Tuesday...nothing remarkable as such...some future promises...

It will be a small post...not much of an activity...just the legacy of the previous days that carries on and keeps the lips apart...a everlasting smile.

I was out on the roads, on morning walk. The opposite, I told already, is US Embassy. Thought of having a click on the phone...intended to take snap to post...clicked...and then the guards approached me. "You are not supposed to take photos here". "Please delete". Deleted.
   - Are there any more?
   - No

After a while I was still roaming around in order to complete my targets steps count, one guard came to me.
   - Write down your name, and phone number.
I was writing the details. Then he asked - "What number is it?"
   - India
   - In South Africa you have India number?
   - Yes
   - Does it work here?
   - Yes

Oh! that's end of the story. I was just filling in the space, as I have very less interesting things to share.

8 AM was bus timing to office. I hastily completed my breakfast...took the bus...went to SANAC office. Oh forgot to tell you that we were supposed to meet the CEO of SANAC, Dr. Sandile Buthelezi. He had a day long meeting from 9 AM. He was supposed to meet us anytime in between. We met him around 11:30ish. Nice energetic person he is.

Return shuttle was at 4:15 PM. After returning hotel, I went out for another round of a walk. Saw some scenic beauties and activities.

Some Garden

Some cottage

Some group dancing

Some group dancing (again)

That's it for the day update folks. With these "some" snaps, there are some future promises...there is a proposed trip to Pilanesberg National Park, coming Saturday. Organized by the client 😊.

Thanks for reading my blog and please stay tuned. More updates to come!

Kick started...

Before I start describing the first assignment day - the kick start day let me share a few snaps of the new stay at the Sentinel Luxury Suite Hotels. I could not share that in yesterday's post where I ended at departure from Johannesburg and not extended till arrival at the new stay at Pretoria.

The hotel is a good one with no smoking room with attached private garden. Smoking is allowed in the garden 😊.

Hotel entrance

Not exactly EXIT only, it leads to other apartments spread around

In three sides of the hotel there are High Commission of Australia, Embassy of USA and Embassy of Czech Republic. Enough of a description of my new stay, let me move to describe "the" day - kick start.

LG SETA organized the kick start event at Premier hotel where IBM leadership and all other clients were present together with LG SETA.

COO, LG SETA

The Kick Start - Pierre Fouche addressing

One of the Sub-Teams with the Host organization

Another Sub-Team

There was a lunch after the kick off meeting and greetings at the same hotel. After the lunch we went to SANAC office.

In front of the SANAC office

Team Selfie

The experience of the first meeting with SANAC - with the HIV Technical Advisor, Petro Rousseau - was amazing. It was quite a good overview of what SANAC is doing and what is the expectation. They have a web platform - Focus for Impact. This is a analytical platform that gathers data from different sources, analyzes them and provides analyzed data view. Where are the burdens of HIV, TB or STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections)? What could be the causes behind the burden etc. The ask is to recommend optimization of the platform.Very interesting things to know. to do and to satisfy the self.

Messages Stitched on clothes at the reception of SANAC

On a personal note, realized that it is difficult to post updates in the mornings, need to leave by 8 AM. Evening time is the best time to do it. I will be doing so from now on. Please stay tuned in.

Sunday is a graduation of Saturday

Eager to see the surprises for the day, checked out of the hotel in a hurry...just after completing blogging about Saturday adventure. First we will go to the Apartheid Museum. The baggages we left at the hotel to be picked up by an agency and transfer to our host place of the assignment, Pretoria.

Apartheid Museum

There are two types of the tickets, one for the Whites and the other for Non-Whites...they will take two different entry gates, the way it was earlier.

Whites and Non-Whites entry tickets

The tickets are given in random order. It is coincidence that I got non-whites one :). I entered. It is not any loss as after a while the roads merge and till that time everything is visible on the other way.

Just after entrance

The museum is about the history, the people on the revolution, Nelson Mandela and revolutionary music. One album was playing - the "The African Choir 1891 Re-Imagined" - fantastic music. It is available on youtube, see what your ears say about it.

Appealing Against Classification

Early Johannesburg residents when walking up the ramp

The African Choir 1891

The Discrimination

The Mandela

After Museum, we headed to Soweto.

FNB Stadium (on the way)

On the way to Soweto

Tuk tuk @ Soweto

Lunch - Bread n Pap

After lunch we visited near the Gold mines, Orlando East - Orlando West, 'Hostel' and experienced the 'Africa' culture in a convoy of tuk tuks.

The guide cum a tuk tuk Chauffeur :)

The guide was telling the history of habitation in inhabitable place, the gold rush, the pain and agony wrapped in sarcastic foil. Very touchy...I was trying hard to control my tears every now and then. No, it was not that a melodrama...just powerful enough to move your heart.

Guide pointing towards the Orlando east & west

The Kids - devoid of facilities - unsure about future

Apartment complex @Hostel area, 500 apartments for 56,000 habitats. Huh!

Hector Peterson's memorial

Mandela House

And...

Departing Drinks

After this full day adventure, headed to Pretoria. Checked into hotel. Waited for a new morning.

More to come...experience into actual assignment and facing the client...there will be many more..please stay tuned in.

First day - Saturday full with adventure

First morning @ Johannesburg

The entire day planned for kick off meeting at IBM office in Sandton and then after lunch and team activities.

IBM office visit

Overview of the country and our objectives were shared by IBM COO South Africa, Ziaad Suleman. There were other important topics like logistics, security etc. were discussed.

In the meeting room

Ziaad Suleman addressing the team

After the meeting we headed to Zulu Nyala Country Manor for lunch and the activities planned. Beautiful place this is. Huts, Trees, Animals and so on.

A hut @ Zulu Nyala Country Manor

Wolfie, domesticated wolf

Zebra

Three Zebras :)

Yes, Zebra and Peacocks :) 

Now few moments from the from team activities...centered around a musical instrument...West African drum - Djembe.

Djembe

Djembe Training :)

Djembe Training continues

Djembe Learners :)

Plan for the performance

Top Performance

After returning at the hotel one attraction was the view from the roof top.

Johannesburg at night from roof top of Protea hotel

Heard that there are surprises planned in Sunday adventure. Updates to come!