Sunday, October 31, 2010

World Cup 2010 in South Africa - 10 Things You Should Avoid


Image : http://www.flickr.com


As the year 2009 starts drawing to a close, many of us are finding ourselves subconsciously starting to make preparations for next year's top sporting event: the FIFA world cup 2010, to be held in South Africa. Already, the nations that will be taking part in this event have been selected, through what have turned out to be truly interesting qualifiers. Indeed, it would be a valid statement to say that with the exception of the hosts South Africa, no other nation has had a truly easy run to the world cup. South Africa too, while lucky to have qualified by virtue of being the hosts, are quite a formidable soccer powerhouse in Africa; who stood just as good a chance of qualifying even if the event was being held in another country.

Now as we train our eyes to FIFA world cup 2010, and drawing on our previous experiences with past editions of the world cup - and the peculiar circumstances of South Africa - we have identified a list of ten things you should avoid.

1. The first thing to avoid, especially if you are planning on traveling to South Africa for the games, is buying unauthentic World Cup tickets; only to end up being disappointed upon landing at the games. Ensure that you only get authentic World Cup tickets from reputable vendors, online or otherwise. Closely related to this is the blunder of failing to get your match tickets in advance - assuming that you will be able to purchase them 'at the gate' as you usually do when your neighborhood side is playing at the local stadium. You could be in for a rude shock, as world tickets get sold out rather early.

2. The second mistake to avoid, when going to South Africa for the world Cup, is that of failing to make arrangements for the travel early in advance - consoling yourself with the argument that you 'will cross that bridge when you get to it.' One manifestation of this is, for instance, failing to get your flight tickets in advance (like imagining that booking a flight seven months ahead is 'paranoia') As it turns out though, all flights to South Africa for the period when the world cup will be running are already getting sold out, and it is in your best interest to get yours' early.

Closely related to this is assuming that just because you will be traveling to South Africa for the matches, you will be granted easy entry to the country (and therefore not bothering to get your travel documentation in order in good time). This could put you in a fix; for you should not expect major entry exceptions to South Africa just because you will be traveling there to attend the matches.

3. The third major mistake to avoid is that of failing to get your hotel place in advance - consoling yourself that you will surely get a place when you land in the country (as you usually do in your travels anyway). Contrary to this, do keep in mind that the world cup is just that: a world cup, drawing folks from all over the globe. You could quite easily end up in South Africa, but destitute: with either no place whatsoever to sleep, or at least no place befitting your status. Hence the need for early accommodation arrangements.

4. The fourth major mistake you should avoid is that of failing to do research on South Africa, arguing that after all you will not be going there as a 'tourist' - but as a football fan. This could put you in tricky situations, because the way things work in South Africa is likely to be quite different from the way things work where you come from - and you could get embarrassingly stranded, or even exposed to danger!

5. The fifth major mistake you should avoid is that of being out of the communication network - and particularly, not having a way of contacting the emergency services should you need them. As a minimum, get hooked to the local South African mobile telephone network (by acquiring a South African SIM card), and ensure that you know what the local emergency numbers are. You could end up in a situation where you really need to make use of these.

6. The sixth thing you should avoid, when attending world cup 2010 in South Africa is 'flashing cash' around. This makes you attractive to robbers (and it is worth noting that robbery is something South Africa has been struggling with for some time now). Indeed, then, you should not be carrying huge sums of money with you; at least not in this age of 'plastic money' - when a good MasterCard of Visa Card in your pocket could be just as good.

7. The seventh thing you should avoid, when attending World Cup 2010 in South Africa is ending up in the wrong parts of the town, where you are exposed to violent crime. Therefore resist the urge to go wandering in the 'townships' (these being the 'inner city' districts of South African urban areas). You could end up in trouble in those parts. If you must get a view of what a South African 'Ghetto' is like, at least ensure you go there as part of a 'tour group:' under the guidance of someone familiar with the situation there.

8. The eighth thing you should avoid, when attending World Cup 2010 in South Africa is ending up 'out at the wrong hour' which increases the chances of your being victim of violent crime. Therefore resist the urge to travel at night - and by all means, don't walk out at night. Take note that violent crime, although being aggressively tackled by the government, still remains a major crisis in this country.

9. The ninth thing you should avoid, when attending World Cup 2010 in South Africa is being part of unlawful gatherings - especially protests and demonstrations. These have a tendency to turn violent, and you are best advised to avoid being part of them, if your safety is something you care about. When things go ugly, the local folks, who know where to run will leave you exposed to all the heat.

10. The tenth thing you should avoid, when attending World Cup 2010 in South Africa is making careless use of ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) - which have become major targets for criminals in recent days. At the very least, avoid using isolated ATMs. And should you notice foreign objects - like cords - sticking out of a machine you were going to use, whatever its location, leave it at once and notify the authorities.




Best site to book world cup tickets for World Cup 2010 - SoccerNews

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Paraguay in Soccer - World Cup South Africa 2010


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Paraguay participated in its fourth consecutive world cup, thus becoming a habitual entrant of the competition. In South Africa, the Paraguayan team achieved the best place in history by reaching the quarterfinals, that was their previous planned objective. Nevertheless, everybody had the feeling that if Cardozo's penalty had entered in the match against Spain-they were 0-0, Paraguay would have become impregnable, passing to semifinals.

The fans valued the sacrifice and courage of their players, though they specially highlighted the figure of Martino, who performed an impeccable work in the whole coaching process. He is considered as a remarkable group's leader, and he evinced something of that qualification. Paraguay was one of the teams that put more players in the field. They put 20 players. Except for the two substitute goalkeepers, all the other players entered the field.

Paraguay made their debut against Italy presenting a caution plan, two lines of four, one at the back and another one in the middle. Afterwards, they recovered faith and placed three forwards in line and they made better moves. Paraguay 1- Italia 1 Then they had an excellent triumph over Slovakia by 2-0 and a tie with the hard New Zealand combination side. Once on the round of sixteen they finished 0-0 with Japan, in a match in which both had occasion of opening the scoreboard.

None surpassed Paraguay in the game that had only two goals, one from each champion-Italy and Spain -. Paraguay evinced good knowledge of the game and above all a great solidarity to work in midfield and the capacity that is always acknowledged to defend.

The Paraguayan team expected more from their forwards, that did not score goals in the world cup. It is also true that they did not get much help in midfield that lacked a more creative midfielder.

Paraguay is higher than ever in South Africa Soccer World Cup 2010.




Alvaro Silva.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Mixed Doubles FINAL Game 3 - Zhang & Zhao (CHN) V Widianto & Natsir (INA) -Yonex All England 2010 HQ

High quality version of Yonex All England 2010 - Mixed Doubles FINAL Nan Zhang & Yunlei Zhao (CHN) V Nova Widianto & Lillyana Natsir (INA) Game 3

Thursday, October 28, 2010

K'NAAN - Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix)

ATTENTION: This is NOT the official video or song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup! Music video by K'naan performing Wavin' Flag. (C) 2010 OctoScope Music, LLC

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Where to Watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup in New York City


Image : http://www.flickr.com


If you are from New York, USA, and cheering for your team to win the World Cup this year, then there is quite a lot you can do. Well, most of the football followers here are confused about where to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup in New York City; so, here's more help!

There are various hotspots and football crazy places in New York, where you can join fellow New Yorkers and cheer on for your football heroes. For starters, there are some Irish pubs in New York, where the football fanatics assemble to scream out loud and make some noise to cheer for their team and drink to their team's glory. To name a few, there's Playwright Tavern, Playwright Irish Pub, Playwright Celtic Pub, Jack Demsey's Pub, Legends, Hurleys Saloon and Bourbon Street, where the atmosphere will be perfect for you and your friends to have a great time watching the games.

Other places are well known in New York to enjoy these matches. There's Patrick Kavanagh's which is well known for its enthusiasm in international football, and the place has been showing games there for years. Sala One Nine is another football hub which attracts more Spanish viewers and is one of the best places to watch games played by Spain. Zum Schneider is another well known place for watching football games with the availability of premium German beer.

Furthermore, with the coming of the FIFA 2010 Games in South Africa, football fanatics and gamers are getting ready for the version of the FIFA World Cup 2010 on the computer to play, where there are computer and console-based games that are in store for them.

This year there is a lot of expectation from the gamers, who have been anxiously waiting for the game to be delivered by EA Sports based on the 2010 FIFA Soccer Cup, South Africa. The buzz among the gamers is regarding the rankings of teams in this FIFA game, and according to The FIFA World Cup game, the default winning team this year is Spain.

These are just to name a few of the well known places, and in fact New York is bustling with diners and sports bars that show football games. Well now you know where to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup in New York City; so, have fun this year enjoying the soccer games in South Africa!

About This Year's Fifa Cup

The 2010 FIFA Cup is the 19th FIFA Soccer Cup, the premier international football tournament. It is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. The 2010 FIFA Cup will be the culmination of a qualification process that began in August 2007 and involved 204 of the 208 FIFA national teams.

You can be rest assured of a healthy competition and action packed games during the league matches as well as the quarter finals, semi finals, and of course the grand finale! So, stay tuned for more updates.




Stay tuned for more updates, and 2010 FIFA World Cup results on our soccer blog: periscope-the-magazine.com/fifa-worldcup

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Ross Kemp on gangs: South Africa - Cape Town 2/5

Ross goes to South Africa to meet members of the Numbers Gang. IMPORTANT!: I am NOT the creator of this video and i do NOT own any copyrights to any of this footage.

Monday, October 25, 2010

[BB] NBA Amazing Plays (Empire State of Mind)

Awesome NBA Plays from the 08-09 Season and 2010 Preseason. Extra Tags: HQ Carmelo Anthony,Tracy Mcgrady,Shaq, LeBron, Dwight Howard All-Star Dance-Off,Slam Dunk Contest,Top 10,NBA Draft 2008,Dwight Howard Superman dunk,AND1,Hot sauce,Lebron james,la lakers,Boston celtics nba champions,La Clippers,Denver Nuggets,Allen Iverson,Dallas Mavericks,East West All star game,nba record,nba street vol 1,2,homecourt,I Challenge Baron Davis,greatest in nba history,shot,block,steal,Michael Jordan's Final Shot 98,Baron Davis, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marubury, Yao Ming, Gilbert Arenas, Kobe Bryant, Speedy Claxton, Paul Pierce, Nate Robinson, Allen Iverson, and Ben Gordan,Soulja Boy And Lebron James Interview ,Kobe Bryant Jumps Over Car(Aston Martin) Slow Motion,Kobe Bryant Car Jump Exposed,fl, ncaa, baseball, soccer, futbol, football, Nba, basketball, mlb, hockey, nhl, paris fifa, poker, golf, world cup,Guinness World Record,Spud Webb Dunk Contest,the best of derrick rose,Kobe Bryant Jumps Over Pool w/ Snakes (Black Mambas?,LeBron talks with Jay-Z during game nba 10 top plays 07 08 top dunks season finals mvp all star game lebron james vs kobe Bryant chris paul dwight howard sprite dunk contest hornets spurs cavs lebron james lawyer vitamin water commercial nike kobe jumps pool with snakes mamba lakers vs spurs game highlights playoffs game 3 4 5 6 7 kevin garnett paul pierce celtics vs pistons wizards gilbert arenas deshawn stevenson jay-z new york nets miami ...

Sunday, October 24, 2010

2010 FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA NEW SIZZLE VIDEO

2010FIFA WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA NEW SIZZLE VIDEO Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) will celebrate the single largest sporting event on the planet with the only official and exclusively licensed videogame for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Now everyone can play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, Wii™, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) and mobile in April 2010 in anticipation of the real-world tournament which begins in June. EA SPORTS™ 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will feature all the emotion and passion of the fiercest national rivalries battling on the worlds biggest stage, with all 199 national teams that took part in qualification, all 10 official stadiums to be used in South Africa and stadiums from each qualifying region. Gamers will be able to play as their home nation from qualification right through to a virtual reproduction of the FIFA World Cup Final™ and feel what it is like to score the goal that lifts a nation. Everything fans love about the World Cup will come to life in spectacular detail, including confetti rain, streamers, & fireworks—just like the official tournament. For the first time ever in a videogame compete in a full and authentic online World Cup tournament. Carry the hopes and dreams of a nation into battle against fans from rival countries, from the group stage through the knockout rounds to the chance to be crowned 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa TM ...

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Integrity in South Africa


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Last year while traveling in Jakarta, Indonesia, I shared a taxi with three other people. I ended up sitting in the back seat with a pastor who introduced himself and stated that he was from Cape Town, South Africa. I told him that we would be there a couple of months later. We shared business cards, and he subsequently arranged for us to come to his church while we were in the country. He personally called sixty business leaders, and on a stormy night, all sixty showed up. After our presentation, he made the following statement; "In the past, we have not emphasized workplace ministry, but I want you to be in a weekly group and even to lead one."

Before the meeting he made soup in the church kitchen and served us. After the meeting we had coffee, after which he took us on a tour of his clinics. During the tour, he told us the following story.

Five years ago he was told that in the black communities within blocks of his church, forty four percent of the people were HIV positive. As a pastor of a predominately white church, he felt called to action. Under his leadership, the church began an AIDS counseling program and established clinics. Four years later, they built a first class clinic for the critically ill, primarily those with HIV. The average patient is there two weeks before death. Each is treated with respect and loving care. Many find Christ. Establishing that clinic meant stopping progress on their own new church building, and funneling the finances into the clinic. They now have sixty one paid staff in the HIV ministry either running clinics or doing counseling. Many are located in the government buildings. John's church spends forty percent of their church budget outside the four walls in their surrounding community. What percentage does your church spend?

Last year their New Hope Ministry applied for a U.S. government grant. There were 450 other applicants from South Africa. It took a year to complete all of the paperwork. During the process, the application asked for written priorities of the program. John listed as the number one priority "to bring people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ" and number two was to combat HIV/ AIDS. John's friends, staff, and board encouraged him not to list that as the number one objective. Even though it was known that the Bush Administration was positive toward faith based ministries, most felt that John needed to be more low key about stating their real purpose. John prayed and wrestled for weeks, but finally felt led to not change the written priorities. His reasoning: if they were awarded the grant under false pretenses, then they could be prohibited from doing priority number one.

The week before we arrived, John's church received word that they were one of the eighteen grant winners. Seven members of the Bush team flew to Cape Town to visit John's church services and the clinics. John found out that sixteen of the winners were hospital or research based and the seventeenth was another non-profit. John's ministry was the only faith based ministry to have won a grant. As the team left on that Sunday afternoon, Pastor John asked the U.S. team leader why their ministry was the only faith base ministry chosen. He responded, "That's easy. You were the only one to tell the truth. The others tried to hide their real motives, but you put your true intentions up front. We knew that if someone will mislead us on the application, they would not be truthful on the grant reporting." John learned a valuable lesson on integrity. Telling the truth will not always get the business, but the secular would is watching us to see if our words and actions show integrity. This pastor in a church in Cape Town, South Africa, gave us as business leaders a lesson in integrity.

Copyright, Kent Humphreys, 2010




Kent Humphreys has been a business leader for forty years. Kent is an established author, co-writing six books with his wife of forty years, Davidene. Kent has a business background in distribution, real estate, venture capital, and consulting.

In 2002-2007, Kent became President of FCCI. In that role he led business owners and executives across the U.S. and in 20 nations. In addition to business, Kent spends most of his time today speaking to leaders around the world, writing, and mentoring young marketplace leaders.
http://www.lifestyleimpact.com
http://www.fcci.org

Friday, October 22, 2010

FIFA World Cup 2010 (part 8: Mexico & Netherlands)

Fussball Weltmeisterschaft 2010 in Südafrika (Teil 8): Mexiko & Niederlande Road to South Africa 2010 (part 8): Mexico & Netherlands Road to FIFA World Cup 2010 (part 1): Algeria & Argentina: www.youtube.com Road to FIFA World Cup 2010 (part 2): Australia & Brazil: www.youtube.com Road to FIFA World Cup 2010 (part 3): Cameroon & Chile: www.youtube.com Road to FIFA World Cup 2010 (part 4): Denmark & England: www.youtube.com Road to FIFA World Cup 2010 (part 5): France & Germany: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 6): Ghana, Greece & Honduras: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 7): Italy, Côte d'Ivoire & Japan: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 9): New Zealand, Nigeria & North Korea: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 10): Paraguay & Portugal: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 11): Serbia & Slovakia: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 12): Slovenia & South Korea: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 13): Spain & Switzerland: www.youtube.com Road to South Africa 2010 (part 14): Uruguay & USA: www.youtube.com

Thursday, October 21, 2010

What Hosting the 2010 World Cup Has Done For South Africa


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Many critics have been questioning the benefits to South Africa of the 2010 world cup, but there is no doubt of the enormous benefit that will accrue to the tourism industry. These critics question whether the world cup 2010 should have taken priority over other social priorities, and if there will be any financial benefits to the country. There is a general agreement that the government will break even on its capital outlay. The President, Jacob Zuma, told a recent conference in Cape Town that the government is satisfied that the 2010 World Cup has been an economic success, with a good return on the investment of R33 billion spent on transport infrastructure, telecommunication and stadiums. This had created an estimated 66 000 new construction jobs and the ZAR1.3 billion spent on safety and security included the permanent addition of 40 000 new policemen and women. South Africa's Minister of Finance confirmed that the World Cup will add ZAR 38 billion to their country's economy.

Whilst many argue that the funds could have been better spent on housing or a number of other social priorities, there is very good reason for the tourism industry to be pleased with the outcome of the World Cup, because of the changed perception of South Africa by the rest of the world. There has been surprise and admiration for the country's ability to host such a successful international tournament, and it has moved up in the perception of the world alongside the developed nations, shedding its stereotype image as a backward country.

The Internet, blogs and social media are full of positive reports from those who have visited South Africa during this tournament. The positive public relations has been massive, and it is now perceived as a safe, friendly and positive place to visit and to do business. The real benefit of hosting the 2010 World Cup is the showcasing of South Africa to the world which will grow their tourism. The enormous amount of social networking has created a public image that almost no amount of government spending could have created and this has been enhanced by the many influential and public figures who visited during the World Cup, including former US President Bill Clinton who stated in Cape Town:

"South Africa has branded itself in this World Cup in a very special way. Lots of people did not think you can pull it off. South Africa is being given a chance to set standards the world can learn from."

South Africa has much to be positive about- their stock exchange keeps outperforming most of the rest of the world, and the currency has appreciated some 30% in the past year because of the massive inflows of foreign investment capital looking for excellent returns and interest rates when compared to the rest of the world. The country now has an image of a warm, stable and peaceful society and is also one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The many positive reports by people who had been surprised to find that South Africa is not riddled with crime, unlike the negative image that had previously been portrayed, will help to change many perceptions. South African Tourism did an excellent job of ensuring great international coverage on the TV networks during the tournament when the interest in the country was at an all-time high. A prestigious web based hotel booking portal has released information that reveals that Cape Town rates 9th as the most favored destination for 2010 for their clients.

Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 World Cup Organizing Committee sums it up: "They said we could not build the stadiums in time: we did. They said we could not provide the infrastructure in time: we did. They said we could not deliver the TV broadcast capability to the rest of the world: we did." There were stories of crime and terrorism and even an outbreak of giant snakes, he said. There was even a rumor that a big earthquake would hit on opening night. All this fear-mongering was aimed at suggesting that South Africa was too unsophisticated to host the games. The fact is, the South Africa World Cup is a huge success, among the best run in history--and possibly the most profitable for FIFA ever."

Tourism brings in about 4% of South Africa's total GDP; and is a significant employer for a country with a great deal of semi-skilled labor. Growth in tourism will result in growth in job creation, as is shown in the new tourism strategy released by their Minister of Tourism; which seeks to create up to 225,000 new direct jobs and 400,000 indirect jobs in the tourism sector and increase tourism's direct contribution to GDP from ZAR R64bn or 3.4% in 2009, to ZAR R125bn by 2015.

The official statistics on visitors for the period show an increase in the number of tourists from most of the traditional markets for South African tourism, but there are new markets evolving as a result of the coverage of the World Cup, such as the USA who appears to have discovered South Africa since they constituted the largest number of visitors from any country. The country should exploit this massive and affluent market as a result of the favorable image portrayed of the country during the World Cup. The tournament has been an unqualified success for South Africa, but the most important benefit will not be the immediate economic benefit, but the on-going growth on tourism, such as Germany experienced with a growth of 30% in tourist numbers after they hosted the 2006 World Cup tournament, and this benefit will spread to a wide section of their economy.




About the Author: Dennis is a guest house owner residing up in Cape Town, and is passionate about promoting tourism in South Africa, and particularly in the Western Cape.
He is actively involved in the tourist industry, and also consults in the field of business logistics management.
Interests include:
Internet marketing and SEO.
Collector of classic British Sports cars- notably Triumphs and Classic Minis.
Other hobbies include blogging, classical music, Opera, and Asian cuisines.
His guest house offers affordable Cape Town holiday accommodation:
Website: http://www.horizoncottages.co.za Barefoot in the sand is his blog offering news, views and information for visitors to Cape Town, South Africa: http://horizoncot.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

E3 2010 Coverage - Machinima - Company of Heroes Interview w/ Brian Wood (THQ)

www.youtube.com Click here to watch Inside Gaming: E3 2010 Coverage - Day 2 (Hourly Coverage!) E3 2010 Coverage - Machinima - Company of Heroes Interview w/ Brian Wood (THQ) Brian Wood, Lead Designer for Company of Heroes, tells us about the new free to play online World War 2 Real Time Strategy game from Relic Entertainment and THQ. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Follow Machinima on Twitter! Machinima twitter.com Inside Gaming twitter.com Machinima Respawn twitter.com Machinima Entertainment, Technology, Culture twitter.com FOR MORE MACHINIMA, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE SPORTS GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com TAGS: Inside Gaming IG news machinima dead pixel Adam Kovic twitter youtube facebook Plus E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010 yt:quality=high Company of Heroes Relic Entertainment THQ Microsoft Windows Free to play Online FTP World War 2 II RTS Real Time Strategy WW2 Two Battle Normandy Infantry Airborne Destructable Environment Squad Brian Wood

Monday, October 18, 2010

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape - South Africa


Image : http://www.flickr.com


The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape was inscribed in 2003 as a cultural heritage site. Located in Limpopo province, Mapungubwe is set hard against the northern border of South Africa, joining Zimbabwe and Botswana. It is an open, expansive savannah landscape at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers.

Mapungubwe - "place of the stone wisdom" - was South Africa's first kingdom, and developed into the subcontinent's largest realm, lasting for 400 years before it was abandoned in the 14th century. Its highly sophisticated people traded gold and ivory with China, India and Egypt.

What survives are the remains of the palace sites and also the entire settlement area dependent upon them, as well as two earlier capital sites, the whole presenting an unrivalled picture of the development of social and political structures over some 400 years.

The remains in the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape are a remarkably complete testimony to the growth and subsequent decline of the Mapungubwe state which at its height was the largest kingdom in the African sub-continent. Evidence is contained here for an important interchange of human values that led to far-reaching cultural and social changes in Southern Africa between AD 900 and 1300.

The establishment of Mapungubwe as a powerful state trading through the East African ports with Arabia and India was a significant stage in the history of the African sub-continent. The remains in the Mapungubwe cultural landscape graphically illustrate the impact of climate change and record the growth and then decline of the kingdom of Mapungubwe as a clear record of a culture that became vulnerable to irreversible change.

A free-standing structure rising 30 metres above the surrounding grasslands, Mapungubwe is topped by impregnable cliffs all around. Since its discovery in 1932, this Iron Age site has been excavated by the University of Pretoria.

However, the findings were kept fro public attention until 1993, just prior to South Africa's first democratic elections, because evidence of a highly advanced indigenous society existing centuries before European colonialism across Africa ran contrary to the racist ideology of apartheid.

Nevertheless, the university now has a rich collection of artefacts made of gold and other materials, as well as human remains, discovered there. Also revealed was a court sheltered in a natural amphitheatre at the bottom of the hill, and an elite graveyard at the top - with a spectacular view of the region. Twenty-three graves have been excavated from the site.

The bodies in three of the graves were buried in the upright seated position associated with royalty, with a variety of gold and copper items, exotic glass beads, and other prestigious objects. These finds provide evidence not only of the early smithing of gold in South Africa, but of the extensive wealth and social differentiation of the people of Mapungubwe.

The most spectacular of the gold discoveries is a little gold rhinoceros, made of gold foil and tacked with minute pins around a wooden core. The rhino, featured in one of South Africa's new national orders - the Order of Mapungubwe - has come to symbolise the high culture of Mapungubwe. The rhino is also a symbol of leadership among the Shona people of Zimbabwe.

Other artefacts made in similar fashion include the Golden Sceptre and the Golden Bowl, found in the same grave on Mapungubwe Hill.

In the village neighbouring Mapungubwe, called K2, an ancient refuse site has provided archaeologists with plenty of information about the lifestyles of the people of Mapungubwe.

Mapungubwe National Park:

Most of Africa's big game still occurs in the area and the bird, reptile, invertebrate and plant diversity is still rich. While the park currently has limited facilities, visitors to the area can make use of privately run facilities. The highlight of the park is the Mapungubwe Archaeological Site. This location was a precursor to Great Zimbabwe and Thulamela. It was also the location where the Gold Rhino and many other artefacts were uncovered.




Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Ajax - Milan AC (1-1) *28/09/2010* UEFA Champions League *All Goals & Highlights*

Ajax - Milan AC *28/09/2010* UEFA Champions League *All Goals & Highlights* 'Impressionante' • Ronaldinho Gaucho *La abdicación de un Rey* By: MaikelRonaldinhoPLease Visit His Channel & Subscribe ! www.youtube.com Atlético de Madrid 012345 - 012345 Real Madrid CF *7/11/2009* Liga BBVA "Goals & Highlights" Cristiano Ronaldo 2009-2010 "HD" GOLD BALL Golden Boy 2010 France Vs Autriche 14 10 2009 , France Vs Austria 14 10 2009 , Brasil v Venezuela 14/10/2009 , England Belarus 14 10 2009 , Uruguay Vs Argentina 14/10/2009 , Peru Bolivia 2009 , Italia Vs Chypre 14 10 2009 , Bosnia Spana 14 10 2009 , Uruguay Vs Argentina 15 10 2009 , Lille Rennes 17 10 2009 , Nancy Marseille 17 10 2009 , Auxerre Bordeaux 17 10 2009 , Aston Villa vs Chelsea 17 10 2009 , Sunderland vs Liverpool FC 17 10 2009 , Juventus Turin - Fiorentina 17 10 2009 , SC Fribourg vs Bayern Munich 17 10 2009 , Hambourg SV Bayer Leverkusen 17/10/2009 , Monaco Vs Lens 18 10 2009 , Toulouse Paris SG 18 10 2009 , Wigan Athletic Manchester City 2009 , Milan AC VsAS Rome 18 10 2009 , Fulham Vs Hull City 19 10 2009 , FC Barcelone Vs Rubin Kazan 20 10 2009 , Liverpool FC Vs Lyon 20 10 2009 , Liverpool Lyon 2009 , AZ Alkmaar Vs Arsenal 20/10/2009 , 10 2009 , France Autriche 2009 0-0 0-1 0-2 0-3 0-4 0-5 0-6 0-7 0-8 0-9 -10 1-0 2-0 3-0 4-0 5-0 6-0 7-0 8-0 9-0 10-0 1-1 2-1 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1 7-1 8-1 9-1 10-1 1-2 2-2 3-2 4-2 5-2 6-2 7-2 8-2 9-2 10-2 1-3 2-3 3-3 4-3 5-3 6-3 7-3 8-3 9-3 10-3 1-4 2-4 3-4 4-4 5-4 6-4 7-4 8-4 9-4 10-4 1 ...

Friday, October 15, 2010

Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Robinho, Roberto Carlos / / Brazilian Freestyle / / NEW 2010 / /

This is some freestyle from the four "R". Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Robinho and Roberto Carlos. Enjoy! Please comment, rate and subscribeIgnore tags: Cristiano Ronaldo C.Ronaldo CR-7 07-08 Season Goals Tricks Skills Freestyle Power Ability Manchester United 2007 2008 07 Voetbal cristiano ronaldo c.ronaldo cr7 goals season compilation tricks vs skills 2008 07/08 manchester united quaremsa portugal viva champions league serie a inter milan Top 10 Best World Footballers 2009 This is a new updated video of who I think are the current top 10 football (soccer) players in the world. I have based this on form and actual talent to select the top 10. There are so many talented footballers at the moment, who do you think will take top spot? Here are the players that I chose from: Sergio Kun Agüero (Atlético Madrid)Samir Nasri (Arsenal)Fernando Torres (Liverpool)Zlatan Ibrahimovic(Inter Milan)Kaká (AC Milan)Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)Ronaldinho(AC Milan)Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)Lionel Messi(Barcelona)Gianluigi Buffon(Juventus),Iker Casillas(Real Madrid),Petr Cech(Chelsea),Edwin van der Sar(Manchester United),Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea) (Barcelona), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan), Wayne Rooney (Machester United), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Ruud van ...

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Waka Waka - Shakira - Official Video World Cup South Africa 2010

Shakira - Waka Waka Official Video World Cup South Africa 2010 HD canzone ufficiale mondiali Sudafrica 2010

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

South Africa - 2010 FIFA World Cup: 32 Teams, 1 Dream

There is special pride with hosting the FIFA World Cup, and no host nation has ever been knocked out in the first round. "Bafana Bafana" are hoping players like Steven Pienaar can help them continue that winning tradition.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

K'naan bouncing banderole clip(not the official clip)

If you agree that FIFA's world cup ANTHEM South Africa MUST BE Waving Flag by K'NAAN, then please join us on K'naan's fan page. Thanks www.facebook.com A real good lipdub make by some students from ATM (television & communications) college program in Jonquiere, Quebec ! AWESOME.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

2010 FIFA World Cup - Portugal Routs North Korea, 7-0

Portugal scores 3 early second half goals to rout North Korean 7-0

Saturday, October 09, 2010

FIFA 2010 Qualifiers - Which Teams Will You Bet Upon?


Image : http://www.flickr.com


Perhaps, it may seem a bit early to consider promising teams for the grand soccer world cup 2010 in South Africa because still six more teams need to qualify for the event. African teams including South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast are qualifiers for the events. The Asian teams include Japan, Australia, North Korea, and South Korea. The European qualifiers are Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Spain, England, Serbia, Italy, and Netherlands. The qualifying oceanic countries are Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil. The American countries are Mexico, Honduras and United States. However, there are some qualifiers matches which are still left.

For the entire betting enthusiasts who are looking forward to place lucrative bets need to have complete information about the teams and their performance. There is no doubt in saying that Brazil is believed to be one of the promising team for the South African world. The reason for this is, Brail has never failed to qualify in single world cup and with their dread players it appears as if the country will shine in Soccer World Cup 2010 in South Africa. On the other hand Australia seems to be performing best in World cup, being the 16th best teams according to the FIFA world rankings it surely holds the depth to win.

Well, there are long lists that indicate positive aspects and winning chances of each qualifying teams, it is quite helpful who are keen on keeping their money at stake. Betting on soccer has always been an activity filled with thrill and adventure, people place bets with great interest. Along with getting ideas from the current playing positions of the teams the betting enthusiasts also follow some traditional methods of betting. Some most common betting trends are 'win bets' wherein the bet is put on the team that has more chances of winning.

Then there are 'lay bets' in which you bet against the wining team and also there are 'each way bets', these bets can be placed on a single event or else for two or more selections in a multiple bet. Apart from these selected range of bets there are a wide range of betting trends that are made by ones imagination, it can range from performance of the players to the number of goals made by each team. Consider betting as your hobby only then you will able to have utmost enjoyment of the game. Place smarter strategies for World Cup 2010 Betting and get along with a huge winning amount.




The Football World Cup 2010 will attract a lot of interest and there's a lot of information about the event and about placing football bets on it at world cup betting.

Friday, October 08, 2010

South Africa - Driving the Magoebaskloof


Image : http://www.flickr.com


South Africa has an excellent system of roads and highways, making it a great destination for people who like the independence of touring a country by car. You can go wherever you want to go, and follow your own schedule. But because South Africa is a large country, it's a good idea to plan your road tour in advance. One part of the country that is well suited to automobile touring is the Magoebaskloof.

Superb Touring Country

The Magoebaskloof was named after a legendary 19th century chieftain, called Makgoba, who rebelled against white authority. It is part of South Africa's Limpopo Province, and it is super touring country. You go on a circular drive that leads through misty hills and green forests at the northern fringes of the Drakensberg Escarpment, then to the Rain Queen region, and back to the lovely Letaba River Valley. The drive starts and ends at Haenertsburg, and covers 190 km (118 miles). It can be done in a day, but to enjoy the experience to the fullest, give yourself two.

Home of Spirits

From Haenertsburg you drive 34 km (21 miles) over and down the Magoebaskloof Mountains toward the Tzaneen Dam Nature Reserve. Your route takes you past stands of pine, giant redwoods, yellowwoods and ironwoods. About 25 km (15.5 miles) along the way, you'll come to the Debegeni Falls of the Ramadipa River. This is a great place to stop for a swim. Keep in mind that you might have company though - like so many places in South Africa, the waters here are believed to be the home of revered spirits.

Rain Queen

Drive on to the Tzaneen Dam reserve and follow the signs that take you to a dirt road which leads to Ga-Modjadji. This is the home of the Rain Queen, a mysterious figure said to be immortal. The legend dates back many generations. Even the Zulu warrior king, Shaka, one of the most powerful men in South Africa's history, was said to fear the magic of the Rain Queen. British author H. Rider Haggard based the protagonist of his 1886 novel "She" on a runaway princess named Modjadji, who was the original Rain Queen. The current Rain Queen lives in a modern house in the village. During dry spells many local farmers, black and white alike, come to ask her to use her powers to bring rain. This area has some lovely walking trails and picnic spots, as well as some terrific views if it's not a misty day.

The Conquest of Malaria

Go back to the highway, and continue on to Tzaneen, the largest town in the area. This was once the research headquarters of Dr. Siegfried Annecke, whose pioneering work helped to vanquish one of the most dreaded scourges of South Africa, malaria. In the middle of Tzaneen, turn onto the Agatha Road, a stunningly beautiful scenic drive that takes you through the New Agatha State Forest. You also have the option of taking another route and going to the Rooikat Nature Trail. When you head back to Haenertsburg, take an alternative route that follows the Great Letaba River Valley. The views of the Wolfberg Massive are marvellous. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for the drive. Summer is hot, and there are frequent thunderstorms.




Rachel Hill is a Southern Africa Travel specialist, a company specialising in luxury, tailor-made South Africa holidays, as well as holidays to other destinations in Southern Africa. Our experienced consultants will help you design your very own luxury South Africa holiday, and will be happy to provide you with a free quote.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

World Cup 2010 - My Predictions!


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Now Don't get angry...this is just for fun! But please feel free to leave your comments!

Before we start...I am English and will be supporting England in the 2010 world cup. i just don't think we are good enough to get past the 2nd Round! I hope we do..but things are not looking good in the England camp. we qualified well..in a weak group..but to be honest..Rooney aside..i don't see any genuine World Class players in our squad...time will tell.

Here we go then...enjoy!

My world cup Prediction Planner

Every 4 years the greatest soccer tournament on Earth saturates the summer months of June and July and this year it will possibly be the most colourful and greatest world cup in memory.

The continent of Africa hosts this fabulous tournament for the first time and South Africa are the hosts of this truly mouth watering spectacle.
All the big guns are at the tournament and it promises to be a sensational 4 weeks of non stop soccer.

I have decided to put together my predictions for the tournament and hope they help you in some way towards enjoying the games.

So off we go!

Group A- Mexico South Africa Uruguay France.

Big shocks in this group as Mexico win the group with South Africa as runners up. France are too old and just not clicking as a team. Uruguay have no strength in depth. Mexico are fresh and a young team..with plenty of talent. They could do well in this world cup.

Group B-Argentina Nigeria South Korea Greece

Physically a tough group...Argentina to win this one..Nigeria will be runners up. I think the Korean's will struggle and the Greeks have shown little form in the last 4 years.

Group C- England USA Algeria Slovenia

England have to win this group, USA are a good team and will play to their strengths. The others have little in the way of causing these two many problems.

Group D- Germany Ghana Australia Serbia.

Another tough group. Germany should have the goods to win this group though. Ghana will be in good form as well. Australia could be a surprise. But i will say Germany & Ghana in that order.

Group E - Netherlands Cameroon Denmark Japan.

The Dutch are are a very strong team and will have huge support in SA. Cameroon again a colourful team will many good players..and with Samuel Eto up front anything is possible. The Danes and Japan won't get anything out of these two.

Group F- Italy Paraguay New Zealand Slovakia

Italy all the way..they should pick up 7 points at least in this group..and Paraguay will be with them as well.

Group G- Brazil Ivory Coast Portugal North Korea

Brazil and Ivory Coast will give us a great match...Portugal are all over the place with only Ronaldo to look to. North Korea will get the wooden spoon in this group. I feel Brazil & Ivory Coast will both beat Portugal comfortably as well.

Group E- Spain Chile Honduras Switzerland.

Spain should get maximum points here..with Chile making the second place. Possibly the easiest group Spain could have wished for.

And so on to round 2!

Game 1

Mexico v Nigeria MEXICO TO WIN technically superb..young attacking team will win this in 90mins.

Game 3

England v Ghana GHANA TO WIN I think the Ghanaians will want this too much to let it slip. Extra time possibly...it will be close though.

Game 4

Germany v USA GERMANY TO WIN Once Germany start to hit their stride..they take some stopping. USA just won't be strong enough. 90 minutes.

Game 2

Argentina v South Africa ARGENTINA TO WIN playing the home nation is never easy. But Argentina have Lionel Messi...and South Africa don't! 90 minutes.

Game 5

Holland v Paraguay HOLLAND TO WIN. The Dutch won't even break a sweat in this one. Easy win for them. 90 minutes.

Game 6

Italy v Cameroon ITALY TO WIN. Italy are always slow starters, but should have way too much for the Africans this time. 90 minutes.

Game 7

Brazil v Chile BRAZIL TO WIN. There is just no way Chile will be able to live with Brazil. 90 minutes.

Game 8

Spain v Ivory Coast SPAIN TO WIN EXTRA TIME. This match will be sensational..a true classic.But put your money on Spain..they are just too good!

Quarter Finals

Mexico v Ghana MEXICO TO WIN. These fellas are technically too good for Ghana and they win in 90 minutes.

Holland v Brazil HOLLAND TO WIN IN EXTRA TIME. Again a classic..but the Dutch will have the edge and defence for this game.

Argentina v Germany ARGENTINA TO WIN IN 90 MINS. The Argies will have too much class for the Germans...and Lionel Messi!

Italy v Spain. SPAIN WILL WIN THIS IN EXTRA TIME. These games are always close. But the World Champions will run out of steam against the Spanish.

SEMI FINALS

MEXICO V HOLLAND...Going for the Orange on this one. Holland will be feeling like the World Cup is in Amsterdam. They will win a close encounter!

ARGENTINA V SPAIN...Amazing players adorn the pitch..but Spain will triumph. Argentina have great players..but Spain play great!

WORLD CUP 2010 FINAL

SPAIN V HOLLAND...a superb match played in great spirit..and Spain will just edge the Dutch in a classic final. IT'S SAD FOR FOR THE DUTCH..THEIR THIRD FINAL..BUT STILL NO TROPHY...but you never know in Football.!

As I say...these are just my rumblings..let me know what you think below!

World Champions 2010 SPAIN!!




Take A Look at My lens for other great World Cup Stuff!

http://www.squidoo.com/fifaworldsoccer

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Who Will Win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?


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Brazil, Spain, England and Italy are the favourites according to the book makers. They rarely get it wrong. There other contenders as well. France, who managed to scrape into the finals via a hand ball by Henry and Argentina are two teams to watch.

Ivory Coast and Ghana are two teams from Africa who who are tipped to do well in the tournament. Ever since Cameroon beat Argentina in the opening games of the Italy 1990, and went on to narrowly lose to England in the quarter finals many have expected an African team to win the World Cup. Pele, the greatest player to have played the game has said that one day soon a African team will win the World Cup. When that happens it is surely be a momentous day in world football. Perhaps this could be the year.

From Europe, Spain is the favourite to add the World Cup to their European Championship triumph of 2008. They will be supremely confident of beating any team. They have many talented players in the ranks and are capable of giving a team a footballing lesson. Italy have a good defensive base from which they can build. England are said to have their best side in years, and under Fabio Capello they have an outstanding manager. Will they disappoint yet again? France were lucky to get in through the back door of a goal that should have been ruled out. I think they will get a good spanking and exit at the group stages.

The USA and Australia are teams to watch. They will be looking to take one or two big scalps along the way. Australia were so close against Italy at the last world cup, losing out to a dubious penalty in the last minute of extra time. Just suppose they won the game, could Australia have gone on to win the tournament?

Brazil and Argentina are the more fancied team from South America. Brazil have a huge array of talented stars and will be looking to recapture the World Cup from Italy. Argentina have their talisman Messi in top form this season. He could well lead Argentina all the way just like Maradona did in 1986 World Cup in the high altitude pitches of Mexico.

I think its time that the African continent won the greatest sporting competition in the world and my out side bet would be Ivory Coast. However given the talent of Spain I can see no other winner.




Rob Sheep is a Liverpool football fan and a telecommunications guru with over 10 years experience in the telecoms business. His latest post on free international calls reviews the cheapest way to call Africa. He also advices on how make calls to south Africa phone calls

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Who Will Win the 2010 FIFA World Cup?


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South Africa plays host to the 2010 FIFA world cup in 2010. Nations from across the world have taken part in the qualifications round and thirty two nations have come out the other end. The finals will be held from 11th of June till 11th of July.

This year South Africa will hold the 19th cup. The country has had a massive overhaul of stadiums, construction of new stadiums and around the main cities. The premier international football tournament is as big as the Olympic games with 204 nations taking part in qualifications.

August 2007 marked the start of the qualification process. Nations like Germany, Italy, Australia and United States have passed the qualification rounds.

In South Africa there will be ten venues where the soccer matches will be played. Roads to the stadiums have been vastly improved.

Thirty two teams have been separated into eight groups of four teams. The groups are labelled A to H. The groups are like so:

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece
Group C: England, United States, Algeria and Slovenia
Group D: Germany Australia, Serbia and Ghana
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Cote d'lvoire and Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras and Chile

Only two teams can make it through each of the groups. The two teams will be the top two teams in each group based on points. Points are awarded for a win or a draw. Teams get 3 points for a win and a point for a draw. No points are awarded if the team loses.

There has been a lot of talk about how will win the world cup in 2010. There is a lot of prize money up for grabs from FIFA for the teams that win. $30 million has been allocated to the winner of the cup. Teams that exit the group stage get paid $8 million. Runners up get paid $24 million. There is a total of $420 million in prize money.

Spain is currently has the best odds of winning the cup. Brazil is closely second in terms of betting odds. England and Argentina are shortly behind in odds. So the current odds for these four countries mean that a lot of people are picking them as favourites to take out the cup. Since I am Australian, I am going to place my bets on Australia to take out the cup.

United States has pretty long odds at roughly 70 to 1. When it comes to choosing who will win the World Cup it is pretty hard because there are a lot of great teams playing. Every team is going to try their very best and put their best players forward.

I am excited that the amazing sporting event is going to be played out soon. I am going to support my favourite team Australia. There are soccer jerseys that people can sport during the cup event. Sporting a soccer jersey can show your support to your favourite nation.

In conclusion, Spain and Brazil are currently looking like favourites to win the cup. South Africa is going be the host nation and Germany who was the host nation in the previous cup finished up third. Will South Africa follow suit and do just as well.




Show your support for your team and country by grabbing your very own soccer jersey today: http://world-cup-soccer-jerseys.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Coca-Cola WM Song - K´naan - Wavin' Flag - Musikvideo

Mach mit und werde Teil der Coca-Cola Jubelkette! Zeig uns deinen Torjubel um die Eckfahne - schnapp dir deine Kamera oder nutze deine Webcam und los geht's! www.youtube.com

Saturday, October 02, 2010

Wayne Rooney - Manchester United - 2009-2010 - Goals and Skills - The Red Thunder

Wayne Mark Rooney (born 24 October 1985) is an English footballer who currently plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team. Rooney began his career with Everton, joining their youth team at age ten and rising through the ranks. He made his professional debut in 2002 and his first goal made him the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history at the time. He quickly became part of Everton's first team, spending two seasons at the Merseyside club. Before the start of the 200405 season he moved to Manchester United for £25.6 million and became a key member of the first team. Since then, he has won the Premier League three times, the 200708 UEFA Champions League and also the Football League Cup.Rooney made his England debut in 2003 and at Euro 2004 he briefly became the competition's youngest goalscorer. He is frequently selected for the England squad and also featured in the 2006 World Cup.Rooney's start to the new campaign got off to great scoring ways, he scored in the 90th minute of the 2009 FA Community Shield, however United lost the game on penalties. He then scored the only goal of the opening game of the 2009-10 season against Birmingham City, thus taking his overall United tally to 99. He failed to score in the next game, a historic 1-0 defeat to the hands of newly-promoted Burnley at Turf Moor. On 22 August 2009, he became the 20th Manchester United player to have scored over 100 goals for the club, finding ...