This weekend I was swept away to an R.E.M. concert in Jo’berrg. It was fabulous the music and stage design where incredible. They played all of the classics and some new protest songs against what Americas government is doing to world and our country. It was very up lifting. The next morning I was taken in a bran new hummer to a lake north of Pretoria. This is where I entered MTV Cribs. It was crazy with there 40 ft. picture window that slides open to fell the breeze from the lake an indoor pool with a full bar curling around the nicely heated water. If I would walk forward I would run into the largest billiards table I have ever seen fallowed by some incredible art work. This place was covered in large leather want-to-sink-into couches. If you would walk down the hall to the bed room that my friends Rob (English) and Afka (Dutch) would be staying in you would fall in love. A balcony that faced the mountains a king sized bed that you could wake up and see the amazing view, a bathroom with a hot tube and sauna and this was only the guests bedroom. Leaving the house to the head to the lake you would find a large deck that extended down to the lake front, where there where 3 Jet Ski’s waiting for our arrival. At sunset we took a cruse around the lake with Champaign in our hands. It was a bit weird, so you might ask how did I end up is such a luxuries place for a weekend. Well my friend, Rob, plays rugby. He has met some very interesting people on his team that have entertained us and they where nice enough to invite us to there weekend house. Yes this huge house is just a weekend house.
We spent most of our time drinking but what do you expect when you go on a weekend with 15 rugby players. Other wise where would be playing on the water that oddly enough looked like the soup green Clear Lake likes to wear in mid August. It was a blast. I just had trouble feeling comfortable-
So what is wrong with this picture? Well on our way there we passed one of the poorest areas in South Africa. It was a township located 10 miles from the house that I would be wine and dinning in. As we passed through this awful sight the driver informed us to look out for anyone that would be approaching the car. “Why” I asked “Because they are high jackers”.
In ten minutes you could be standing next to someone with HIV that has no money and is just asking for some food, to standing next to a servant who is asking if you want more wine or if you are done with your plate when you look up you realize the township that you past thourgh earlier is where she or he lives. Just ten minutes down the road is where you will find no electricity and no bathroom facilities. This is a place where over a million people stay and they are employed by the rich up the road from there dieing village. Now that is a slap in the face.