After the Fire

I’ve just returned from a weekend in Swaziland, my second-favorite African country. The main reason for my trip was Bushfire 2012, a huge music and arts festival at Swaziland’s House on Fire. I saw and did a lot of other stuff though – too much for one post.

I’m too tired for even one full-length post at the moment, but I can’t sleep tonight without posting at least a couple of photos from the weekend. Here are three of my favorites.

Winter is the season for bush fires in Southern Africa, which I guess is one of the ways that the Bushfire festival got its name. We spotted this massive bush fire in Mpumalanga province on our way to Swaziland.

One of many beautiful Swazi landscapes that I photographed this weekend. Also featuring fire.

My favorite shot from the REAL Bushfire. Fans show their appreciation for South African performer Jeremy Loops.

Stay tuned for more fire.


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Sunday Morning at 44 Stanley Avenue

How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?

44 Stanley sign surrounded by trees
The entrance to 44 Stanley Avenue.

I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.

Photos From Braamfontein's Indwe Park

I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.