Johannesburg: A Glimmering Tapestry of Lights

Today is International Tourist Day, 27 November, 2024.

Not only is it a day to reflect on the challenges and trends of the tourism sector, but for me it is also a day to showcase the beauty of a country.

When I opened my eyes this morning and reflected on what to write about my beloved country, I found myself at a loss for words.
Is the beauty of a country not about the wide beaches, the blue waters, the green forest, and the high mountains? No, it reaches so much further. It embraces a tapestry of various elements.

• Natural beauty, landscapes
• The people, their cultural heritages, diversities, and hospitalities
• The wildlife, from the deep of the oceans to the soaring of the highest
• Iconic landmarks and the architecture that goes with it
• The rich history from caves to graves
• The cuisine, from celebrations to traditions and from spice to no spice
• The climate and beautiful seasons, from snow to booming flowers
• The song, dance, and art that reflect the core of the nation

Each country offers its own unique blend of these elements, creating a distinct identity that captivates both residents and tourists, and I can just imagine the wonderful places that will be shared on social media today.

It was clear in my mind that I will land up writing a book if I want to share all the elements of my beloved country, South Africa.

As I was searching for photos on my mobile phone, the word “Cityscape” popped up.
I remembered this contest, “Cityscape” I was however left with a challenge. How can “cityscape” showcase the beauty of a country?
Was I surprised! Cities like “Home,” Bangkok, Dubai, Cape Town, and many more popped up.

As I was scrolling through the photos, my eyes caught one. I did not even look further. It was a photo taken at “Home” when home was still Johannesburg, and for me it was a must share.

This photo was taken on 31 December 2020 at 20:38

It was taken from the balcony of our bedroom overlooking the city of Johannesburg to the east. Why I like this photo so much is that although it was already evening and the moon was out, the rays of the sun setting in the west were still coloring the sky, which is miles away, blue in the east.

I know that experts will tell us that this is due to atmospheric scattering. For those of you who don’t know, this means that when the moon is low, near the horizon, the light of the moon must travel through more air particles and pollutants in the atmosphere, which makes it appear to be yellow.

For me, in this photo, it is all about color perception. I would like to hear what the professional photographers among us can tell us.

Looking past the moon and the sky, the brilliant lights as far as the eye can see in a time of COVID-19 lockdown on the last day of a year tells me the story of the perseverance of cities and their inhabitants in challenging times. The lights, powerful symbols of resilience, reflection, and the human spirit's ability to endure and hope for the future... a sense of longing for connection.

We have survived... Happy Tourist Day!

^{The photos are my own taken with my iPhone8}

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