Parliamentalities....

"Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work."
- Gustave Flaubert

Yesterday was my first day at Parliament. Since I'm staying in Obs, which is outside of town I set my alarm to get up extra early. As it happened, after a German couple had a domestic dispute and some other people in my accommodation were up at 6am to prepare for work I was up half of the night anyways. After suiting up I hopped on a mini-bus and arrived into town much earlier than anticipated but it gave me time for coffee and breakfast and then went into the office were I was debriefed about my first day. I opted to sit in on the Judicial and Constitutional Development Committee which was dealing with some amendments to two separate pieces of legislation- I won't bore you with the details but for the most part I was impressed with the level of debate, the overall camaraderie between the different parties and the eloquence of several MP's, notably the Chairman. Although I also noticed some interesting dichotomies but I will share those at a later date once I can be sure they aren't limited to certain sections.

In the afternoon I was in on a committee addressing legislation involving retired judges. Basically in South Africa judges remain in service even after stepping down or retiring from the bar- effectively they can be called upon to serve on committees or fill in when there is a need, for which they are paid a salary for life (not a pension). As a result it has been legislated since 2008 that they must disclose their personal assets annually as well as the assets of their partners as a method of ensuring the transparency of the judiciary and prevent 'throwing the javelin'- the theory that judges might be offered a bribe during active service only to take ownership of the bribe after retirement (however the SA judiciary has zero history of bribes, or even a single allegation of corruption). The debate on the proposal to amend was interesting at first however after a while it became very repetitive with the retired justices beating the same drum despite a call by the ANC member to offer an alternative counter proposal which was very sound...All in all a very interesting first day....

In the evening I had dinner- minced lamb roti and salad, at Ganesh Cafe, a really popular local eatery in Obs followed by margaritas with some new friends from Germany only to return home and make some more friends from SA... never a dull moment at the Green Ele.... hahaha... next up wine farms in Stellenbosch and township touring but first a bike trip to Hout Bay with Nyasha....

A fantastic day for a hike...

"Home all at once seems the strangest of destinations, its every detail relativised by the other lands one has visited." - Alain de Botton

The last couple of days in Cape Town have been phenomenal... I managed to keep myself up the first day and head into the city using a mini-taxi bus which is of itself quite an interesting experience. Basically white vans that can carry about 10+ people or as many as can be forced in while still being able to shut the sliding door... they go back and forth from major destinations in the city, the driver and money collector/sales pitch man yell out to passersby who might be potential riders, they pull over anywhere if you want to get in and drop you off anywhere along their route for the low low price of about R6 or roughly 70 cents CAD. Although they can be sketchy for the most part they are a very effective alternative to taxi cabs. I used my first ride to go into town and visit my offices where I'll be working for the next 6 months- PMG or the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (www.pmg.org.za). I was introduced to the office staff and given a tour of the offices- everyone seems very nice and I'm really looking forward to starting work on Tuesday...

This is work for the next 6 months- South African Parliament House

Last night I went out to Cafe Africa with 9 other new friends from all over the world, a restaurant in the city where you get a smorgasbord of African food from across the continent and you share it communally at your table... the staff paint your face and after the meal they come and dance and sing for you! A spectacular time with really friendly people and amazing food! After dinner we went out to Long Street- the main strip for bars and clubs in Cape Town... went dancing and had a few drinks with new friends but didn't stay out too late because this morning I had to get up at 0630 to go climbing!! It an absolutely perfect day for it... we left the hostel at 0700 and went to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens... the morning was chilly and very misty but I went well prepared for the climb and packed some layers and a good amount of water. We climbed up through Skeleton's Gorge on the southern face of Table Mountain through a wooded area next to a small stream and some waterfalls... It took roughly 2hr30min to summit at 1087m with a team of 5 including Nyasha our guide and a great new friend. After going for a run yesterday along the river in Obs it was great to keep up the fitness today... feeling really motivated after all this inspiring scenery and meeting some really great people. Big thanks go out to Renata for the recommendation to stay at the Green Elephant, fantastic spot to meet new people and have a time! Definitely recommend to all newcomers to CPT!! As well Obs is a terrific spot for an initiation into life in Cape Town- very chilled vibe and excellent cafes for food and drinks....


Back to Table Mountain- the scenery and view from the top is completely and all-encompassingly breathtaking! By far one of the best things I have done lately! Just so nice to spend the day outside in nature surrounded by startling landscapes and panoramic views...

Tomorrow I am off on another adventure to the southern-most point on the African continent- the Cape of Good Hope!

Arrival...

“All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson

 After spending a fantastic day in London yesterday with a good friend during my layover I arrived in Cape Town this morning after 2 days of travel. I have to say I was most impressed with Heathrow Airport it has really become incredibly efficient in the lead up to the Summer Olympiad. Having spent hours queuing through immigration in the past and having to deal with rather suspicious bordering on rude customs officials, this time round the people were polite and I was through and into Paddington within an hour! Remarkable...
London as always was a delight... definitely one of my favourite cities. Although it forecasted rain it was sunny and fresh- a perfect day for a walk in the Kensington Palace Gardens (my first time there) and Hyde Park with all the lovely Spring flowers, squirrels, a multitude of waterfowl and throngs of tourists!

The flight from London was a rare pleasure for economy class air travel! I haven't flown with British Airways in many years and the service was spot on. Incredibly polite flight staff with excellent food and comfortable seats! An out and out success...

I have to say I haven't experienced a smoother international trip... a sign of good things to come or a result of years of experience?;) Either way I hope it bodes well for the rest of my stay in SA.

On my first step out of the airport I encountered Table Mountain in all of its glory. Partially covered in early morning fog, I couldn't help but think this monument must have had at one time some deeper religious significance for earlier peoples in the area.

The weather this morning in Cape Town was stunning- sunny and crisp, the drive in from the airport was smooth and Isaac the cab driver was a hero. Very kind and attentive he provided some basic insight into the city and the Cape Flats.
For my first few days in Cape Town, I elected to take the advice of a friend and stay at the Green Elephant Backpackers hostel (www.greenelephant.co.za) in Observatory (Obs) a very cool up-and-coming neighbourhood, (reminiscent of New Town, NSW) and already that advice is paying dividends! The staff so far- Nyasha and Lucy, have proven to be extremely friendly and welcoming.

A very clear sign that I belong is this neighbourhood;)

I am really excited to be in Cape Town and go exploring for the next 5 days while I look for more permanent accommodation... Well I am famished... off for breakfast at Mimi's Cafe to refuel and start my SA adventure....

Getting Started...

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Ever since I was a small boy I used to spend hours looking over maps old and new, tracing borders and mountain ranges with my fingers and imaging what life was like elsewhere. There was always something mysterious about unknown peoples and places that peaked my curiosity. 

As I got older the number of countries in the world continued to grow. I dreamed of traveling to all of them...

Sometimes it's astounding to stop and think about where you were one year ago and what direction you envisioned your life going in ...Recently it seems that there isn't much predictability involved in thinking about the future. 

One year ago I was working full time in Sydney, Australia but as of last week I am now committed to a 6-month CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) funded project working with Human Rights Internet (www.hri.ca), an Ottawa based NGO dedicated to conflict prevention, social justice and good governance, and PMG (Parliamentary Monitoring Group), a Cape Town based NGO. Until 1994 and the end of the apartheid regime the public was barred from entering the SA Parliament and no public record/ Hansard was kept of government meetings. As a part of HRI/PMG's commitment to good governance I will attend committee meetings and record the details within Hansard-style reports for public consumption. 

While in Cape Town I am planning to maintain this blog both as a record of my stay and as a reference for potential future participants.... 

I arrive in Cape Town on Wednesday morning! I'm really excited for the trip and getting started with PMG! SA is sometimes known as the 'world in one country', (due to its diverse range of plant and animal life) and Cape Town as the 'mother city', which makes it the perfect place to begin my SA adventure!