KeepCup

This blog has been a while coming but finally here it is.

While I was working at Cobalt Niche in Australia I was the lead designer on a project for a new more environmentally friendly takeaway coffee cup. Unfortunately I left Cobalt for Botswana just before the KeepCup hit the shelves. But now that it is out there I thought I would introduce you to it (and beat my own drum!!!)

The KeepCup is a reusable coffee cup that is aimed at reducing the amount of landfill by foam and paper disposable cups. It consists of a cup (which comes in three sizes), lid, plug (for sealing the drinking and air holes) and a band which is used to indicate coffee preferences to the barista.

For more information on KeepCup or to purchase one visit www.keepcup.com.au.

Here’s me with my KeepCup in the Gaborone Game Reserve. Oh yes I’m addicted. Coffee is your friend!

Gabs Game Reserve

Well now that we have a car we were able to head out to the Gaborone Game Reserve. Although I didn’t spot any of the Big 5 I did see impala, ostrich, lizards, warthogs, many types of birds and an especially rare species in these parts – the red-headed Aussie! It’s amazing that this wildlife sanctuary is almost in the heart of the city. The park even has some well maintained picnic spots with hut toilets and braai facilities. We’re already planning our next visit perhaps with a couple of snaggers for the braai.

 

While driving around Gabs we spotted this sign for a yacht club. What, you ask, a yacht club in a landlocked country 6 hours from the nearest ocean??? How can this be??? Well as we found out there is a large body of water in Gabs. No it’s not a river, nor is it a lake,  it’s a dam. And as the sign suggests there is a yacht club on the edge of the dam. But between you and me, I suspect that very few yachts have ever seen the water!

we got wheels!

Well we’ve finally got a car and we are pretty excited about it. 5 months in southern Africa catching buses, combis and taxis has been fun but it is really good to be independant again. And in only one weekend we saw more of Gabs than we had previously seen in 4 months.

Buying the car was surprisingly painless. We did have a little trouble with transferring the money. Another bank problem but don’t get me started on banks!!! The transfer of registration was also pretty straight forward requiring just passports and work permits. We got insurance but have to get a letter from my previous insurer to ensure we get a lower premium otherwise we’ll be charged as first time insurers. Insurance seems to be more expensive in Bots – almost double what we pay in Australia. Probably has something to do with the crazy drivers here!

Here’s our beast – a ’96 5 door Toyota Rav4.

around gabs…

I thought I’d share with you some random shots that we’ve taken while in Gaborone.

The first is a shot Heather took of the bus park here in Gabs. You can find every means of transport at the bus park – long distance buses, local buses, combis and taxis. It is also right next to the train station although there are currently no passenger trains here. The overloaded buses that you can see in the photo are headed to Zimbabwe. Its much easier to get all the neccessities in Bots than Zim. While we were travelling around southern Africa we were forever being offered for sale a trillion Zimbabwean note. I can’t remember the price for the ‘souvenir’. 

This photo is taken in a new suburb in Gaborone. It is the epitome of suburbia. These are all BHC (Botswana Housing Commission) houses . As you can see all the houses are very similar. They sell for around 500,000 pula (approx. 95,000AUD).

We have come to realize that these are not real palm trees!! They may look like it but the crazy Batswana have decided that power poles look better disguised as trees.