Johannesburg

MBL, mandatory block leave! Not too many things that are as exciting in the corporate world. Perhaps starting a new job, a promotion, an acknowledgement, or resignation from a job, but somewhere in between sits the MBL. 2 weeks away from the office where you are not allowed to do any work (theoretically). So handover has been complete, out of office notification has been set, and now we forget about work for 2 weeks, well maybe less, I have a feeling that 12 days in I'll start thinking about what awaits me. Until then though, we're off to South Africa!

Arrived in Johannesburg after a 12 hour flight. Body clock is a little out of what, departed Hong Kong just after midnight on Sunday (Saturday night), and arrived in South Africa at 6 am, on Sunday. From all accounts, nobody really has much good to say about Johannesburg. "It's dangerous", "there's nothing to do there", "don't leave the hotel" are the common tropes about the capital. Arriving in South Africa on the Sunday we had two days of acclimatisation before the main event started. We had originally looked at potentially tacking on a side trip ahead of Safari, but decided to spend time in Johannesburg. Day one, we did not leave the hotel. How about those Woolworth's dried royal apricots?

Day two, decided to lace up the shoes and go for a run around Zoo Lake and the Zoo. The sun rises early here, around 5 am. Initial thoughts of this area, everybody is so friendly. Lots of hellos and waves on my morning run. Ended up linking up with a Johannesburg run club and trailed them for 2 kms before finishing up a nice 9 km run. The afternoon was spent with Tumi our tour guide as he gave us a tour around Johannesburg and a history lesson of South Africa. Visited the poorest areas, as well as the richest areas and visited Soweto and Mandela's house. Also know as the most famous street in the world, Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have house two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Nandos for dinner. 

Nice little introductory to South Africa.