All the 3 days we are in Johannesburg, it is raining. I just want to harp on it again. The fake water crisis news.
I booked the apartment at Maboneng because it’s supposedly the hip place to be at, but seems like the hip place opens late and closes early, so we didn’t get to experience any of the eclectic things as said on the internet.
The area we were at is a modern, artsy fartsy one, just the way I like it. We stayed at Craftsman’s Ship Building. Check out the funky stripes.
Look, we have a balcony! 😁
The apartment. Love the decor. The spotlights were too warm and glaring. I turned them to face upward. Should change to LED.
Downstairs, there’s an organic grocer, laundry service for R 25/kg (we washed 3kg) and a convenience store.
How coincidental. We arrived from Kruger National Park to Fox Street in Johannesburg. Fox street is the happening street of Maboneng where the markets and cool bars are.
On our first night we had dinner on Fox Street as recommended by the security at our apartment. Walking around, we didn’t see anything interesting. Finally settled at a rooftop restrobar called Love Revo. The name is silly but the ambience is ok, and there was no better option.
The vegan food was acceptable. Cost R69.
Another dining option also on Fox Street is Pata Pata serving local cuisine. There’s a live band playing at night.
Finally I get to order South African cuisine. This is umngqusho (the cool local name), also known as samp and beans (the boring translated name).
It’s made of corn and beans. Tastes like chunky mashed potatoes with beans mixed in. I like!
In the morning, there’s only one cafe open for breakfast around 8-9ish, called Uncle Merv’s. Just boring old western breakfast of various croissants, muffins, scrambled eggs, sandwiches etc.
There’s a QR code payment system! The South African version of wechat.
Hmm.. Since when is there dairy in soy milk and almond milk?
Street art is common. Wall murals.
Steel structures in the alley leading from our apartment to Fox Street.
This combi is a type of local transport. You stand by the road side and make a signal with your hand in the direction you want to go. If it’s on the way, the driver will stop and pick you up. Otherwise you wait for the next one.
It’s something like the on-demand bus system that Singapore is doing on trial at the moment.
These buses are owned by people who hire drivers to drive them. There’s no license or certificate required. As long as you have money, buy a bus and hire a driver and you’re in business. The driver needs to have a vocational license. That’s it.
Random road sign I thought was interesting.
Funny town name called honeydew. And the white part reads “wet road”. Indeed, it was raining.
Key Consideration 1:
Key Consideration 2:
A dozen delightful days in South Africa 