First, JNB or Johannesburg International Airport, has to be one of my favorite airports simply for the people factor. While you can fly directly to some of the smaller cities in southern Africa, the choice of carriers to those destinations sets the western mind reeling. Would you really want to fly for 10 hours on Namibian Air? Or fly anywhere on Air Zimbabwe? Actually, the safety records for these airlines are quite good and you still get real cutlery during meal service but for reasons I understand, much of the world chooses taking the larger carriers into Johannesburg.
The result is a wonderful mix of people traveling through this airport at any time and the usual cacophony when you mix languages, cultures and bureaucracy. There are a whole array of tourists from Europe and Australia. Africa is a favored vacation destination by much of the world even though most folks from the US are less apt to make the trip but more about that later. You hear German, Dutch, French, Italian and a multitude of languages I can’t identify and see the distinctive mannerisms, hand gestures and antics that we all seem to carry with us from home no matter how hard we try to blend in.
A lot of intra continental travel routes through JNB so you are apt to see Bedouin robes, the clothing of beautiful colorful African fabrics or the dress of the cultures of the immigrants that now call Africa home. And business people; in their suits talking on cell phones they look strangely out of place among the tourists and international travelers. You suspect, as you look at some of the characters, that their business may not exactly pass the scrutiny of the SEC.
Dinner at the Sun hotel is a culinary adventure in itself. Deliciously roasted meats, curries with all the bits like hot chilies in oil, coconut, and cilantro to dress it up according to the varied customs of their patrons, an array of salads and dishes representing both local and international tastes line their buffet. Feta and chilis in oil, calamari and lentil salad, chicken and aubergine…..
Jill and I were finishing dinner and doing a bit of people watching when the gentleman at the next table struck up a conversation with us. Living in Australia and with a number of years doing business in various parts of Africa as experience, he was full of stories and a different perspective on the world.
About this time, the power went out in the hotel. Apparently not terribly unusual, there was nothing to do but have another glass of wine or two.
After hearing more of his stories, Jill, who isn’t as naïve as I, gently, but directly, asked our now dinner companion, “So, would some people refer to you as a mercenary?”
Visions of “if I tell you, I have to kill you” movie scenes flooded my mind as I waited what seemed an eternity for his response which, fortunately, didn’t take long.
He chuckled. I don’t think anyone had ever quite asked that question or maybe just not in that sweet way. We had our answer.
His advice: Travel now because the world is changing faster and in ways we don’t realize.
I'm trying to take his advice!
The next day was a different world.
Nothing beats the airports in the bush –
The Arrivals and Departures Lounge
Baggage handling bush style
Legroom??
But the view is worth it!
After greetings at the camp, we waste no time jumping into the jungle -- well, swamp. Actually, the Okavanga Delta.
A big part of the adventure for me is learning more about different photgraphic techniques. Of course, when I get back I have these dilemmas -- which do I like better? Which do you like better the one above or this one?
So much of the experience has to do with how good your guide is -- our local guide in Xigera was Sam and he was terrific.
Bug screen--
More later!
