We arrived in Joburg to a cold front that brought us temperatures in the teens (celsius), wind and rain. We were finally able to use most of our cold weather clothing packed at the bottom of our bag, including our raincoats. The first thing that I noticed when we entered the city were the Jacaranda trees that lined many of the city’s streets, creating canopies of purple everywhere. The trees and their blossoms are so eye-catching and beautiful. We were lucky to be in Johannesburg during the height of the blooming season which lasts from late-September to mid-November and peaks in mid-October. It was disappointing to later learn that they are not native to South Africa. Rather, they are an alien plant species considered by horticulturalists to be harmful to the environment and damaging to native vegetation. Jacaranda was introduced to South Africa in the late 1800s and initially planted in the whites only areas in Johannesburg until the 1950s.
We had heard from friends and acquaintances that Joburg could be a dangerous place and we should stay alert. We indeed drove through some sketchy neighborhoods before we arrived in the quaint village of Norwood. We were greeted at our Airbnb by a lovely woman named Veronica who showed us around the 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home.
Just like most single-family homes throughout South Africa, this home had a tall perimeter wall such that the entire property was enclosed and secure behind lock and key, accessible only through the garage door and the front gate. This type of security has its pros and cons. On the plus side, it improves the security of the home and because the entire property is behind a wall, it becomes private, usable space. The front yard in this home contains an outdoor dining area and a small swimming pool with a walkway that leads to the front door, that the kids were keen to swim under. Unfortunately, the weather was too cold during our stay to use the swimming pool.
The home has a large living and dining area that was perfect for us to enjoy our meals, hang out, relax and learn in. The open kitchen is well-equipped and immediately became a focal point for RY who has taken to investigating all of the cooking equipment and tools immediately upon arriving somewhere new. Behind the kitchen, there is a pleasant courtyard that would be lovely for the kids to play in, in good weather.
The master bedroom is very cozy with a huge bed and two comfy chairs. In addition to the bathroom, there is even an outdoor shower that we did not have the chance to enjoy because of the cold weather. The two smaller bedrooms each have two single beds and was just perfect for our family.
It didn’t take long at all for us to feel right at home in this cozy home and quaint neighborhood. Leo even managed to find a barber shop for a much needed haircut.
RY has been wanting to challenge Leo to a cooking competition since we started our trip. Because of the open layout and the well-equipped kitchen, this was the perfect location for the competition to take place. The two of them agreed that they would each have two hours to prepare a 2-course meal, a main dish and a dessert, to be judged on presentation and taste, by the rest of us. They agreed that the main dish would be chicken and the other ingredients would be at their own discretion. We went to the supermarket to get what they needed and that night, the competition took place.
The competition was quite intense with RY and Leo slaving away in the kitchen for two-hours. When the timer rang, each of them had produced a plated entrée and dessert ready for the judges. Leo prepared creamy Tuscan chicken with potatoes as his main dish, served with a Sauvignon blanc from Tokara Winery in Stellenbosch. His dessert was chocolate mousse with whipped cream. Rand prepared an entrée of Chicken with homemade teriyaki glaze served with homestyle mashed potatoes and roasted broccolini. His dessert was oreo truffles.
To say that I was impressed would be an understatement. During these couple of months, we have seen RY’s cooking skills blossom. His confidence in the kitchen, knife skills, mastery of basic techniques and recipes, ability to improvise and add his own flair have all grown by leaps and bounds. The rest of us are the true beneficiaries of RY’s passion for cooking as we get to enjoy everything that he cooks. After all of the judging on the two courses on presentation and taste, AY tallied up the points and announced RY the winner. Leo was a gracious competitor and congratulated RY on a well-deserved win.
Halloween is usually a big deal for us. It is a holiday that we all really enjoy celebrating. Since the children were small, I have made Halloween costumes for them using old fabric or clothing and my sewing machine. Our usual Halloween routine of home-made costumes, trick or treating and trunk or treat wouldn’t be possible this year so we decided to do a home celebration. The children used whatever clothes, scarves and accessories we had with us to create a costume of their own design. RY was Zeus, AY was a thief, DY was Achilles and EY was a fairy. Leo and I hid in the bedrooms and bathrooms and the children came to trick or treat at our door. We had as much fun as the kids making scary effects with our voices and the lights. We gave out as many tricks as we did treats, handing out bananas and soap or shampoo intermittently, along with chocolates and candies. They all said it was the best Halloween ever.
We were happy to end our month in South Africa over a meal with CP and GP, our friends from Shanghai. GP is a highly respected teacher who I personally admire and also RY’s English teacher last year. CP is a beloved pastor and philanthropist. We were excited to share our experiences in South Africa with them and also to find out how they were doing since they left Shanghai and returned to their native country of South Africa. RY was keen to show his former teacher the paper he had written about apartheid and similarly failed political systems. We met at a local Italian restaurant called Costa Nostra and had an enjoyable evening catching up with this lovely couple who embody the hospitality, warmth and joie de vivre that we have found in the people across South Africa.
During our dinner with our South African friends, GP told me that before I leave South Africa, I must have a red cappuccino, a cappuccino where the coffee is replaced by rooibos. Rooibos is a tea alternative. It is a plant, native to South Africa and beloved by South Africans, that does not contain caffeine and is believed to have health benefits. We stopped by a local café during our last stroll through the main street of Norwood, before heading to the airport, and ordered two red cappuccinos. The baristas were extremely friendly and extolled the aromatic taste and health benefits of rooibos, then showed us the bark-like grounds of the rooibos plant. We sat outside of the café on this beautiful October day and savored our last sweet taste of South Africa.
Beautiful post! RY’s dish presentation is amazing!