Here some are experiencing the VIP lounge before boarding. The next picture is from our seat and then the guys looking relaxed in the plane.  In the third picture you can see  the guys settling in to Business Class.
Bottom lounge is transit lounge in Dubai, Paul and the girls in our A380 luxury and finally a warm up session round the pool whilst planes constantly passed overhead. 

We spent the morning arranging a local mobile phone and had a meeting arranged with Jo Fletcher - the stage director to discuss plans and logistics and excitement was building. 
We broke out the instruments whenever we could and everyone loved us to bits. We soon ran up against authorities as the liqueur license does not allow live music. 
Fortunately the owners daughter had a recording studio down the road and she invited us there to jam and practice. This was an an
Amazing experience, arriving at what looked like a warehouse.  Four massive doors lifted and revealed a venue with fabulous cars and chandeliers, grand piano etc. etc.  see pictures below. 
We had some high energy fun here with a small group who supported us by buying CD's.   It was magical for the guys and such fun. 
Thank you Sonja for your kindness.  See wwww.kitty smack.com 

Everyone was extremely excited and having said their goodbyes we proceeded trough into the departure lounge. Here the crew found a shop with djembe drums and with the encouragement of the staff they proceeded to give a show stopping performance. I have a good video of this event but am having trouble uploading it.  It is great to see how these children have developed the confidence to. Do this in an airport lounge in front of total strangers. 
Pretty soon it was time to board and for the journey to begin.

We were all very pleased when we started our decent into L A. I was fortunate to have a window seat on the left and looked out and saw the iconic hill with "Hollywood" on it - we had finally arrived after a very long journey. 
We by now had details of our arrival, who would meet us and how we would be transported - all was set! 
There are three main runways with planes landing every 30 seconds. All these people have to clear customs and we found ourselves in a moving mass of humanity literally being herded by US officials with radios and filled with self importance. You did not dare to ask a question or deviate from your zigzag Shute that we were funneled into.  It took us an hour and a half to get to the front of the line. Here we wanted to stay as a group but were once again yelled at so Paul went one way with some and I went the other way .   Here I got yelled at because our group was not together - go figure!  
By the time we all got through, our baggage had been turfed off the carousel in random heaps along with everyone else's on our A380!
With another 15 min hitch where we were separated we finally emerged in the chaotic arrivals area where our drivers who had been waiting for hours had arrived. 
Toyota Lexus are sponsoring the LAFW and provided 3 SUV' s to get us all to our Hotel.  The instruments and baggage went into one, Paul and 4 went in another and we got the next one. Our driver was Jamacan and I reached for a CD in my bag and put it in his vehicle. He turned it up to full volume and all the tiredness just washed away, we would soon be there.  There was yet another surprise. When we arrived at the address I has and the driver was instructed to take us, they had no record of our booking and were full.  My mouth went dry and I  was done for. After a few calls we finally were directed to our actual destination where our luggage had already arrived.  
This Hotel Adventurer is more a backpacker style place  but the beds are thankfully good.  It is vibey, colorful and there is every nationality moving through here daily.  There are tatoo'ed butterflies in hot pants with illuminated wings serving colorful cocktails  and herbal   wafting here and there.   
At  first I was most concerned about being responsible for 8 minors from rural Wolseley in this place but it is actually quite ideal. We are all on the ground floor in close proximity which helps with the instruments and general a communications. For the crew there is a handy pool and pool table which keeps them busy in quiet tines which is handy.   We are happy to be here and the adventure begins.

Our Marimba Instruments are all bubble wrapped and prepped for travel.

Since we are travelling with our instruments as part of our baggage allowance, it is going to be touch and go to keep within our allowance.  In discussion with Emarites and our exceptional travel agent Christo Hauptflisch of Wild travel, the planes are very full and they cant give us a baggage dispensation so they solved the problem by bumping 5 of us up to Business class, giving us a bigger baggage allowance.  This is a first time for us too and not only a trip of a life time for the band members but for us too.  We are not so fortunate on the return trip though, but we will take what we can get.  Wow.

We now also have an address where we will be staying in Los Angeles.
Motel 6 Los Angeles LAX​ 
5101 W Century Blvd Inglewood, CA, 90304

Today the group had a lesson from Peter Nel on life skills and he gave them a wonderful talk using the word M A R I M B A as a mind map and applying lessons to each letter.

It is all coming together now and we are extremely excited.

Here the group is seen receiving travel bags from Mr James Vos - the parliamentarian forThe Witzenberg.  The excitement is building and the band members can hardly contain themselves.  

The only information we have at this point is that the band will be opening for the headline act on Saturday 23 August.  See document below.  More details coming in slowly.  So exciting.