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Africa"},{"term":"OGX"},{"term":"Odumorun"},{"term":"Olumirin Waterfall"},{"term":"Olusosun"},{"term":"Organized Tour"},{"term":"Oshodi"},{"term":"Osogbo"},{"term":"Owu Waterfall"},{"term":"Oyo state"},{"term":"Paris"},{"term":"Perfect Picture"},{"term":"Plateau State"},{"term":"Poetry"},{"term":"Pretoria"},{"term":"Pretty Wild"},{"term":"Prophecy"},{"term":"Protest"},{"term":"Public bus"},{"term":"Quality"},{"term":"Quotes"},{"term":"Racism"},{"term":"Registry"},{"term":"Second Chance"},{"term":"Self worth"},{"term":"Seye Kuyinu"},{"term":"Seyi Manuwa"},{"term":"Shoes"},{"term":"Shonga"},{"term":"Society"},{"term":"South Africa visa"},{"term":"Suicide"},{"term":"Sweet Silver Lining"},{"term":"Tanure Ojaide"},{"term":"Teacher"},{"term":"Teenage pregrancy"},{"term":"Temitayo Ige"},{"term":"Tervuren"},{"term":"Tinapa"},{"term":"Tosin Lucas"},{"term":"Toyosi Kanimodo"},{"term":"Tradition"},{"term":"Travel goals"},{"term":"Turkey"},{"term":"USA"},{"term":"VFS Global"},{"term":"Violence"},{"term":"Waterfall"},{"term":"World"},{"term":"Xenophobia"},{"term":"Yahoo Yahoo"},{"term":"Yetunde Jinadu"},{"term":"Yisa"},{"term":"Yoruba"},{"term":"Zanzibar"},{"term":"autumn"},{"term":"bag"},{"term":"happyBBB"},{"term":"judge"},{"term":"kelechi Idika"},{"term":"optimistic"},{"term":"project"},{"term":"season"},{"term":"spring"},{"term":"stlye"},{"term":"summer"},{"term":"supervisor"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Labyrinths of Lahrah"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":" The Accidental Traveller"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5261392446775961990\/posts\/default\/-\/Johannesburg?alt=json-in-script\u0026max-results=6"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/search\/label\/Johannesburg"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Molara Brown"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/15028561658576923679"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"2"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"6"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261392446775961990.post-540500409391478806"},"published":{"$t":"2017-02-21T11:45:00.003+01:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-24T22:32:50.197+01:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Africa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Destination"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Johannesburg"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pretoria"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Africa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"72 Hours in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BPVZxmm7sbw\/WKt0UPQA9qI\/AAAAAAAAQpA\/0zxm250fSjoDfMHv5Ah6JSMOImBALt9AQCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0002.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BPVZxmm7sbw\/WKt0UPQA9qI\/AAAAAAAAQpA\/0zxm250fSjoDfMHv5Ah6JSMOImBALt9AQCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0002.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMall of Africa\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nSo after all the entry drama, which I shared in my last post, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/2017\/02\/the-road-to-south-africa.html\"\u003Ethe road to South Africa\u003C\/a\u003E...I finally got my 72 hours in South Africa. How did I end up leaving Nigeria just to spend 72 hours in South Africa?\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n1) I paid for the ticket which I used in applying for my Kenyan E-Visa because flight fare had gone up by the time I was finally ready to pay.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n2) Fear, let me just say it was only one person who I met on the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/2017\/01\/accra-with-irinng.html\"\u003EIrin-ajo trip to Accra\u003C\/a\u003E who assured me I had nothing to fear by visiting South Africa. Almost everyone else fueled the fire of fear in me, even those who currently live in the country. At some point, I almost canceled the South African part of the trip.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWhat I did\/Saw:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KWkQhT4wgww\/WKt01rNnD9I\/AAAAAAAAQpE\/PAbExY80e-IQfmdNSNZCvkPcJLOM6MbpQCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0008.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-KWkQhT4wgww\/WKt01rNnD9I\/AAAAAAAAQpE\/PAbExY80e-IQfmdNSNZCvkPcJLOM6MbpQCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0008.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMall of Africa\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ySIecyWUTWM\/WKt2qkmoGNI\/AAAAAAAAQpU\/a5ivNM7ZLg4WTdM2yKoTe-wAOMiy2a4JgCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0012.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ySIecyWUTWM\/WKt2qkmoGNI\/AAAAAAAAQpU\/a5ivNM7ZLg4WTdM2yKoTe-wAOMiy2a4JgCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0012.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMall of Africa\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-t70LHejS9vA\/WKt33qSsZsI\/AAAAAAAAQpg\/9T6ShZsXEbw06D9DOEIsduGG1HQNoMAOACLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0116.NEF\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-t70LHejS9vA\/WKt33qSsZsI\/AAAAAAAAQpg\/9T6ShZsXEbw06D9DOEIsduGG1HQNoMAOACLcB\/s400\/DSC_0116.NEF\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ERhodes Park\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-xcyty5F9WEU\/WKt5XWn25nI\/AAAAAAAAQps\/z1H0HpDfKqopmoNPtF9YTNECOY0eaxeWQCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0265.NEF\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-xcyty5F9WEU\/WKt5XWn25nI\/AAAAAAAAQps\/z1H0HpDfKqopmoNPtF9YTNECOY0eaxeWQCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0265.NEF\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMandela House, Soweto\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZDqqlhUloGc\/WKt8dZB7wrI\/AAAAAAAAQp4\/_ov1uYQZLlwZuMF9H5ltiI_WrNEs-4yrgCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0269.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZDqqlhUloGc\/WKt8dZB7wrI\/AAAAAAAAQp4\/_ov1uYQZLlwZuMF9H5ltiI_WrNEs-4yrgCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0269.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESoweto\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_HVDDzmAMEQ\/WKt9Aigc96I\/AAAAAAAAQp8\/A82oPl2mA-EmCqygL8Yia0VkCMWabNoHwCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0299.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_HVDDzmAMEQ\/WKt9Aigc96I\/AAAAAAAAQp8\/A82oPl2mA-EmCqygL8Yia0VkCMWabNoHwCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0299.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUnion Building, Pretoria\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TF2NriFc-3s\/WKuOtwTwHgI\/AAAAAAAAQrU\/MgCMrV_JdhUPHqnyxxqAquh_HlhWOMe0gCEw\/s1600\/20170131_105629.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-TF2NriFc-3s\/WKuOtwTwHgI\/AAAAAAAAQrU\/MgCMrV_JdhUPHqnyxxqAquh_HlhWOMe0gCEw\/s400\/20170131_105629.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EUniversity of Pretoria, Hatfield\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-X9aQ_Hp6H4g\/WKuQkVxvfBI\/AAAAAAAAQrs\/4H1mP03GUyExi4fCAGKyFjDtPJT2Z7YzwCLcB\/s1600\/20170131_162906.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-X9aQ_Hp6H4g\/WKuQkVxvfBI\/AAAAAAAAQrs\/4H1mP03GUyExi4fCAGKyFjDtPJT2Z7YzwCLcB\/s400\/20170131_162906.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECBD, Johannesburg\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-RoufmL3sv8w\/WKuPzx9F7NI\/AAAAAAAAQrg\/zj-hT7d981U3T7aoWe5QgdfAACY1GWwHQCLcB\/s1600\/20170131_122740.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-RoufmL3sv8w\/WKuPzx9F7NI\/AAAAAAAAQrg\/zj-hT7d981U3T7aoWe5QgdfAACY1GWwHQCLcB\/s400\/20170131_122740.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPretoria\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jHTCOIvLO18\/WKuQHMcK7GI\/AAAAAAAAQrk\/FSlZ3Iy2WW0b6MQ1NfPKBwgxRMhQ8_z6ACLcB\/s1600\/20170131_123504.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-jHTCOIvLO18\/WKuQHMcK7GI\/AAAAAAAAQrk\/FSlZ3Iy2WW0b6MQ1NfPKBwgxRMhQ8_z6ACLcB\/s400\/20170131_123504.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPretoria\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-B-MeJ8kS0uo\/WKt9kaiarLI\/AAAAAAAAQqE\/PUuub_4wrrURSX9TsshHEdNT8W_bbxYqgCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0397.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-B-MeJ8kS0uo\/WKt9kaiarLI\/AAAAAAAAQqE\/PUuub_4wrrURSX9TsshHEdNT8W_bbxYqgCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0397.JPG\" width=\"265\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESandton City\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5DRM9nNDf7M\/WKt97VeHusI\/AAAAAAAAQqI\/w9-rWmLQ860gSAiTPfVrbQm2Dxy_54d8QCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0396.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-5DRM9nNDf7M\/WKt97VeHusI\/AAAAAAAAQqI\/w9-rWmLQ860gSAiTPfVrbQm2Dxy_54d8QCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0396.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESandton City\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-c1yDeldNGpw\/WKuFH6CSYGI\/AAAAAAAAQq8\/QsGnUdcGNX0g5JpGdJcsXBjGHq6dr7pZgCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0410.NEF\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-c1yDeldNGpw\/WKuFH6CSYGI\/AAAAAAAAQq8\/QsGnUdcGNX0g5JpGdJcsXBjGHq6dr7pZgCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0410.NEF\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMonte Casino\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI pretty much realized how little time I had the moment I stepped into Johannesburg. I tried to see as much I could while there. The rain which fell the next morning after I arrived, did not help matters.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nLuckily for me, my high school friend agreed to drive me down to Soweto. He has been living in South Africa for almost 5 years minus the 2 years he spent in South Korea and has never been to the Mandela house or any of the tourist destinations in the country.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI sadly did not get to see the Apartheid Musuem, Maboneng and Consititution Hill as I expected.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAccommodation\u003C\/b\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-CX8X_cKOoFI\/WKt_W9PXGdI\/AAAAAAAAQqY\/Xb67re_hQyknE-TM3O1TeHcl2Ods5J5wwCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0016.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-CX8X_cKOoFI\/WKt_W9PXGdI\/AAAAAAAAQqY\/Xb67re_hQyknE-TM3O1TeHcl2Ods5J5wwCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0016.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rsqRidCEOzc\/WKt_s4XVWbI\/AAAAAAAAQqc\/-JQ-9kfg0Oc4QNiLkAbs6mtFwpfr24TMQCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0017.NEF\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rsqRidCEOzc\/WKt_s4XVWbI\/AAAAAAAAQqc\/-JQ-9kfg0Oc4QNiLkAbs6mtFwpfr24TMQCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0017.NEF\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-EE1gj6ZzV8Y\/WKuAQp-3XSI\/AAAAAAAAQqk\/R2HSuVoSTVAyKusn1CUN_fNsqJHhYOPvQCLcB\/s1600\/DSC_0023.NEF\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-EE1gj6ZzV8Y\/WKuAQp-3XSI\/AAAAAAAAQqk\/R2HSuVoSTVAyKusn1CUN_fNsqJHhYOPvQCLcB\/s400\/DSC_0023.NEF\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nSo I rented a Orchid room in a Victorian House, the Kensington area of Johannesburg on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eairbnb\u003C\/a\u003E. The neighborhood pretty much gave the European vibe and was pretty quiet. The main house is occuppied by 3 permanent housemates.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nThe two men (Anthony and Maku) were from the DRC and have been living in South Africa for a while. I enjoyed my night time conversations with them. We talked about everything, from religion to our varying culture and economy, finding love, Boko Haram, their experience living in South Africa. Maku runs a foundation and hopes to meet Tony Elumelu someday.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nThe third housemate is a white lady whose name I can't remember now. The first thing she said to me when we met was that she hope I did not come down to South Africa to settle down, for if I have come to settle, she would advise me to go back home. I kind of found that weird and over reaching, like what if I had actually relocated, that wasn't a nice thing to say to anyone at first meet.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI am not really sure where she said she was from, I assumed she was Polish or German but I think she is a white South African or has always lived in South Africa all her life. She moved into the house 3 days before I visited. We chatted briefly whenever we met but nothing deep. I could tell she preferred to always be alone and I never went beyond the cordial hello, hi, how was your day compliment. She was nice enough to borrow me her umbrella when I visited Rhodes Park and gave me advise to be really careful at the park.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat I ate:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nSo when my friend asked me if I would like to try South African food, I gladly said yes.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nWe went to a \"buka\" behind the complex his shop was located in the CBD area.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nLet's just say I could not wrap my head around eating this \"semo\" like food with coleslaw and all the other things inside this plate. I tried my best and swallowed a few wraps. I just told them to pack it for me, because the meat was too good to throw away.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\" style=\"background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 28.14814814814815% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0px auto -44px; position: relative; text-align: justify; top: -22px; width: 44px;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BP5u44rhop0\/\" style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EA post shared by Lara A' (@lhararom)\u003C\/a\u003E on \u003Ctime datetime=\"2017-01-30T20:33:35+00:00\" style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\"\u003EJan 30, 2017 at 12:33pm PST\u003C\/time\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAsides from this attempt, I pretty much stayed off their food food.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI had burger and chips on my first day. Had chips and fish fillet, the chip was quite soggy sha when I visited Pretoria.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAsides from these, I survived on Fanta,\u0026nbsp;biscuit\u0026nbsp;and the \"minimie\" chinchin which followed me from Nigeria.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cscript async=\"\" defer=\"\" src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cb\u003E How I moved around\u003C\/b\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI took the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.gautrain.co.za\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGautrain\u003C\/a\u003E from the CBD to get to Pretoria and Sandton City. My airbnb housemate gave me his card which saved me a few rands. Asides from the confusion when we had to change trains because the one we got in from CBD developed a fault, it was pretty much a good ride. But it was annoying having to change platforms like 3 times, watch trains stop and zoom off without picking up any passenger and finally getting a train and having to stand because it was full.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--DVpXJIIkaI\/WKuOd6jq7CI\/AAAAAAAAQrQ\/fgkGc30wv7MxViFFzz9KgwBu43SpItmbQCLcB\/s1600\/20170131_092121.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--DVpXJIIkaI\/WKuOd6jq7CI\/AAAAAAAAQrQ\/fgkGc30wv7MxViFFzz9KgwBu43SpItmbQCLcB\/s400\/20170131_092121.jpg\" width=\"400\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe train was pretty much a good ride and way cheaper than taking a taxi. It reminds me of the trains in Germany. Foods and drinks are not allowed on the platform and on the train. It was one lady that called my attention to this while I was obliviously eating my chips on the platform.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4OXaGqfiNak\/WKuUmYKJAxI\/AAAAAAAAQsA\/bIx38IWsy5sW8jai2bSsfZhcMGCoUFI9gCLcB\/s1600\/20170131_115133.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-4OXaGqfiNak\/WKuUmYKJAxI\/AAAAAAAAQsA\/bIx38IWsy5sW8jai2bSsfZhcMGCoUFI9gCLcB\/s320\/20170131_115133.jpg\" width=\"180\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nMy friend's sister and her husband picked me up from the airport. My friend also drove me to Soweto. I took the bus to the CBD from my airbnb\u0026nbsp;apartment on my way to Pretoria. The public transport (bus) is not so easy to assess, I had to take a long walk before I found the bus station.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/taxify.eu\/cities\/johannesburg\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETaxify\u003C\/a\u003E was also my go to app for movement around the city. I used it to get from the Pretoria Gautrain station to the union buildings. Also from the CBD to my airbnb apartment when I lost my way trying to find my friend's shop. It was also my ride to the airport on my way out of Johannesburg. I say never underestimate the power of these apps.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EThe weather\u003C\/b\u003E:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nSo before I left Nigeria, I asked two of my friends living in South Africa about the weather and all I heard was that it is very hot, summer hot in short. So I really did not pay attention to the weather forecast. Alas, my second day in Johannesburg and there was rain. The weather was pretty much cool all through my time there, and I had to buy a sweater at some point.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-version=\"7\" style=\"background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 8px;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 28.194444444444443% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"background: url(data:image\/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BP4RbD9BaBo\/\" style=\"color: black; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESo someone forgot to tell me to prepare for the rain. #Johannesburg\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;\"\u003E\nA post shared by Lara A' (@lhararom) on \u003Ctime datetime=\"2017-01-30T06:56:52+00:00\" style=\"font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;\"\u003EJan 29, 2017 at 10:56pm PST\u003C\/time\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nWith the recent renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa, I would most likely have cancelled my trip. Because it was one of the fears I had that what if I got caught in the midst of it all. Yeah I found South Africa to be beautiful and way more organized and I can understand the reason why our people would rather be there than be back home in Nigeria. Their system works, they have good roads and there is stable electricity. They only have to worry about creating more employment opportunities and conducive business environment for entrepreneurs.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nBut I am not sure I want to live in an environment where I will always have to sleep with one eye, always watch my back and might lose everything I worked hard for because some citizens feel threatened by my presence in their country.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWhat do you think of South Africa?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHave you been to South Africa? What was your experience like? Would you recommend it?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nStay tuned to more posts on my adventures.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cscript async=\"\" defer=\"\" src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"color: purple;\"\u003E ♥\u003C\/span\u003ELara\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/feeds\/540500409391478806\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/2017\/02\/72-hours-in-johannesburg-and-pretoria.html#comment-form","title":"11 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5261392446775961990\/posts\/default\/540500409391478806"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5261392446775961990\/posts\/default\/540500409391478806"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/2017\/02\/72-hours-in-johannesburg-and-pretoria.html","title":"72 Hours in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Molara Brown"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/15028561658576923679"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-BPVZxmm7sbw\/WKt0UPQA9qI\/AAAAAAAAQpA\/0zxm250fSjoDfMHv5Ah6JSMOImBALt9AQCLcB\/s72-c\/DSC_0002.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"11"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5261392446775961990.post-287680259233169446"},"published":{"$t":"2017-02-12T11:19:00.001+01:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-02-12T11:19:38.327+01:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Africa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Johannesburg"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Africa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The road to South Africa"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--u0CtlF9grI\/WJ6wPS1MSuI\/AAAAAAAAQoA\/2CGGJZ9DmHMUkpUL0u0MS7P0qYjfdSloACLcB\/s1600\/SA%2BVisa.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--u0CtlF9grI\/WJ6wPS1MSuI\/AAAAAAAAQoA\/2CGGJZ9DmHMUkpUL0u0MS7P0qYjfdSloACLcB\/s320\/SA%2BVisa.png\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nSo the conversation to visit South Africa began in November 2016 with my friend Mosun. My initial plan was a West African road trip to \u0026nbsp;Benin Republic-Togo-Ghana all the way to Ivory Coast. She suggested South Africa or Rwanda, finally we settled for South Africa. We started gathering visa application information, a travel agent was charging 160 thousand for visa alone and could not guarantee a visa.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI reached out to Amara of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/travelwithapen.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETravel with a Pen\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;who directed me to her post on South African visa application and who was available to answer all my questions regarding the visa application process.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI got all required documents and submitted my visa application on the 18th of November, 2016 at the VFS Centre in Lekki. I picked my visa from the VFS centre 15 working days later (8 December, 2016). By this time, my friend Mosun has already decided she would no longer be going on the trip.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nBefore my South African visa was ready, I also already made a decision to add Kenya to my itinerary. The weekend before I got my visa, I visited a wakanow office in Lekki and I got a ticket for about 158 thousand Naira but because I wasn't sure I would get a visa due to all the gist of embassy denying visa applications, I decided not to pay for the ticket. I found out in the office that Kenya had an e-visa option and it was advised I get the E-visa to avoid entry issues.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WFR0rCn-nEY\/WJiw1xNWXiI\/AAAAAAAAQlk\/fATc63LMag47d9S8avFD6zUszj57QQBKACLcB\/s1600\/20170128_105628.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-WFR0rCn-nEY\/WJiw1xNWXiI\/AAAAAAAAQlk\/fATc63LMag47d9S8avFD6zUszj57QQBKACLcB\/s400\/20170128_105628.jpg\" width=\"223\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI got in touch with the lady the moment I got my visa to get me a ticket for December and by the time she got back to me, price had gone up to 176 thousand. I checked with friends and was ready to make payment, I was on my way to the bank to make payment when I realized my trip in and out of Johannesburg was in the middle of the night. With all the gist about South Africa, I wasn't about \u0026nbsp;to take any stupid risk and be moving around in the middle of the night. I called lady and requested for a change if possible, madam cancelled the ticket and was only getting tickets for over 200k, least was 199 thousand. I wasn't ready to part away with such amount for ticket (budget traveler alert), in short I more or less gave up on going on the trip. A week after,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI was talking to a friend who suggested I check January flight fares, the fares were looking reasonable. I then decided to apply for my Kenya E-visa which took another 3 days and made reservation on Kenya airways as it was a requirement for visa application. By the time my e-visa was approved, prices for my preferred dates were up to 199 thousand and above again.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nThe trip to Johannesburg was finally confirmed on the 19th of December when I paid for my flight fare.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI didn't want to stay in an hotel, this is largely due to the fact that I was travelling solo and all the stories \u0026nbsp;about how tourists are followed from the airport to their hotels and mugged wasn't helping matters. I booked a room on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/rooms\/6440727\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAirbnb\u003C\/a\u003E and was all set for my trip.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nFast forward to my departure date, I departed Lagos for Nairobi aboard the Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi. The flight was uneventful asides from the horrible landing by the pilot at the Cotonou airport and the struggle in-flight food. My seat partner is a Nigerian who has been travelling since 1997, he is currently based in Malawi, deported from Germany and has been to all West African countries. \u0026nbsp;He was surprised I was only travelling for vacation, did not believe I was not going to meet a man or for business. The man next to him is Ghanaian who was living and working in Nairobi and has not been home in years.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI had an 11 hours over night stop-over in Nairobi. Java House's Iced Latte and Ngugi wa Thiog'o's A Grain of Wheat kept me company through the night.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EBwQi23Ex28\/WJ93FT22UQI\/AAAAAAAAQoQ\/WIk-EgSs3pUeWmoQd6dwULku5Vkmr281wCLcB\/s1600\/20170128_222438.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"180\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EBwQi23Ex28\/WJ93FT22UQI\/AAAAAAAAQoQ\/WIk-EgSs3pUeWmoQd6dwULku5Vkmr281wCLcB\/s320\/20170128_222438.jpg\" width=\"320\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nOur flight for Johannesburg did not depart the next morning 1.30 mins after the scheduled departure time. We finally landed at the O. R. Tambo International Airport for 11 am (South African Time).\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nSo drama started with my airbnb reservation, immigration officer started with the amount I paid for . accommodation. I paid $48 in total and dude has never heard of airbnb. He asked if accommodation was pre-paid or will be post paid, I replied in the former. He proceeds to call my host's number and when the number did not connect at first ring, he said he would have to refuse me entry. I told him, called the number from Nigeria before I was allowed to board the plane in Nigeria, so how come it is not going through in his own country.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nThe number finally connects and it is the house manager who picks up. So my host is a Belgian who once lived and bought a house in Johannesburg. The house is managed by a South African name Manesi who only gets name of guests and the days to be spent in the house. She has no idea how much was paid or my passport No (actually airbnb doesn't have this information). \u0026nbsp;So immigration guy says he is going to have to deny me entry because Manesi does not have this information, She told him the room goes for 250 rand per night and according to Forex exchange rate for the day, that was not correct. He also raised an issue with the way my name was spelt on airbnb, I used Lara instead of Omolara as stated on my passport.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nI spent over 10 mins explaining that the name is accurate and Lara is just a short form of \u0026nbsp;\"Omolara\" and this long explanation on how airbnb works. Oga sha still insists on refusing me entry. He said he will issue me a refusal and also give me a 10 year ban. By this time, I was exhausted, hungry and tired. I called my friend's sister who was supposed to pick me up at the airport and explained the situation to her. I was already thinking in my head, how I will just go back to Kenya and see if I could enter on my visa which was valid from the 31st of January or worse get to pay for another visa.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nShe insisted on talking to him and told him to explain what exactly the problem was. He told his long story and she told him, he could not refuse me entry simply because of the the Rand to Dollars rate for the day does not correspond with the rate as at when I paid. She also told him that if he needed to confirm any more information about my accommodation, he is free to go to the address for further confirmation, After a lot of back and forth, 30 minutes after I landed, oga finally stamped me in and allowed me entry in the Sun City.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-7hVVcL-rWbk\/WKA2fvPKLtI\/AAAAAAAAQok\/9tDtqp6-9OM_vzPkqW-nL1vXTBOVNl3owCLcB\/s1600\/20170211_113852%2B%25281%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-7hVVcL-rWbk\/WKA2fvPKLtI\/AAAAAAAAQok\/9tDtqp6-9OM_vzPkqW-nL1vXTBOVNl3owCLcB\/s400\/20170211_113852%2B%25281%2529.jpg\" width=\"321\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\nUntil my next post.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cspan style=\"color: magenta;\"\u003E♥\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003ELara\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/feeds\/287680259233169446\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/2017\/02\/the-road-to-south-africa.html#comment-form","title":"12 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5261392446775961990\/posts\/default\/287680259233169446"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5261392446775961990\/posts\/default\/287680259233169446"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.molarabrown.com\/2017\/02\/the-road-to-south-africa.html","title":"The road to South Africa"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Molara Brown"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/15028561658576923679"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--u0CtlF9grI\/WJ6wPS1MSuI\/AAAAAAAAQoA\/2CGGJZ9DmHMUkpUL0u0MS7P0qYjfdSloACLcB\/s72-c\/SA%2BVisa.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"12"}}]}});