Hey everyone... I know it's been a while since I wrote on here, but I did make it home safe and sound. This trip was absolutely amazing and I want to thank each and every person who helped me with the school or even with my trip in any way.
I believe I am a better person for taking this journey and hope I never forget how it made me feel sometimes and what I learned from that. I hope that one day I will be so lucky as to go back to Africa to see my foster kids, the elephants, possibly the gorillas and the true beauty that exists in this strange but happy continent.
My friends that were with me along the way will be missed greatly but never forgotten.
Hope you all had fun reading my blog... now to get on to printing pictures eeeek!
B
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
One thing I forgot to mention about Storm's River was that when we went to eat at a local hotel's restaurant. There were flyers and ads everywhere for the international Elvis impersonater festival!! What the hell.... in some tiny little town in the middle of South Africa this weekend, there will be Elvis impersonaters from all over the world. Then whomever is good enough to qualify wins a spot at the World cup in England. What the hell.... don't even know what to say about that.
We finally reached Knysna, the next day, and it was a great little place. We got in around noon and then walked around town for the afternoon. Becca wanted to do the boat tour out to the heads (where the ocean feeds the lagoon), but it wasn't running. It's the winter season so there aren't many tourists about. Just crazy us!! So we rented a 'Tuk Tuk', which is those crazy little 3 wheel car things that they have all over Thailand. They just happen to have 3 in Knysna. He took us around to the islands in the lagoon and out to the viewpoints to see the heads. Soo beautiful. The South African Navy still bring their ship Captains there to do their final test. It's to get into the lagoon without sinking the ship. Really neat!! There have been 42 ship wrecks that are logged, and who knows how many aren't. It would be a really neat place to get qualified to Scuba dive and go down to see all the wrecks. Very historic little town for sure!! After the driving all day we went downtown and had an amazing dinner. There just so happens to be a 'Pink Lorrie' Festival going on this weekend in Knysna. Which for everyone who doesn't know is a gay festival. HA ha hahahahaha!!! So the town shops and bars and reastaurants are all getting festive for the occasion and covering everything with pink boa's and feathers. Soo weird.... who knew we would find all these random crazy festivals touring the Garden Route in South Africa?? What a good laugh for me and Beck!!
Today we went to the Elephant Sanctuary this morning and that was really great. Back in the day they hunted the elephants in the Knysna area to almost extinction... there were only 3 left!! So they now look after them and have about 12. They are trying really hard to build the herd up, but the elephants are captive now and could never live in the wild again. They have had 2 births at the sanctuary, and the rest of the elephants have come in from northern south africa as orphans. We got to feed them and cuddle them, and get loads of pics. I forgot I had an apple in my pocket for myself as a snack, and a 22 year old female elephant could smell it. So she kept pulling on my jacket and wrapping her trunk around me until I realized it was the apple she was after!!! Soo funny!!!! Smart girl!!
Then it was on the Bazbus and made our way down further south to George, and took another shuttle inland to Oudtshoorn. This afternoon will be pretty low key, but tomorrow morning the adventure begins. I am booked to hit up a Wildlife park where I will be petting cheetahs, and white tigers. After that I will be attempting to ride an Ostrich at one of the many Ostrick farms that we came here to see. Wish me luck everyone!! Ha ha!!
Tomorrow afternoon I catch the bus to Capetown where we get in quite late. Then for May 1st I will be taking a tour to Stonetown, I think is it, to see the penguin colony. Then for the evening up to the top of Table Mountain to watch the sun go down over the 2 oceans that meet.
It's been a busy few days, but I am having a great time. Not really looking forward to the 2 days of airplane rides but am really looking forward to coming home.
Talk to you all soon!!!
Love you B
We finally reached Knysna, the next day, and it was a great little place. We got in around noon and then walked around town for the afternoon. Becca wanted to do the boat tour out to the heads (where the ocean feeds the lagoon), but it wasn't running. It's the winter season so there aren't many tourists about. Just crazy us!! So we rented a 'Tuk Tuk', which is those crazy little 3 wheel car things that they have all over Thailand. They just happen to have 3 in Knysna. He took us around to the islands in the lagoon and out to the viewpoints to see the heads. Soo beautiful. The South African Navy still bring their ship Captains there to do their final test. It's to get into the lagoon without sinking the ship. Really neat!! There have been 42 ship wrecks that are logged, and who knows how many aren't. It would be a really neat place to get qualified to Scuba dive and go down to see all the wrecks. Very historic little town for sure!! After the driving all day we went downtown and had an amazing dinner. There just so happens to be a 'Pink Lorrie' Festival going on this weekend in Knysna. Which for everyone who doesn't know is a gay festival. HA ha hahahahaha!!! So the town shops and bars and reastaurants are all getting festive for the occasion and covering everything with pink boa's and feathers. Soo weird.... who knew we would find all these random crazy festivals touring the Garden Route in South Africa?? What a good laugh for me and Beck!!
Today we went to the Elephant Sanctuary this morning and that was really great. Back in the day they hunted the elephants in the Knysna area to almost extinction... there were only 3 left!! So they now look after them and have about 12. They are trying really hard to build the herd up, but the elephants are captive now and could never live in the wild again. They have had 2 births at the sanctuary, and the rest of the elephants have come in from northern south africa as orphans. We got to feed them and cuddle them, and get loads of pics. I forgot I had an apple in my pocket for myself as a snack, and a 22 year old female elephant could smell it. So she kept pulling on my jacket and wrapping her trunk around me until I realized it was the apple she was after!!! Soo funny!!!! Smart girl!!
Then it was on the Bazbus and made our way down further south to George, and took another shuttle inland to Oudtshoorn. This afternoon will be pretty low key, but tomorrow morning the adventure begins. I am booked to hit up a Wildlife park where I will be petting cheetahs, and white tigers. After that I will be attempting to ride an Ostrich at one of the many Ostrick farms that we came here to see. Wish me luck everyone!! Ha ha!!
Tomorrow afternoon I catch the bus to Capetown where we get in quite late. Then for May 1st I will be taking a tour to Stonetown, I think is it, to see the penguin colony. Then for the evening up to the top of Table Mountain to watch the sun go down over the 2 oceans that meet.
It's been a busy few days, but I am having a great time. Not really looking forward to the 2 days of airplane rides but am really looking forward to coming home.
Talk to you all soon!!!
Love you B
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Alas, I had to leave Coffee Bay. I could only spend 2 nights there because the 3rd night they were fully booked in my hostel. I could have stayed somewhere else but the Coffee Shack was the place to be. My second day there I went down the street to another hostel where some people I had met before were staying. Hung out for the afternoon and got into some drinking... it was an interesting walk back to my hostel for sure. Ha ha.....
After a mandatory stop in Port Elizabeth for one night, I caught the Bus again to Jeffrey's Bay. What another awesome place!!! Soo nice!! I met an English girl named Becca, ha ha, and we have decided to travel together for a bit. We shopped our buts off in Jeffrey's Bay at the factory shops for Billabong, Quicksilver, and Rip Curl. Jeffrey's Bay is the place to be if you want to surf for sure!!! Then we had some dinner at our hostel and played some pool with some locals...
Today we came to Storms River, which is like a completely different country. We are in the middle of a forest, that reminds me a lot of BC. Becca is gone on a Canopy Tour amoungst the trees, but I'm just going to relax this afternoon and hang out. Tomorrow we are heading to Knysna, where in the afternoon I'm going to go to an Elephant Park, where you get to feed and pet them. And get a ride if you're lucky!!! Sweet!! Our hostel looks over a huge lagoon apparently so I'm sure that is going to be super beautiful.
5 days left... I can't believe it is almost over. I am ready to come home though, and am so happy I had the opportunity to experience this whole trip.
Chat soon guys!!
Becky xo
After a mandatory stop in Port Elizabeth for one night, I caught the Bus again to Jeffrey's Bay. What another awesome place!!! Soo nice!! I met an English girl named Becca, ha ha, and we have decided to travel together for a bit. We shopped our buts off in Jeffrey's Bay at the factory shops for Billabong, Quicksilver, and Rip Curl. Jeffrey's Bay is the place to be if you want to surf for sure!!! Then we had some dinner at our hostel and played some pool with some locals...
Today we came to Storms River, which is like a completely different country. We are in the middle of a forest, that reminds me a lot of BC. Becca is gone on a Canopy Tour amoungst the trees, but I'm just going to relax this afternoon and hang out. Tomorrow we are heading to Knysna, where in the afternoon I'm going to go to an Elephant Park, where you get to feed and pet them. And get a ride if you're lucky!!! Sweet!! Our hostel looks over a huge lagoon apparently so I'm sure that is going to be super beautiful.
5 days left... I can't believe it is almost over. I am ready to come home though, and am so happy I had the opportunity to experience this whole trip.
Chat soon guys!!
Becky xo
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Hey all!!! So didn't make it to Coffee Bay when I expected to. I had a bit of a mix up with the Bazbus and ended up taking the Greyhound after 2 nights in Durban. But it was all good in the end. I got to do some laundry in an actual machine, and Felix (Swiss), and Christina (Danish), and I went to the aquarium for the afternoon on the beach. It turned out to be a good day.
So after a long day on a Greyhound, I had another hour and a bit down the worst pothole road in history to get to Coffee Bay. But trust me guys... the wait and the travel was well worth it for sure!! This place is absolutely gorgeous. It's like something out of a movie... Rolling green hills, high as can be, ending in huge black boulders and rock beds that the waves crash into over and over. It's honestly like something out of a movie. Breathtaking!! I was only going to spend 2 nights here but I think I may spend 3. I just can't get over the beauty. The hostel and the poeple working here are great poeple as well!!! Soo nice. Last night we all played a game of killer pool, and then some locals came and had a jam session with drums for us. Sweet!! Tonight is a harvest festival that the locals have so I can see things getting a bit crazy ha ha!!
I have mixed emotions about Capetown though for sure. I have heard so many bad stories and so many good stories as well. Both from locals and from travellers. I guess I will have to wait and see for myself.
That's all for now though, can't wait to see everyone!! I can't wait for my own bed and shower. And to not have to live out of a bag anymore.
Love you all!! Ima go explore the beach some more!!
xoxo B
So after a long day on a Greyhound, I had another hour and a bit down the worst pothole road in history to get to Coffee Bay. But trust me guys... the wait and the travel was well worth it for sure!! This place is absolutely gorgeous. It's like something out of a movie... Rolling green hills, high as can be, ending in huge black boulders and rock beds that the waves crash into over and over. It's honestly like something out of a movie. Breathtaking!! I was only going to spend 2 nights here but I think I may spend 3. I just can't get over the beauty. The hostel and the poeple working here are great poeple as well!!! Soo nice. Last night we all played a game of killer pool, and then some locals came and had a jam session with drums for us. Sweet!! Tonight is a harvest festival that the locals have so I can see things getting a bit crazy ha ha!!
I have mixed emotions about Capetown though for sure. I have heard so many bad stories and so many good stories as well. Both from locals and from travellers. I guess I will have to wait and see for myself.
That's all for now though, can't wait to see everyone!! I can't wait for my own bed and shower. And to not have to live out of a bag anymore.
Love you all!! Ima go explore the beach some more!!
xoxo B
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Hey guys... I made it to Jo'burg today!! Woop woop!!! But first let's talk about the crazy thing I did yesterday!!! I bungi jumped the 3rd highest jump in the world. It's off the bridge that connects Zambia and Zimbabwe, over Victoria Falls. It's 111m, so over 300 feet!! It was absolutely the scariest thing I have ever done in my life!! Of course the girls all voted me to go first and holy moly!!! I wanted to be tough so I didn't hesitate, although I made the guy promise he wasn't going to push me ha ha ha!! The first few seconds I was like ok now I am going to die, but once you reach your drop speed you feel better and just like you are floating... And I got the dvd so you can all see and laugh at my face ha ha!!
Then last night the whole truck went on a booze cruise because it was the end of the trip for a lot of us, and also a few birthdays. That was great fun too.. we saw more hippos that were being shy, which is weird of hippos. After a bunch of sad goodbyes I got to the airport and made it here to Jo'burg. The flight was good and the food was even better, I was soo hungry!!
Tomorrow I get on the 'Bazbus', and make the drive to Durban, where I will stay for a night or two. We'll see. Jo'burg was really weird to look at from the plane. You would see subdivisions with pools in every backyard and then a highway, and then all the sudden slums for miles and miles. Kinda sad really....
So I'm off to dinner, and then to re-pack my bag. It was a little hard to do this morning in the tent. I know I can pack it better. And I am just overweight at 22.7 kg.... ha ha ooopsy!!
Can't wait to see everyone soon!!! And can't wait to sleep tonight in a nice bed with sheets and 4 walls!!! And no mosquito net necessary ha ha!
Talk to you all soon, love you babes and bubs and fams....
xoxo B
Then last night the whole truck went on a booze cruise because it was the end of the trip for a lot of us, and also a few birthdays. That was great fun too.. we saw more hippos that were being shy, which is weird of hippos. After a bunch of sad goodbyes I got to the airport and made it here to Jo'burg. The flight was good and the food was even better, I was soo hungry!!
Tomorrow I get on the 'Bazbus', and make the drive to Durban, where I will stay for a night or two. We'll see. Jo'burg was really weird to look at from the plane. You would see subdivisions with pools in every backyard and then a highway, and then all the sudden slums for miles and miles. Kinda sad really....
So I'm off to dinner, and then to re-pack my bag. It was a little hard to do this morning in the tent. I know I can pack it better. And I am just overweight at 22.7 kg.... ha ha ooopsy!!
Can't wait to see everyone soon!!! And can't wait to sleep tonight in a nice bed with sheets and 4 walls!!! And no mosquito net necessary ha ha!
Talk to you all soon, love you babes and bubs and fams....
xoxo B
Sunday, April 18, 2010
So sadly we had to leave the beach, well not too sadly... it rained the one day we were there.... all day!! UUGGGHHH!!!
We stayed at one campsite for a night in Malawi before crossing the border the next day and staying pretty much on the border to Zambia for one night. Then we stayed in the capitol of Zambia, Lusaka, for one night, and now we are finally at Victoria Falls!!
Wow what a place!! We spent the afternoon at the falls today... and holy cow!! They are amazing. The water is high right now so the falls are hard to see because of all the mist. It's like Niagara x a million!!! Just standing there looking at the falls you get absolutely drenched because of the mist. It's like you're in a rainstorm!! HA HA, it was super hot today so none of us minded too much! :) Tomorrow a bunch of us are going to bungy jump over the falls woo hoo!! And then tomorrow evening the whole truck is doing a booze cruz down the river, yeah!!
Tuesday I leave and fly to Jo'burg where I start my journey to Cape Town. I can't say I'm not happy to be off the truck and on my own for a bit....
I was sick for a few days and the guides, Richard, Mark and Emma, almost took me to get a Malaria test, but thankfully today I am feeling much better!! No malaria for me ha ha ha!!
Sooo... Anita.. Get mom to call Peggy at H&R Block again because I still haven't received my tax return, and could you book Bubba in to the Petland by Futureshop on 32nd for a wash, for one of the days after I'm home please?? HA HA putting you to work for not saving up my money!!
Talk to you all in another few days!! Love you all!!!
xoxoxo B
We stayed at one campsite for a night in Malawi before crossing the border the next day and staying pretty much on the border to Zambia for one night. Then we stayed in the capitol of Zambia, Lusaka, for one night, and now we are finally at Victoria Falls!!
Wow what a place!! We spent the afternoon at the falls today... and holy cow!! They are amazing. The water is high right now so the falls are hard to see because of all the mist. It's like Niagara x a million!!! Just standing there looking at the falls you get absolutely drenched because of the mist. It's like you're in a rainstorm!! HA HA, it was super hot today so none of us minded too much! :) Tomorrow a bunch of us are going to bungy jump over the falls woo hoo!! And then tomorrow evening the whole truck is doing a booze cruz down the river, yeah!!
Tuesday I leave and fly to Jo'burg where I start my journey to Cape Town. I can't say I'm not happy to be off the truck and on my own for a bit....
I was sick for a few days and the guides, Richard, Mark and Emma, almost took me to get a Malaria test, but thankfully today I am feeling much better!! No malaria for me ha ha ha!!
Sooo... Anita.. Get mom to call Peggy at H&R Block again because I still haven't received my tax return, and could you book Bubba in to the Petland by Futureshop on 32nd for a wash, for one of the days after I'm home please?? HA HA putting you to work for not saving up my money!!
Talk to you all in another few days!! Love you all!!!
xoxoxo B
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Hey all!! Right now we are at Kande beach in Malawi. What a place.... we are on Lake Malawi and it has waves crashing the shore like the ocean would. Apparently the lake is 350 km across and 56 km wide or something. We can see Mozambique from our shore, but just the mountains there off in the distance. We've been here a few days and unfortunately a lot of ppl have gotten a bit of a stomach virus. Everyone's been using the toilet.
Just next door to our campground though, is a lady by the name of Robyn Casey. She is a mom of 4 grown children and she is from Australia. She came here in 2004 to do a year long work term with her church and now lives here!! She has built 10 small nursery schools along the beach, where kids come from 7 am to 11 am, and also feeds about 1000 children porridge every morning. She also has a women's weekly meeting on Fridays and the men come on Sunday mornings befor church. They talk about all community issues, with HIV and malnutrition being the biggest concerns. Women will also come by if their children are sick in search of help. AND she has done all of this wonderful work by donation only. She said for as little as $300 a month that will provide breakfast for all 1000 kids or so that come, and keep one nursery school employed and running. She was granted her land from the cheif of the village and it's amazing to see what she has done with the place, all out of the kindness of her heart. She employs 56 local people to help her, and satistics here show that by employing 1 person it effects 40 others. She is amazing. So please check out her website... www.mphatso.org. And you can email her at: contact@mphatso.org.
When she first started here the locals called her "mphatso" which she though oh great.. they think I'm fat.... but really mphatso means gift in the local language. Soo sweet.
But we leave this place tomorrow and start our way down to Victoria Falls, Zambia. Sadly I only have 2 nights there and then I leave everyone and fly to Jo'burg. I'm looking forward to having some time on my own and be free to do my own thing for a few days. And I am happy to get out of here soon to see my beloved and my puppy. And yes everyone else too.... lol!! I need to get out of here soon because I'm already going to have to get rid of a lot of my clothes in order to fit all my souveniers ha ha ha!!
Anyways, that's all for now guys... catch ya later!!
xoxo
Just next door to our campground though, is a lady by the name of Robyn Casey. She is a mom of 4 grown children and she is from Australia. She came here in 2004 to do a year long work term with her church and now lives here!! She has built 10 small nursery schools along the beach, where kids come from 7 am to 11 am, and also feeds about 1000 children porridge every morning. She also has a women's weekly meeting on Fridays and the men come on Sunday mornings befor church. They talk about all community issues, with HIV and malnutrition being the biggest concerns. Women will also come by if their children are sick in search of help. AND she has done all of this wonderful work by donation only. She said for as little as $300 a month that will provide breakfast for all 1000 kids or so that come, and keep one nursery school employed and running. She was granted her land from the cheif of the village and it's amazing to see what she has done with the place, all out of the kindness of her heart. She employs 56 local people to help her, and satistics here show that by employing 1 person it effects 40 others. She is amazing. So please check out her website... www.mphatso.org. And you can email her at: contact@mphatso.org.
When she first started here the locals called her "mphatso" which she though oh great.. they think I'm fat.... but really mphatso means gift in the local language. Soo sweet.
But we leave this place tomorrow and start our way down to Victoria Falls, Zambia. Sadly I only have 2 nights there and then I leave everyone and fly to Jo'burg. I'm looking forward to having some time on my own and be free to do my own thing for a few days. And I am happy to get out of here soon to see my beloved and my puppy. And yes everyone else too.... lol!! I need to get out of here soon because I'm already going to have to get rid of a lot of my clothes in order to fit all my souveniers ha ha ha!!
Anyways, that's all for now guys... catch ya later!!
xoxo
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