Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Dear List I have had many private emails from various people asking about information on Africa. People generally think we live in a jungle with wild animals running around. As far as members on the list go, I know of 3 who are from various parts of Africa – I am from Cape Town, South Africa, Swee is from Lusaka Zambia – somewhere in central Africa and Ramapriya is in Sudan in the North. I will let each of them give you a snap shot of their part of the country. Snap Shot of South Africa South Africa after the independence has become a great country ‘alive with possibilities’, like the great Mandela has coined the phrase. The political climate is stable, tourism is booming, the economy is stable if not the best in Africa. There are 3 main cities, Johannesburg (JHB), Cape Town & Durban. JHB is the business capital, with Cape Town the ‘New Europe’ as many have commented including our dearest Swee and Durban, the holiday capital. South Africa is known internationally more for its rich resources in Gold, Platinum, Diamonds & other precious metals and gems which are mostly only found here and of course famous for its sport and lately tourism. Something of the best of the 1st world, but also having as much of the 3rd world. The biggest challenge here is HIV/AIDS and crime due to unemployment. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is surrounded by a Peninsula wrapped around the famous Table Mountain, where on the one side is the warm Indian Ocean and the other side is the cold Atlantic Ocean – Yes the beaches are diff in temperature. Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island which is off the Cape coast. South Africa have approx 1.2 million people of Indian origin with 70% residing in Durban and surrounds. We have 2 North Indian and 2 South Indian Temples, together with a Hare Krishna Temple here in Cape Town. Another fascinating feature of Cape Town is that there are many sacred sites all over the city, from ancient Siva Lingams on Table Mountain and ancient observatories where the ancients used to record important astronomical events going back thousands of years. Not only are the BIG 5 here, namely Leopard, cheetah, buffalo, rhino and elephant found in abundance, but the Southern Right whales visit us here every Spring and are something special to watch. Of all the major centres, Cape Town has the most vibrant esoteric community from alternative healing to practitioners of all the various modalities. We even have an astrological society (only western Astrology) of which im a new member where I try and promote and do my bit for promoting Jyotish. As a matter of interest, I don’t know of any practicing Jyotish in South Africa – most purohit’s at the various temples just do electional stuff from panchanga. So I guess SJC is going to have to do some work here – of which plans are already in place I recently attended my parents diksha initiation in Durban and have attached some pictures of the beautiful temple set in the centre of a lotus garden. So, after all we do have temple here and we don’t run around in the jungle with the wild animals. I will post some pictures on the forum for those that are not d to indiv emails Best Wishes and thanks to all of you for keeping ‘alive with possibilities’ by all your contributions to the forum. Regards Bipin Cape Town Pics … Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Durban….. ******************************************************************* The e-mail and attachments are confidential and intended only for selected recipients. If you have received it in error, you may not in any way disclose or rely on the contents. You may not keep, copy or distribute the e-mail. Should you receive it, immediately notify the sender of the error and delete the e-mail.Also note that this form of communication is not secure, it can be intercepted, and may not necessarily be free of errors and viruses in spite of reasonable efforts to secure this medium. ******************************************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Jaya Jagannatha Dear Bipin, Hare Krishna The wineland looks like Malmesbury with the protea underneath it! BTW, that mountain is filled with King Proteas J and rare flora collections that is only in that locale. Can you please include pictures of the caves of Shiva Linga which you’ve promised since my last visit J Love, Swee p/s You forgot to add Sunil John who is now in Nigeria somewhere, filming! On Behalf Of Bipin Prag Monday, May 09, 2005 11:53 AM [Jaya Jagannatha] Africa info - South Africa Dear List I have had many private emails from various people asking about information on Africa. People generally think we live in a jungle with wild animals running around. As far as members on the list go, I know of 3 who are from various parts of Africa – I am from Cape Town, South Africa, Swee is from Lusaka Zambia – somewhere in central Africa and Ramapriya is in Sudan in the North. I will let each of them give you a snap shot of their part of the country. Snap Shot of South Africa South Africa after the independence has become a great country ‘alive with possibilities’, like the great Mandela has coined the phrase. The political climate is stable, tourism is booming, the economy is stable if not the best in Africa. There are 3 main cities, Johannesburg (JHB), Cape Town & Durban. JHB is the business capital, with Cape Town the ‘New Europe’ as many have commented including our dearest Swee and Durban, the holiday capital. South Africa is known internationally more for its rich resources in Gold, Platinum, Diamonds & other precious metals and gems which are mostly only found here and of course famous for its sport and lately tourism. Something of the best of the 1st world, but also having as much of the 3rd world. The biggest challenge here is HIV/AIDS and crime due to unemployment. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is surrounded by a Peninsula wrapped around the famous Table Mountain, where on the one side is the warm Indian Ocean and the other side is the cold Atlantic Ocean – Yes the beaches are diff in temperature. Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island which is off the Cape coast. South Africa have approx 1.2 million people of Indian origin with 70% residing in Durban and surrounds. We have 2 North Indian and 2 South Indian Temples, together with a Hare Krishna Temple here in Cape Town. Another fascinating feature of Cape Town is that there are many sacred sites all over the city, from ancient Siva Lingams on Table Mountain and ancient observatories where the ancients used to record important astronomical events going back thousands of years. Not only are the BIG 5 here, namely Leopard, cheetah, buffalo, rhino and elephant found in abundance, but the Southern Right whales visit us here every Spring and are something special to watch. Of all the major centres, Cape Town has the most vibrant esoteric community from alternative healing to practitioners of all the various modalities. We even have an astrological society (only western Astrology) of which im a new member where I try and promote and do my bit for promoting Jyotish. As a matter of interest, I don’t know of any practicing Jyotish in South Africa – most purohit’s at the various temples just do electional stuff from panchanga. So I guess SJC is going to have to do some work here – of which plans are already in place I recently attended my parents diksha initiation in Durban and have attached some pictures of the beautiful temple set in the centre of a lotus garden. So, after all we do have temple here and we don’t run around in the jungle with the wild animals. I will post some pictures on the forum for those that are not d to indiv emails Best Wishes and thanks to all of you for keeping ‘alive with possibilities’ by all your contributions to the forum. Regards Bipin Cape Town Pics … Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Durban….. ******************************************************************* The e-mail and attachments are confidential and intended only for selected recipients. If you have received it in error, you may not in any way disclose or rely on the contents. You may not keep, copy or distribute the e-mail. Should you receive it, immediately notify the sender of the error and delete the e-mail.Also note that this form of communication is not secure, it can be intercepted, and may not necessarily be free of errors and viruses in spite of reasonable efforts to secure this medium. ******************************************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Nice stuff, Bipin. Didn't you find a less conservative beach pic? J Sudan is the largest country of Africa, and makes the news for reasons ranging from Dharfur, a seemingly ceaseless civil war and Bin Laden. The northern half of the country is desert, Islamic and Arab, and the southern half green and largely Christian. Despite remarkable development over the past year, thanks to the increasing harness of the plentiful oil deposits, Khartoum remains a laidback, if a little chaotic, old town. Roads, where they exist, are in very good condition, while power is a bit of a problem. I was acquainted rather quickly to Sudanese taxis and people; minutes after I stepped out of Khartoum Airport, in fact. I hopped into one of a seeming forest of the oldest yellow cars on earth. At approximately the instant I shut the right door, the left door came unhinged and keeled over an unsuspecting Arab lad. I was prepared to get delayed when I saw a forgiving toothy grin arise instead. Sudanese really are one of the most genuinely friendly people on earth, though their happy obliging ways can be a bit frustrating. A colleague of mine discovered that recently. He had for accompaniment at the movies a rather well-formed young female friend, and naturally bought two corner seats. Too bad he failed to specify that opposite corners wasn't what was his idea J If Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Jammalamadugu Venkatasubbayya Sambasiva Rao does not rattle you, Sudanese names won't either, though they're a little less pronounceable. Khartoum is one of the safest and dustiest cities on earth, and crime is unheard of here, which is incredible considering the heart-rending poverty. Friendly though they all are, very few Sudanese speak anything but Arabic, which can be a bit of a roadblock. Overall, unless you're really starved of ideas, I wouldn't advice Sudan as a tourist destination. If you're a vegetarian like me, you'll quickly be an imperiled species. Camels, livestock and donkeys abound in Sudan. Curiously, the wealth of a person is gauged not by the numbers of cattle or camels he has, but by the numbers of donkeys. Now I know why our company is one of the richest here J Cheers, Ramapriya ayirpamar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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