A familiar face.

Clint Eastwood found his way onto this chalk board.

 

Trees always make such a peaceful scene.  On the left of the pond in this picture, you will find the Japanese Garden featured in yesterday's pciture, also taken at Makaranga Garden Lodge in Kloof.

A little piece of heaven.

Makaranga Garden Lodge in Kloof, is a 30 acre of Private Botanical Gardens. Every part of the property is beautifully set out, with scupltures, lawns, shrubs, trees, and of course, this beautiful, peaceful Japanese garden.  It is certainly worth a visit.

Physically or mentally challenged?

 

So, why a photo of these clearly able-bodied people. The reason: they are parked in bays  marked for the diabled - or physically challenged, so this begs the question: what is their challenge?

Each of these 4 bays are painted with yellow lines, and the sign which designates it as parking for the disabled.  Their excuse for parking here is that they have to work!  When did working become classified as a disability?

The car guard summed it up nicely when I asked how he could let anyone park in the bays.  He said "These people refuse to listen, I think that these days they give driver's licences to the wrong people. They just give them to anyone!".

Going inside.

 

  

Looking across the field at the "window".  Ok, so its not a green field yet, that's 'cos it's still under construction.  If you look carefully on the right side of the field, at the back you can see a truck, which should give some perspective of the size. 

This stadium seats 55 000 people.  The bottom section of seats are below ground level, while the top section are above ground level. 

Ok, that's the last one of the stadium for now.  Hope you enjoyed the tour with me.

The whole picture

 

If ever you get the opportunity, take the tour of this stadium.  It's quite fascinating to hear all the little details of the constuction, and the thought behind it.  

For Example... 

Entry to the stadium is on this level, however it is at the mid-level of the seats.  The reason: quick evacuation.  How so?  Those in the top rows have the same distance to go, as those in the field level rows, in order to get out.  This means it would take only 8 minutes for either to get out of the stadium in an emergency.

Inside they have double spiral stair cases - one is the up stair case, and the other is the down.  Such a little thing can make and enormous difference to one's experience of the day.

Sustainablity.  Below this level is the retail section.  This is dedicated to shops and restuarants. The means Durban won't be left with a white elephant after 2010. 

Sewing up the roof.

 

The secret to a perfectly fitting garment, is in getting the pattern right. The same applies to the roof of a stadium.  Each piece of this roof was carefully cut to exact measurements, and "sewn" together.  They still need to cover the gaps, so there's no dripping on the spectators.

The catwalk which goes across the middle of the picture, hold the spotlights and sound system.  Now there's another job I'm pleased I don't have to do - man the spot lights :).