Funky clock tower displays the time for major cities around the world.

If you wonder where all the Santas last Christmas.... they were busy climbing up this store.

View from the Berlin tower.

This section of the wall was just a stroll away from the hostel that I stayed.

This section of Berlin wall was painted over my many artists.

I had a chance to visit South Africa in March'02 for about a week. I was quite excited not only because I'd never been there but it's the first time for me to visit the continent of 'Africa'!!!!
A quick stopover at Johannesburg - too short to do anything but the airport shops. But already, the sourvenir/gift shops are quite interesting with African art and style.
Durban is an interesting city. It has a feeling of a colonial trading town. Things are relatively cheap, foods, wine (very good red wine), clothes and even cars (Mercedes has an assembly plant there). The weather was great, sun shine warm and not very humid (although I was told it can be). Durban is blessed with long coastal beach fronts which is great for swimming. as you can see from the photos below!!!! Culturally, I feel there are two worlds - the white and the black african. There are in general vast different in economic status between the two. The unemployment rate is pretty high as I saw many people just hang out on the streets (can be scary at times even during the living daylight). so if you are going to Durban or anyplace in South Africa it's best to take 'precautions'. email me if you want more details. Nevertheless, South Africa is one of the most stable countries in the continent. I enjoyed the weather, the sightseeing, the foods, and the shopping very much partly because things are not expensive there. One South African Ran is about 1.1-1.2 Thai Baht. I came back with an african drum, two Ostrich eggs, a Poccupine spike, and some trinkets. And here are some of the photos.....

I stayed at Hilton, the tall slivery building next to the Stadium.

A short trip to visit an area set up by the government for black Africans called Township. It's like a self-sufficent town area where people live, with nearby school, market, etc... Here I found some local herbs some are tree barks, leaves, dried animals. The locals believe that by burning them at home, they can be rid of discease/sickness and even get in-touch with the belated relatives. Almost a voodoo like but not that scary actually.

number of visits
Since Feb. 5, 1999