Kudus and concerts

For the second time on our trip, we drove within reach of some of the largest animals in Africa.

Leigh, Mia, Tanya, Gianna and I went to the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve outside of Joburg today for a drive-through. Leigh and I went there in 2007, and it's a small, private reserve with kudus, boks, water buffalo, warthogs, cheetahs, rhinos, lions and lots of other animals. We took plenty of photos, but I have to say, it was a whole different vibe from Pilansberg. Animals on the reserve are managed; it's not the open wild. It was cool, but it wasn't the same thrill. Then again, there really aren't any places like it in the U.S. Any rhino up close is a cool rhino - unless it's angry.

We wrapped up our day safari and headed to Soweto for the official opening ceremony concert. It was the best organized concert I've ever been to. We saw dozens of bands and the music never paused. Something was happening on one of the three stages up front the entire night. We saw the Kn'aan, Black Eyed Peas, Blackjacks, Big Nuz, The Parlatones, Freshly Ground, John Legend, GoldFish, Alicia Keyes, Leera and a bunch of uber-famous South Africans. We rocked the hell out.





And just FYI: Shakira is a lip-syncer. Yeah. That's pretty sad when you're set is only three songs long. Lame, Shakira.

And the coolest part: we saw Desmond Tutu! Yes - in real life. He came out and spoke and even danced a little. It was so neat seeing a peace prize winner in real life. It was definitely a moment I will never forget.

We parked on one side of the city and rode buses to the stadium. It was awesome because our cars where safe and we got to the stadium in just a few minutes. The process was absolutely efficient.

But getting back was a different story. A bunch of people parked in front of the buses outside of the stadium, so there was no way for those buses to go forward and leave. They were trapped. Therefore, we were trapped. We waited and waited and waited. Occasionally we saw buses that were already full of concert-goers pass by. Then the masses started walking away from the stadium and into Soweto. We waited some more and decided to go ahead and walk with the crowds. We asked security guards and police along the way where we were supposed to go and what was happening. No one knew. We just kept walking further into Soweto. One empty bus pulled to a stop near us and it was mobbed. People sprinted and pushed each other to board. This wasn't a good situation. We kept walking, blocks and blocks and blocks.

Eventually we arrived at a gas station that appeared to be an impromptu loading zone. As fans walked away from the stadium, buses were filling up further and further away from the official loading site. So this gas station had become the new loading zone. We finally got onto a double-decker bus. Hooray! When the driver pulled away, everyone clapped. It was about 12:30 a.m. - an hour and a half after we first left the stadium.

It was officially the first day of the World Cup AND Leigh's birthday! I made an announcement that Leigh had turned 29 and asked everyone to sing him happy birthday. They did! It was awesome! Leigh got pats on the back and loads of embarrassment. Excellent!