EXPO WP COUNT DOWN

DONT GET LOST, GET TO EXPO WP

As I have mentioned before, EXPO WP is currently the largest indoor/undercover market with more than 300 stalls, located in the entire Western Cape and there are just 4 days to go before its official opening. The planning thus far has been major and the advertising substancial, with some really large live entertainment events on the cards, staggered across the entire Easter Weekend. Thus far, every event hosted at EXPO WP was a hit, really attracting large crowds who invariable spent there entire day there, engrossed in the happenings of the day.

However, others seems to have had no idea where EXPO WP is, so if you were among them, I am here to help you get there. Some how, certain people were under the miss information that the EXPO WP is behind Grand West Casino, but that's not exactly true. Admittedly its not too far from GW but certainly not near enough to qualify as an exclusive landmark. Speaking about landmarks most men or rather males will identify with a motor spares yard when mentioned, so if you guys have any idea where Bonerts Motor spares in Bofors Circle Epping is, EXPO WP is just 300 meters further away in the same road. The ladies I'm certain would more readily indentify with Epping Fire station situated on the opposite side of the road away from Bonerts, hence away from the EXPO... so ladies please drive in the other direction, with the old Epping Fresh Produce Market behind you. Essentially away from Pinelands.

Perhaps I'm adding to the confusion, so lets make this really easy. Just get out your latest technological toy -the GPS, punch in 33°55'38.0964" South, 18°33'1.7382" East an viola, you'll drive straight into the parking-lot of the EXPO WP. For those technological challenged people and those who don't have a GPS, you can find EXPO WP on a map, just locate Lat:33.927249 and Long:18.550483 and you'll also be there in double quick time. For everyone ells that's not as smart, myself included, please consult this road map, meaning the first map which is immediately below. Locate  Showground Avenue, its the "service road" behind Grand West Casino.  I painted that road RED for your benefit, observe that  it points towards a RED rectangle, and that's exactly where EXPO WP is located. So technically EXPO WP is on the right side of GW when you facing it and not behind as some people were led to believe.

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 Below is another Map with an aerial view, soley for those arriving by plane, so have a good look at where EXPO WP is, yes its exactly on the spot where the RED A is, so now you have no excuse not to be at EXPO WP this Easter.

CARS BOOM BOXES & VUVUSELAS

The car sound-off of the weekend has come to an end and the judges announced the overall winner of the competition which was held over two days. I'm almost certain the music could be heard for miles in fact even after the event whilst blogging at home, I could still hear the pounding of the music inside my head. Twas amazing and was very well attended because when I arrived there, I had to park my car a good half kilometer down the road.

As of tomorrow the countdown to the official Easter Opening will begin, its kinda like the countdown to the Soccer World Cup. Speaking of the Soccer World Cup, BLUSH MEDIA a stall inside EXPO WP is the official distributor of Vuveselas, South African flags, Soccer Balls as well as plastic helmets for FIFA. I hope there won't be a vuvesela sound-off at EXPO WP in the near future or at anytime.

A Soccer stand full of  Vuveselas, is way louder than an Alpine Horn. 

EXPO WP tenants are well represented by South Africans from all areas -Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs, Townships and the Locations with wares that appeal to one another. All the craft sold at EXPO WP exudes the talent of its creators and just to spend time with these artists is an experience in itself.

Not only amazing sound but lights display that goes with it.

Blow that Vuvesela...

A sound system that would put most audiophiles to shame.

EXPO WP STALLHOLDERS

It's the weekend once again and shopping at the EXPO WP is hectic. Today there was a car-sound-off in the parking area with several car owner / contestants showing-off the loudness of their respective car audio systems. This was just part of the count down towards the official opening of EXPOWP or should I rather say the build-up toward the shopping cresendo of the official opening at Easter.

Friday past I believe, that EXPO-WP had their first JUMU'AH on site since its management made available SALAAH facilities on a permanently basis for both vendors and shoppers to perform namaaz. Amaizingly few other EXPO's have done this for their stall-holders and their shoppers. Kind of reminds of the souks in Saudi Arabia. Mind you, I saw a stall named the ARABIAN inside somewhere.

At this very moment, I'm busing chatting to Luyiso and Malcolm at a stall named LAPHUMILANGA (SUNSINE) LEATHER HANDCRAFTS and discovered that Malcolm is an amaizingly talented painter who will do your portrait from a photograph for around R500.00 on canvas. You can have your photo taken at PhotoJani at stall C49. Have a look at a sample of Malcolm's work. Personally I think he is the "Picasso" at EXPO WP, untapped talent waiting to be discovered. They also specialise in manufacturing hand crafted shoes & sandles and leather ladies handbags.

Coming back to the event of the day, Preggy Govender at the stall named CAR ZONE sells all the gadgetry that was on show today. They are so numerous, amongst which are amplifiers with massive shiney heatsinks ranging in colour and huge CALIBRE speakers, as well as high current silicon wires with their inline 200Amp fuses and SONY, ALPINE, MARANTZ, audio decks etc.. and supplies those large speaker boxes that produce that ever ellusive bass. All I can say is "that its the price of their toys that separates the men from the boys".

Whilst browsing, I found that a stall called BILTONG BOX sells my favorite delicacy... no, its not Bully Beef but "dices glaced ginger", twas awesome. BILTONG BOX specialises in Game Biltong and Dried Sausage but not exclusively. Whilst busy with my purchase, several shoppers lined up to get some "Halaal Black Pepper Biltong", seriously, no kidding, even though Biltong Box sells wild game biltong they do cater for Muslims and has a valid Halaal Certificate to proove it.

Enough said, I dont want to make it sound as if EXPO WP's demographic is a certain religious minority because EXPO's are for everyone. Race, religion and ethnicity really has no part or place in "fleamarkets", so I best keep it that way. Whilest walking past a stall, I saw a banner with "coziest place at EXPO WP" written on it. Unfortunately they were closed but after peeking through the windows, I saw Koi fish swimming in a pond alongside which were green plants with a wooden foot bridge passing over it. My first thought was that its a Japanese Tea Garden then I looked for its name and lo and behold, the stall was called MING's, so I think I may have been right. I'm planning to have breakfast there in the morning to confirm my thoughts about MING's.