Sussman Rewind: Kalahari Sands Gluttony

09 May 2006




En route to London, I flew on Air Namibia and had a 9 hour stop over at the airport. On my plane to Windhoek, I sat next to a Mr. Francois Uys, a big businessman in Namibia, my jovial, polite discussions aided me in saving R150 in taxis fees, as the affable businessman dragged me along with him to Windhoek. I had 9 hours to spend in the capital and I wondered if it would be enough...

I did not know what to expect of the town or city-I did not know whether it would be a satellite city of SA, or a 3rd world mess, besides less than 230 000 people inhabit this city in a country of less than 2 million souls!

In less than 2 hours, I had covered all the historic sites, which are mostly of German architectural origin. It was kind of boring. The Owela Natural History Museum was old and dank, although there was an interesting exhibit on Uzbekistani nomadic dwellers, but the history of the SWAPO movement was well told at the National Museum.

Before 11:00 I had nothing to do, it was going to be a long day….

However, I made certain observations, and obviously I can’t judge the whole country but only Windhoek

1) Public Transport does not exist- there are no inner city busses, trams or trains but only sedan taxis which take you every where for between $N6 or$N12. All the locals just use it.

2) The Windhoekers- Friendlier people you wont meet, genuinely helpful, genuinely not trying to screw you over, genuinely friendly, genuinely proudly of their city. Howevr, with a national population of less than Cape Town, one wonders whether the impressive Windhoek and Namibian folk will ever be able to integrated in the global economy, or whether they will always be South Africa's little brother.

Given that what ever people may say, South Africa has a long way to go before we reach Windhoek's racial harmony, race is not an issue here, whites hanging out with blacks, blacks with coloureds and coloureds with whites, Germans with Hereros, Afrikaners with Namas.

3) The Food- On my first day in London I went out for lunch to this moorish restaurant, with an avante garde menu with dishes costing approximately 16 Pounds, however, in Windhoek, I ate the biggest meal of my life, after eating this meal at the lavish Kalahari Sands Hotel, my heart started beating so fast that I thought I would faint and drop dead from stuffing my face. I would have been content, because at least I would have had a smile on my face… For the equivalent of R80, I pigged out on Beef Steak, Kudu Steak, Carpaccio, Ox Tongue Stew, Lamb Curry, Roti's, samoosas, lamb chops, Venison Pie, Spring rolls, cooked veggies, roasted veggies,

I could not even attempt to eat the fresh fish, stir fry, cold meats. It was pure gluttony. I wanted to sample everything, it irked me that I was not able to eat the fish.

The dessert was crazy which was all washed down with the fine Tafel Lager.

This was one of the best meals I ever ate all for less than R100. I was too full for supper and breakfast. I swaggered out of the hotel following my stomach which was on the verge of exploding.

Even though I could not even look at any more food, I knew that if I did not go get biltong, it would be like visiting London and not going on the Tube.

The Biltong-It is ridiculous how good it was, it is like the national snack in Namibia. Namibians take their meat very seriously and believe that with meat and beer they are much better than SA. It is good and cheep.

The Beer- Namibian Breweries is the pride of the country, everyone drinks beer from Namibian breweries, however soft drinks, juices and sweets are all imported from South Africa.

I had to hire an expensive taxi from nearby Robert Mugabe Street and get back to the Hosea Kutako Airport. There were a lot of young South Africans there who had spent the whole day at this airport, I am very sure that Ben Gurion' airport is like Heathrow compared to this airport. I had gone through the entire duty free in about 6 minutes.

It would be unfair to judge Namibia on a few hours in the capital city, I need to return and explore the game reserves and the dunes, but before I do that, I know I have to make an indulgent return to the Kalahari Sands Hotel….



I stopped in Windhoek when flying to London in May this year.

Archway, Sunday Afternoon

I came across this last Sunday.

Im sure most kids will grow up thinking that this street was named after Ronald Mcdonald and not after the Macdonald who in all likelihood did much good for the neighbourhood of Archway....

I dont know who Mr/Mrs Macdonald was but I am sure they s/he did not expect there to be more Mcdonald's signage on the road.

Talking about Mcdonalds, I walked past this Mcdonalds on Sunday and instead of hearing people chew on their food, I heard beautiful classical music....

Yes, Mcdonalds, now employ someone to make the customer's meal that much more soothing...

The US Open Day-9


I woke up at 04:30 this morning to see Richard Gasquet come back from 2-0 down to level at 2 sets all with Lleyton Hewitt, I was happy, my predictions were still on track for a Federer-Gasquet final…however, Gasquet let up in the beginning of the fifth and Hewitt seized to close it out.

So I am wrong, I thought my outlandish prediction would come right…. I still do believe that Richard Gasquet will be a top 10 player by May next year.

The big upset was unseeded Mikhail Youzhny demolishing Tommy Robredo.
Today’s action

17-Andy Murray vs 7-Nikolay Davydenko

The match of the day will be the Dunblane Demon Andy Murray who is the 17th seed and the bland, almost emotionless disciplined Russian Nikolay Davydenko. Davydenko, seeded 7 is being billed as the underdog in the UK, with the Murray mania going wild.

I might have been wrong about Murray losing to Gonzalez, but Murray who has all the talent, but not enough strength will find it hard to slug it out against the Russian workaholic. Davydenko has played more tournaments than anyone this year. Davydenko has won their one previous encounter.

I see Davydenko prevailing in 4 sets.

1 Roger Federer vs Marc Gicquel

Federer has had a very easy run thus far and it wont get harder against the Tunisian born Frenchman. Although Gicquel has knocked out 2 seeded players in Juan Carlos Ferrero and Gaston Gaudio, I see his dream run ending in a reality hangover.

Federer in 3

5-James Blake vs 12-Tomas Berdych

The American no.1 will have his toughest match over, whilst he might have all the fans behind him and that might lift his game, I wonder which Berdych will show up, because, if it is the Berdych that has beaten Federer and Nadal before we could see Blake get bumped.

Thus far we have only seen the Berdych who is a top 20 player, we have not seen the Berdych which has the potential to be a top 10 player, that is why I think Berdych will upset Blake here today.

Berdych in 4

14-Tommy Haas vs Marat Safin

This one is incredibly difficult to predict. Safin, a past champion in 2000 has shown us the form which made him champion here previously. Last night he dismantled the seeded Olivier Rochus in 3 straight sets.

However, Tommy Haas has had a great and consistent hard court season, and Haas will want to at least equal his previous best of a quarter final in 2004.

Both will come out all guns blazing, the key thing for Safin is to win a set within the first two sets, the longer the match goes on the better it will suit him as Haas had a bruising 5 set encounter last night.

Safin will cause another upset in 5 sets.

Lets hope I have some dignity left by tomorrow!

The summary


Davydenko in 4
Federer in 3
Berdych in 4
Safin in 5

And then there were 18…

I suppose the article should be called and then there were 16, but due to the chaotic weather, the US Open has been running behind schedule.

However, yesterdays action saw some brilliant tennis with the emotional, sad abrupt end to Andre Agassi’s career at the hands of a German, a German called Becker, B. Becker, Benjamin Becker played very well to end an unbelievable 21 year tennis career.

It also saw Marat Safin oust the 4th seeded David Nalbandian and Andy Murray come from behind to beat Fernando Gonzalez.


I want to look forward to the remainder of the 3rd round matches and the 4th round clashes.

3rd round action

26-Olivier Rochus vs Marat Safin, the diminutive Belgian might be seeded and might enjoy a much higher ranking than Safin, but Marat will start as favourite here, Rochus is consistent player, never does too badly, however, also hardly ever challenges the big players.

Safin enjoys a 5-3 head-to-head lead against Rochus, however the Belgian no.1 has won the last two games.

I believe that if Rochus is able to make Safin run and wear him down, and take him to a fifth set, he will win, but I think it will be Safin in 4 sets.

14-Tommy Haas vs 18-Robbie Ginepri. The German has 3-1 head to head lead over the brash American. They met in the 3rd round of the US Open last year and Haas won in 5 sets. I see the same happening again today, the American crowd will be able to lift Ginepri’s game, but Haas should prevail in 5.

The 4th Round action

9- Andy Roddick vs Benjamin Becker

The giant-killing run of Benjamin Becker will end here, he might have beaten Sebastian Grosjean and Andre Agassi, but I think that Roddick will have too much firepower and stamina for him.

Roddick had it hard yesterday, but showed his mettle by coming from a break down in the 5 to easily take the last set against Fernando Verdasco.

Roddick in 3.

15-Lleyton Hewitt vs 25- Richard Gasquet

Have I begun to dread my prediction that Gasquet would shock all and make the US Open finals? Lleyton Hewitt absolutely demolished the Serbian sensation Novak Djokovic yesterday, the boy wonder was made to look like an amateur by the former US Open Champion.

Logic tells me, that Lleyton will win it in 3 or maybe Gasquet will be able to eke a set out of him, however, I am going to be stubborn and maybe foolish, but predict that Gasquet will prevail in 5 sets.

In Wimbledon Hewitt devoured Olivier Rochus in the 3rd round but then crashed out to Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets. Maybe we will see the same happen again.

6-Tommy Robredo vs Mikhail Youhzny

Robredo has won both of their previous encounters, whilst the Muscovite might be pumped up after his surprise win over David Ferrer yesterday, I see Robredo winning in 4 sets.
2-Raphael Nadal vs Jiri Novak

It is great to see Jiri Novak in the 4th round of a Grand Slam event, riddled by injury, the Czech veteran has played great tennis thus far to get to the 4th round.

His opponent, Nadal, has not, he struggled against Wesley Moodie last night, and has been unflattering in his previous matches as well.

I think Novak will be able to a set, but I see Nadal wearing him down and closing it out in 4.
Tomorrow I will comment on the rest of the 4th round action

To summarise

3rd Round action

Safin will win in 5
Haas will beat Ginperi in 5

4th Round action

Roddick in 3 over Becker
Gasquet in 5 over Hewitt
Robredo in 4 over Youhzny
Nadal to beat a gallant Novak in 4