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My Goodreads Book Ratings and Reviews

My Goodreads ratings and reviews are located here for books that I've found of high value in my reading journey.

The Longing

(A mini-exercise in writing a setting with a character)

Aaron reached for the door to his daughter's room, his hand trembling to balance unseen weight as it passed through some repelling force radiating from the knob.  The more he willed himself to turn the handle, the stronger the door pushed back, like a sentry barring access to some forbidden world. Over past weeks, Aaron attempted this same maneuver, only to abandon the act before the door creaked open, retiring each time to his bed, armed with a sleeping pill and premature darkness from fully drawn shades, subsequently waking a half-day later, a bit less shackled in his heart than the day prior.  This time, after the handle turned, the door relented and gently eased its grip, gradually dissolving into view a perfectly preserved moment in time, one that Aaron began to revive with little fragments of his brittle soul.

On the ground to his right, lay Jordan's favorite Halloween costume, with its ornamented tiara, pair of angelic wings, and a matching wand that was broken from too much roleplay.  He stepped into the room and to the side of this hallowed spot, looking upward and scanning the mirrored door of a closet as it reflected back the full view of a lost world that ached to be reunited, once more, with the present.  Aaron lightly brushed his hands across a small cluster of fingerprints on the mirror, vestiges of a precious life once residing in this space, a life that he could almost see forming anew in a vapor of light and shadow behind him – or perhaps it was just sun rays undulating through guarding limbs outside the open window.  He closed his eyes, drawing a temporary curtain on this dizzying outer world so he could regain a foothold on the inner one of his memories -– the world he most trusted.

After some moments, he blotted his eyes and studied the area of the room to his left, as he took a deep breath to gird himself against waves of longing.  On a particleboard computer desk that functioned as Jordan's entertainment center -- her hub of involvement with life -- lay schoolwork papers gently rustling in a light breeze; a bottle of perfume and a half-eaten bowl of grapes, both giving a faint but competing scent to the room; and an unexpected treasure -- her writing journal -- which he carefully lifted like a precious find of archeology and nestled under his arm.   This was something he valued more than any photograph, as it preserved her internal world of thoughts and feelings, speaking to him from the past, yet consoling him as if in the present.

Further across the room, scattered on the floor and on top of an unmade bed, were various dolls, stuffed animals, and scrapbook drawings, all frozen with an air of expectation and hope for the eventual return of their friend that had blessed this room with light, and given them life.  But it was the far corner, suffused with near-dusk rays, that added so much weight to Aaron's heart, and which was no doubt the mystical source that both rebuffed and compelled him these past three weeks.  There in the corner resided an altar of Jordan's unfulfilled dreams: her acoustic guitar canted listlessly to its side, and her little karaoke machine and microphone.

Aaron could hold back no longer, and with weakened legs, settled to the floor and wept.

 

Musical Recommendations for Writing

I thought I would offer up some ideas on music I like to write to and would recommend, in case this is useful for someone else.   Beyond the visual inspirations that work for me as regards the beach at Pacific Ocean, or being nestled in a quiet spot among some hills in the Topanga Canyon, I find these musical sources provide the necessary aural layer to enhance my writing productivity.

Thomas Bergersen's "Illusions" and his other musical team, "Two Steps From Hell," are my intial recommendations. This music is very Hans Zimmer-like, but I find the melodies to be generally much richer. This music would be categorized in the Epic genre, and also related to companies that produce trailer-soundtrack music.  What I like about "Illusions" is it takes wonderful soundtrack-oriented melodies and extends them to full-bodied, pulse-pounding arrangements, where the album feels thematically consistent within itself.   This music is a great soul-amplifier for when your emotions are on fire and ready to spill over with something wonderful that you just can't hold back from getting on the page, be it feelings that are stately, pensive, or bitter-sweet.   There is some inspiring writing-music in the Epic genre section, as a whole, and I invite you to scout that out if you haven't already.

My next recommendation is Nox Arcana (Joseph Vargo). This music sits on the other end of the emotional spectrum in more Gothic territory.  You might find some of this playing at Halloween, but it really works well year-round and particularly for writing in dark, lonely, or mysterious spaces of a story.   I find myself listening to Nox Arcana extensively while driving, as it provides a welcome change of mellow rhythms involving lonely solitude, pain-filled longing, or ominous foreboding.   However, this in part depends on the album one chooses, where each has its own self-contained cinematic or literary theme (i.e. Lovecraft, Poe, Stoker, medieval, winter music, etc.)

In between these two ends of the emotional spectrum just described sits Tangerine Dream, which is my favorite group.   Albums like Pergamon and Ricochet, Poland and Rubycon, provide long hypnotic arrangements that allow for deep, cerebral trances of contemplation.  I've never found another group that so closely resonates with my internal frequencies, and as such I have tended to be most productive and mentally on fire when writing, working, and driving to their music.   I would place them on the more pensive and cerebral part of the spectrum, somewhere in the middle, but with plenty of moments that oscillate between the two ends of Epic and Gothic, particularly in their late-70's and 80's material.

Finally, tried-and-true classical music always works for me:  Wagner, Holst, Dvorak, Sibelius, and particularly the Russians, to name just a few. Classical excels gloriously at capturing the full emotional/cerebral spectrum of mindsets, which is one reason I think this music stands the test of time.

In all cases, my common denominator is generally to write to music that is (1) cinematic, (2) long, and (3) without words.   Depending on my mood and frame-of-mind, I may have different internal dialagues to add to the mix, allowing me to revisit the same music and derive a new experience, which is why I prefer music without singing.   As regards the length, once I become dissolved into the music, I want to remain there for as long as it takes, and not have the rug pulled out from underneath my imagination.  Looking back, I would have to place "Illusions" and "Pergamon" as my favorite all-time albums, being ones getting repeated listenings without loss of inspiration.

I might also add that I often use sessions of dual-binaural beats, including light-pulsing glasses, to focus in on my internal world, and I have in fact had some of my most productive writing that way.   As such, I recommend this as a more adventurous option to try (though won't be appropriate for some, depending on medical conditions).

 

Love Poem

Here is a little poem I did back in the early 90's.  I did some "remixing" and am posting here.

 

Love Poem 

Set in motion by an unseen hand of redemption,
Rekindling silent notions of an everlasting day.
A yearning for some transcendent new creation
To cleanse these murky waters of pain and decay.

Emanating from the deepest parts uncharted,
Rising through an ocean I traveled all too fast.
A passion of such purity in content and form
Unhindered by jagged rocks from troubled past.

Tossed and shaken amidst my emotional storms,
But dauntless in pursuit of its singular goal.
Calling out to me, unmerciful towards fear,
Enter the open doorway - find your true soul.

I'll set fire to your stronghold.  What treasure awaits!
Liberation from bondage means the freedom to love.
Upon my clear waters cast forth your tired soul. 
See yourself as I do, with eyes blessed from above.

From One Lover of the Ocean to Another

This is something I wrote as contemplation and encouragement for facing death (was shared with a specific person with this in mind).  I wanted to convey something that I thought was life affirming, as one stood at the edge of this world and pondered the mystery of the one to come.  I wrote this at night while sitting on the shore of the Pacific Ocean here in Los Angeles.  Certainly this conveys some of the magnetism and majesty that draws me to the ocean time and again.

_____________

   

From One Lover of the Ocean to Another

 

What secrets does the Ocean have for me tonight?

Induced by some long-ago lit fuse, waves rise and crack the shoreline, rhythmically dancing along the sand.   Water surging, swelling, crescendoing, until a climax is reached.   Symphonic instruments of water and land, and those of the wind, weave together their harmonies, and then dissolve...

Yet the symphony is far from over, as another measure is played, and then another...as each wave conveys the perpetuity of the life of the Ocean -- and of Life at large.

The orchestration tonight relates tales from distant lands, for the rhythms of the surf have likewise been savored on remote shores.   Other hearts, perhaps human or maybe of dolphins and great whales, have also pleasured in this melody.   Though the world above – that I see – is separated from the world below the waves, both are waters poured into existence from the same Source of Life, and I feel deep kinship.

It is that profound wonderment of standing at the edge of one world and beholding another that is the essence of why I am drawn to this place tonight.

The undulating surface reflects the lights along the beach – silvery and shimmery, like youthful eyes.   Waves reach out with hands and envelop themselves into the moment, with no particular worry for the future, as if little children were frolicking together and skipping toward the shore.  Farther out, I see myself floating and being rocked in the arms of the Ocean, immersed in the uncertainty of her deep unknown, humbled by the great expanse, gasping for breath and melting in the awe of her renewing, ageless beauty.   Surely the heart of a child beats inside the chest of Infinity.

How utterly mystifying is the cosmic balance that allows the smallest to mingle among the greatest.   So much more inscrutable is the mystery that we even exist at all.   All my concerns are cleansed by the water of this most humbling of contemplations.

I walk up to the Ocean and thank her for the companionship tonight, as she kisses the sand and gently anoints my feet.   This is how Creation is – always serving, always teaching – patiently waiting for us to listen to deeper, transcendent Truths.   Even in her unknowable majesty, she graciously accounts for the least of all creatures.

I leave with a gift of eternal value, one that has fully made me whole.   Tonight I touched the face of the Sacred, and experienced the sweet realization of my Soul.

 

Emancipation

Here is a little poem I dug up from my twenties after working through depression.  It seems to still have some resonance, so I will place it into the category of "Encouragement" for easy access in time of need.  In actuality, it should be placed in "Daily Reminders," but then that category would bulk up real quick with all my shortcomings.

 

Emancipation

Enslaved by impossible standards,

Every mistake forging self-blame.

Warzone of bitter-hot words

Ripping spirit with guilt and shame.

 

Unsure of every decision

As fear entangled my mind,

I found the race I was running

Seemed to always leave me behind.

 

Passion trapped in a bruised soul;

Humanity locked in a cage.

Seeking release and expression,

Only to find intense rage.

 

No joy in life could be realized.

Frustration as vast as the sea.

What life I had was retreating,

And I cried out to be set free.

 

Then came whispers so pure and deep;

No defenses could hinder their goal.

I was given vision and ears to hear.

Your Spirit breathed life in my soul.

 

You replenished my parched desert

With sweet water from an ageless source.

The lost mustard seed of my essence

Was awakened by your loving force.

 

In the silent depths of my heart,

I touched the heart of eternity.

You knew I'd be running to you Lord,

But you were already running to me.

Skydiving and Shark Cages

Added photo albums for some old skydiving and shark cage experiences in 2002.

Biloxi (Katrina)

Since my Red Cross deployment did not come through yet, I hooked up with Global Crossroad for my volunteer work, an organization who has a straight line to the Mayor’s office in Biloxi, Mississippi (and the same in which I did my volunteer trip to South Africa). As a result of that connection, there has been checkpoint-clearance and a variety of opportunities right in the thick of things -- exactly what a volunteer in a war zone wants to have. I took no donations as most folks have already been quite generous with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others. In fact, all of Global’s volunteers on this trip have paid their own way for flight, gas, car, food, camping equipment, etc., and we are sustaining ourselves through MRE’s and living in small tents. Our focus is to provide needed manpower to help clean up devastated homes, and also work in the evacuation/disaster centers to help with food and clothing distribution.

As a little frame of reference for you, since I have family in Texas, I flew into that state Saturday as Rita passed through, and then I drove through Louisiana from the northwest corner down to the southeast corner, stopping at towns along the way like Alexandria, Lafeyette, and Baton Rouge. Both gas and water were rare, and in fact I was surprised to hear that 30 minutes after I drove through Alexandria, all businesses had to close at 1 PM by executive order because the water was running out (only medical and emergency facilities could stay open). Eventually, though, I made it to the Global Crossroad office in Baton Rouge, and then went just north of New Orleans on into Biloxi Monday evening.

As far as the cleanup part of our work, it is back-breaking, heavy-lifting, constantly-moving work in 100 degree weather using shovels, axes, sledgehammers, chainsaws, wheelbarrows, and rakes, and it is physically demanding and probably doesn’t have near the volunteers it needs (people want to get paid for this sort of thing). I have had to soak my whole body with water all day as I work, and I know that I am losing weight each day with all the sweat (which I am trying to counter with high-calorie meals and liquids).  My feet are currenty covered in blisters, of which I don't feel the pain until we return back to camp...and then it hits.

We have volunteers that person-for-person would put paid crews to shame, and in fact the first house we did, a paid crew abandoned the effort because it was too much work for them. This was a neighborhood that had a 22 ft wall of water slam through. One couple who rode it out was carried down the street in waste-deep water and had to bust through a bottom-floor window of another house and climb to the top quickly before the water rose the rest of the way. In another instance, an 80-year old man sat on a matress inside his house with his little puppy, and the mattress rose to the very top of his vaulted ceiling, where he floated for about five hours before being rescued. Some weren’t so lucky, as eight bodies had previously been fished out of the bayou behind the house we were working on. These people went through sheer hell, and I am deeply humbled and awed by the way the survivors have risen up and are planning their recovery.

The human being in the midst of a disaster is a mightier force than the disaster itself.

Biloxi is a city that received some of the worst damage of Katrina, as the eastern part of the storm’s eye passed over it causing 20 to near-50 ft storm surges. It is hard to mentally grasp, but when you are here and you look at the water lines on buildings, it becomes clear that this was no dream, but instead a staggering reality. Having a daughter, I also feel deep sadness for the children who had to go through this trauma and lost all of their toys, their protected way of life, and even their friends or loved ones (in many cases). It is deeply heartbreaking, and I know in my quieter moments when this work is behind me and I return home, I will let it settle in and purge my feelings on this matter.

To continue this short and very raw diary entry a little more (and one that I write with drowsy mind), today we helped an elderly couple with their home. You can't imagine the work because everything inside and outside these homes is destroyed (and often smells heavily putrid because of all the toxic stuff rotting in the water-logged debris). It is amazing to see how far people’s homes, cars, boats, and other stuff are carried down the road into other people’s yards; so much of what gets cleaned isn’t even the residents’ items.

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This afternoon I hooked up at the Biloxy Community Center (where food and clothes distribution was going on). This work was alot of loading-and-unloading as we moved items to the Biloxi Convention Center so Red Cross could have this facility. This time I got to ride along in the front of a military truck of the Biloxi PD, which was a great opportunity to meet some more disaster workers, get into some places I might not normally have access to, and to feel that sense of great pride and patriotism of working side-by-side with the "troops" in the trenches. After I finished this work, I went eastward on the Biloxi coast and met with some residents whose homes were completely demolished, in many cases with only concrete slab remaining. The power and the fury of the hurricane was evident by observing the destroyed homes and the twisted metal of cars and boats. It was here that I heard one story of a man riding out the 25 ft surge by hanging at the top of a telephone pole.

Tomorrow I will be joining up again with the city and may possibly work with Red Cross a bit, which is taking over this area we are moving stuff out of. It appears that food is getting to those in need okay, be it MRE’s or other, and people are coming to grips and looking ahead to their next steps. The immensity of the cleanup is what is the larger issue here, and it is mind boggling to behold, and it will be going on for quite some time.

I have included some choice pictures to capture some of what I have seen the past couple of days -- see the Katrina Part 1 photo album on the side. I have video I may put together when I get back home, although I think the pictures tell the story quite well. Incidentally, tonight I was digging through some rubble in a flattened part of the city and trying to dig up a tiny motor "noise." What I discovered was an electric toothbrush that was buzzing away and undoubtedly had been that way since Katrina hit, because the thing was buried deep.  The thought that struck me was that those were some awfully good batteries!

For the Prospective Traveler to South Africa

I. Reasons for Traveling to South Africa

Before you commit to your travel to South Africa, you should first make a serious assessment concerning what you intend to achieve from this trip. Having a set of goals in mind will help you to prioritize and organize your trip around those events and places that matter most. The following are just a few example responses to that question:

a) to volunteer and make a difference,

b) to achieve a sense of connectedness and betterment of spirit,

c) to move outside of comfort zones and learn about the bigger world,

d) to immerse yourself into a different culture,

e) to tour interesting and historic places,

f) to scout for places to live,

g) to get away from the fast-paced, daily routines of my modern life,

h) to explore your family roots...

II. Safety Tips

South Africa is a politically stable and religiously tolerant country. However, crime does exist, with muggings and pick-pocketing being something for which to be on guard, particularly in the more impoverished areas and in the center of towns like Johannesburg and Cape Town. It is also possible, depending on where you stay, that you may see youth doing drugs in broad daylight (typically "nature cigarettes" and pipes).

You can minimize your chances of becoming a victim by keeping your valuables and money concealed in a neck pouch hanging under your shirt. It is recommended that you only keep a small amount of cash in your pants pocket so that you are not counting large amounts of money in public. With regards to cameras or cell phones, be cautious as to where you use and display them, and in particular watch that you don’t lay them down somewhere. Also, keep your luggage locked at all times. Generally keep only one credit card on your possession, along with a copy of your passport and insurance. Keep the originals back in your hotel safe or inside your locked suitcases back at your host family’s house. It is generally wise not to roam around town at night by yourself, but instead to be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.

Overall, South Africa is generally quite safe for travelers, and these guidelines could really apply to any country being visited, and will ensure optimal success for your trip as your travel about the country.

III. Health and Vaccines

Generally South Africa is Malaria-free; however, if you consider going to Kruger National Park, then you will want to consider obtaining Malaria medicine before your trip. See http://www.cdc.gov (Centers for Disease Control) for the latest information on what vaccines to get when traveling to South Africa. At a minimum, the following are usually required.

a) Hepatitis A

b) Hepatitis B

c) Typhoid

d) DTP booster

e ) Polio booster

f) Measles booster

If you will be working with animals during your stay, then you may want to explore obtaining a rabies vaccination. And if you will work with AIDS patients, then you will want to double-check your TB vaccinations to ensure everything is in order since many AIDS patients also have Tuberculosis. The current HIV infection rate in South Africa is about one in every six persons.

IV. Infrastructure and Measurements

Tap water is safe in South Africa, although it may sometimes have the taste of chlorination. The roads and public transportation are good, as are medical services given you have insurance and visit one of the private hospitals/clinics. Electrical outlets are 220 volts at 50 hertz, and use large, round three-prong (15 amp) or thin, round two-prong (5 amp) plugs. With regards to cellular services, there are three major players in South Africa (Vodacom, Cell C, and MTN), and a traveler is generally able to get cell connectivity from anywhere in the country, including GPRS high-speed data. Internet wifi hotspots exist at airports and generally in and around Cape Town; there are also internet cafes for connecting to the internet. Airports for Johannesburg and Cape Town are within 15 miles of the city.

Bathrooms at homes, by regulation, do not generally contain electrical outlets, so you will typically be drying your hair in another room. Also note that although winters can get down to just above freezing at times, many homes and hostels do not have central heating running, which might be the case for your assigned host family, although warm blankets are readily provided.

South Africa uses the metric system, which means distances are expressed in kilometers and temperatures measured in Celsius. The national currency is the Rand, which is approximately one-sixth of the value of the U.S. dollar. You will find that most major credit cards are accepted, including Visa, Master Card, and American Express, although the latter's traveler’s checks are commonly only exchangeable at a bank or AMEX exchange facility (as in the waterfront in Cape Town). ATM machines are conveniently available aplenty with 24/7 accessibility, although it should be noted that banks generally close between 3 and 4 PM. There is commonly a 14% VAT (value added tax) included in purchases.

Television over the air is made up of a few channels, most English speaking. You will find that South Africa enjoys a significant amount of American programming, from movies right down to wrestling. Radio also provides plenty of recognizable music for the traveler from the states.

V. Cultural Differences

You should be flexible to the fact that there will likely be some cultural differences when compared to your own frame of reference. South Africa is a diverse country with regards to ethnicity and language, having eleven official languages. Although English is spoken by most, it is common for conversations to lapse back and forth between English and Afrikaans since both are the predominant languages, particularly in and around Cape Town. South Africa tends to be very tolerant of diverse religions, so occasionally you may hear a Muslim call to prayer echoed at night nearby a Christian church, with both operating in relative harmony.

South Africa is at times both a highly developed country and one that has heart breaking areas of poverty and disease; a country that demonstrates the reality that the close proximity of haves-and-have-nots extends to all corners of the globe.  In spite of this observation, you will find perhaps the most diverse and enriching country on the planet from both a visual and human-interaction standpoint, truly exemplifying its claim to fame as the "Rainbow Nation."

It is interesting to contrast the more simple and economical architectural structures of Johannesburg with the more historically diverse buildings in Cape Town. Another character difference, noted in winter, between the two cities is that Jo’burg is beset by a pervasiveness of grass fires (cigarette butts, controlled burns, burning rubbish, or paraffin stoves are common causes) resulting in a smoky air about parts of the city that is often exacerbated by the exhaust of vehicles. By contrast, the coastal Cape Town has perhaps the freshest, cleanest air of the country.

Other assorted observations are as follows. Children are often seen running around with substantially more freedom than what would be allowed in the states. Taxis are commonly vans which will hold from ten to fifteen occupants, and by American standards the rates for these taxis are reasonable. With regards to driving, that activity takes place on the opposite side of the roads versus the direction of traffic in the U.S., and drivers/passengers are often seen not buckling up (so be careful not to lapse into bad habits there). Traffic lights are called "robots," and drivers in Cape Town should be cautious of the unattended cameras ready to snap you speeding, or driving through a red light (signs will usually notify when such cameras are in operation). Rugby and Soccer are important sports to the country.

Keep in mind that South Africa is a recent democracy, having officially emerged from the harsh realities of apartheid in 1994. Much positive change has already occurred, particularly with regards to human rights, but there is much more to be accomplished, often at a pace that can seem quite slow to many (especially given the number of impoverished townships and squatter camps still existing). Be sensitive to these political and economic changes and difficulties, but at the same time don’t hesitate to ask questions, as no doubt much of your trip is about the act of learning and you will encounter many a soul ready to share some insight.

Should you go on a volunteer trip, you will find your host families to be extremely friendly folks, with your safety and satisfaction utmost in their minds. It is through these connections that you will receive much of your South African education since they are also typically very knowledgeable about their community and its history. Allow yourself to accept this hospitality as you take a day or two to become acclimated to your new surroundings (particularly your minority status, if you are white) and to overcome any separation anxiety you may be feeling.

When taking pictures, be sure to ask permission first, particularly when snapping government buildings (while on site).

VI. Etiquette While There

When going to South Africa on a volunteer trip, be very respectful of your host family and the in-country coordinators, as well as persons and facilities you encounter during your trip. Most host families are not rich, and are providing their home, water, electricity, food, and transportation on a tight budget. This hospitality is not to be abused. Examples observed in the past are students ringing up expensive phone bills or ordering and eating more than their fair share, based on pre-allocated expenses.

It is a wise recommendation to research about the country before you get there.  Learn about its history, its diverse people, and rich ecology.  Even take the time to learn a few important words of Africaans before you leave.  This should be balanced of course, as the element of surprise can be just as rewarding as preparation.  The most important thing to remember is simply to wash away (or set aside) your preconceived notions and biases and allow yourself to become intoxicated with this wonderful country on the other side of the world.

VII. Preliminaries

Before you leave on your trip, make sure the following are in place:

a) passport with expiration at least six months beyond travel’s allotted stay,

b) Visa, if required based on your country and your intended length of stay,

c) appropriate certifications as relates to the projects in which you will be involved,

d) travel insurance covering medical and property loss,

e) a copy of all credit cards and other important documents to be left at home on the state side,

f) state-side emergency contact information to take with you,

g) South Africa travel contact-information provided to your state-side contact,

h) enablement of international roaming on your cell phone account (or rent a phone/card there),

i) vaccinations up-to-date and paperwork obtained if needed for intended project(s),

j) international drivers license (if planning to drive),

k) scuba diving license (if planning to do the shark cages off coast of Cape Town),

Note that if you do not have a Visa before entering South Africa, and if your stay is longer than thirty days (speaking of U.S. travelers), then you can obtain one while in the country, although you must factor in extra costs to cover that transaction.

VIII. What to Take With You

This is not an all-inclusive list, but does contain some important items nonetheless:

a) 110-to-220 volt plug adaptors,

b) TSA approved locks for luggage,

c) umbrella or poncho,

d ) warm clothes and jacket (if Winter),

e) a pair of comfortable foot ware along with a pair of hiking shoes,

f) medicine, vitamins, and Malaria pills (if needed),

g) mosquito repellant (at least 95% deet),

h) mosquito net (more so while in villages or when sleeping exposed to outdoors),

i) soap case,

j) hand disinfectant,

k) camera with large optical zoom (great for animal parks and mountain shots),

l) credit card(s),

m) second ID,

n) binoculars,

o) cell phone (if not renting one when there),

p) sun block,

q) bathing suit,

r) water purification tablets (if staying in remote villages),

s) backpack,

t ) travel guide,

u) sufficient money to cover additional expenses and travel,

v) flashlight and batteries,

w) gift for host family,

x) dietary needs conveyed to coordinator and host family,

y) some Rand before leaving on your trip

z) last but not least, make sure you have your passport and airplane tickets.

IX. Points of Interest

The following are some points of interest you may want to consider:

a ) Cape Town and Johannesburg - historic cities

b) Parliament and judicial buildings (Cape Town)

c ) Robben Island prison (Cape Town)

d) Table Rock mountain (Cape Town)

e) District 6 and Crossroads (Cape Town)

f) Simon’s Town and meeting of Indian/Atlantic oceans (Cape Town)

g) Soweto (scene of ‘76 student uprisings and one of Mandela’s home towns)

h) Pretoria (capital of South Africa)

i) Durban (coastal city with large Indian population)

j) Pilanesburg National Park (animal refuge)

k) Sun City resort

l) Kruger National Park (largest of the wildlife locations)

m) Ndebele tribal village

Be sure that before you leave from the states, you have perused travel guides to determine those places you want to visit during your trip. When you get to South Africa, you should also inquire about festivities or other events going on during your month(s) of stay.

X. Seasons and Time

South Africa is nine hours ahead of PST and six hours ahead of EST (during Summer), and two hours ahead of GMT all year around since it does not have daylight savings time. For Johannesburg, summers are hot and usually above 30 to 35C, with periodic rain; winters are dry with mild daytime temperatures and cold nights. With regards to Cape Town, its rainfall and temperatures are more moderate (with summers being warm to hot). It is well known in Cape town that depending on the weather conditions, a given day could reveal the aspects of four different seasons.

Winters are typically best for whale watching and game viewing (as the animals gather around watering holes during the dry times). Christmas in the summer is considered a wonderful time of year, particularly in Cape town, and indeed summers tend to be the heaviest for tourism.

XI. Website References

http://travel.state.gov - State Department

http://travel.state.gov/passport - Passport information

http://travel.state.gov/visa - Visa Information

http://www.cdc.gov - Centers for Disease Control

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/africa/south-africa - Lonely Planet Guide

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock - World Clock

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=56 - Dialing Codes for Cape town

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=111 - Dialing Codes for Johannesburg

Favorite All-Time Films

I updated my "About" page to come up with a ranking of my favorite 20 films, as well as some of the remaining that flesh out my top 50 to 60 (give or take).  The top ones in the list are fairly firm, although there are some not in the top 20 that periodicaly dip in and out.