V&A Wharf and Table Mountain were easily accessible from my lodging at the Daddy Long Legs. For those looking for a wonderfully clean, art boutique hotel in Cape Town, South Africa, check out: http://www.daddylonglegs.co.za/

Victoria & Albert Waterfront October 14, 2008
Table Mountain October 15, 2008
Boulder’s Beach & Cape Point Drive October 17, 2008
Big Bay Beach October 7 & 18, 2008

Here is a photo series from my day at the Bo-Kaap Museum, Slave Lodge & Company Gardens on October 13, 2008.

Upon arrival into Australia, I thought I would spend my first week getting over jetlag, thus giving me ample time to write and publish on this blog. Alas, that was not the case.

Upon arriving to Sydney, I noticed 2 things: 1) jetlag was not at all a factor which formatted my starting days in Sydney; I believe this was due to my time in South Africa and 2) by this point, I had acclimated quite well to a holiday of leisurely existence and enjoyment. I can walk you through every detail of the past month and a half, but that is a task of enormous undertaking that my relaxed self feels is more counterproductive than moving ahead. Instead, I’ve decided to paint a picture of my adventures with my photos.

I’ve been very fortunate to have my sister, Beth and brother-in-law, Rob (or pup as I like to refer to him) welcome me into their home with open arms. I’m sure both sides were a bit hesitant due to the duration of time I’m here, but so far, its been fantastic. If anything its been a gift for its given Beth and me the opportunity to get reacquainted for we have not spent more than 3 weeks together in the past 13 years. And as all of you can relate, one’s growth into adulthood presents oneself with many challenges and experience in their 20s and early 3os that defines who they are as adults.

As most of you are aware, this trip was something that came as a surprise due to a redundancy made at work. Although on July 25th, I would not say it was a blessing, 4.5 months later, I wholeheartedly agree with those wonderful friends who encouraged, held my hand and told me that the redundancy was a blessing in disguise. Not only have I been able to visit lands I have only dreamed of, it also allowed me the time and opportunity to reassess my life and begin designing my life for the future.

Photos From South Africa

Stellenbosch Wine Farms October 8, 2008

Robben Island October 14, 2008

Every moment was something to cherish; from watching a mommy hippo bathe her young in the N’wanestsi River to witnessing lions play and snooze in the shade of river bank trees. Luckily, I chose Kruger National Park as the main location for my safari, from what I hear; it is one of the best. Of course, I still have others to visit and hope to one day have the opportunity. There is still so much to see and do in Africa; I have no doubt this trip will only be my first among many…

If you ever have the opportunity to take an African safari, don’t even question it, just go!

Enjoy!

Our Vehicle Across Kruger

And Our Journey Begins...Orphen Gate

Road within Kruger - dryness is everywhere

McDonalds of the bush - Impala

Protective of Their Own - Buffalo

Mommy Hippo Leads Baby Into Bush

Hippos Keeping Cool

Nwanestsi River

Impalas at the watering hole (lack of rains is evident)

Tall and Graceful with Beautiful Eyes

Not So Pretty - Warthog

Black And White Striped Creatures - Amazing To Look At Up Close

Lions Hiding From The Day

Destructive & Enormous, Yet Majestic

Since I have a few moments respite while enjoying a glass of SA red, I thought I would add a post.

Despite the fact that I started off my day a bit off, the day turned out just fantastic. I woke up early, which has been the norm since I started my travels and was told that today was the day to go up Table Mountain. I caught a cab from my hotel (warning for future travelers, make sure to have the hotel call their cab service or pick up their card and call them yourself to avoid being taken for a ride, or getting charged an exorbitant amount). Luckily, my friend Nicki was kind enough to lend me a phone and you can purchase a Sim card and top off minutes to be able to use a cell phone abroad; brilliant!

Sorry to digress…As I mentioned, I started my day with a trip up Table Mountain and it was gorgeous. The higher powers presented us with a beautiful and sunny day, perfect to be out and about. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to share any photos (and know I still must share plenty) for I had an accident with my camera and it is in the repair shop at the moment. I hope to receive it tomorrow, otherwise, I’ll have to purchase a new one for I can’t imagine not having a camera for the remainder of my trip. For those who know me, you’ll understand.

As I was saying, today was a fantastic day to see Cape Town. After Table Mountain, I returned to the hotel to ask for directions to the repair shop. Wayne, the hotel day manager who invited me for the hike, was kind enough to refer me to Camera Land so I may get help. Although they were unable to help, they referred me to Cape Camera Repairs and he assures me all will be okay.

After dropping off my camera, I then headed out to hit the last few museums I have yet to see. For the second time, I attempted to get into the Jewish Holocaust Museum. Unfortunately, once again, they were closed despite the gentleman on Monday assuring me it would be open today. If there is one thing I have gained on this trip, it is the ability to be even more flexible and enjoy my surroundings.

From the Holocaust Museum, I headed to the South African Natural History Museum. Their exhibits fascinated me. I quickly skimmed through the animal exhibit for I feel nothing can compare to the bush. Then I headed to the historical mapping of African rock art and the history behind all the tribes in the area. It was amazing! This tour made me want to research more into the varying tribes the existed in Africa and the relationships they forged for trade and the impact of colonization.

I have to admit, in being in Cape Town and reading through the history, one gets a brief understand of the nature that exist between cultures in South Africa. One can’t help but to be amazed at the work South Africans have taken to move towards a unified and peaceful nation. This is not to say that South Africa does not experience racism or forms of its kind, but rather, what Mandela, political peaceful organizations and all political prisoners and promoters for peace worked on was not a system of retaliation against those who dealt the hand of apartheid, but rather, they built their life’s work to create peace in a nation that felt the wounds of division and anger. Although some still don’t understand Mandela’s ability to put all the suffering the apartheid government had instilled upon him, his family and countless others, I feel when Mandela gave a speech defining his objective and willingness to die for peace, it all came clear.

Mandela mentioned that if retaliation where the method by which South Africans (whether, black, white, coloured, etc) would beat apartheid, then peace would not be the outcome of his and countless others efforts.

Its clear South Africa has come a long way since the end of Apartheid, just 20 years ago, and when one thinks about how Cape Town, even the streets I currently walk about, was once a war zone within my lifetime, it puts life into perspective. One can still witness the hesitations and fears a healing nation feels through the locked doors, gated communities, and high security on the streets, but my hope is that one day, people will be able to see Cape Town, and all of South Africa, for all its beauty, richness and life.

What do you get when artists are given free reign to design the rooms of their dreams? You end up with Cape Town’s boutique hotel/art installation known as Daddy Long Legs www.daddylonglegs.co.za. In choosing my accomodations, I wanted to make sure to support the local community and what better way than to support the local artists. My room, referred to as the Do Not Disturb room, is designed to mock a recording studio. There are microphones hanging from the ceiling and a closet filled with a karoake machine and recording equipment.  You can even record a song of your choice as you shower, crazy! Its good fun! Check out these photos which will give you a view of my room.

Goeienag.

Ellen

Hi there!

It’s been quite a whirlwind of a trip with a quick tour of the Stellenbosch wineries upon arrival into Cape Town, then a flight up to J’Burg to pick up a six-hour ride to the Balule Plains for 4 days of safari.  What a way to start my adventures!

The trip out of the states went smoothly, and luckily, with only 2 hours of sleep the night before my departure, I spent a majority of my flights to Cape Town sleeping; no better way to endure 18 hours of travel.

I began my time in South Africa staying with Nicki and Andrew in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. It was beautiful. We spent my first full day in Cape Town out in Stellenbosch touring wineries, or wine farms as the South Africans like to call them. It was a great way to spend the day; tasting local wines and feasting on some of the regions native cuisines. 

I began my trip to a four-day safari that evening when I caught a flight to J’Burg and then a six-hour drive to the Balule Plains/Kruger the following day.  It isn’t enough to say my time on safari was unforgettable.

Not knowing what to expect when on safari, I opted for a bit higher accommodations than what I would have done in the past (although I’m finding that I am no longer a backpacker as I once was; I do love the comforts that I’ve come to like with age and have no regrets. Tremisana Lodge was the perfect place for me for it balanced comfort, cleanliness and a laid-back atmosphere I was looking for. And even better, everyone I met was amazing. There was Pearl, the mother of the lodge, who attended to anything and everything to meet everyone’s needs. There was Sydney and Abe, drivers, who endure the six-hour drives from J’Burg to Balule and vice versa almost everyday. And then there are the guides, Kuhlani and Bauthas, who makes the safari enjoyable and an amazing experience!

By my second day on safari I had seen 4 of the Big 5 (lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhinoceros, and leopard) that people go on safari in Africa to see. The only one we were unable to see was the leopard, which according to our guides is a very rare sight, therefore, I was quite happy for what we had seen. 

On my third day on safari, I was lucky enough to do a half-day bush walk then sunset and evening tour with my guide Bauthas. Because I was the only one willing to endure a 5am start, it was just Bauthas and me, which was great. This allowed us to steer off of the traditional paths mapped out by the safari and Bauthas was able to teach me all about how to track animals, live off the land and appreciate the bush. Bauthas’ forefathers arrived into the Balule Plains over 150 years ago. His forefathers farmed on the land that today his father now governs as head warden. Bauthas grew up on a farm just down the road from Tremisana, so as you can imagine, he knew the area like the back of his hand. I felt quite safe in his care, the only time I was a bit hesitant is when Bauthas pointed out some lion tracks and proceed to lead our path to follow the lions. I was a little bit frightened for the day before in Kruger a guide had been attacked by a lion when he was leading his group on a walking tour (sadly, Kruger and its surrounding area, such as the Balule Plains, is experiencing severe dryness which is affecting the animals ability to feed and receive water. The animals are very hungry and some are already falling off with weakness.)

As you can imagine, during our bush walk, I was looking behind me quite often, but it was exhilarating nevertheless and an experience I will never forget. There is so much more to the safari than going out and seeing giraffes, rhinos, lions, etc. in their native environments…there is something about being out in the bush that brings life into perspective. It brings you close to those you experience such experiences with and forces one to think about life and how we want to live in harmony with earth and its animals.

Although photos can never truly capture the beauty that is the South African bush and its inhabitants, here are some that will give you a bit of a taste my adventures on my safari. I’ll be sending a link in the next few days for a full view of my pictures.

Ciao,

Ellen

Hi there!

As you probably all know, I’m about to embark on an adventure of a

lifetime.  In only 4 hours and 15 minutes, I will begin my travels

around the globe, starting off in South Africa. But before I fly away

to distant lands, I wanted to say THANKS to everyone for all their

support, love and encouragement. I’ve looked forward to this trip for

a long time. In some ways, its what I have wanted to do my whole life

(and definitely since I put my pack down 10 years ago). Now that I

have a bit of time, and have spent the past month planning, I am

beyond the point of no return and am very much excited!

I leave this evening from Logan airport and will hit my first stop,

Cape Town, tomorrow evening for a day of rest before I begin my 5-day

safari tour in Kruger National Park and the Balule Plains.  As you can

imagine, I am overly excited to begin this adventure. Although I have

three bases (Cape Town, Sydney, Nadi) picked for my time abroad, I

have left the Australia and Fiji leg of my journey wide open for any

and all adventures that may come my way. If anyone has any

suggestions, please send them my way!

Many of you have expressed interest in receiving updates/pictures

along my journey, and THANKS to Craig!!, you can follow me in my

travels by checking out my blog http://ewhite40.wordpress.com/. Also,

a big THANKS to Kristine, Mykyung, and Stephen for a wonderful send

off last Thursday. I feel very lucky to have such amazing friends and

family and look forward to catching up with each of you when I return.

Until then, enjoy the seasons, live life to the fullest and stay in

touch. I definitely will!

Ciao.

Ellen