Daily Report

Originally written and published on the day itself.

Journo Jim, my former host in Dublin, Ireland, expressed his concerns about me falling in the hands of corporate advertisers. Where would it end with my project?

To response to his posting on the messageboard (not archived) I have to say that I will NEVER be able to get to another continent without the help of a company that says "Great project you have, we'll help you out."

Please know Jim, that without the help of the Steam Packet Company, who paid for the ferry, I would never had the opportunity to visit Ireland and stay at your place.

And in return for companies helping me out with my travels they do deserve all the credits. Don't you think that would be right too?

Etravel spent over 50,000 Rand to get me over here and lets me stay in the Tenbompas hotel, followed by a tented camp park tomorrow.

For me it is a great way to get settled in a country I have never visited before and to prepare for my journey through the whole country.

Yes, I will also visit the normal private people inviting me here, as I wrote in yesterday's report, so it is absolutely unnecessary to be concerned about me staying in hotels from now.

As you might have read in previous reports too: I don't always like hotels. I rather stay with the people who have their stories to tell.

But for these first days in South Africa I really needed to have my project promoted in the media. Without the media I would never have made it this far!

And though it would be a pity, if I would stay with a host during this complete media circus. Hosts won't get the attention they deserve. So, please agree with me that the 'hotels thing' is a balanced solution. Temporarily.

From now on I am collecting more and more invitations from more people in South Africa who want to let me stay for a day. Now just hope I won't stay here too long, or I get emails of people being concerned about me never ever leaving this continent.