Three weeks ago Mom and I drove to Durban, South Africa with Everett and Patti Kyle.  Mom works with Elder and Sister Kyle in Public Affairs. This is a photograph of some of the koppies along the way. Koppie is an Afrikaans word for "cup". To the average Afrikaaner these little mountains looked like upside down cups.

These koppies reminded me of some of the mesas you might see in the Southwest United States.

On the beach at Durban, South Africa with Mom. Notice the sand sculpture behind us. The 3 days we were there the surf was blown out and very disorganized. There were also lots of blue bottle jelly fish in the water.

Women selling colorful dresses on the sidewalks of Durban.

We always must visit any necklace shops Mom sees. 

Durban has the 2nd largest population, outside of India (Mauritius is 1st) of Indians in the world. The British who took over the area from the Zulus could not get the Zulus to do agricultural work they therefore shipped in Indians from India as indentured laborers on 25 year contracts. Under Apartheid, the Indians were treated just as badly as the blacks.  Above is an Indian Curry shop.

It was in South Africa as a young missionary I first had a curry meal. I've loved it ever since, but all curry is not created equal. Notice on extreme left of this photo, "Mother-in-law Curry". Don't get any ideas Phil. This curry will light a fire which will send any Mother-in-law home early.

Durban hosted some of the FIFA World Cup soccer games of 2010. This stadium was built for that purpose. Notice the little square box on top. It's actually a glass elevator which rides up the outside of the stadium. Sadly, Mom wouldn't make the trip with me.

A picture looking south towards downtown Durban.

Vasco de Gama was the first European to sail along this coast in 1497. It was Christmas time so he named the coast Natal. A Portuguese word for Christmas or Christ's birth.

Eating ice cream on the Durban boardwalk with the Kyles. Yes, Mom is very happy!

We had dinner with other senior missionaries serving in the Durban, South African Mission. It was a wonderful out door evening.

Durban is the largest container port in Africa. It was established by the British who named the port after Benjamin d'Urban who at the time was the Governor of Cape Town. The photograph was taken from our hotel room looking south down the boardwalk.  This boardwalk area runs approximately 5 miles along the beach. The harbor opening is at the far end of the sand just in front of the hill.

This is the Durban chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the 2nd oldest LDS Church building in South Africa. It was built in 1957.