Arriving in South Africa (the Rainbow Nation)

We just reached the country and people are already asking us about our first impressions about Joburg. To be fair I did give none at the moment without first well observing/knowing. We have both been optimists from the beginning and still are (without being too elated about our optimism).

Amidst all negative speculations and warnings, from friends and family, I fear (and rather sheepishly!) that there is an inner sense of elation in determinedly refuting all commonly held (sometimes exaggerated) perceptions about this country. I think we shall closely appeal to a nomadic sensibility – mystifying norms, bolting on sudden-alert and de-sensitizing words that even vaguely mean ‘attachment’. We do the bounces – as a solitary duo - like in a Kochari[1] dance - bouncing from one place to another, without halting to breathe and spoiling the even-rhythm. We haven’t any cultural-baggages to carry either other than the cans of foie gras, mousse de canard, saucisson, nougat de provence, chocolat au lait and postcards from France.

That Joburg is a green-haven, there’s no doubt about it. The city is surrounded by trees and green lawns. It is not a concrete-filled captial (like Bangkok, New York or Bombay) but is very, very spread-out, with green boulevards, broad roads, several green parks, few lakes, golf grounds, country clubs and gardens, apart from a few modest ‘high-rises’ concentrated here and there in business parks. Sometimes it gives me the British India impression in exclusive Indian hill stations with country and golf clubs. I particularly love the road leading to downtown, or old Johannesburg, now inhabited only by ‘black faces’ (and where apparently the whites fear to go). This particular road has old and huge Jacandaras growing on either side, hugging together, creating a cool, green sun-cover. Apprarently, this is a beautiful sight in spring when purple flowers bloom, and later fall on the road to create a lovely purple-colored-sheen. Rumor has it that Jacandaras are forbidden to grow, as they consume plenty lot of water and will wither the water-table dry. Fortunatly and for all prevalent good-sense, they haven’t been unforgivenly and mistakenly cut-away.

Guess it sounds like a little romantic tale, of a love-at-first-sight sort …but no matter what, and up until now, we are loving everything about the city so far – the weather, outdoor restuarants, food, sport activities, theatres, operas, the people, the city- scape and particularly the fact that people here live in houses with pools and gardens with plently of room to spare for guests. :)

Glimpses of the City: View from our hotel, a typical suburb road, inside a walled community. view of the capital's suburbs.

City Statistics:

Season: Mid-Summer

Weather: 25 deg on the average/rainy at times

Population: Around 7 million

1] Kocharis is a folk dance from the Kars and the Artvin regions of Turkey. It is an even rhythmic dance, danced in a circle. The word means normad in Turkic languages. The dance is common to Turks, Armenians and Kurds. (Source: Wiki)