Monday, January 5, 2009

Laptop


At 9-o-clock pm Central Africa Time, my laptop disappeared from my room.
This morning I called the police and within 30 mins two police officers and a detective were at my door taking down information and dusting for finger prints. They found finger prints and are now scanning them to see if they belong to a suspect. Time will only tell.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Post Cards

Oh and please!! I want more post cards for my wall. I will only be accepting them till the end of january. Thank you for those who have participated! 



Volunteer Adventure Corps
102H, Building 20
Waverley Business Park
Kotzee Rd., Mowbray 7700
Cape Town, South Africa
Good Morning South Africa!

The long awaited Blog update has finally arrived with adventure and extreme sports tacked on right be hind it! So… for those that have not seen it yet or do not have facebook, here is a little something extra for your viewing pleasure.
...failure...wont...upload...

Before I begin with my travel dictation I must warn those young travelers that there will always be something that you leave behind while traveling. Do not get too fixated in that fact; it is because you have immersed yourself so passionately into your travels that you left behind what ever it is you have left behind. Do no regret nor remorse over that lost item because surely you can find a reason you didn’t need it. With that said, I will now dig deep into my memory bank to uproot whatever it was that I did three weeks ago.

OBSFEST
Obsfest is an annual celebration in which the area of Cape Town I currently inhabit explodes with music, art and festive events! Sadly, with my cell phone getting pick pocketed, I got to experience about 4 hours of it before having to go home and get what rest I could before stepping onto a six AM flight to Johannesburg. (Prior to this event we had been given great warning/build up for what may lay install for some unwary participants – with that said I left my camera at home. You can see photos and read about the event here - -) So there I was, off to experience a wonderful adventure into Kruger National Park with two close friends Kristen and Jenny, I must give Kristen all the credit for planning a fantastic trip.
After a long day of travel for all of us, we arrived late at our destination for an introductory evening safari! This was a fantastic prelude showing us what was install for the next three days. Kristen, Jenny and I managed to get some pretty good snap shots, but they will not be appear here as you will later find out why. This was also the fist time I would meet Scott (A hilarious and good natured Brit) and Konstantinos (Also hilarious, and ready to get down Greek). Two fellow travelers I would soon be sharing stories with, and, unknowingly, drag into Mozambique (I guess it was my fault). The next three days where great with two full day safaris and an early morning nature walk, all while being able to sleep in a tree house! (I will try and produce a photo of this, as it was a very impressive tree house) Fortunately we where lucky enough to experience the BIG FIVE, though it remains debatable whether or not we actually did. The next forty-eight hours, I recall, being the most exciting so far on this trip. (only about 20 minuets of it actually)
Just after breakfast at Marc’s Tree House Lodge everyone that was leaving that day was than being transported back to Johannesburg where many had extending flights. For Kon, Scott and I, we had requested to be dropped of in a town called Nelsprit. This was where I would say my farewell to Kristen and Jenny and greet my new adventures. Within 10 minuets of arrival I realized I had left my passports on the bus with Kristen and Jenny. With no cell phone to contact them, I had to scramble to find what brochures I had picked up hoping that on one of them there would be a number I could call. It was 2 in the afternoon and we where just about to get a cab into the city center so that we could catch a bus to Maputo, Mozambique. I was just thankful I had my Debit Card. After 20 minuets I had reached the driver who had dropped us off to what I thought might be my impending doom. He informed me that he had turned around and was on his way back to give me my passports. I just dodged a bullet. We caught our bus that afternoon and even had time to eat some food. That night we were stamped out of South Africa and Stamped into Mozambique. The next morning we would get on a bus to Paradise.

So I typed all this up two days ago thinking i would get back to it... I didn't. Upon request, I am just going to tell you what happened in brief.

Scott, Kon and I got to Tofo in one three pieces and had a blast despite the fact that Kon had trouble getting money and I left my digital camera. Five days later we got on the 4am bus back to Maputo. Kon eventually made it back to Athens. Scott and I continued on to Swaziland. Swaziland was cold and it rained one day while we where there. Lots of hiking and cultural things to do there. Than I continued down the south african coast leaving Scott behind me. I stopped in Durban and Port Elizabeth before landing in Storms River where I jumped the worlds highest bungee bridge. There is a video of me doing it, but for some reason it won't upload on blogger. Everyone is just needs to go on my facebook and watch it there. Than I traveled the rest of the way down to Cape Town on December 24th. Went to a 007 new years party. Everyone had tuxes, but I pushed it and went as Q. Wearing a lab coat to a party is always a great idea. In any occasion. well honestly not a whole lot else is going on. I am beginning to feel the count down begin. 41 days left. 

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Margarita Monday's, Touch of Madness Tuesdays, Wild Karaoke Wednesdays, Tiger Tiger Thursdays, and Freak out Friday's. 

While living in a city is great, it really doesn't give you much time to relax. This weekend I get to use my roommates car so I will get to go exploring a bit more. Do some hiking and maybe snorkel with sharks. Last sunday a bunch of us went to the water front and explored the Two Oceans Aquarium. We just got there in time to see the sharks getting fed. 

Also for 50 bucks you can go swimming with them. 

My friends Kristen and Jenny really like sharks. 

On Sunday saw a Boomslang in the very popular Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

And last Friday's wine tour through Stellenbosch.

Mr. connoisseur 

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Another Day, Another Shooting, Another Loaf of Bread

I'm sorry to all for not updating very much this past week or two, but I just experienced a week of South African clubbing, wine drinking, and delicious food eating. Not to mention work every morning. Will update with photos and stories soon. 

Si-Si

Monday, November 3, 2008

Beers, Bats, and Battle Star Galactica

Right when this photo was taken an eruption of screams and the sounds of machine guns came from the taxi mall a few blocks away. Today was the day the Cape Town Police where checking all the taxi drivers for their licenses. Unfortunately all the unlicensed drivers where threatening to shoot any licensed driver if they picked up any passengers. They where running with the motto 'if we can't, they can't'. This moment made humans seem like a very evil entity amongst the world. With the bliss full mountains in front of us and the frightened screams behind, Cape Town was surly exposing its excitement. Please remember that the negative things seem to dominate the media and are often the most remembered. With this is mind, the incident that I just told should not be blown out of proportion as there are an infinite of positive factors that make Cape Town a great place. For the readers who are thinking about visiting, in no way would I describe cape town as a violent or scary place. 

Now, apologies for a long awaiting Blog Post. There is not much else to say since I last posted except.... 
Jenny and I have started our project over again, of which, has been successful... so far. Our project is mostly the cause of my busy life. Working 7 days a week does not leave much time to explore, nor blog.
Today a second arctic seal has made its way into MCM to hopefully become healthy. The last seal, Alfred, has unfortunately fell into a worse state than he was before. Kira, the woman taking care of these cute seals, is hoping that the seals will get better now that they have friends.
Kareoke has become a huge hit among the american groupies in cape town. Jenny and I are now trying to bring it to MCM, the aquarium which we work. Alister, the technician, told us that he has the works to pull it off. So hopefully tea club will welcome the new tea time activity.
Last week I attempted to complete my diver certification. I did not complete it; though I did get to dive with seals and watch a southern write whale breach about 50 meters away from the boat. It did that about 4 times....
There is also a delicious treat called a Full House Steak Gatsby. This is a heart attack treat that is filled with chips, steak, fried eggs, and cheese, and is about the size of my thy. This is only one third of just the steak Gatsby. 

VAC played their first soccer game last friday that we lost.
Also I just learned that the last name of the First President of  Zimbabwe was Banana.

Doodles of Poodles and Oodles of Noodles 

Dive Master Simster 

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Money money money



Since I arrived in africa, the worlds economy has been falling about apart and yet I seem to be getting wealthier and wealthier. For the past two days the exchange rate has been around a 11 rand to one dollar.  (exactly $1 = R11.4794747)When a beer is 14 rand and I can by a weeks worth of food for 150 rand one starts to have second thoughts about buying that new pair of pants.  
Well not to much has happened since last weeks post. Jenny and I had to restart our experiment, and soccer practice has now started every tuesday and thursday. To answer many peoples questions - yes I am growing my hair out... whether it will turn into dreads or not, I do not know. Perhaps I am merely reminiscing the elongation of my hair. 

Here is another beautiful picture of Cape Town in the morning.

 
Delicious - Something that makes you feel beautiful inside.


Simy