Monday, May 22, 2006

Seaworld, Orlando!


Sunday we spend in Seaworld with our friends, John and Jolanda, visiting from across the pond in the UK.
Certainly a more tranquil outing than yesterday's WetnWild, and I'm bringing my parents here for sure when they visit in December.

The shows we saw were all pretty entertaining and the animals are amazing. Got my biggest thrill feeding and patting a few dolphins. It's certainly something else.


Pictures are worth more than words so I included a few.




The Aquariums were awesome and we saw some weird fish and some spectacular species too.







This spectacular sea dragon wasn't sure if it wanted to be a sea horse or a piece of seaweed.


Sarah talked to just about any stranger she could find!





Sunday, May 21, 2006

What!? It's My Birthday!

Today started off pretty eventful and it was mid-day before I realised it was my birthday - 21 May. A year since the previous one! Time is absolutely flying.

Our full, fun schedule in Waterworld kept us occupied. Birthday forgotten, but many totally enjoyable moments with great friends and a loving wife. I felt privileged to have had such a great start to my 32nd year.

Jerry Seinfeld had this humorous take on birthdays:
What's the big deal? How many times do we not celebrate that somebody was born? Every year, over and over again. All you did was not pass away for 12 months. As far as I can tell, that's all you've done!

Jokes aside - THANK YOU very much to those who send their congratulations. It's always a privilege to receive 'em.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Slip'slidin' at WetnWild, Orlando


WetnWild on Saturday was fantastic. Rides galore - all featuring water of course! - and we had a rave.
All four of us got badly burned, Sarah lost lots of skin trying out the art of knee boarding and I lost a leeetle pride and ego failing to go on some monstrous suicide slide.

We left only as the sun was fading in the distance.



Pic. 2 - Sarah and I at the start of Old's Town. It's a small cobble stone-street town with exact replicas of the old shops and pubs, selling old stuff and other tourist bait. It's beautiful and there's a Fair happening on the side.





Jolanda and I admiring a vintage car in Old's Town, Orlando.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Shark Vally in the 'Glades










I took John and Jolanda for a 15 mile bike ride through the Everglades to get the stiffness out of their legs after the long plane trip.

It's the dry season and not swampy as usual. Pretty hot, but the surroundings were beautiful. As was our mosquito bites afterwards!

Pic: Caught myself an aligator! He was too lazy to move under the hot sun and made easy camera fodder.




Pic 3: This dude is a softshell water turtle and he nearly bit me arm off!

Pic 4: Aligators like this big mommy can be seen lying all along our little bike path.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

I GOT THE JOB!

Today I was officially informed that my application for the position of Development Officer for Alumni Affairs and Communication has been successful.
I start next week.

Monday, May 15, 2006

The Week Ahead...

Today I'll receive feedback from two PR positions I've interviewed for. Sarah should also hear this week regarding the position she applied for at the school in Pinecrest.

Our friends John and Jolanda arrives from Londen on Thursday and we look forward to playing tourguides in Miami. We're planning on heading to Orlando the weekend with them, and visiting some of the theme parks. Wet'n'Wild and the Kennedy Space Centre is on the agenda.

Sarah finishes her school year on Friday and we both know that it is absolutely Grace alone that sustained her through a very difficult year. After Friday a long, well-deserved Summer break lies in wait, during which time she'll be going to the Ukraine, and propably a quick stop in Londen.

Friday, May 12, 2006

The Road Less Travelled

Two roads converged in a forest and I, I took the road less traveled. And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Lazy Sunday's


Sarah at our communal pool. Sunday's are fun with all the kids playing in the pool and people havin' their barby's. Familiar family noise.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

FUNtastic Busch Gardens!


Sunday, 2 May 2006 - Tampa.
Wildlife, wild rides, wondrous live shows and too much to do and see in the space of the Sunday that we had.
Busch Gardens Africa is a marvelous park - two days is not enough time. Ek het oopbek rondgeloop en staar na die konstante beweging om ons.

The Serengeti Plain's recreated plains, 65 acres large was quite impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed all the animals that was on display. This included a gorilla breeding pair with a week-old baby.

Thousands of birds, reptiles and some funny-looking mammals. Then there was the animals in the cages too!
Then, my personal favorite was the Brewmasters Clubhouse, where you can sample all the best from the Annheuser-Busch portfolio. I did some sampling. James and I even found a tree with beer bottles growing on it (see picture).

The Sheikra is the only dive-coaster in the US, it plummet's 90 degrees straigt down, from 200 feet high - sheer stark raving madness! No, I did NOT ride it. My certifiable friends and wife however, did.

However, I did do the Kumba - a 60-mph, 100-foot plummeting, 360 degree spiralling rollercoaster ride. It is ludicrous.
Ek het dit gedoen om Sarah se gespot te stop, om my manlikheid aan die ander vrinne te bewys, die Republiek se naam hoog te hou tussen die Yanks, my eie duiwels te besweer. En helaas, om weer te gaan brekfis geniet op 'n tweede leë maag...

O moer, dit was verskriklik! Tollend, draaiend, drukkend, vry. Knikkerende, gillende, kwylend, half-bewustelose Afrikaner kotsend hoog tollend in die humiede Florida-lug.
NOOIT weer nie!
En Sarah wat laggend uitklim en skril gil sy wil dit WEER doen!!?!!

Monday, May 01, 2006

The Great White Tampa Dragon Boat Race

Residents of the Tampa Bay area are propably used to seeing motorboats, yachts and yetskies cruise about, but Saturday dragonboats ruled the waters in the Garrison Channel.

The Great White South Dragonboat Race is the largest dragonboat event in South-Eastern USA, besides the nationals, that'll be held in August. 55 Teams participated in this well organized event, held in near-perfect conditions. Some of the teams came from as far as Canada and accross the US, and there was a fantastic buzzing atmosphere throughout.

Our Miami Puff team could only manage a dissapointing 8th spot, after winning the Miami Hong Hong season event. Three teams - one from Canda and two from New York totally outclassed the rest, but there were not much to choose from the next best 7 teams and no more than 2 seconds separated any of us during the heats.

There were even two teams compiled of breast-cancer survivors, which was awesome in itself. They received a standing ovation from the crowd upon finishing the race.

Friday night's drive to Tampa, Tampa itself, the awesome nightlife and the time spend with out teammates were well worth the sore limbs and tired eyes Monday at work.
Sunday we met up with friends and DID Busch Gardens, the famous Busch-Annheuser adventure park.

Saturday, April 29, 2006

The Annual CAU Employee Day


Friday was CAU's annual Staff Appreciation Day and they took all staff and faculty on a "Party Boat cruise around downtown Miami and Star Island.

I got to experience Latino party culture firsthand. The music and dancing started as soon as we boarded and people stopped only when we arrived back at 3!
I was exhausted and sorely missed having never attended friend Andre Jordaan's Salsa classes back in Cape Town. White men can't jump, and they can't dance with the same rhythm either.

The house on the last picture is one of many celebrity houses on the exclusive Star Island, just of the coast of Downtown Miami. It is reachable only by a small heavily guarded bridge and the inhabitants dish out millions for the privilege to have such an address.


The house on the picture belongs to Shaquille O'Neil. A quaint little 24 bedroom holiday home, with indoor basketball court and other neccesities.

His neighbours, amongst others, are Oprah, Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Sly Stallone. Sarah and I thought of getting a little place of our own on the island, but the groceries are to expensive and you have to go to Downtown for a Starbucks. ;-)

Thursday, April 27, 2006

South Africans Going Home

Found this intersting article concerning a new trend in South Africa - a reversed "brain drain". South Africans are returning home in greater numbers, and permanently, it seems.
The upbeat economical climate is propably playing a big part in this.

Click on the link for the Business Report article:

  • "http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3217932">
  • Monday, April 24, 2006

    Our Trophy by Golly!


    We finally received our trophy for our overall win in the Miami Hong Kong races.

    Saturday, April 22, 2006

    A Lot of Hot Air


    Saturday - A Hot Air Balloon showcase at the nearby Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport caused for some fantastic viewing early this morning.

    Balloon after balloon drifted across the lake close to our apartment and
    I was able to get some good shots of these colourful blotches in the sky.
    It was a fundraising event for the Sunrise Community and I could hear the festivities, the live music and noise from the thousands of spectators nearby. The Sunrise Community is an organization that has been serving people with developmental disabilities since 1969, with the race being held for the past 15 years.

    The race itself is not ordinary. It starts with a "hare" balloon that drifts Westwards towards the Everglades. At an allocated spot in the 'Glades he marks the ground with a colorful X. Teams in the "hound" balloons then set off to find the marked spot. Teams then must try to hit the centre with a beanbag attached to a flag. The closest team to the flag wins a cash prize.

    The Rise and ... Rise of the Gas Price

    The Gas price in Florida rose from $2, 65 to $2,99 yesterday - within the last two weeks.

    Monday, April 17, 2006

    Retrospeksie na 'n Paasnaweek


    'n Dolle, gejaagde, dog geseënde Paasweek lê in die verlede.
    Buiten die Ware Goddelike boodskap wat ons kraakvars ontvang het, het ek enkele interessante gewaarwordings gemaak.

    Ons kerk - Christ Fellowship - het die stadsbewonders die kerk ingelok met 'n opvoering van die Paasverhaal, vyf opvoerings altesaam. 'n Allemintige groot produksie met 'n professionele regisseur, bykans 200 akteurs en dekor om die asem weg te slaan en les bes, 'n steekse donkie.
    'n Gemiddeld van sowat 900 mense het elke opvoering bygewoon.
    Voorwaar - in Amerika word alles op groot skaal gedoen.

    Ek en Sarah was beide bevoorreg om deel van die produksie te wees. Ek het Barabas die skuimbol gespeel en het elke aand na werk kerk toe gejaag om die troffels grimering te laat opplak voordat ek in geskeurde klere saam met Jesus voor Pontius P. gaan staan het.


    Dit was interessant om te sien hoe die eenvormige kleredrag van al die akteurs, aktrises en sangers, sosiale onderskeiding afgebreek het.
    Hoe 'n Petrus totaal uit sy aard begin leiding neem en 'n sterk gemeenskapsleier na die agtergrond skuif vir 'n week, as 'n bedelaar.

    Thursday, April 13, 2006

    Vakansietyd en Tyd vir Dink

    Dis 6uurDonderdagvakansiedaglangnaweekoggendmoervroeg hier en ek wag vir 'n vriend om my te kom oplaai - ons gaan lyne natmaak hier naby by 'n meer.
    Maar daar gaan nie stowwerige droeë rooi grond wees nie. Ook nie lang geel gras, blou berge, bokmis, 'n kenmerkende Afrika-stofreuk, wingerde of 'n ongelooflike rooi son wat vanuit die aarde se buik opstyg nie.
    Dis lekker hier in Florida, maar soms proe ek nog die soet na-smaak van 'n ou Bolandse bestaan.
    But wait, here comes my fishing partner. "Morning Sirree! Let's go stir up the Hammock's water over yonder...."

    Saturday, April 08, 2006

    Nuus Laagtepunt

    Wat is die nuwe benaming vir seks, teen jou sin, maar met jou toestemming ,sonder jou medewete?
    JY word geZUMA!

    Tuesday, April 04, 2006

    Easter...

    The Easter Pageant production will be running five shows this week, including two on Sunday.
    Sarah and I both volunteered. We propably won't be home until very late every night, translating into sparse Blog contributions for the next 6 days.
    My humblest apologies, and all about that later.

    Sunday, April 02, 2006

    South Beach


    I took Sarah on a wee date Sunday night, South Beach.
    Ever felt ridiculously out of place somewhere?! I had the same feeling in South Beach as I always had when we visited Clifton, Cape Town, as students.
    We walked the bustling Ocean Drive and had a quaint dinner on the sidewalk of the Mambo Club. Dancer's, outdoor swimming pool next to the sidewalk, waiters in strange clothing.
    Man, were we ever people watching!

    Someone explained to us soon after we arrived in Miami that with all the immigrants in this city, it is a stepping stone to other things for most. In my office there are six people - seven different countries represented. The population evolves, changes all the time.
    Miami is a transient city.

    A city with a lot of personality, but no soul.