Wipers!

After a few days of what feels like we just shot the remaking of Around the World in 80 days, finally we have the chance to sit back and relax high in the great western stand of Kingsmead cricket stadium and reflect on our daily adventures....and adventures it has all been.

Tuesday this week saw the team take an “official” tour of the city of Durban. A short walk down to the beach side tourism and information area saw us board the open top double decker bus for a guided information session on this great city. Hind sight now tells us that the tour would have been of great benefit at the beginning of our stay in Durban, highlighting to us some of Durban’s great markets and restaurants just to name a few. The guides constant references to the “robot” became both amusing and confusing, only to discover that a “robot” was actually what they call the traffic lights throughout the city. We maybe could have done with some of those robots to assist the guide, as the broken record of “great services to the public” and “exotic trees” became a little annoying some 2 hours into the trip....oh and by the way, Durban has scattered throughout it the most amazing “Veranda” buildings. A “veranda” building is a building that has a balcony attached, and the balcony goes all the way around the building!

Seriously though, the tour was well worth the 3 hours and actually was very informative in parts about the history of the city. Not only did it point out to us the great places to visit, but it also probably reiterated the places not to go without the safety of the confines of the bus, which also would have been handy before both our local friend Tonia and the tour had indicated so. You see one of these areas the 6 of us had already hiked through. And when I say through, I mean right smack bang through the centre of it. At the time, you did get the feeling of "why are we here", although a rather condensed population and the odd chant of “aussie” filled you with some form of comfort. You know come to think of it, when that police officer shook her finger at me from side to side, I now know what it meant.

So off to the live site on this afternoon, to watch the Bafana Bafana take on the might of the French. The 2006 runners up were in jeopardy of being eliminated from the tournament and the South African’s could still also mathematically make it. There was dance and euphoria when the Bafana took a 2-0 lead, however reality came crashing down with the French narrowing the lead to 1, and removing the hopes of the nation along with it. They did however play very well and created the ultimate shock to all with France being sent home early.

Tonight gave us the chance to sit at the Big Bosnich Bar and take in a descent and somewhat welcomed meal of Italian. The lips watered at the thought of partaking in a nice takeaway bolognaise. First the garlic bread, a delectable looking treat in the shape of a pizza....beautiful in taste, if you are a garlic fan. I have never ever in my life seen anyone manage to fit 373 cloves of garlic on one 20 cm pizza base. Believe me though, it still managed to disappear.....just like the mouth watering. After eyeing off the bolognaise for a matter of seconds, it was time for Mark and myself to partake in some pasta. And we did, with mouths open wide and the thrill of a meal of pasta, the biggest fork load of spaghetti was thrust deep into the mouth of what would appear to be two malnutritioned Australians. And that’s where the mouth watering stopped. The taste was absolutely divine, but wait...is that chilli we can taste? Chilli.....along with the 373 garlic cloves, I am of the belief there may well have been some 300 odd chillies cooked throughout the bolognaise. At this point, the Mark Bosnich Big Bar was being prepared to be renamed as the Mark Bosnich Big dam. Towels were gathered at a rate of knots to remove the constant flow of water, now not of the mouth, but every other pore from the human body. I can tell you though the pain was endured through to the end of the dish, however it is safe to say that if pasta is to be ordered once again it will not be from the same establishment.....the Indian gentlemen delivering the purchase should have probably given something away? Wipers!

In the small hours of the next morning, it was time to depart for Nelspruit, the home of the next Australian game. Today the convoy of 23 buses took a detour through the mountains for a scenic view of the country of Africa. It was at times breathtaking, and once again humbling as small towns line the streets just to wave and smile at the congo line of Australian vehicles. The morning stop today brought is to a local high school in the northern provinces of South Africa, whom presented us with a breakfast pack and warm log fires to escape the -1 temperatures outside. Again, they were so happy to have had the Australians select them as a place to visit, and the local students mingled together to assist in an way they possibly could to ensure our stop was of the upmost warmth and enjoyment.

Driver....Nelspruit please! Just after lunch today the fanatics arrived at the Nelspruit Botanical Gardens. The fanatics management team had organised with the local council the opportunity to utilise their fine gardens as a pre game venue to eat and drink the afternoon away. With the installation of pay tv and tv screens to the gardens, the fanatics sat in preparation watching the fate of the underwhelming English. Fortunately for their players, England managed to scrape their way through, however I suspect there may well be some rioting on the streets of the U.K later in the week as the U.S managed to top the group and relegate England to a confrontation in the first knock out stage with Germany.

Now back to our beloved aussies...there was a buzz through the air tonight that something special may occur and the Socceroos would progress. The atmosphere was phenomenal tonight and the sea of green and gold throughout the stadium was a sight to be seen. The pride of the nation was evident during the national anthem, as even the vuvuzelas were not going to drown out this one song. Together we stood, scarves swinging through the air, willing the lads to one last gasp effort. The performance they gave was very satisfying and one that we were all well proud about. Not a green and gold shirt moved after the final whistle, and we applauded the roos as they paraded the 2010 world cup for one last hurrah. It was disappointing for all, but the last two performances told us that we deserved to stand aside the best on the world stage.

The bus tonight was actually one of heightened mood, even though our team had not progressed. And it was lucky it was....12 hours until we get back to HQ. Just what everyone was looking forward to....NOT! In fact, there were two of our bus 14 combatants who had decided after countless hours on buses gallivanting around this great land, it was well worth the 7000 Rand ($1000) to get a plane ticket back to Durban. Madness or good application of rationale? More than likely an inkling of both.

After arrival back to HQ at lunch time on Thursday, the 4 of us decide it is time for refreshing. No better way than to head down to Ushaka Marine World to take on the slides and pools. After the purchase of bathers from the local merchandise store, off to the slides we would head. Ushaka hosts the steepest and biggest waterslide of the southern hemisphere, so off we trundle to conquer the beast. Mark and Kim managed to head straight to the larger, whilst yours truly would build up gradually from the second biggest...it was then after managing to manipulate my shorts into a toothpick, I realised that there was more than likely no requirement to attempt to have my insides turned out by the gargantuan. Seeing Kim’s successful attempt to become a contortionist was satisfying enough for me.

A few quiet beverages then saw us take in the Italy game. Again the potential loomed for another “big” team to pack up early and leave the tournament. There were thousands of aussies around town that would love nothing more than the Italians and 2006 victors to have their campaign taking away from them....and they did! No one would have seen coming a 4th placed finish for the cup holders, nor would have anyone thought in their wildest dreams that New Zealand would place above them. Our fellow Anzacs will be very proud of their efforts in 3 draws and remaining undefeated on the biggest stage of world football.