Back from Cold Cold Kathu
First off, I need to apologize for taking such a long break from writing. I was away in Kathu, South Africa for work.
That’s 18 days without internet access. so you get the idea why im not posting.
In case everyone think the heat will be unbearable in SA, its actually winter time over there. so its damn cold at 8 – 20 degrees.
The travel was 10 hours to Johanesburg. I didn’t get to sleep much, mostly because its just so damn hard to sleep on a plane. Then came the shocking domestic flight. I thought taking south african airways will be some respectable flight but it turns out i was wrong. I get a propellar plane! The domestic journey took 1.5 hours because as a propellar plane you can’t fly too high.
We landed in Upington and from then on its a 2.5 hour car ride topo to Kathu. What greeted us were clear blue skys. But throughout the 18 days what facinates me the most about Kathu is the variations in the clouds. That is what i will miss most about the place.
Standard of living in Kathu or South Africa is really no difference from Singapore. The exchange rate is roughly 1 sing to 5.3 South Africa Rand. One loaf of bread costs SGD 1.3. Mineral water cost the same as singapore. so do the keyboards and the rice. This is a far cry from the expectation that i had of a small town like Kathu.
My room. Its not 5 star standard for those who are interested.
The bar counter.
We stayed at this guesthouse called Cranberry Cottage, owned by this lovely lady Magna. I really enjoy the stay there. It cost roughly SGD 80 bucks per night. The owners really helped us out alot in our trip, with directions and equipment purchase.
There is really nothing much in the small town. We can find laundry service that cost around SGD 3 bucks per kilo (though we strongly believe the lady always overcharges us) There is a town centre and the only amusing thing there is the supermarket called ShopRite.
Typical Engish Breakfast. I love my scramble eggs and ham but not the oily sausage and bacon.
Gourmet Steakhouse Ribs. Probably the best eatery in Kathu. Its really good and worth it. This one cost me SGD 13.00
Magna told us one night that she will be preparing this South African specialty tomorrow night and we decided to eat it the next night. The chicken are buried deep in the pot covered by an assortment of vegetables. It taste sweet and nice.
Its 18 days filled with ‘pu zua’ western food. Western food is drasically cheaper and nicer tasting then singapore. We can get a good tasting serving of Steak meal for SGD 15 bucks.
The whole town turns dark before 6 pm and all the eatery more or less closes after 7 pm. If you failed to make reservations at any of the 3 restraunt then you are thoroughly screwed to eat fast food like the Steers shown here. Not that it taste bad (it taste good) but you cannot eat the same shxt for a few days straight.
So what are the attraction in Kathu? Think it will interest those comoodities and mining investors. Outside Kathu stands 2 big mining vehicles. Yes! that is the tourist attraction for this mining town!
All in all, i’m glad i am back in Singapore in one piece. The violence in South Africa was not reported too much in Singapore but its making headlines in all Africa. I will never forget the scenic countryside and the animals, clouds not to mention Jondi.
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Comments
Welcome back to Food Heaven 
I went S.Africa during my army days too. The long 10 hours flight to Johannesburg followed by another 7 hours of bus ride to our camp is really a torture.
And I just grew bored of the food after a week. I went during June period and it was really cold. Still remember we were outfield burning lots of branches and even cooked all our can food and maggie with egg. Really taste like heaven. But behind our back was the non-stop blowing of the cold wind.
Indeed a great experience to go South Africa. Some of the people there never even heard of Singapore!
Few pictures from my S.Africa trip.
http://collinyeo.blogspot.com/2007/11/to-my-battery-friends.html
I don’t think i will go there anytime soon.
Colin! You are an artillery man as well! I guess we went about the same time. Food dispatched to you guys should be damn cold when it reaches.
haha i was until i take infantry role in reservist due to the liason tasks at hand. artillery better lah. infantry walk like mad!
I guess you won’t be going back for World Cup 2010, even if you have the chance?