Category Archives: Travel

Over the Atlantic

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That feeling of ‘rush’ finally hit as we got to JFK and I realized that the thing I had forgotten to do was download the maps app. We searched in Terminal 4 for a free wifi connection, but of course there was none. There was boingo, which actually has an app that you can download and then buy credits right through iTunes. I thought was great luck as they gave you one hour free when you downloaded the app. Upon doing so I searched iTunes for the Co Pilot Live app, but found only the North American. I panicked thinking that they had pulled the app. I decided to bite the bullet and pay the 8 bucks for wifi for the computer as well. Through the desktop iTunes i was able to find it and then start the download. However our time in between flights was not great and I had wasted much time in searching. It was a race against time to complete the download and I finally had to picked up the computer with the lid open and walk to security. Fittingly the download  completed just as we reached the front and I was able to close it and pack it away.

The final challenge presented itself in the fact that Alisa and I had not been paired together on the South African Airways flight and now reached the gate with most of the plane boarded. We lucked out in that while the flight was full there was an empty seat next to Alisa.

We saw a guy rocking the new US away kit and his girlfriend/wife with an Argentina kit, so we’re obviously not the only two people who decided to beat the rush and come to South Africa early.

The flight itself has bee up to the same standard we had enjoyed on Virgin from Heathrow and back the last time we flew into Joburg. Alisa had the chicken in mustard sauce while I had the lamb over rice. They provided metal silver ware (which is something we had not packed) so that immediately got tucked away, and it will double as a present on my return as my mother brings small forks for the family cat, Euro, back from all over the world. I guess being fed with exotic forks allows her to feel like she came along.

Alisa had forgotten to print her Kenya itinerary which the guy at Dulles made a big deal about this morning as here tickets to and from SA are more than 90 days apart. Not quite sure that was a major deal for him, but luckily my mother had here ‘new’ iPhone (my phone) on her and Alisa was able to show him the electronic copy. We searched in vain for a business lounge in JKF even though there apparently was one. However we have the document in Goodreader, and iPhone/iPad app that allows you to store files directly on the device. Hopefully the customs and immigration officer will take it. If not, Alisa will have to talk her way into the country somehow

Following the Invasion of Boks into Witbank

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On May 7th, I happened to be checking out SuperSport’s new iPhone app (which is surprisingly robust and filled with information) and I saw that SA Rugby just recently announced a test match would be taking place in Witbank, a two hour drive from Joburg, between the Springboks and Italy in June. I was excited to learn that we would be in Johannesburg on the 19th(the day of the match), as the Slovenia – US match was being played just the day before at Ellis Park. A chance to see World Cup matches AND catch a Springbok game is a great score as it fulfills one of the things that I truly missed out on in my time in South Africa.

The first Springboks game I watched was one of their World Cup warm-up games against Namibia, held in Cape Town in August. I had no real sense of desire to watch them play, but after their subsequent run to hoisting the World Cup in Paris that November, the desire to watch a Springboks game had taken hold.

I booked on my calender the day test tickets were available, as I the article made it seem they would go quick. Tickets in the end were easy to get, we just bought ours through Computicket tonight, and it’s only $70 for the both of us. It’s only a 20k seater stadium, and out in the rural areas, so not in the pantheon of Afrikanerdom that say Newlands or Ellis Park offer, but it should be a great experience regardless. They were predicting a quick sell out as this is the first Springbok game to come to the local rugby union of the province, though I’m sure there will be lots of people from Gauteng making the trek out east to catch a glimpse of the Springboks while the country is in the throes and drama of the World Cup.

Making the trek to Witbank is very doable as we’ll be in our three week period of hiring a car. A much longer trek is heading out to Bylde River Canyon which is close to Mozambique border. As it’s nearly a six hour journey by car, I’ve had a hard time convincing Alisa to wake up early enough to get out there and get back. I had originally hoped that we could get out there for a morning stroll and hike, and then head back to Joburg and stop in Witbank (which is on the way) for the Boks match. While a typical South African could make up that distance in the speed that they drive at, I’m not sure we want to rush throughout that day as it will diminish the enjoyable of two spectacular events. I think we’ll put off the canyon till the end of the trip, and hire a car for 2-3 days to make the journey out there and take in all the park has on offer.

South Africa Navigation App Quest

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Since the announcement of Apple’s iPad, I knew it would provide the perfect solution to not owning an unlocked iPhone for use in South Africa. My original plan had been to route my trip through one of the few countries that sell unlocked iPhones, and then sell the phone before my departure from Southern Africa. However, with the iPad 3G being sold as an unlocked device and a full GPS, this offered a better alternative than having to go the first route.

Having a device that could use Vodacom’s telecom network and also function as a GPS device led to research into which iPhone/iPad apps were available to use as a GPS in South Africa. A quick look through iTunes brought up the following apps: NDrive South Africa, Navigon Southern Africa, TomTom Southern Africa, CoPilot Live South Africa, and Nav4D South Africa. I immediately dismissed Nav4D simply by the screen shots and in their description of the app, it was simply the generic wording, no dedication by the developers to even type up a custom description. Then there were four, let’s compare the challengers below:

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15 Days Out

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Life has been proceeding at a brisk pace since the beginning of April. It’s shocking to look back at our last post of over a month ago, as it seems like just the other day. Unfortunately, our current jobs keep us very busy and there has been little resolution on Mozambique. We have decided to simply head to Maputo, check flights to Nampula, and if they’re not to our liking then we’ll slowly head north till it is time to turn around.

Our Lonely Planet – Southern Africa came the other day along with out Kodak Playsport camera. You can see the first shots of it on www.theafricanfile.com under the video blog.  With Lonely Planet as her inspiration, Alisa has been scouting out Victoria Falls and tours to Etosha in Namibia and Chobe in Bostwana. These seem to be popular among the backpackers and tour operators in Livingstone, and Alisa is trying to find us something that will be cost effective compared to trying to do these on our own with no transportation. We haven’t yet worked out how to get to Livingstone, but it seems like all we need to do is get to Windhoek and then there will be transport out to Zambia from there.

In the time just before this, we have decided to head straight from our last World Cup match in Bloemfontien to Windhoek via Kimberley. However, getting between these two places is not as easy as one would expect, because even though they are seperated by just a few hours, they are not on a popular travel route. Buses run from Joburg to Cape Town through either of these two towns, but not between. Our plan was to leave Bloem to Kimberley, then to Uptington and up to Windhoek. This is all still possible, but buses are infrequent and may require us to spend up to 4 days in Kimberley. After reading the Lonely Planet exerpt on the town though, that might not be a bad thing. This seems to be the going plan, but Alisa needs to set out firmer dates for Livingstone and a possible tour based out of there.

Alisa seems to be willing to sacrifrice the Garden route in order to see Etosha and Chobe, so we may be arriving back in Cape Town after the WC Final (11 July). I had been hoping to get to experience the day of the final in country, but that might be something that has to be sacrificed in order to see what we want to see.

Hopefully, accommodation in South Africa will be sorted by next week, and Alisa can coordinate our Livingstone plans simultaneously so those are all set by the time we depart.

Everything in terms of supplies, has been acquired or on our final checklist. Hopefully this weekend will see everything come together so that our 4 pre-flight days can be spent packing and buying last minute items.