Third day!
Took an Uber to the V&A waterfront. Springboks and Robben Island today. The boat ride to Robben Island departs from a nearby jetty.
 |
| The Cape Wheel |
I like the V&A waterfront. There's so much to see (historical ones) and they have decent food courts serves halal meals. The children love the Hamley's and Toy Kingdom with the adjacent LEGO store. There are map all over the place so you won't get lost.
Ben wanted to visit The Springbok Experience Museum just walking distance from the waterfront. Just look for the rugby goal post by a tall wall, across the road and you'll find the museum there.
I didn't play rugby although I enjoy watching my friends play. Epit, Sharap, Bochap, Cop, the late Toje, Kadak and Ajak, not forgetting Loque...of Monologue played rugby. We're of the same batch and would cheer at every home game. My late maternal grandfather played while serving in army in the early 50's. My younger brother played for his alma mater, that's what he said.
There were two main parts of the museum, apart from the souvenir shop. There's an area for you to test your rugby skill and another area is about the history of the game in South Africa, the emergence of Springboks and the players of new and old.
 |
| goal kick simulator |
The exhibits were very comprehensive, a rugby nutter would enjoy the items on display. It's well managed and very interactive too.
There's a large display of the South African rugby team jerseys including the different unions (for coloureds, blacks and whites). A touchscreen display in front of the showcase will show the info about the jersey, the year and interesting facts about it. The jersey will be light up and from the logo, you could see the evolution of the jersey since early 1900's.
 |
| the jersey wall |
 |
Leopard emblem of SARA
(South African Rugby Association) |
The SARA was a black rugby association and the leopard did not went well as it reminded them of a brand of beer produced by the whites when the blacks were banned from brewing themselves.
 |
SARFF jersey
(South African Rugby Football Federation) |
The SARFF used the national flower, Protea which coincidentally the name of the team too.
The rest of the jersey were of Springboks which evolved from the epileptic look to the current one, in a jumping pose facing to the right, while the protea and rugby emblem on the left of the chest.
 |
| Paul Roos |
 |
| the Song book |
Btw, the Springboks name was coined in 1906 by then captain Paul Roos and there's even a song for them, in the exhibit.
Apartheid period was a dark time for the rugby sports more so when they were boycotted all over the world. Not just them, but any business from South Africa and I remembered South Africa was on the ban list of country to visit in the Malaysian passport, until 1994.
Stamps (top) Dr DH Craven,
President of the South African Rugby
Moving on, there's also the gallery when they won the Rugby World Cup the first time in 1995. Mandela who was the newly elected President used the Springboks (Bokke) as a tool to unite the South African as featured in the movie, Invictus.
 |
| RWC 1995 display |
 |
| RWC 2007 display |
Best to note that, like any other museums....after a few minutes..max 15 minutes and madam would either head for the cafe or auditorium..whichever is available. So I pretty much rush through the exhibits. At the end of my visit was these interactive screen about the player according to their position in the team.
You get the message when your children keep on checking you every few minutes. Checking where you are and telling what's madam been doing. I get it that they're restless and a short visit to the souvenir shop (I wish I bought some of things there)...we left the museum with a small rugby player in tow...Ben wants to learn...OK son, let's do it. Ahehhh
 |
| The handprints of the players at the entrance/exit |
No comments:
Post a Comment