Day 122: We didn't know just how convenient our hotel choice would be! Yesterday, we noticed that the city's hop-on, hop-off tourist buses start from exactly in front of our hotel's entrance. So, after a huge buffet breakfast, we bought tickets. Each ticket cost us around $US 21. But for just $5.50 each more, we extended our one day tickets for an extra day. So, we know that these buses will undoubtedly part of our day tomorrow too.
We plugged in our earphones and listened to the running commentary with many useful bits of information about Johannesburg. Although I knew this is one of the world's mega-cities of over six million people, I wasn't aware it was such a relatively new town, dating only back to a gold mining town in 1886.
I was impressed by what I saw during the two and a half hour bus ride. We didn't even get off at any of the stops today, but will choose where to go tomorrow by what we saw today. I was also impressed by just how beautiful the area is.
I didn't have such positive impressions about this city, until seeing it. I most definitely could live around here. See, the problem about prejudging a location is that unless you actually get to see it, you carry around incorrect information.
The present political divisions in many parts in the developed west is because so many people are ignorant about the world in which they live. They live in their own little bubbles of the like-minded. This affords politicians leverage to mislead and peddle misinformation to their people for personal gains. Ignorant people cannot think for themselves and willingly queue up to follow any new wolf in sheep's clothing.
This is why I feel blessed by actually having had a chance to travel extensively. I wish it were a gift that more people could access.
We arrived back at our hotel after 1:00. We finally walked around the extensive upscale neighbourhood mall that has grown larger over the decades with extensions and addons.
We ate lunch in a type of restaurant I only saw in Cape Town. It is like a food court but also has a large segment of supermarket type prepared food by the weight. They are great places to eat an interesting selection of food at grocery store type prices.
After a little afternoon rest, we may go a cineplex to see a movie. It's been a long time since we went out to the movies.
