Comments on: The South African Lockdown Wind-down https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/ An American in Quirky Johannesburg Wed, 02 Sep 2020 08:31:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: A Very Big Haircut (and a Donation to Charity) | 2Summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131632 Wed, 02 Sep 2020 08:31:30 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131632 […] week, as the lockdown eased, I suddenly decided it was time for a change. It had been nearly two years (yes, you read that […]

]]> By: 2summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131602 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 15:55:01 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131602 In reply to hcyip.

Again, I really enjoyed reading this! Thanks.

]]> By: hcyip https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131601 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 15:33:56 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131601 In reply to 2summers.

This is a post about my time in Johannesburg the previous week, when I took a tour into “downtown”. Reading it again, I realized that some of the South Africans I met then were rather blunt and not exactly thrilled despite hosting the World Cup. I don’t know if people have gotten more optimistic or upbeat, but I actually found that kind of endearing, as in they were being genuine about their grumpiness or stereotypes, and not being artificially nice. Though I did meet nice locals too.
https://hcyip.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/joburg-recap-part-2/

]]> By: hcyip https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131600 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 15:20:46 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131600 In reply to 2summers.

Hello Heather,
Thanks for your reply. That’s some coincidence that we were both in Joburg around the same time. I didn’t know anything about the city when I picked that place in Yeoville except that its room rate was reasonable (which I only realized why after I found out about Yeoville’s reputation). I’m not sure I would stay there again if Yeoville is still a rough place.
I did read your bike tour post and that restaurant in Yeoville you went to looks good. I do regret not going anywhere in Yeoville.

That immigration problem aside, I really enjoyed my time a lot in South Africa, including Joburg. In fact, I’d even forgotten about the immigration run-in or the tense final night in Yeoville until I reread my post following your comment – I had so many memories from SA.
I enjoyed your Chinatown article. I had no idea that Chinese were in Joburg from the start, and it’s interesting that the community is growing even now.
I do hope to return to South Africa sometime in the future and I will let you know. In the meantime, I’m glad to be able to keep on reading about SA and Joburg through your blog.

]]> By: 2summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131599 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 14:13:53 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131599 In reply to hcyip.

Hi Hilton, thanks so much for your comment and for sharing your post. I read it and it was really interesting reading someone’s impressions of Joburg from that time – I moved to Joburg at exactly the same time! I’m impressed you stayed at a backpackers in Yeoville – it was a rough neighborhood then and still is now, although it’s also very interesting. (You might have seen I blogged about Yeoville this week.) I’m sorry to hear you had problems with immigration (typical!) and the other negative things that happened. But glad you enjoyed your stay overall. You expressed interest in Joburg’s Chinese community in the post, so I thought I’d share this article I recently wrote about that. Enjoy: https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/chinatown-johannesburgs-chinese-community-is-as-old-as-the-city-itself/. All the best and let me know if you ever make it back.

]]> By: hcyip https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131598 Sat, 29 Aug 2020 13:49:35 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131598 It’s good to hear that South Africa is exiting lockdown. I enjoy reading your posts about South Africa and Johannesburg, which I visited 10 years ago- https://hcyip.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/joburg-recap-the-final-part/. I only spent a few days in Joburg but I did go to a few places including Soweto, Museum Africa, and the Carlton Center. However, I did all of that on private daytours as I was concerned about the crime (other people I met in SA as well as my Durban relatives warned me). I think from your posts, Joburg seems to have gotten better, more attractive, and hopefully much safer.
I’m glad you can go back out and blog and write about more places and experiences.
Of course, most importantly, stay safe and I hope the coronavirus outbreak can be controlled in SA.

]]> By: Alicia Thompson https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131514 Sat, 22 Aug 2020 06:30:09 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131514 In reply to 2summers.

Cool. I don’t use Messenger so you can use my email address aliciathompson72@gmail.com

]]> By: 2summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131485 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 04:39:55 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131485 In reply to Annie.

Yep, all of that 🙂

]]> By: Annie https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131484 Thu, 20 Aug 2020 01:55:28 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131484 I keep thinking I’ll feel like this (being a hermit) but really I just feel more anxious to spend my time inside, away from others. I miss seeing other places and meeting different people and hearing different stories. Screen interactions can’t get the feeling of people’s energies or the smells and sounds of locations. Go out and live! Wear a mask, be responsible around folks you don’t know, but also be brave. There never was an “end game” on Covid-19 disappearing forever like we all so so hoped there would be. Do the best you can do emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for yourself. Fear holds us all back but I keep reminding myself that there’s healthy fear and toxic fear and I feel strongly most of my circle has gone down a toxic fear path, so I hear you! So hard to recognize what’s safe. Everything has been questioned. Good luck! Get out of the house and force yourself to do new things (or revisit happy places that are farther and farther away). ????

]]> By: 2summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131478 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 05:39:50 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131478 In reply to Alicia Thompson.

Oh wow, I didn’t know that! Will message you privately 🙂

]]> By: 2summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131477 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 05:39:27 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131477 In reply to AutumnAshbough.

Yeah, I hear you. I can’t decide what is/isn’t safe here.

]]> By: 2summers https://2summers.net/2020/08/18/the-south-african-lockdown-wind-down/#comment-131476 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 05:37:45 +0000 https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/?p=31607#comment-131476 In reply to eremophila.

Yes, you’re right. I am very easily distracted whether I stay home or not!

]]>