Journey of contrast: Durban Airport to Pietermaritzburg

We have been looking at different things we didn't expect to see in South Africa. Hopefully we are starting to realise that what we expect to find is not always what we will actually find in reality.

We dropped my brother at the airport the other day and I filmed part of the journey from Durban to Pietermaritzburg as it really illustrates the great contrasts you find in South Africa. Look out for the rural school.

Watch the youtube clip and let me know what you think...




TASK C:

The youtube clip had a short piece on a rural school that you can see from the road between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Write about what you think it would be like to attend school here. It may help to think of the different aspects of your school life and imagine what might be similar or different if you attended this South African school.

You could present your thoughts in one of the following ways:
-A diary entry of a day in the life of a student (written in the first person)
-A descriptive writing piece
- You may wish to pretend you were sent on a school exchange with a student from this school who would then attend Red Balloon for a week
-A comparitive paragraph where you highlight the similarities or differences you think you would encounter

Mall time in South Africa

Jamie asked if I would film some of the shops or the mall in Pietermaritzburg. I looked a little mad talking to myself and trying not to walk into people, but it should give you an idea of where I did my Christmas shopping this year. Have a look at the youtube clip and let me know what you think.




TASK B
See if you can write down 10 things you observed or learnt in this youtube clip on the mall.

Use these points to help you:
-Did you expect it to look like this?
-What was similar to England and what do you think was different? Make sure you give reasons
for your answers.

PS. I am looking forward to the snowman clip you are producing!

South African ski resort

South African ski resorts

In South Africa there isn’t a variety of ski resorts to choose from. There are a few slopes in the Drakensberg Mountains in the east of south Africa, where you can go to one ski resort called Tiffindell.

Tiffindell is the only ski resort in south Africa, with a a 1km long slope with a snow machine that guarantees snow over 100 days. Located in the Drakensberg Mountains, you can visit the highest pub in south Africa, at about 2720m above sea level.

About 300 skiers and snowboarders use the slopes at Tiffendell every day, with accommodation for 116 people. Off-slope hotels and hostels are available in the New England and Rhodes areas of South Africa.

A compulsory beginners course is required for first-timers. This takes place on a 60m long flat course with instructors to help you learn quickly and easily. Equipment is available for hire on-site

After a long days skiing you can put your feet up at one of the bars, sit around a fire, or watch one of the torch-lit ski demonstrations available or relax with a massage from the resident masseuse.

There are other daytime activities available if skiing is not what your after, such as walks to local frozen waterfalls and landmarks, snowman building or even just a simple snowball fight.

- Ruairi

Penguins

The south african peguin came up in lee's picture quiz I was not completely sure if africa had penguins but I got it right. The african penguins or the spheniscus demersus are the only penguin to breed in africa and are not found any were else in the world. Now for the facts the african penguin is 68cm in length and between 2.1 and 3.7kg in weight. The penguins breeding area is from Hollomsbird island, off central Namibia, to bird island in algoa bay. There are 6 breeding islands in algoa bay.

The peguins rate of decline is 2% there is probably

half the ammount of penguins than there was in the 1900. The main reason for there decline is the use of the eggs as food, the disturbance of there nest.

- Derek

Box of ice

This is the picture of an ice skating rink, this is one of the pictures I got incorrect on Lee's picture challenge. I do have an excuse though, there was no sky in this particular photo and as I was guessing every picture on the way the sky was, like if it was a clear blue sky, it was South Africa, and any other type wasnt. Anyway I assumed they wouldnt have an ice rink in South Africa, I suoppose because its always nice and warm, I thought 'why would they want to stand in a box of ice'. It must be tricky keeping the ice strong and thick as when I asked Lee what the hottest day she had has so far, she replied 36 degrees. It must be rare though to find a shop in South Africa were they sell ice gear: skates, big coat etc, they would probably find it odd in the shop if it was 36 degrees, and I asked for a wooly coat and gloves.

- Mark

Charlie's thoughts

It was a bit strange talking to Lee on a computer when she is in another country, when she is so far away. But I think it is exciting and extrordinary to talk to someone in another country.

There were pictures and i needed to find out where they came from. Maybe South Africa or another country.

-Charlie

Pietermaritzburg city centre

Many of you have asked me to film different things in South Africa. I know it is difficult to picture a place you have never visited before, so I hope the series of videos to come will help to paint a picture for you of the many contrasts in South Africa.I know they are amateur, but I hope to learn from your developing ICT video skills!

Below is a video of Church street in Pietermaritzburg, it is the centre of the city and is loaded with different shops. It is not as busy as it used to be as shopping malls have popped up around the city and I filmed it on a quiet day too.