Cape Town, the city where I grew up and spent most of my formative years – to some extent the city has changed beyond recognition, while many features still remain; Table Mountain, of course, the townships and suburbs, University of Cape Town, the friendly people that have a special place in my emotional landscape. We…
Cape Town – jou lekker ding!
Sunday morning, it was time to leave Gauteng and head to Cape Town, the Mother City and the area where I grew up and completed my studies. A short flight, 2 hours, which was surprisingly full, a beautiful day and we landed to blue skies and quite warm. My brother and #LittleNiece came to pick…
Fucking brilliant! The front cover of my travel diary… basically defines my thoughts for the start of an African adventure, leaving behind #FirstWorldProblems, and flying off to enjoy some space, sunshine and wonderful friends and family. The trip started with a flight from Heathrow, London, to Johannesburg. SAA 237, departure 21:00, though with an African…
Trooping of the Colour – The Queen’s birthday parade (June 2017)
The fantastically crazy German, Frau Hagen, was in town and we were going to have have some fun, that was for sure. But, what to do, so much going on in London… until I saw some toffs all dressed up in Waterloo station – facepalm moment, June… Trooping of the Colour… and off we went…
What is the world coming to?
I was travelling from London to Rome this morning when I heard the terrible news about the bombings in Brussels, which comes after the New York, London & Paris attacks, war in Syria, Iraq etc., the refugee crisis, breakdown of the welfare system in many countries, desecration of wildlife habits… in short, I despair. It…
Makeni & Freetown, Sierra Leone
The Sunday before Christmas was spent in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We went for a long walk around the city (approx. 12 km), first along Lumley beach and returning via Wilkinson and Aberdeen roads. The beach was filled with football games while the other side of the road contains many new building sites; a sign of economic…
Off the beaten track – Windhoek towards the Orange River & South Africa
Die pad ist lang (the road is long, “Namibian” German) Windhoek, Namibia I have been watching the sun set behind the hill, hoping that some kudu might provide a nice silhouette, but no luck today. On the animal front, earlier I had spotted some new birds and again heard the fish eagle, but did not…
Off the beaten track – Richtersveld & Namaqualand
In my previous posting, we had started our trip, caravan and all (no cats), in Kapps Farm near Windhoek, Namibia, and headed south towards Cape Town. Richtersveld Nature Reserve We left our riverbed campsite to continue south towards the Namibia/South Africa border via a quick refuel and re-stock in the zinc-mining town of Rosh Pina….
Off the beaten track – Namibia
A few days ago, I was haven a twitter chat and we somehow got onto the topic of Africa and our trips to Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. The next thee blogs will be about one trip in Namibia, when three of us drove from Windhoek to Cape Town with a Range Rover and Caravan….
Blog – the beautiful people of Sierra Leone
In this post my reflections are through pictures – the people of Sierra Leone left a positive and lasting impression on me! The wonderful people of Port Loko, where I was based: The pikkins of Port Loko: The children and…
Blog: 24 hours in Freetown, Sierra Leone #EbolaFreeSierraLeone
After more than 3 weeks in Port Loko, Sierra Leone, at last I had a chance for a two-night R&R (rest & recreation) with my wife, who is currently based in Freetown. Saturday afternoon a few of us got transport to Freetown, an intriguing three-hour drive from Port Loko. We had to pass through several roadblocks…
Jungle walk – Port Loko, Sierra Leone
On my second day off from duties in the Port Loko ETC, JS invited JB and myself to join her on a jungle walk. Most of the team had already been on this walk and were quite effusive in their enthusiasm. So, off we went down Rotifunk road; actually more of a dirt track with…
Sierra Leone – a visit to the Maronka Port Loko EducAid orphanage
It was a Wednesday, which made absolutely no difference as illness does not pause; we worked a 7-day cycle. Four of us had the day off (JS, CS, PF) and took off towards the local EducaAid orphanage. Head towards the road to the airport, approximately 0.8 km, they said, then turn right and walk along…
Start of a new semester at the university – time to teach and have some fun! (please don’t tell the Dean)
A university in southeast England, where a new academic year and semester started this week, bringing with it the post-summer challenges and joys of teaching young adults again in an undergraduate BSc(Hons) program. Last week we had some fun and a few laughs.During Fresher’s week, I started with small cohort on the Biochemistry programme (about 40 students) and…
Sierra Leone – a first visit to Port Loko
Friday morning was the first real working day and I had been allocated to the early shift, which started at 06:00 am. Not a problem on my part, as I am an early bird, but it meant trying to get a few slices of toast and some coffee before getting the bus at 05:30 am….
Sierra Leone – the first few days
I’m not really sure how I decided to go to Sierra Leone, but the seeds were probably planted by an email I received from my lovely wife: “Can I please go to Sierra Leone to work in an Ebola lab?” My response was a simple “yes” – I was happy that she wanted to go,…
Cape Town, South Africa
Wednesday: Further travel was via Aurora and Veldrif in the forlorn hope of seeing more spring flowers, but to no avail. However, we did see some blue cranes, with the female not too keen on the advances of a male (headache?). Thursday and Friday were spent catching up with family etc. The Cape was stormy and…
South Africa: Richtersveld & Namaqaland
Spring “vygies”, Namaqaland Coastal Reserve, South Africa Previously…. South Africa: Namibia & Richtersveld Sunday: We left our riverbed campsite to continue south towards the Namibia/South Africa border via a quick refuel and re-stock in the zinc-mining town of Rosh Pina. The Orange river is the border at this point and we crossed over at Sendlingsdrif on a…
South Africa: Namibia & Richtersveld
Die pad ist lang (the road is long, “Namibian” German) Previously, “Namibia, Week 1″… Wednesday: Tonight I have been watching the sun set behind the hill, hoping that some kudu might provide a nice silhouette, but no luck today. On the animal front, earlier I had spotted some new birds and again heard the fish eagle,…
Namibia – week 1
Several years ago I went in this fantastic trip with my sister and her husband, which I “published” on a different site. So, as I am soon to undertake another southern African adventure, here’s a re-revisit, in several parts. 2013 (I think)… This trip to Namibia and South Africa started from London Heathrow Terminal 5…
A short visit to Bavaria / Bayern
It’s been a while since I visited Germany and it was about time to hear a speak German again, do some reading, just enjoy. Weilheim in Oberbayern, south of Munich, is always a good target, gemütlich, has good beer and food, and is close to the mountains and Munich. The local politics are too conservative for my…
London mit Frau Hagen
Images from the South Bank, London
The University of Surrey turns 50 (#Surrey50)
This week the University of Surrey celebrates 50 years in Guildford, having originated from Battersea Polytechnic (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/). The celebrations started with fireworks on Wednesday this week, which was preceded by some good music (does anybody recall the name of the first band?), including a Beatles tribute band, and food stalls – who can resist a Kung…
