Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New year! January 26th is the first day of 2009, the year of the ox (4707) in the Chinese calendar. (For more about Chinese astrology, visit the Chinese Astrology Year chart.)

Chinese New Year celebrations were held yesterday at Nanhua Temple, near Bronkhorstspruit, and included a Dharma function, a traditional dragon and lion dance to chase away bad luck; and many other cultural exhibitions and events.


Experiencing other traditions and cultures is lots of fun; it was great to sample the traditional Chinese food sold by the many stalls around the temple and a highlight was the performance of the Free State Orchestra of Chinese Music, which combined traditional Chinese and western instruments, and played traditional and modern Chinese music as well as adaptations of western music. How wonderful that we are able to participate in celebrations like this without leaving South Africa.

May your 2009 be filled with health, happiness, prosperity and many blessings!

Labels: Chinese New Year, NanHua temple

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Me and Barack Obama

That's my face on the person in the blue coat standing just behind Michelle Obama. No I wasn't there, just watched the inauguration along with many other South Africans, appreciating the well written and delivered speech and the messages of hope. The inauguration was a historic moment (although I thought Mandela's inauguration more stylish, but then I'm biased) and I'm going to follow the official White House blog with interest. If you would like to add your face to those at the Obama inauguration, visit Fotoflexer.

Labels: Barack Obama, inauguration, Whitehouse blog

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South African wins Dakar rally

Although I am not generally a fan of motor sport, the Dakar rally has always been of interest to me because of the combination of skill and sheer guts this endurance race demands. So it was with delight that I watched the progress of Giniel de Villiers, who has now become the first South African to win this race. Sad though, that another competitor, the Frenchman Pascal Terry, died during the race, which this year was held in South America because of unrest in Mauritania. An extreme event, but a fascinating one.

Labels: Dakar rally, Giniel de Villiers

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Some bests of 2008

A bit late I know, but I sometimes have trouble getting into the new year, especially when I have to grapple with taxes at the beginning of it. Here are a few South African things that I enjoyed last year:

The Nike ad featuring Oscar Pistorius:



Joule MPV, the electric car unveiled at the Paris Motor Show: not bad looking, not hopelessly expensive to buy, and South African!

Beating the All Blacks at Dunedin:



The switching on of the Darling Wind Farm, South Africa's first renewable energy power initiative.

Labels: Darling wind farm, electric car, Joule, Nike, Oscar Pistorius, renewable energy

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SALT, dark skies and a solar eclipse

On new year's eve, Venus sat, spetacularly bright, just to the left of a crescent moon softened with a halo. The view was much better for those at the Star party, held at the SALT (Southern Africa Large Telescope) telescope in Sutherland. As Sutherland, in the semi-desert Karoo, is one of the coldest places in South Africa, I have never had any particular urge to go there. But news of the telescope, along with the fact that there is very little light pollution there (South Africans there are champions of the International Dark Skies Awareness Project, which aims to make people aware of the adverse impact excess artificial lighting can have on local environments), have made me curious. 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, so that may be the time to make the trip there. And while we are on the topic of astronomy, we will be able to a partial solar eclipse here in South Africa on 26 January. The eclipse will be able to be seen throughout South Africa. Click here to see the various places from which one will be able to view the eclipse.

Labels: dark skies, SALT, solar eclipse, Sutherland

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Deon Meyer - one of my favourite SA authors

I have just finished reading 13 uur the latest Deon Meyer. It is such a pleasure to read a book in a favourite genre (thriller/detective story) which is South African. Set in Cape Town, it deals matter of factly with South African realities like how crime impacts on tourism and affirmative action while focusing firmly on a gripping storyline. It's a page turner. It's only available in Afrikaans at the moment, but is due appear in English later this year. If you are South African, you can order it online from loot.co.za:

Labels: 13 uur, Deon Meyer, South African writing

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