Name: Becky
Occupation: Student/Occassional Auxiliary Nurse/ABA Therapist/Serial traveller/owner of itchy feet
Home Towm: Bangor, North Wales
Current Location: Bangor
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| Friday, August 29, 2008 |
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So not as often as I'd hoped...
but I've been busy! Hermanus was great, nice people in the backpackers, nice groups of us left from the truck and very cool wildlife- Great Whites and whales! Went sea kayaking with the whales which was cool, then the cage dive which wasn't as scary as I thought it might be but totally amazing. Was very sea sick though, but that didn't spoil it too much. Photos to come later from both things. From there went on to Oudtshoorn, home to lots of ostriches. Went to some caves with amazing formations inside then to an ostrich farm where I rode on one! Leaving there I bumped in to TJ (guy from the truck I'm travelling with) who I had left in Cape Town, who was also on his way to Storm's River- site of the worlds highest bungy jump at 216 metres! I had considered doing it, but when I got there decided that it was even higher than it sounds and spending my money on something that I'd actual enjoy was a better idea. TJ did it three times to make up for me not doing it! After that went to Port Elizabeth, where nothing happens. We had heard that too many people just stay for one night before getting the bazbus (it's a compulsory stop over), and that you should stay awhile. However the majority are right. We went to the cinema as there was nothing to see apart from films! At 20 Rand (about 1.50) for both of us it was totally worth it. When we managed to escape TJ went straight to Durban but I stopped half way and went to a place called Coffee Bay. Very cute place, tried to surf, semi sucessfully, and generally had alot of fun. Only had one night there then continued on to Durban where I was met by mum's cousin and family who were looking after me while I was there. Was great to catch up with them- last saw them at a wedding when I was four and had never met their youngest. It also meant I had a real bed to sleep in, didn't have to queue for a shower only to find the hot water had run out, and had nice sofas to sit on with a Tv to watch. Had a great first day there as I got to go to a Tri-nations rugby game against Australia, followed by a braai. South Africa lost the game but they did manage to get some points which they didn't in the match the week before. Following day drove up to Peitermaritzburg where I caught the 'Underberg Express' (much flasher than it sounds- it was just a battered car with a sticker with the name on the back window!) up to the bottom of the Sani Pass. Here I arranged a trip up to Lesoto for the following day. Had planned to do a couple of days up there but they had no trips going so settled for a day trip. The drive up was amazing- the road is only tarred part of the way, the rest is just rocks and dirt, which is fairly common for Africa. However this was at a 25% angle and had hairpin bends with names like 'The Devil's Elbow', and a shear drop on one side! Beautiful mountains though! At the top drove to view point at 3000 metres for lunch then went to visit a local woman and her fmaily where we ate lovely bread cooked on the coals and drank beer that wasn't quite so tasty. Washed it down with a cup of tea from Africa's highest pub at the top of the pass. Decided to leave the next morning as the cold weather was coming in and I wanted to get some diving sorted in Durban. Which is what I've sent the last two days doing. Got my scuba cert upgraded to open water, became a specialist nitrox diver and started my advanced course! Which I plan to finish this weekend in Sodwana. Currently in St Lucia (just south of there) but arranging a trip up with a friend for tomorrow or Sunday. It's one of the best dive sites i nthe world so should be good! 2:24 PM Comment (0) ... PermaLink |