Well, we decided to check out a semi-final in Durban – so we we’re on the road to Durban and we pulled into a service station on the road down there. We were just going to get some gas and a snack when the gas/petrol attendant announced “That’s Tshabalala!!” – he had seen a guy drive up in his new BMW convertible (with no license plates) and get out – it turned out it was Siphewe Tshabalala, the South African striker, who scored the first goal in this World Cup (and what a cracker that goal was)… so I went over to him at the checkout and asked if I could get a picture…..

I told him his goal was a corker!!

As we sat game after game listening to the drone of vuvuzelas, it became apparent they might be part of sports culture globally soon enough.  Oddly, there are two choices.  Ear plugs (which I wore almost every game) and the new choice #2..

While I was not there in physical presence, I certainly am there still in spirit and I am happy Andy and Carl are joining me watching the game in Durban.

Sorry for the noise they make, they get excited easily.

Although did I mention we managed to get FIFA World Cup Final Tickets! Don’t worry, we’ll take Chris Jr.

Seriously though, it would be absolutely crazy of us to come all the way to South Africa and not do a Safari. So for the last couple of days between games we drove up to Pilanesburg Game Reserve. My poor camera didn’t know what had hit it, for the first time this trip I managed to flatten the battery from taking so many photos. They’re still uploading to Flickr, but you’ll be able to see the complete selection in an hour or so (internet is slow here) at the following URL

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iminstant/sets/72157624438149330/

These animals are amazing, they’re massive, and it really comes home when you’re in a tiny Toyota Corolla rental with a Rhino facing you a few feet away.  The car was in reverse and I was ready to floor it and lift the clutch if I had seen that Rhino twitch, fortunately the only thing twitching was Andy’s arsehole (so he says I didn’t check).

We stopped at one hide and were lucky enough see a couple of Elephants come for a drink and a Hippo go for a swim.

Pretty tired now, and need to get sleep for our drive to Durban tomorrow, where we will see Germany take on Spain.  Who do you think will win?

This evening we saw Spain vs Paraguay. This game was almost as boring as the Portual vs Brazil game. Fortunately it did not need overtime and after hitting the post three times in about 4 seconds, the Spanish scored. Spain looked alot like England this evening, poor passing, poor final ball and not pushing forward very much.

Here are this evenings opening and closing videos

Last night, I feel very privileged to have had the pleasure to go to the Uruguay vs Ghana game. The crowd going to Soccer City on the train was in high spirits, cheering and singing the whole trip. The noise in the stadium with the VuVuZelas and the singing was just incredible, I’m not very good at describing things in words, but let me try by saying the noise rattled your rib cage, it was loud!

The game was incredible, Ghana played really well and deserved the win, and if there was ever the evidence needed for the football equivalent of a rugby penalty try, yesterday showed it. Cheat and you can still get through to the next round of the World Cup. Ghana played great, passing the ball, using the wings, holding the ball up, basically they should have won. Sadly it was decided on penalties, and it looks like the English teams penalty coach has been training the Ghana team.

I did take the video camera with me, but it’s taken a little while to sort out missing codecs, but I think I have it now.

Intro video 1

Intro Video 2

Kristine, a pretty girl from Wilmington, USA who liked to dance and I think was very cheery cos of cheap Budweiser, I promised I’d post her video.

A few beers later, Andy doing the closing.

And finally, Andy introduces Chris jr to complete strangers on the train. This lady it turned out is Colombian and lives in Atlanta USA.