“洋”的心情日记及生活点滴 Raynard's diary .......: Johannesburg, South Africa (3rd-7th August 2009)

Flight No: CX749/CX748 (HKG-JNB-HKG)
Date: 3rd - 7th Aug 2009
Flying Hours: 13 hours 10 mins
(GMT +0200)

Johannesburg also known as Jozi or Jo'burg, is the largest city in South Africa. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa. The city is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the world and it is one of Africa's only three global cities, the other two being Casablanca in Morocco, and Cape Town. While Johannesburg does not form one of South Africa's three capital cities, it does house the Constitutional Court – South Africa's highest court.
Johannesburg is the source of a large-scale gold and diamond trade, due to its location on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand range of hills. Johannesburg is served by O.R. Tambo International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Africa and a gateway for international air travel to and from the rest of southern Africa.
According to the 2007 Community Survey, the population of the municipal city was 3,888,180 and the population of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area was 7,151,447. A broader definition of the Johannesburg metropolitan area, including the Ekhuruleni, the West Rand, Soweto and Lenasia, has a population of 10,267,700. The municipal city's land area of 1,645 square kilometers (635 sq mi) is very large when compared to other cities, resulting in a moderate population density of 2,364 inhabitants per square kilometre (6,123/sq mi).
Johannesburg once again includes Soweto, which was a separate city from the late 1970s through the 1990s. Originally an acronym for "SOuth-WEstern TOwnships", Soweto originated as a collection of settlements on the outskirts of Johannesburg populated mostly by native African workers in the gold mining industry. Eventually incorporated into Johannesburg, the apartheid regime (in power 1949 - 1994) separated Soweto from the rest of Johannesburg to make it a completely Black area. Lenasia is also part of Johannesburg.
Gauteng is growing rapidly due to mass urbanisation which is a feature of many developing countries. According to the State of the Cities Report, the urban portion of Gauteng – comprised primarily of the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni (the East Rand) and Tshwane (greater Pretoria) – will be a polycentric urban region with a projected population of some 14.6 million people by 2015.

~ the BATHROOM ~

The pool area outside our crew room where we checked in, it brings "peace & relax" to you isn't it? Imagine during this winter time, lying on the bed by the pool early in the morning with the sun shining on you, absorbing the morning vitamins from the sun, taking in fresh breath from the green surrounding, relax your mind and simply enjoy the quiet moment all by yourself. I think this is the best way to recharge ourselves, both mentally and physically.

with the fluent French & English speaker Juli from Tokyo, Japan

We're getting warmth from the burning charcoal

With my A Kor (Flight Purser) Stephen from Hong Kong, he was promoted from Flight Attendant to Flight Purser in 4 years' time as one usually takes 7-9 years. I need to learn from how he perform his duties and most importantly his attitudes. A good role model to learn from ^_^ I want to thank him very much for his compliments and advices given to me and I promise I certainly will keep it up and improve further.

She is the house-keeping at Indaba hotel, my first African friend. She's such a worries-FREE person whom I can feel it during the first approach. I have met someone lovely in South Africa and she reminds me of living my life in a happier and simpler way, though the world outside is a COMPLICATION.

the pathway to my 549 room

What a perfect sunset view at the courtyard behind my room

It was 9am when the sun's shining on the pool creating shadows from the leafless trees

We're having our late lunch at Fourways Mall's OCEAN BASKET, highly reccommended by Stephen

Fresh & Sweet Oyster, I never like raw oyster until I tasted this time

A seafood platter at ZAR159, shared by 5 of us

from the left, Raynard, Stephen, Juli, Bonnie and Anson

First day, spending ZAR151 for below groceries to bring back to HKG since it's so much cheaper buying them from South Africa

the last moment when the sun's waving goodbye at me, and the dark came

We had our first dinner in South Africa at the MUGG & BEAN restaurant

- BROOKLYN GRILL -
Was it a dinner or breakfast? you decide

Almost whole set of Airbus A330-400 (A34B) crew went to the Montecasino for dinner the first night. SP2-Danny, FP5-Vivian, FP6-Stephen, J1-William, Y1-Juli, Y2-Bonnie, Y3-Anson & Y4-Raynard

Full moon outside the Montecasino

A shot took on the stones in the pool

Sun, the source of energy to both the tree and human

The buffet breakfast at the hotel at ZAR40 (Special price for CX crew), the most important meal of the day which I will not miss everytime when I am at outport.

In my room

Second day, spending ZAR200 over to buy all these, spend with my VISA card this time as I have finished my cash ....

I bought a FAT BURNING capsules at ZAR99 and 3 bottles of Bio Oil. Bio Oil is a very famous product among the CX stewardess, everyone will not miss buying it when they are flying to JNB, it's good to remove scars of face and body, stretch skin, dehydrated skin, ageing skin, uneven skin tone. I bought one for myself, and 2 for my mom and grandma.

Bought a sporty jacket at ZAR200, swiped by my VISA card again

We had our second dinner at the hotel restaurant, the African Buffet Dinner accompanied by the African performers, I managed to participate in the group and I had a lot of fun.