Part IV - INDABA Hotel, Spa & Conference Centre in Bryanston, South Africa

On Tuesday, November 19, we left from Highveld Mushrooms, and we got dropped off at the Congresscentrum INDABA in Bryanston.
INDABA is Meeting Place in Zulu language.

These were the lovely chalets where we stayed at: INDABA 

Indaba Hotel en Konferensie Sentrum

Harbeespoortdamweg, Witkoppen in Bryanston, north of Johannesburg.

This is the presently used address, Johannesburg.

Pieter Wenning Road... You clearly see the Dutch influence in the names.

As is for my Dutch born husband Pieter, the use of 'ie' instead of just 'e' -  the English version would be Peter.

NEVER had we seen such enormous LIGHTNING POLES...

Pieter did change into his shorts after they dropped us here at INDABA, at the end of the day.

A little time to relax before dinner, under the heavenly Jacaranda trees.

And so did I, just being in the moment for soaking up our beautiful surroundings.

Pieter admiring the surroundings of Bryanston, South Africa in the morning of November 20.

We both felt so privileged for having been invited to this Conference!

Areal view of INDABA HOTEL and its location, north of Johannesburg, South Africa.

On Wednesday, November 20, Pieter gave one of his lectures at 9:45 and then there was a coffee break.

Pieter engaged in a conversation with other Mushroom Industry people after he also participated in the afternoon workshop.

Yes, South Africa adheres very well to the Dutch coffee break tradition + cookie...

In the evening we had a lovely Banquette with dinner dance.

Here Pieter (l) is engaged in a discussion with SMFA Chairman, Colin Jacobson.

Pieter also was presented a special tie.

SASBV Suid-Afrikaanse Sampioenboerevereniging or SAMFA for South African Mushroom Farmers Association, established in 1984, click on link.

A Century of South African Short Stories by JEAN MARQUARD

And I received the above book with short stories about South Africa.

There was lots of laughter because the photographer had problems and Colin Jacobson had to repeat kissing me...

 We danced and after a walk together, for unwinding, we went to bed by 2:00 and up again by 7:30...

The SAMFA Congress would go on for one more day, but it was heart warming to receive such a letter back in the U.S.A.

Dear Pieter,

I am so pleased that you were able to make the trip to our country and to participate in our Congress.

I think everyone who met you was impressed with your tremendous knowledge of mushroom growing and as a result of your visit, I am sure that changes will be made on many farms, which will result in improved crops.

It was delightful having met yourself and Mariette and I hope that you had a pleasant return flight.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

C. Jacobson

Chairman

Thanks for your visit and stay tuned for Part V

Related links:
Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa | previous post by me
Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa | previous post by me
Part I - Johannesburg, South Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me

Part III - Highveld Mushrooms in Bryanston, South Africa

November 19, we got up at 7:00 and had breakfast. We packed up and checked out from the Holiday Inn, Sandton.
By 9:00 Chris Richardson picked us up. We are going to visit his and Colin Jacobson's Highveld Mushrooms farm.
David Blyth, the farm manager gave us a tour.

Here I proudly show off their excellent quality mushrooms.

On  the road to Highveld Mushrooms, seeing the road signs: Pretoria - Olifantsfontein and Pelindaba

And now closer to Highveld Mushrooms.

You can see the mountains in the distance.

At Highveld Mushrooms click link for also finding mouthwatering recipes!

We first got a farm tour by manager David Blyth.

Around 11:00 I met with Elizabeth, the Zulu harvest manager and I did give a harvest demonstration for all.

Yes, I did work all afternoon with these girls and I did leave Elizabeth a written note with hints and tips for implementing. She was so happy with that and hugged me and said: 'I will tell my Mama all about you!'

Yes, we have seen some tribal women in South Africa making their faces WHITE, as seen in this picture to the left towards top rows.

Showing off Higveld's product.

Open Brown Mushrooms or Oop Bruin Sampioene in Afrikaans.

Highveld Mushroom produce in their cold storage.

A very warm letter from Highveld Mushrooms director, Colin Jacobson after he received some photographs and a copy of my article for the Courier Herald (see link below about My South Africa Publication...)

The above mentioned South African farm manager, David Blyth, did actually visit us in Dublin, Georgia on August 10, 1986!
 Here in this photo is husband Pieter, David Blyth from Highveld Mushrooms, South Africa and Jim Yeatman from, Pennsylvania.

David Blyth to the left, me in the center and Jim Yeatman from Organic Mushrooms to the right.
SMALL WORLD...

In Maastricht, The Netherlands (the capital of my Province) we met again with the next generation of Highveld Mushrooms people, in May of 2000 at the International Mushroom Science Congress
Guess this must be Chris Richardson's son Ross...

Thanks for your visit and stay tuned for Part IV

Related links:

modern mushroom growing 2020 harvesting | post about our newest publication

Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa | previous post by me
Part I - Johannesburg, South Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me

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Part II - Pretoria and Sandton City, South Africa

Pretoria, Gauteng Provence in South Africa

Union Building in Pretoria with Jacaranda trees in bloom...

This was on an airmail letter sheet.

Pretoria has some 70,000 Jacaranda trees and is called Jacaranda City!

It is also the Administrative Capital of South Africa

On November 18, we both woke up at 3:00 on our first morning at the Holiday Inn, Sandton... 

Time difference and the unusual long day of 42 hours without a bed, was the culprit.

We got up by 8:00 and had breakfast.

For my Dutch or Afrikaans speaking readers I will quote here the funny language we found in our hotel, for emergency exit safety procedures:

U is hier      Onthou
1. Bly kalm
2. Volg die ontsnaproetes aangetoon op die diagram tensy andere instruksies oor die interkom gegee word.
3. Gehoorsaam asseblief onverwyld brandbeamptes se instruksies.
4. Stap vinnig, moenie hardloop nie.
5. Gaan onmiddellik na die versamelpunt en wag op verdere instruksies.
6. Vertel 'n brandbeambte onmiddellik as u weet van iemand wat vasgekeer of beseer is.

Moenie:
1. Paniekerig raak nie.
2. Hardloop nie.
3. Brandbeamptes, brandweermanne, ambulansmanne, die polisie, ens in hul werk hinder nie.
4. Enige deel van die gebou weer binnegaan nie.
5.Wegdwaal van versamelpunte af voor of nadat die naamlys gelees is nie.

The view from Holiday Inn hotel in Sandton.
Again a Jacaranda tree to the right.

In the distance, left from center, you see the tallest man-made structure with an elevator in the African continent!

Hillbrow Tower in Joburg from wikipedia.

Looking at our new surroundings, as seen from hotel in Sandton.

Another sunny day in Sandton, South Africa

Jacaranda trees lining the streets near our hotel in Sandton.
We also got to see the South African Weaver Bird's Nest; they just hang in the trees!

What a lovely sight those Jacaranda blossoms!
A true nature lovers' paradise...

Walking in Sandton, South Africa.

Grand Bazaar and its open market.

Here I walk with the wife of one of our hosts.

Always fun to stroll over such markets and getting a sense of the local spices and aromas.

We went shopping later in the immense large shopping center in Sandton City.

For Pieter I did find a Lanvin shirt for only US $ 32 as the SA Rand was one to one to the Dutch Guilder at that time and the US $ was R 2.62.

By 14:00 we got back to our hotel, took a bath and lazied for half an hour.

Used my travel iron, after Pieter first had taken apart the wall plug and loosened the wires... But he got it working! We had 4 different travel plug converters but nothing did fit!

By 19:15 we got picked up by our host for dinner at his home.

Lovely home and delicious dinner. Back in our hotel by 0:30.

Thanks for your visit and stay tuned for Part III

Related links:
Part I - Johannesburg, South  Africa | previous post by me
My South Africa Publication Around Husband Pieter's Lectures at Congress | previous post by me