Advice on Durban

ever heard of durban poison

I haven't been since I was a child, but I remember it being ACENESS incarnate. Stolen vats of cyanide! Shark attacks! Buildings being blown up right across the street! And you could even SWIM (in a swimming pool with the maid watching you) in the middle of winter.

My granny lives in PMB so we went all the time.

There is apparently some wonderfully seamy underlife, what with it being a port and all, but being only 11 the last time I was there, I was not allowed to partake.

Mitch to thread, obviously.

My first "to thread"! Give me a moment, if you will..

Well, I went to the place a number of times as a kiddy, and I don't recall much cyanide or sharks or exploding buildings, but maybe I wasn't paying attention.

I've been there twice in the past year, staying for free at my fabulously wealthy friend's fabulously luxurious beachside abode, so obv my assessment is going to be (fabulously) biased, but yeah, you can swim in winter and watch girls on the beach and all that great stuff. Being in such moneyed company (I imagine it would've been somewhat different if I went with my grimier art-skool buddies), I didn't get to experience much of the seedier side, we just went to the same kinda shiny clubs that you get over here in Joburg. Maybe next time. Anyway, boring ain't too bad when you got big speakers and leather couches and a sea view.

In interests of fairness, I should maybe mention that I wuz robbed while staying in a much more modest apt in Balito (just outside of Durban), but unlike JHB crooxors they just took whatever was immediately in front of them, and didn't even enter the bedrooms where we were all sleeping. But don't worry, you should be fine. (And don't tell the insurance company this, but I suspect we didn't shut the balcony door properly).

Uh, more info if it comes to me.

well, so far durban has been grey, drizzly and humid. one of the other people here for the conf had his laptop robbed today so don't think he's having a great durban experience. haven't had a chance to see too much outside of meetings and drinks with other attendees.

getting to see lots of music as part of conf. tho which is good.

mitch, do you live in jo'burg? if so, wanna meet for a drink? i'll probably be there for a few days (sat -tuesday or so)

Hey Mitch is there still a bar called Wings across Jan Smuts Ave from Wits? I loved that place (because every band that ever played there was so awful) but I think it closed.

(I was just wondering where the hell one would meet for a drink in Joburg, see.)

sorry H, i just remembered about this thread and saw your question now. so have you already come and gone?

and Sam, the answer to your query: no. or if it does exist i've never heard of it and nobody i knows ever goes there..

also, i never said "hurrah" to you upon learning of your marriage, so hurrah!

Thanks. Late hurrahs always welcome.

leaving tonight, flight at 11 so have to be at the airport around 8:30/9
blown away by jo'burg and looks like work will be bringing me back so maybe next time

mitch,

as things turn out i am still in jo'burg till thursday night. how 'bout having that drink.

sorry H, but i don't think i can commit to the drink: gonna be at university til an unspecified hour today, then have to study for a test tomorrow. i feel bad about not making the time, but this is a particularly crazy and exceptional week, both work-wise and other stuff-wise. as you can imagine, it's not often that i get the chance to meet ilxers/interesting people from faraway, but things right now are such that i just can't say when i'll be available. if things suddenly become clear within the next few hours, i'll contact ya, alright?