose-coloured spectacles of time) and its untimely demise and the forced removal of its citizens to Soweto. Sophiatown was, in reality, a down-at-heel suburb of crumbling turn-of-the-century houses which were home to a great diversity of peoples; it was an area with its own vibrancy, but nonetheless an area where crime was rife and streets were ruled by gangs. Upon its demise the houses were raised and a new suburb, Triomf, was built to house the burgeoning Afrikaaner middle class.

In 1954 J.G.Strydom became prime minister. Much can be written about the Nationalists and their rise and fall; however, they can legitimately lay claim to certain interesting facts: they were the only government in modern times which had a penchant for erecting statues to people who were still alive and naming various projects (roads, airports, harbours) after their ministers. We had Jan Smuts Airport in Johannesburg, D.F.Malan Airport (overlooked by a rather frightening bust of the famous man looking like a large boiled egg with glasses) in Cape Town, Louis Botha (alright, he was dead) Airport in Durban; the Ben Schoeman Highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Strydom Tunnel in the Eastern Transvaal, and so-on.

In order to alleviate the plight of the great unemployed masses of former years, the Nationalists created a massive, top-heavy, civil service. Whatever had to be achieved in their South Africa required books of paperwork to be completed; there were departments for this, for that, for everything under the sun. Every breath that the populace took had to be legislated; every movement required somebody's permission in writing, and round every corner lurked an official, the Bible in one hand and the Might of the State in the other. It was bureaucracy gone mad. Every document was firstly and foremostly in Afrikaans, and every official behind every desk spoke only that language. Of course they did; it was the language God spoke, wasn't it?

In 1958 H.F.Verwoerd came to power. We really are sorry for this one, for he, single-handedly brought about more damage than anyone else in the Nationalist hierarchy. The odd thing was that he wasn't even South African. He had sufficiently aroused the ire of the British, so that in 1960 Harold MacMillan delivered his nail-in-the-coffin "winds of change" speech in Parliament. For some years the colonial powers had been withdrawing from Africa and handing countries back to their local populations. Colonies cost an awful lot to keep going; they used manpower, a great deal of paper, and were very difficult to administer from far-away London or Brussels or Lisbon, so they were gradually given independence. After the required pomp and circumstance and the departure of the governor most of these erstwhile colonies immediately reverted to tribal warfare, rape, pillage, wanton genocide, and other little niceties that we, as whites, are very sorry to have caused by our departure. MacMillan's speech was a warning.

By 1966 Verwoerd had become an embarrassment even here and so he was assassinated.

This brought B.J.Vorster to power; during his regency he managed the forced removal from District 6 (a slum area, much romanticised in plays, poetry and painting, where gangs ruled) and then its demolition; he established the Bureau of State Security, which watched over all of us in its safari suits and dark glasses, he allowed in a moment of extreme weakness the arrival of television some twenty years after it had been introduced to the rest of the world, and then was forced to retire iniquitously at the end of the 70s.

Whatever criticism we may throw in the direction of the Vorster administration, it was a time of great success financially for this country; so he must have done something right.

The amazing thing about the Nationalists was how, at each general election, they managed to be returned to power with a resounding majority. However on closer scrutiny it can be seen that they gerrymandered political constituencies in such a way that a small Afrikaans town had at least ten seats, whereas a large English-speaking area seldom had more than one. Of course, the ANC went one better when they introduced floor-crossing; there is no longer any need to win an election; they simply buy their support afterwards. We can't apologise for that.

After Vorster came the Groot Krokodil and things went from bad to worse while he wagged an index finger at us through the TV screen. By 1990 most of the white population was armed to the teeth and in 1992, under F.W.de Klerk, came the famous referendum which brought about the end of Nationalist power. So in no uncertain terms the whites actually did say with a very loud voice how sorry they were for Apartheid and its attendant policies and harm.

The rest, as they say, is history. If you seek apologies from the Nationalists for what they did between 1948 and 1994, then you must go out and try to find one, because they all seem to have disappeared. Now we look forward to hearing Mad Bob's apology, as he leaves Zim for the last time.

And that, in the words of John Vorster, is all about it.

Sabie Valley

This country offers a variety of exceptional value. From Cape Town and its surrounding beauty of the sea and mountains, and even the most outstanding wine estates in the world up the coast line to Durban where you can enjoy a tropical climate with lush green plants surrounding the tranquility.

The countryside has long become a favorite as people are leading more and more hectic lives, and need to bring back a balance into their everyday encounters.

If we move inlands you come across places like Sabie. This town is one of the diamonds in the rough. It is close to the Kruger National Game Park and offers you a variety of surrounding sight seeing wonders. The history of South Africa can be richly viewed in this area, as the very first gold mines had its origin in a nearby settlement called Pilgrims Rest.

Sabie River - Photo courtesy of flickr

Whether you desire to relocate or use it as a holiday home, this town offers you more than enough interesting things to do. Here you can do some hiking & back packing, horse riding, white-water rafting, bird watching, 4x4 trips, fly fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing & abseiling, and if you desire to have a fun day of sightseeing you can go to the nearby towns for seeing some historic caves with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, or even natural wonders like Bourke's luck.

Bourke's Luck Potholes

It is a malaria free destination only four hours drive from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Even although prices have increased rapidly in recent months, the South African market still offers good value for money. There is so much natural beauty and it is definitely worth making an investment into this market as you will receive a good return from it.

The South African Rand is currently weak compared to other major currencies worldwide and this alone can give you excellent value for money. Whether you desire to relocate, have a holiday or make a business investment.

The climate makes South Africa an ideal place depending of where in the world you come from. The average temperature ranges from 5 to 35°C with the warmest days in December and the coldest nights in June.

There is a frayed, aged certificate dated from "77 attesting to the fact of Mr Ferreira"s worldly travels. It is pasted on his cabinet, which he brought into the office. Mr Ferreira could be said to be one of the Humansdorp's GRANDFATHERS, the backbone of the town. He may have white hair but it certainly does him proud, as it serves as a token of the wisdom he lavishes on his work along with a keen knowledge of the local area. He is adamant on acting out his wish to promote the town. Unfortunately, accordingly to Mr Ferreira the Fynboos (shrub type of plants) Festival has been scrapped, yet he hopes it can be re-established.

The festival should be less costly, more locally plant orientated and only for a day in Mr Ferreira's view. The Fynboos Festival at least brings attention to plant life, which we pay little regard to. We are so technologically obsessed that we sort of have lost the wonderment about and usefulness of plant species. Humansdorp offers its own unique fynboos species. If you wish to know more, just ask Mr Ferreira! As luck would have it, Mr Ferreira was indeed a professional teacher for thirty one years. He taught at a school in Grahamstown and at two schools in Port Elizabeth. While spending time with Mr Ferreira, one certainly does bear witness to his generosity and patience. It is unfortunate that his working environment is so dire. For now, the office only has a functional well used fax machine (kindly donated by Mr and Mrs Oosthuizen, owners of Sugar 'n Spice stationery shop) and a telephone. Unfortunately the office does not have toilets.

If a tourist or visitor needs to use a toilet he/she is taken to the municipality offices next door (which is an inconvenience to the municipality staff) or the Wimpy. In each case it is dismal for tourism. Mr Ferreira even stated that he has used the “tree at the back” when his bladder is full. Yes, there is a toilet also at the back but a filthy one and supposedly for the workers. Workers should be using proper clean toilets as well! Hopefully (especially with the help of benefactors) two clean operational toilets (one for males and another for females) will be built soon on the premises. Even a kitchenette is desired and would promote hospitality to the rand spending tourist! Any spare donations given would be gratefully utilised towards purchasing and hanging international flags and attractive lights to highlight the tourist office to travelling guests. If any generous benefactor wants to make a contribution towards the tourism office please visit or phone 02742 295 1361 during office hours.

You may sometimes be greeted by Brenda Badenhorst, who is a voluntary assistant. Working on a meagre salary of R2500, Mr Ferreira is certainly not in this for the money. R11000 is allocated to the offices every three months to cover salary, telephone, postage, building up keep and other costs. The office falls under the Kouga Tourism, which provides this grant. Although promised a salary increase but yet to be enforced, Mr Ferreira is still dedicated to his work. You can help out! To all the businesses in Humansdorp; Mr Ferreira wishes to express that people support the “tourism forum” for 2010 especially in the sense that our town is clean and accommodating to provide side line attractions for the visitors.

Remember you can pay a nominal fee (variable options to suit your requirements) to the tourism office to be advertised on street maps and in other tourist reading print media. If there ever are signs of community commitment and love of a town, one such sign must surely be street sweeping. Despite transient arthritis, Mr Ferreira is an active and proud street sweeper on his street! Any one can support tourism to help elevate Humansdorp up to the tourist spotlight. If we all work together to keep the town clean, operational and most of all friendly, it can only be beneficial for all.

The plane ride was great (for a 16 hour flight that is). There's a TV on each headrest, making the TV watching experience a little more pleasant. Not only that, but they have tons of new release, on-demand movies for your viewing pleasure. You can definitely watch many movies on a 16 hour stretch! The interactive system also has music channels as well as games. There's probably about 20 games loaded in the system. I'm not talking about Super Mario Bros. here, but a game is a game when you're stuck in a plane.

The one drawback during this trip was the layover in Washington Dulles airport. Horrible airport, bad layout, and service. 2-hour layover and I almost didn't make it to the plane. If you have a choice, do not use that airport.

I fists stayed in Johannesburg for a couple of days before heading out to Lichtenburg. While in Lichtenburg, I went to the Game Breeding Grounds for a braai(BBQ) . One of the locals took me for a tour of the grounds and I came real close to some amazing animals. From rhinos to wildebeests, they have it all. We actually came so close to the rhinos that they almost rammed the car. Pretty intense adventure.