S1 - Ep 422 - Burgersdorp!

[@PrincessPowerranger]

I'm teaching in Thailand, and honestly, I love watching these videos whenever I'm feeling home sick❤

[@CarlynneCupido]

I'm a fellow South African, teaching in Vietnam, I know exactly how you feel, I binge watch Dustbug travels when I feel homesick too, it's my absolute favorite channel. Thank you so much Dustbug Travels

[@Star_Game.Changer]

Hello Curtis and Sonja, thanks for keep uploading videos about South African towns.. I m frm india, i stayed in south africa from 2007 untill 2017...after that, i traveled to many parts of the world.. But let me accept the fact that South africa is a god gift country to south africans... I feel lucky to have stayed there for many years.. And south Africa's history is very rich because of afrikaaners.. The infrastructure of south african towns are well developed... It is purely very standard.. I dont mean to undermine the hard work of fellow black south african also.. Black people are also very nice in south africa.. But the fact is what south africa today is because of contribution made by afrikaaner people...And last but not least, south africa has amazing weather, nature has blessed south africa so much.. I would like to return to south africa in future.. South africa needs good people like u.. Thank u again..

[@terrimeyer3815]

Such a beautiful town. Honestly you two I am not sure whats going on anymore. Every town you go to is clean as a whistle....No papers, grass is cut, people fixing roads and pavements. Im truly fabbergasting at how gorgeous and well kept these towns are. It is really very encouraging to see ❤❤🎉🎉❤❤ post covid 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♀️

[@DustBugsTravel]

Burgersdorp is a prime example of a well-kept town. It was such a pleasure to drive through the streets, visit the historical sites and buildings and chat to some of the local folks. It was completely unexpected and we loved every moment! 🚙😁 I'm glad Burgersdorp impressed you too!

[@annacassisa9151]

YOU GUYS GIVE ME SUCH PLEASURE, I WILL NEVER IN MY LIFE, HOW EVER LONG OR SHORT THAT SHOULD BE, SEE A GRAVEL ROAD WITHOUT YOU LEAPING INTO MY MIND. SOMETIMES WHILE U ARE DRIVING AND U MIGHT PASS A GRAVEL RD, I FIND MYSELF TELLING YOU, "YOU'VE MISSED IT, TURN AROUND CURTIS" I COULD'NT CARE IF YOU R NOT MY KIDS, I CARE FOR YOU BOTH. GOD BLESS U FOR GIVING SO MANY PEOPLE SP MUCH PLEASURE. YOU SONIA WITH YOUR LOVELY SPONTANEOUS LAUGHTER AND U CURTIS, FOR RESPECTING YOUR WIFE AND EALKING THROUGH THOSE HIGH GRASS FIELDS WITH WHO KNOWS WHAT IS LURKING IN THE GRASS AND BUSHES. BREDASDORP

[@lee-anneadams9222]

Hi Curtis Sonia and Dusty, what a fascinating town, filled with history ❤, let's go 🚗

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, fascinating is the perfect word to describe Burgersdorp! It's a fantastic place to visit. 🚙😁

[@darelkrupanandham7478]

Thanks so much guys. What a spectacular visit.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed. Burgersdorp is a wonderful place and we're grateful to have had the opportunity to explore this fascinating town. Thanks for coming along! 🚙😁

[@tpactionreplay]

You did it! Great, thank you! 😁

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm happy to hear you enjoyed Burgersdorp, we did too! 🚙😁

[@snippetsordinarylife]

This is a beautiful little town. Interestingly, there are almost no properties for sale here, which is very unusual for a town this size. I am looking to move from JHB to a small town and you guys are absolutely godsend. Whenever anyone suggests a town, I firstly go looking to see the property prices and secondly search your channel to get a feel for the town. It is astonishing how much one can gather from your videos: the feel of the town, the cleanliness, the condition of the roads, shops etc. You have saved me a lot of money. If not for you, I would have had to travel to go and see what the towns are like. Oh, and so far you have traveled to every single town I have investigated, which are many. Thank you for what you do.

[@teresagillmer9464]

It lovely to see a town that has old buildings .So clean and neat.Well looked after

[@DustBugsTravel]

Indeed, it was a refreshing experience to visit a town with so many religious, historical and other buildings still in such great shape. We don't see that too often on our travels. 🚙🏛️💒

[@axelmertens7762]

Stunning video again! I have never been in Burgersdorp but thoroughly enjoyed the visit! So much Boer history and the churches a chapter on itself! Thank you Sonia & Curtis!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yes, this town was very well worth a visit. Not only a fascinating history lesson, but very pretty too! I'm so glad you came along and that we could introduce you to Burgersdorp. 🚙😁

[@nerinemartin5901]

South Africa ..we love u...now I understand why 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦u hve opened my eyes Sonia n Curtis ...❤❤❤

[@veruschkajafthas2854]

Making me miss home so much watching this video... berries sweet berries

[@mariusroos]

A very nice town. So green and well preserved. Wow 10 monuments. Interestingis the history as pointed out by Sonja. The churches are stunning. The fountain is a nice piece of art. Great history on the Reformd Church. Thanks for this excellent trip. Well done. Waiting for the next trip my seat is booked

[@DustBugsTravel]

This town was one big and colourful history lesson to us and we loved it. The Queen Victoria fountain was spectacularly beautiful, the detail was astonishing. ⛲ I'm glad you enjoyed the churches, we found the history super fascinating. 🚙💒 Thanks for coming along, I love it when you join us!

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys another gem of a town well ordered clean and tidy and as you said a very favorable weather being sheltered by mountains the Voortrekker monument was in good nick also hugenote connection. I had to laugh at the na stasie sign and banter amazing amount of cement and 4 diesel trains to pull it familiar pedestrian bridge!!! and a functioning station loved the information about changing platforms could imagine people rushing over the bridge to get the next train .spare rib pie new one on me sounds delicious. The block house was in good shape with a amazing views across the town. The history was fascinating about the old gaol ( I could imagine the guys who locked up the prisoners smug they're never get out of there no one thought about the Reed roof lol) the new prison looks a bit harder to escape from!!! Loved the story about the statues the vines in the park brilliant with small grapes aswell. What can I say about the drinking fountain it was Victorianer on steroids so much detail crazy the history of the start of pochestroom University And the DRF church fills in some gaps .I always say dressed stone but I think if you dress stone I presume you would make it smooth I think hammered stone is a better description!!! .the fence was amazing so much detail. On the way to the dentist this morning I was noticing the metal fencing was not that old then I remember as a kid I used to see where the fencing had been cut down thes was done to use the metal for the war efforts in ww2 so alot of this old fencing in SA will be unique also the amazing workmanship of the new corrugated roof mind blowing. Its great to see this beautiful town in such good. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

My pie was delicious! I love spare ribs and to have the soft meat in a pastry, hit the spot that morning! The blockhouse had one of the best views of a town we've ever seen. I couldn't help but wonder how they could give the gaol a reed roof and think the convicts wouldn't escape! 🤷🏻‍♂️😨 That Victorian fountain was incredibly beautiful with all its detail. 🚙⛲ I hope the visit to the dentist went well. 🦷

[@lamandaslater4360]

The church now looks beautiful❤

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! Thank you for this great trip, under blue skies again! The trip up to the block house just illustrates that the best views are always to be reached by gravel road. Burgersdorp is so steeped in history, both religious and state/cultural, it’s really fascinating. The town is beautiful with its old and historical buildings, churches, trees and wide streets. Thank you Sonia for narrating the history of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education - my Alma Mater of 50 years ago. The CHO has since sadly been dropped for NW (North-West). I hope you two will be able to continue with your video channel for ever. It has no match. I’m eagerly waiting for the next trip. Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed the history of PU vir CHO. I was stationed in Potch during my military service and was very familiar with the campus, although I never studied there. It was an integral part of the town and I was interested to read it's your Alma Mater. 🎓 We'll continue making videos of our travels and experiences and I'm so happy you enjoy them. They're essentially our memories too! 🚙🤩

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

I did my Honns BMus in Potch..... we called it "Die Puk"....! Stayed in Klaradyn Koshuis..... Those were the days......🎵🎶🎼❤👍

[@1812nico]

@@emmerentiagroenewald3694 Ja, waar's die dae!

[@zinimountglobal]

Let me tell you something about the Dutch Reformed Church. Back in August 2020, the church was damaged by a fire. The outside of the church suffered no damage, but the same couldn't be said for the inside. But I'm glad they're restoring it.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We were happy to see the extensive work being done on the church. Thank you for the info, we had no idea about the fire. 💒🔥

[@brannoxaf]

Your Fishoek video was on point! 🙏🙌

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed! 🚙😁

[@pietbezuidenhout6735]

Thank you so much for this one guys, it brought back some great early childhood memories from the late 1950's to early 1960's before we moved down to East London 🙏🙏 Just a side note, the Jubilee Manor you passed used to be the Jubilee Hotel in the old days 😁😁

[@DustBugsTravel]

You must've had some pretty amazing times there as a child! If the town still looks as good as it does today, I can only imagine back in the day. 🚙😍 Thank you for the info about Jubilee Manor, Queen Victoria clearly had some influence in town.

[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

Simply beautiful.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Burgersdorp is indeed a beautiful town. 🚙😍

[@tillabezuidenhout6460]

Thank you!!!!!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for coming along! 🚙😁

[@deonzar]

I remember the railway station of Burgersdorp, but I also remember in the seventies if you drive through the town after 7 pm there was absolutely nothing moving.... But very friendly people stayed there those years.... 🙂.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Not many folks move there at around 8:00 on a Saturday morning either! 😁 I'm glad we got to see the railway station at Burgersdorp, one of the few seemingly operational ones nowadays. 🚙🚉\

[@brannoxaf]

Sick bro love the channel see you in Cape Town or JBay 🤙🤙🤘🤘

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoy our videos, thank you! 🚙😁 We've visited Cape Town itself, as well as places around the city in Episodes 241 to 258 and JBay in Episode 195. Enjoy! 🤙🏻

[@sicko_the_ew]

I think a lot of these bigger used or abandoned stations way out of town come from the "Spoornet era", rather then the "SAR era". From about the 70's it became common to do away with old central stations close to the town centre (built for people who used trains for their long distance travel) with more "brutalist" (70's architecture) out of town stations that the authorities might've thought more suited to both the users of cars and the users of buses. (We're talking Putco buses, here, if you read the code). I suspect that they were a "separation measure" to some extent. Along with the moves of the old stations to out of town, often went the destruction (sometimes, what looked like the "deletion" - a mindset that has been common among our politicians for much longer than 30 years, now) of the old station. In the 70's there was no appreciation of the value of old buildings. Tons got bulldozed to make way for pretty ugly "improvements". As the French (and fancy pantsy arty farty hoity toity lah dee dah Englishers, too) say: _Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose_ or in more English letters: "Pleeyoo sah Shaanzh, pleeyoo say lah mehm shows". Or "the more things change, the more they stay the same". People just forget. I think the old English saying, "The Scum always floats to the top of the pond" might have something to do with this. Exactly the kind of person who has antennae growing out if its temples has a tendency to end up in charge of things, and to be a New Broom That Sweeps Clean. Remove all "scruffy" things, and all things that don't bear the family arms of the New Broom; and in those ruins, build some brand new ruins that reflect all the beauty of the New Broom Soul. (i.e. a negative amount of beauty - instead - new things that make one's heart fall right out of the heart-fall-hole at the bottom of one's bottom). It's mean of me to say so, but it feels good, so I think I won't retract it like maybe I should. So my guess is that once upon a time, Burgersdorp had a Victorian station near enough for townsfolk to walk to catch it, and then this got displaced to "Hellengone" to reserve one set of platforms for people who drive everywhere, and maybe another set of platforms for those who were made to always ride in buses. My further guess is that if you searched all you could for that Victorian station, you'd find not a single trace, because it was deleted, erased, and made to have never existed.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hope you feel better having gotten that off your chest. Like I've told you on previous occasions, we travel purely for our own enjoyment. If we have to analyse, explain and dissect every town we travel to, we would've quit on Day 1 of Trip 1. That's just not our vibe. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@annawitter5161]

Such beautiful Karoo scenery. Wasnt the original name of Burgersdorp, Blikkiesdorp? I am probably thinking of something else. OMW! A beautiful blokhuis for me sketch and paint. What a pretty town. Love the Voortrekker monument. Everything is in such good shape. So good o see a functional station. Pity the blokhuis was locked but it would have to or half of Cape Town might take up residence there. Wonderful view from there, I took a few screen shots for sketches. So interesting to read about the gaol, but oooh! Where is my red pen? What? Clean car? No way! Its a Dustbug car Always feels like home for me to see Dutch. Bloed praat. Would love to visit there and order the most fattening treat, just to spite my moedswillige expanding waist!! 😬😬So many beautiful surprises in Burgersdorp, thoroughly enjoyed from your back seat. Thank you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

As far as we know, the name was always Burgersdorp. On one of the Welcome signs as one enters town, the school (can't remember if it's Primary or High or both) refers to Blikkies, so we thought that was a nickname for the students, but I'm really not sure. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Burgersdorp is full of beautifully-preserved historical and other buildings and sites and we loved each one. Glad you did too! 🚙💒🏛️

[@emmerentiagroenewald3694]

Ai! Dankie tog dat julle twee ons toelaat om julle interessante programme te " down load" ...! Met ons baie beurtkrag,mis ons so baie uitstekende goed...!😢 Gelukkig kan ons darem deesdae se Afrikaanse nuus ook op ons tablette sien....!!❤❤❤Sal later na Burgersdorp kyk!🌹❤🌹👍

[@DustBugsTravel]

I hope you enjoyed our visit to Burgersdorp as much as we did! It is a beautiful, fascinating place. Thank you for hopping on board each time, I'm glad to hear you enjoy our travels. 🚙😁

[@AlidaVanZyl-yc9bh]

My late husband, Piet van Zijl was a teacher in the Primary School at Burgersdorp from 1958 untill September 1962. He went back to Keimoes where he made his Matric in 1955.

[@ingeborgvanderveer789]

Een strijd voeren om het Nederlands als officiële taal erkend te krijgen, dat is een mooi verhaal 👍🇳🇱🇳🇱🇳🇱 Dat past mooi bij de spectaculaire Hervormde Kerk, en de herdenkingstekst prachtig voorgelezen door Sonia in de inmiddels tot het Afrikaans doorontwikkelde taal. De oude pastorie en andere gebouwen en beelden die getuigen van de bewoners van weleer en hun Nederlandse ‘wortels’ verkeren gelukkig ook nog in goede staat. De inwoners van Burgersdorp zien er overigens niet meer zo Dutch uit … 🙄 Oké de Britten hebben ook best goede bijdragen geleverd 😅, die fontein met de witte zwanen en fraaie bloemetjes speciaal voor het zoveelste Queen Victoria jubileum is een heuse parel, a beautifull piece of art, groots in zijn kleinheid!!! 🇬🇧👑🦢. Hopelijk heeft zij ooit zelf een tekening ervan onder ogen gekregen. Het beste mens zal de tel mogelijk allang zijn kwijtgeraakt van de hoeveel monumenten en uitzicht punten die thuis en in de commonwealth naar haar vernoemd werden 😜. Gelukkig houden jullie nog wel de reacties bij van alle kijkers, echt Curtis nogmaals diep respect dat naast het vele werk dat jullie steken in reizen & video’s maken je toch telkens iedereen een antwoord geeft!!!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I thought you might enjoy the history about the citizens fighting for the recognition of the Dutch language as an official one! 😁🇱🇺 This town clearly understands the value of their historical sites and buildings and they were almost all still in great shape, which was so fantastic to see! 💒🏛️ That Victorian water fountain had incredibly beautiful and intricate details and is in great shape! ⛲😍

[@mawakaqabaka4944]

Good work to both of you.Good memories.Was attending school there.Nice small town well preserved.Could see some new improvements.Well done.Wish could show the location side(blacks location).Thank you.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed our video of your old hometown. 🚙😍 I film out of the car window and we've had a couple of incidents in townships where passers-by tried to grab my camera. I'm not prepared to take chances like that, so we sadly have to skip townships nowadays. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Trudie-cs7fd]

Baie dankie hiervoor. Dis waar my voorgeslagte vandaan kom. Die Coetzee en Venters 😂

[@riaan1249]

Hi you 2 that train at station is usually 2350tons fof 140 axles

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, that's very cool to know! 👍🏻🚉

[@bullaschonken521]

No high walls or electric fence I like 😂😂

[@sannamagranna6552]

Where would all the cement go?

[@DustBugsTravel]

I would imagine either to retailers and wholesalers who sell cement, but also to some railway facilities where they cast sleepers. I'm not sure though, but those would be my guesses. 🛤️

[@teresagillmer9464]

Do you do this for a living? It's a lot of driving

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nope, we both still work full-time and run away from all the craziness every few weeks. I'll be on the open road as opposed to couped up in an office any day of the week! 🚙🤩

[@jon-r3h9e]

Ek geniet julle kanaal baie. Wanneer doen julle die laeveld?

[@DustBugsTravel]

We both love the Lowveld. 😍 We have no firm plans for visiting any towns in the region though. It's very far from home for a trip of ten days like we usually take when we explore different towns in an area.

[@davidwilliamson2115]

the cerment is gravity fed into mixers or bags for sale to Building contractors

[@lukasvisagie9513]

Burgersdorp, sometimes referred to as "Blikkiesdorp", hence the reference to "Blikkies".

[@davidwilliamson2115]

Or into free fluted trucks for transporting to large building sites

[@andriesengelbrecht3459]

Toe ek op laerskool was, Mr Burger die hoof ,was die tronk in werking jy kon die bandiete sien van klasvenster

[@DustBugsTravel]

That is so interesting, thank you for sharing! 👍🏻 Both Sonia and I also have memories of seeing prisoners from our respective schools. How times have changed!

[@heleneswart5675]

HeleneSwart

[@heleneswart5675]

Sorry, my mistake. I meant to thank you for this. I was a small child in Burgersdorp in the 1950's. My father worked at Barclays Bank and my mother was a primary school teacher. So that's where I started school. My older brothers used to play at the blockhouse so we must have lived close by. My memories are few but the town looks lovely and I'd like to go and visit. Thanks again.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm so glad you came back to your old hometown with the two of us! 🚙😍 The town is indeed lovely and if you get the opportunity to visit, you should grab it. You'll enjoy it very much, I'm sure. How lucky your brother was to play around the blockhouse, that must be any young boy's dream to play in their very own fort. 😁

[@lukasvisagie9513]

My oorlede vrou Lynette Joubert was ook in die 50'er jare daar op laerskool, dalk het jy haar geken. Haar pa was 'n ruk lank die stasiemeester en haar oom het die bioskoop daar begin. Haar oupa was op 'n tyd die parlementslid vir die distrik.

[@isaacgabrahams]

Seems you have missed important sites in Aliwal and Burgersdorp. We have two Blockhouses in Aliwal and there is an Afrikaans Language Monument in Burgersdorp build before the one in Paarl and you drove past it.

[@DustBugsTravel]

And it seems as if you missed the important sites we didn't miss! 🤷🏻‍♂️ We have limited time to travel and it's impossible to visit every single place of interest. You're free to do so though and make your own videos! 😁