Ciao!

The best thing about Europe so far

Without the Socceroos to follow we didn't feel there was much need to hang around South Africa. We tried to get to the New Zealand game in Polokwane the day after our game against Serbia but for some reason it was not our destiny to get to watch them. Firstly we tried to watch the Italy vs NZ game the week before but due to the friendly robbers in Rustenburg we spent the morning at the cop shop rather than driving and arrived too late. This time we got an early start but busted a tyre about 100km into the drive, that wasn't too bad, put the spare on and kept going. Then 40 minutes out of Polokwane our spare went too. Being stuck somewhere in South Africa with only 3 wheels, your brother, your Dad and two donkeys eating grass for 3 hours isn't all that exciting. We eventually got back on the road again and arrived in Polokwane with about 5 minutes of game time to go. 

I'm now safe and sound in Switzerland. The land of clockwork is a funny place to end up after being in South Africa. Here the toilets flush, the paper cups don't leak and there are no random fires burning on the side of the road. In fact everything works so damn perfectly that it makes me miss the harmonious chaos of South Africa! 

I miss the charm and erratic behaviour, the sweet exchanges with proud locals, the kangaroo comments, shakin booties and rhythm but I cannot deny that Europe really knows whats going on. World Cup is on and if you hated the sport you might just want to kill yourself (or find a redneck town in South Africa). Every shop has a plasma screen TV viewing the games, supermarkets, department stores, shops on the street. Every child wears their preferred jersey. When England lost and the Germans won you knew about it. Luckily for me I love this sport and the European football culture makes me feel right at home. 

For now I think project Girl Meets Ball can go to sleep… It's been lots of fun sharing my trip to South Africa, but now I had better get on with the rest of my ideas. I'll be in Europe for two more weeks and will then be moving to London. 

Feel free to comment and say hi! I hope you enjoyed the ride.

Thanks and goodbye 

GMB X 

The Swiss won in the gummibear World Cup!

Germany just scored their 3rd goal against England

I was in Paris on Wednesday and found their Fifa Fan Fest, I thought Sydney's was in a good location! Imagine watching France get knocked out of the group stage here... 

A poster in Paris

Out the window in South Africa

A journey of pictures from the roads we travelled. 

Drakensberg Ranges

Zebra!

Sunsets never look quite as beautiful in a picture

We bought a little Rhino off this guy in exchange for 20R, plus my supply of apples and Ouma Rusks

A confession to make

One part of my trip, that is kind of a major part of my trip, that I've been keeping a secret is my style of accommodation. And I tell you it is all style here baby! Hillbilly, white trash, yeeharing, hooting Campervanning pleasure. Thats right, we're doing South Africa 2010 in movable house!

I think I didn't quite want to admit it to the public just in case the whole idea backfired, but then again if we do get hijacked (just putting it out there) I'm sure the media would make that very public so I had to admit it one day (crossing fingers this doesn't happen). Now that I'm here and still alive I thought I'd share and, apart from the minor Rustenburg mishap, it's been extremely cruisey and I'm loving the camping lifestyle. 

Move where you like and sleep where you like… I wouldn't say she's the most finely tuned design but this baby has been getting us around just fine! Plus I've become a pretty low maintenance female which will make most future life living scenarios feel like luxury! 

Dad was rather well organised and got his sign maker to put together some perfect banners. Slightly attention seeking, but it warms the locals right up… Even if some don't quite know what that animal is, they like the beer he's holding. 

I wonder when I will be a free-range chicken once again? 

On the roof. Found out later that we weren't supposed to get out of car. Sorry Kruger!

Sunny Durban

Somewhere in Africa

These guys made themselves at home! 

Robberburg

Well thank the Football Gods that we're outta there… Now, I remember at the start of the journey pointing out that I would come across some beautiful but also some ugly events here in South Africa. I can confirm that Rustenburg, for the larger part was unfortunately the latter of the two.

On the way to the stadium

Somehow things just didn't quite connect in the town. The locals and even event staff didn't really know what was what and we were often sent on little detours around the town, at times getting 3 different directions for the one location. Getting to the stadium was a shambles. We knew we had to find the 'Park and Ride' but there was little signage to be seen. Plus no public transport at all. We got there in the end. We found the stadium a fair way out of town, strangely juxtaposed around a suburb of small shanty town homes with corrugated iron walls and not much else. 

Rustenburg Fifa Fan Fest before GHANA vs AUS. This place should have been full... = bad planning!

Now, to the game, quite beautiful in parts, but ultimately such a disappointment. The Aussie fans were once again in full bloom, taking over the stadium and trying to take over the Vuvuzelas. Our first 2010 World Cup goal by Holman was a huge relief, even if it was from a set piece I was very glad to see it happen! Then came the slimy wretched red card for Kewell's 'shoulder ball'. Strange that it is once again an Italian that causes Australia such unjust misery. I feel that they are conspiring against us. In the stadium it's always confusing to figure out exactly what has happened because they don't play replays as to not stir up the crowd when a big decision is made. In came the report text message from Mum back home to say it looked pretty suss. The Aussie fans were livid. Budweiser beer bombs hurling onto the ground was not a pretty sight…

Found Andrew Orsatti, ex-SBS reporter, works for ESPN in the US now.

Instead of being glum bums we got a bunch of the Aussies together and found a bar that was a tip off from a local. We found ourselves deep in thick and sticky Afrikaans White Supremacist, Rugby lovin' territory. What fun! The Aussies stuck together and had a good time but it was hard to avoid the constant niggling Yarpies in our ear. I can honestly say we could not have one conversation with them that didn't involve the locals repulsing at the fact that there was a Football World Cup going on (actually, many basically tried to blank it from their minds), or hurling racist remarks in many shapes and forms. Earlier in the day when we asked one guy for directions to the stadium he replied with 'oh, you mean the newly built Rugby stadium?'… Now I have no problem with Rugby, but there is a time and a place and it's probably not at the Football World Cup, try New Zealand next year… It completely baffles me that these people can not embrace the fact that the whole world is coming together to celebrate the World Cup in their country, regardless if they like it or not, it is a beautiful thing. 

This is not to say at all that this is a representation of everyone. Many other South Africans we've met have been absolutely charming and helpful, plus many warnings were sent our way that we might experience this type of person in the smaller towns. Every country has them!

To top off a strange 24 hours in Rustenburg our evening was spoilt in a way that maybe we were almost expecting eventually. I won't get right into the gritty, let's just say it was our turn - went out to by a new GPS today amongst other things…. Thankfully my 24 pack of Crayola colours is still securely in my possession. 

FREAKIN amazing KIWI pride right here by the way. I'm claiming my half All Whites side to the bank! Soothes the pain from Italy vs Australia back in 2006!

Follow other World Cup lovers!

-Check out Vijay Khurana and Dom Knight's Triple J 'World Cup Safari' podcasts for World Cup fun of the audio kind. 

-The boys from www.onofficial.com are also covering the events here in South Africa in a colourful way, follow them for some more fun! 

Delayed Update

M

Drove 2 hours north to St Lucia, a quaint costal town known for it's hippos and crocodiles. In keeping with my father's traditional swagger we were not permitted to join in on any 'tour group' scenarios so we went hunting out on our own! We saw: hippos, monkeys, dung beetles, fuzzy caterpillars, antelope, zebra, wildebeest, hogs and one single glimpse of an amazing leopard! 

T

Headed back to Durban to meet some long lost cousins from my Mum's side. They treated us to a very South African Braai at their beautiful home. So nice to be able to have a break from the quick side street bites we've been having and have a yummy, hearty home cooked meal!

W

Attempted to get tickets to Spain v Switzerland but failed miserably. Everyone else had the same idea. Swiss ended up causing biggest upset of tournament so far beating Spain 1-0. Boy were they feeling it. The Swiss walked around as if their cat just died. We found one out of the ordinary fella, a Swiss Monkey!

T

Drove to the Drakensburg Ranges. Really stunning and also FREEZING! Saw Zebras running free (as they should).

F

Made it to Rustenburg. Lets see what this place is about… Apparently we are up for a cosy -6 tonight. Yeeoouuch. 

Cool

- Saw a leopard on the streets of St. Lucia. Absolutely amazing, a local said they had not seen one in the wild for in 20 years. 

- First real South African Braai

- Hilarious Swiss

- Gumboot dancing

- Random (but well behaved) dogs sitting with us at the restaurant we ate dinner last night

Fool

- Ran out of petrol on highway to Jo'burg!! Still alive.

- Brother's choice to have curry last night…

- South Africa's RICA sim card registration ANNOYING!

Bafana I love you

I have been released from Airport purgatory and have arrived in the land of Bafana Bafana! Social appropriateness is thrown out the window… Here, you do take candy from strangers, you talk to people when you get in a lift (you even hold the lift for them) - in fact you sing with them too and best of all you park wherever you like. The idea of a parking ticket need not enter one's mind. 

This is my first chance to use internet, yesterday we had a busy day getting our feet on the ground. We headed out to the Sandton Fifa Fan Fest to catch the opening game action. South Africa vs Mexico. The locals were truly electric, as we drove out, thousands of South African's dressed in complete Bafana (name of the SA national team) kits were pouring out onto the roads, parking wherever suited, one car just pulled up in the middle of the highway to watch the game as he had found himself in perfect line of sight to the big screen!

The live site was absolutely chokkas so we drove a little further to a shopping area, parked and found ourselves in quite a funny situation. We opted to just watch the first game somewhere quiet and find some atmosphere for the next game so we asked a local for a good spot, this lovely young gentleman led us into some office blocks and said there was some people watching a game in there. Now I know you're not supposed to follow strangers in South Africa but it seemed OK so we followed… He led us to big room with heaps of South Africans and a big screen. Heavenly! Couldn't complain… So we sat down and got comfy. It was only when we were offered free alcohol that we began to feel a little sheepish. Eventually someone from the company whose building we were in came up to us and asked how we got in. We played the cute tourist card and she laughed it off and let us stay!

WORLD CUP - This is how humans should be all the time! 

Now we're just road tripping off to Durban. Here we will meet the rest of the Australian fans and prepare for tomorrow's match!!

World Cup playlist: Men At Work // Empire of the Sun // Darwin Deez // Midnight Oil //  Gorillaz // Illy // Fleetwood Mac // Passion Pit // ACDC // Jay-Z // Kasbian // Friendly Fires // Dizzee Rascal // Vampire Weekend // Lisa Mitchell

Cool

- Park where you like

- Do what you like 

- Everyone is smiling

- Staff at most businesses get to wear what they like to work. No wanky uniforms!

- Traffic lights are called 'Robots'

Fool 

- Too many countries with Green and Gold! South Africa, Aussies, Brazil. ITS OURS! Opting to wear the aussie flag around instead to avoid confusion. 

- Organisation; some aspects are not running as smoothly as we would have hoped. 

- My immune system is taking the mick out of me… Whenever I get into a new country I get sick! No exception here, caught myself a flu. 

- Hard to figure out which ones the staff are in shops. 

Count down ends!

A few memories from Germany 2006

GOOAAALLLL! Aus vs Japan Germany Kaiserslauten

Aus Vs Cro Family Snap! Germany 2006

When I was still in High School in 2006 I took my first ever trip overseas; my introduction to the rest of the world was Germany's FIFA World Cup. In that one month of breathless passion I experienced such an unreal and raw time, to my young eyes everything was golden, glittering and exciting. I suppose timing had a lot to do with it, my age, Australia's situation as well as their relative success made my time in Germany ever more the 'life changing' experience. So, as South Africa was approaching and my family made plans to make the pilgrimage again it obviously got me thinking about our time in Germany and just how unexplainable it was, so this time I thought it'd be fun to document the whole process to share with everyone! 

I started counting down 128 days ago via this blog… Today, there is just one day to go and I'm sitting in the airport waiting for my flight. I'll arrive in Johannesburg on Friday morning, awaiting for me will be a whole country bursting out of it's seams with pride and passion as well as 1000's of fans from all over the world. Everyone's there for one reason. A mass of humans ready to enjoy themselves, their inhibitions gone - ready to hug any random that walks past…

It's been a rather entertaining little project for me to have on the side and has been a great way to keep up to date with the lead up to the tournament. The best thing is that the real fun begins now! 

There's no doubt that over the next few weeks there'll be lots to see, some beautiful, maybe some ugly.  I hope to take as many pictures as possible to share and upload. 

Most of all hopefully it's safe and hopefully Australia does well! 

One step closer...

I was met this morning by my yahooing brother and father at Zurich airport twirling their Aussie scarves above their heads... The swiss were a little concerned but when I saw them I knew I was in safe hands! 

Only God knows how I could have possibly detoured to Zurich on my way to South Africa... But anyway here I am! The lovely Luis and Florence have looked after us and conveniently live a sweet 5 minute walk from FIFA head quarters so as if I could get away with not visiting! I went over with Dad, took some snaps and then preceded on my run and managed to get lost!!! It really sucked. But anyway I'm back now, happy that a Swiss bear didn't eat me. 

NEXT STOP SOUTH AFRICA!

Nelspruit

Mbombela Stadium, I love the Zebra seating!

I've covered Durban and Rustenburg but realised that I am yet to figure out the lie of the land in Australia's 3rd host city Nelspruit. So here's a practical and compact one hit post. 

Population: 470,000

Climate: Sub-tropical with temperatures around 23°C during winter
Key Economic Sectors: Agriculture, Mining 

Football Clubs: Mpumalanga Black Aces, Witbank Spurs (1^st Division)

Location: North East on the Crocodile River near the Mozambique border

Mbombela Stadium is where the Socceroos will play on the 23rd of June against Serbia. The stadium seats 43,500 and was built especially for the tournament. 

Nelspruit's Fifa Fan Fest will be located just outside the city centre and about 5km from the stadium at Bergvlam High School.






There is a serious lack of photos of Nelspruit on the internet (had the same problem with Rustenburg), this is the only piece of random street dwelling I could find! I'm sure World Cup will boost the little towns web presence... Can't wait to take some of my own snaps.

More info at http://www.mbombela.gov.za/

Rustenburg Week: Other things to do...

Rustenburg's Fan Fest will keep us occupied for a lot of the evening hours but if you're after some non-football adventure options then there are a few other activities to check out. 

The Sun City Casino complex claims to be South Africa's 'Las Vegas' and is located just outside of Rustenburg. If you're sick of the natural landscape of South Africa you might just be able to hide yourself in this place. It's a wholllee lota man made.  A huge entertainment complex with nightclubs, cinemas, golf courses, an artificial surfing beach, a crocodile park, a waterworld for parasailing, water skiing and sindsurfing, a Disney-inspired Lost City... The list goes on...


Sounds like a cross between Crown Casino in Melbourne and the Gold Coast... Here's an article from The Age. 





Another destination is Hartbeespoort Dam which offers paragliding and handgliding, lots of water sports, an aquarium, private zoo, a snake park and a cable way! The area seems to be a bit of a weekend get away with lots of touristy things, local art galleries and events going on. 

The Magaliesberg Mountains offer a breath of fresh air. With canopy tours, hot air balloon trips, abseiling, horse riding this might be a good option if you need a break from the football fever. 

Also, while you're here - Botswana is only about an hours drive from Rustenburg, I really wanna go there!