Hong Kong is an exciting city. It's completely different to anywhere else we've lived. There are things that we like, things that we love and things we're still getting used to. One of the biggest adjustments when moving from almost anywhere else in the world to Hong Kong is the bijou nature of the accommodation.… Continue reading On why Hong Kong Living is A Squash and A Squeeze
Tag: Johannesburg
Out of Africa, Farewell to Johannesburg
After 5 years in South Africa and a total of 10 in Africa moving on is bittersweet.
Farewell 2017, Hello 2018
The holiday is over and it's back to reality. New posts are already in the works. In the meantime, just in case you missed them the first time around or just really really want to read them again, here's a quick round-up of Expatorama's top posts from 2017. Ponte Tower I had read about the… Continue reading Farewell 2017, Hello 2018
The South African Hadeda Alarm Clock
The culture here in South Africa is one of 'early to bed and early to rise'. Is it because the sun rises so early? No, it's because of the delightful hadeda bird that serves as a daily alarm clock. If you are lucky the alarm will be sustained and provided in surround sound by multiple… Continue reading The South African Hadeda Alarm Clock
Ponte Tower: A Tale of Glamour, Garbage and Gritty Regeneration
Johannesburg's Ponte Tower is infamous, notorious and really really interesting. It embodies the former decadence, ensuing decay and current regeneration of the City of Gold. It's a brutalist, concrete hollow cylinder of a building in the city's Central Business District (CBD). The tallest residential building in Africa, it rises 55 stories tall and along with the… Continue reading Ponte Tower: A Tale of Glamour, Garbage and Gritty Regeneration
Discover Johannesburg’s Top Hikes
For a city as gritty as Johannesburg, you might be surprised to find out just how many fab hiking spots there are in and around it. My friend, American expat Becci Monge has kindly written a guest post with her top local hiking picks. Becci got hooked on hiking last year when she decided (and by… Continue reading Discover Johannesburg’s Top Hikes
Scorpion on the Line
This is a passenger announcement. Regular blog services are running late. Normal service has been severely disrupted by The Christmas Holidays...and a scorpion on the line. Regular service will resume shortly. 2016 Top Blog Post Roundup In the meantime, just in case you missed them the first time around, the most popular 5 posts… Continue reading Scorpion on the Line
Johannesburg CBD: Crime, Burglary, Decay or Culture, Business, Delight?
Johannesburg's Central Business District (CBD) was once the heart of gold rush pioneer town Johannesburg. This is where all the biggest, best and most beautiful buildings were built. Many years later, after first the rise and then fall of apartheid this area deteriorated significantly. Residents and businesses moved out in droves as buildings were hijacked quickly becoming… Continue reading Johannesburg CBD: Crime, Burglary, Decay or Culture, Business, Delight?
Thokozani: A Happy Place
There is a great deal of poverty in South Africa and some expats choose to use their time here to do what they can to contribute to improving and empowering local communities through a variety of volunteer programs, fundraisers and initiatives. All in all there are some fantastic expat projects going on. Today's guest post… Continue reading Thokozani: A Happy Place
Mile High Living: High Altitude Quirks
There are a few quirks to mile high living. I covered the zombie skin you get during Johannesburg's crackling dry winter months in the post High Altitude, Dry Altitude, but there are are other things about life on the Highveld that you might be interested to know about. Dry Altitude In addition to zombie skin, dehydration is something… Continue reading Mile High Living: High Altitude Quirks
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