Hello from my favourite place of all...south africa!!! this place feels like mhome to me and it always has done, ever since the first time i visited 6 years ago! i left the hustle and noisy bangkok exactly a week ago and have been non stop since!! ive finally got on here to update my journal and can now stop confusing everyone with where in the world i am!! had mad flights last week...took over and hour to get through the crazy traffic of bangkok but finally made it to the airport...its a stunning airport and i easily filled the 3 hour wait by looking round the shops and traditional thai decor - pictures of the king and replicas of mosques. quite a stunning place for an aipport!! flew the 3 hours to hong kong - three hours the wrong way but unfortunately that is the only route to get to south africa from thailand! and then had an hour to run through the airport to board my plane for johannesburg! made it and made myself comfy for the next 13 hours! amazing chinese food on board - yummy!! ; ) - and the best film...sleepless in seattle!!! managed to sleep most of it - was quite suprised cos i was more excited than a kid in a sweet shop!!! after what seemed like hours in the airport getting my last passport stamp, i hurried through the corridoor to get to my extended family out here!! they were waiting for me with a 'welcome home' balloon - and it sounds cheesy, but was the weirdest feeling to relaise i had made it through my trip and round the corners of the world!!! ; ) caught up with the family and chatted about my trip and the shananigans of the last 3 years since i saw them last and obviuosly of my road trip over the past 5 months. had my first savanna (cider) at about 10am - why not?! and had the best bath ive ever had!! totally spoilt on my first day!! the last week has just been more fun...went to lory park zoo and saw my first lion of this trip!! got up close to the baby tigers and even fed the monkeys!!! ; ) did a bt of christmas shopping in a place called sandton city and went to my favourite restaurant for lunch - they do the best p[izzas ever and i had chicken mayonnaise!!! mm mmm!! exactly what i had 3 years ago on the last day of my last visit!! sad or what! ha! ; ) yesterday we all went out with some friends to the golfing range. after about 3 hits we decided we were rubbish so gave up and sat drinking savannas, beautiful african wine and ended the afternoon (at about 8pm!!) ; ) with a round or 2 of jaegarbombs!!! i was first introduced to these back in america and theyve followed me round the world...they even match up to sambuca so they muct be good!!! ; ) got back and carried on the fun talking to scott and hayley under the veranda talking and listening to the torrential rain that was lashing!! weve had some amazing electric storms the past few nights...never seen lightning like it - it literally lights up the whole sky and the thunder is so loud you can feel it! stunning scenes - just wish i could capture it on camera!! so today we are just chilling...guna go and sit by the pool after finishing this and get ready to see mum and dad tomorrow. i cant believe we are at this point already!! its like a massive blur looking back at the last 5 months. an amazing blur though with so many stories, experiences and new freinds around the globe. i already feel like im at home being here and south africa will always be the final destination of any trip i go on. its so diverse and so unique - like no other place on earth. the down side though to this amazing country is the crime and the corruption. its scary the stories you hear day in day out of the violence and the crime - it really is a way of life and that is so sad. its become so set in the culture of the people who live here that its hard to see a way out. the lack of worship for life is scary and the main cause to so many violent crimes; and the corruption throughout every aspect of life here is just as scary. maybe one day the country will be able to change the mind set of the history and the culture that has taken over. this country has become so familiar to me though - the guys on each set of traffic light selling all they can for money; the ladies on the road side carrying their babies in towelling robes on their backs; the vast expanse of land with the disused gold mines; the new sites of development making way for rejuvenation; the distant skyline of johannesburg city and knowing that that is the closest i will probably get for at least a few more visits; the amazing electrical storms that amaze each and every time; the diverse array of culture and colours and the segregation between whites and blacks; the big five wild animals that roam the bush; and all the different countries withing one big continent; it certainly is an amazing place to see and explore. its got so much to offer and so much to view its hard to know where to start. for all i have seen though in the 3 visits ive made - this obviously feels like home where my family are. going to explore another place next week called misty hills - there for new year and got a few things mapped out, including a canopy tour where you swing from tree to tree through the jungle! and a days spa at the hotel...cant wait!!! but for now im off to the pool just outside the door...im not sure i will get to come back on here this side of christmas (or new year) so i hope you all have an amazing christmas and an even better new year! i will be bthinking of you and look forward to hearing all the news and scandal in the new year when i return...not looking forward to leaving this loife behind but i guess there is always next year!! i cant wait...hope all is well with you and love always. merry christmas!! Georgie x x x