Veldskoens: Southern Africa’s Favorite Shoes
I can’t remember the exact moment when I became aware of veldskoens, a.k.a. vellies. These leather foot coverings — somewhere between a shoe and a boot — have always been prolific in rural South Africa, lining the shelves of padstals (farm stalls),...
Chinese Tea and Cake in Bedfordview
Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year — the Year of the Rabbit — and this is my first Joburg post of 2023. In celebration of both these facts, I’m thrilled to tell you about Tea and Antique, a brand-new Chinese establishment in Bedfordview. Tea and Antique,...
A Tour of Joburg’s Mediterranean East
During my Rosebank jacaranda tour last October, I held a contest: The first participant to spot the lone white jacaranda tree on our route could choose a new place in Joburg for me to visit and blog about. It took a while for the winner, Caroline Talotta, to cash in...
The Awe-Inspiring Shiva Temple of Actonville, Benoni
Several months ago I spotted a post in the @WhatsOnInJoburg Instagram feed. “Africa’s tallest Shiva Shakti Statue is in Benoni”, the post read, with a photo of the biggest, boldest, most colorful Hindu deity I’ve ever seen. I made a mental note...
Mustardbox 713: Chowing Korean Corn Dogs in Boksburg
Sadly, Mustradbox 713 is closed and I’m not sure if/when it will re-open. I’ll update this post if I hear anything. A few days ago, I received a hot tip from my friend Debjeet about a Korean corn dog place in Boksburg called Mustardbox 713. Mustardbox 713....
Heather Mason
I’m an American writer/blogger/photographer living a quirky life in Johannesburg. Follow along as I explore Johannesburg, South Africa, and the rest of the world.