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ss_11000
3rd August 2008, 11:07 PM
G'day

I have attached a 5 page report for any one that wants to read it. I will also chuck up 20 or so photo's for anyone interested (if you would like to see more and have a myspace account, PM me and I will add you and you can see them there.)


There was two boys teams - blue (1's) and yellow (2's) and a girls team. there was also about 40 supporters, coaches and management. the group was about 90 people.


Anyway, we left Sydney on July 4 and arrived in Johannesburg later that day (Aus is 8 hours ahead of SA). For the next couple of days we did the whole tourist thing in Pretoria and the Pilanesburg national park area.
We went on two big game drives, went to a lion park where we got to pat the lion cubs, went to Sun City which is a massive casino and a pretty cool water park, took a tour of Pretoria, experienced some local cultures, had a night with some Zulu's.

We then had 3 days at the High Performance Centre (similar to the AIS). they focussed on our running techniques. I actually learnt a fair bit there:cool:. After all that stuff, we took off on a plane to Cape Town.

CT is one hell of a cool place IMO, I definitely want to go back. on the first arvo there, we went up to Table Mountain which is right on the coast and in 1060m above sea level. Awesome views from up there!!! We trained in the morning for the next few days. We went to V&A waterfront (awesome shopping complex) and Century City-Canal Walk (a better shopping complex) quite a few times over the nine day we were there.

We went to a informal and formal settlement which was a real eye opener about how some people live in SA. As a group we donated 2600 rand (approx 350 AUD). We also did Robben island, seal island, hout bay, cape point, cape of good hope and all that other stuff.

We played about 10 or 11 games including practice games. We ended up runners up after loosing the final in extra time against Pretoria Boys High. the standard of hockey was great and the games were always hard and fast till the last minute (even when a team was down by 5!!!)...

We left CT for Joburg then Joburg for Sydney. We left CT on 21st and got to sydney on the 22nd at around 4pm or so.

It was an awesome trip that i will definately try to do again. i can go back next year and i am eligble for 2010 but it wont be on cos of the soccer world cup. anyway, i need to save up around 6K before next may (minus any sponsorship/donations i can get a hold of) if i am to go back (i hope so).

cheers

DJ’s Timber
3rd August 2008, 11:17 PM
Good stuff Stirlo :2tsup: sounds like you had a ball

ss_11000
3rd August 2008, 11:20 PM
- action shot
- deputy mayor giving me my medal
- team photo after presso
- scenery, highway
- grandad with a local getting a ride
- some animal...
- plianesburg national park at sunrise
- ducky
- plinesburg NP again
- sun city, valley of the waves entrance
- sign at a hotel.

ss_11000
3rd August 2008, 11:35 PM
- zulu dance
- lion
- lion
- lion
- the heart of pretoria (CBD)
- out of the plane window heading from joburg to CT
- table mountain cable way
- informal settlement (this is the formal part)
- table mountain from robben island
- penguin
- the best bus drivers ever and barry the organiser!
- from the top of TM
- lion cub
- canal walk food court.

ss_11000
3rd August 2008, 11:47 PM
we also went to a museum type thingo which had some old antique tools. i took plenty of fotos and will create another thread in the next few days about them.

DavidG
3rd August 2008, 11:58 PM
:2tsup: Well done :2tsup:

Ruddigar
4th August 2008, 12:26 AM
Good journal, Stirlo. It's not bogged down with what you had to eat whilst wearing leopard print jocks.

Succinct. Good job. Good photos, too...

artme
4th August 2008, 06:52 AM
Travel is great .isn' t it? Great lot of photos mate. :2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

AlexS
4th August 2008, 09:42 AM
Good journal, Stirlo. It's not bogged down with what you had to eat whilst wearing leopard print jocks.

Succint. Good job. Good photos, too...

...but he really would like to know.:D
Sounds like you had a great trip, Stirlo, good pics and an interesting journal.

Remember, what happens on tour stays on tour.:rolleyes:

ss_11000
4th August 2008, 05:00 PM
...
Remember, what happens on tour stays on tour.:rolleyes:
yep:D

wheelinround
4th August 2008, 05:52 PM
Great photo's Stirlo and great write up

glad you enjoyed your trip.

joe greiner
4th August 2008, 09:46 PM
Congratulations, Stirlo. Good write-up and pics. Thanks.

Joe

munruben
4th August 2008, 10:32 PM
Great pics and great experience for you. :2tsup::2tsup:

ss_11000
5th August 2008, 01:14 AM
cheers guys.

good to hear that it was worth the effort of putting up the fotos (its a PITA resizing them :( )

Wongo
5th August 2008, 10:14 AM
Welcome back Stirlo.:2tsup:

Scally
5th August 2008, 11:09 AM
Welcome back.

It looks like you had a great trip.

It certainly makes you realise what it is like in the rest of the world.

But where are the DRUMS?

ss_11000
5th August 2008, 02:20 PM
But where are the DRUMS?

last year, someone tried to take some home but customs got to them:(...but i did 'play' some drums at the markets, old mate was trying to off load em at a 'very special price cos i was his "friend"'...lol

fenderbelly
5th August 2008, 04:52 PM
good report and nice pics Stirlo.:2tsup:


Have you tried Irfan View for resizing its so easy and its a free download.

Cheers Fred

Bob38S
15th August 2008, 12:47 PM
Nice one - remember - travel broadens the mind but lightens the wallet - a good trade I think.

ss_11000
15th August 2008, 05:01 PM
thanx guys for the comments


we also went to a museum type thingo which had some old antique tools. i took plenty of fotos and will create another thread in the next few days about them.
forgot about this, i will try to get to it this w/e:)