This is the third instalment in a five-part series about my falling in love with the rainbow nation of South Africa. I write these in the hope of conveying to you what a wonderful place this is!
Stage three: obsession
Not getting enough of this place, this home away from home, wanting to explore with others.
After a couple of trips between Belgium and Joburg, I started to regard this as my home away from home. There was, however, still so much too explore, so much to see. I became obsessed with using my weekends to the fullest to absorb as much of my new home as I could. Given the previous two articles, I'm sure you can understand why!
In an attempt to start building a bit of social life as well in my newly adopted home, I joined different meetups. One of which has since played a key role in my further exploration and obsession with South Africa and photography: the Johannesburg Photowalkers!
Photo walks, photo walks, photo walks!
What a match made in heaven! I wanted to explore more and get more into photography, along comes this idea of photography walks at different places in Johannesburg that I would never have thought of visiting myself.
My first photo walk was immediately a memorable event. Main photo walking superstar Mark Straw was organising a toy-photography walk along spots visited by hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses in Joburg. I borrowed a little Tin Tin doll from a colleague and joined the group in Rosebank for a day filled with fun and photographic experimentation. The result? New connections in Joburg and a photo series called "Tin Tin a Johannesbourg".
Further photo walks with this group took me into different suburbs, special venues, rooftop exploring, shady neighbourhoods, ... I still enjoy every photo walk we go on.
The Johannesburg photo walkers had three important effects on me: I got to do way more photography work and started to upgrade my skills; I met wonderful people whom I now regard as good friends; I got to satisfy my obsession with exploring Joburg.
Longer and longer stays
Apart from spending more of my time in Joburg on photography and exploration, I also started to plan longer and longer stays in South Africa.
These longer stays enabled me to travel around a bit more as well. A trip to Vredefort had me marvel at the South African night sky! As CSN sing it: "when you see the Southern Cross for the first time, you understand now why you came this way." My photos probably still don't do it justice but here you go!
Another trip took me to Cape Town and Stellenbosch, a whole different experience to Joburg all together! What a magnificent region, I only stayed a weekend and immediately knew I had to come back for more. More of Cape Town and its peninsula, more of Stellenbosch and its cosy relaxed vibe under the oak trees. Stellenbosch has become my home away from home (away from home) by now, my spot to go relax. (it warrants a seperate article, I'll get to that in due time)
Eventually, all of the above would culminate in my getting a 4 year Visa and moving to an apartment in Randburg, you can read about that in my next post.