Back again
September 12, 2009
Well, all the testing went well. I was still able to go on the plane. After a long, long, very long trip I finally arrived in Cape Town. After a very welcome welcome and a good night sleep I was already going on a daytrip. Not very far, but very beautiful. First the beaches, next Houtbay, Simonstown, Bouldersbeach, Cape of good Hope and the cape point. What a start to start your holidays.
But no rest for me, next day get out early ready to get in a van that will drop me off in the childrens home where I will spent a lot of time the next 4 weeks. Speaking about warm welcomes: as soon as you enter it's 'mama, mama, me, me'. I never felt more loved. It's incredible how fast those children go to the new volunteers. They feel completely comfortable around us. So comfortable that they don't try to do the number 2 on the toilet or in the dyper. First day I got double shitted on my twins I had on my lap. Thank you, what a great present. But they were very cute, so this little accident was soon forgiven.
After 3,5 days in the home it was time for some time off to check out Cape Town. Walk around, visit the musea, go on a winelands tour. Very nice, even if you don't drink. And somewhere in South-Africa they have Italian ice, chocolate-orange taste. My favourite, only found it once more in Rome. I already love this country.
After 3,5 days of rest it's back to the children's home. Finally know the names of the kids, even though I still can't pronounce them. Luckily they are used to that and they listen anyway (or not;-) )
Next 2-3 weeks had the same schedule. Either working in the orphanage or checking out everything in Cape Town: the Waterfront, aquarium (big disappointment, it's so small), Kirstenbosch, Table mountain, townships, good restaurants, the City Bowl, more musea, Company gardens or just spending time in Obz where we were staying.
The end of july, time to say goodbye. On our last day we spend 3 hours in the kitchen to make pancakes for all the kids. They loved it, it was fun to do, and the staff was very happy with the frypans we bought and the children's home couldn't use. Everytime I look at my pics I miss those beautiful and sweet kids.
Not only was it time to see goodbye to the kids, it was also time to say goodbye to my new friends and the volunteershouse with it's great staff. It was time to move on. This time only a very short distance, all the way to Longstreet. In a very crappy backpackers I met up with Riccardo to travel the rest of South-Africa. First show him around and we tried to go to Robbenisland, but the weather was not working with us. So we left Cape Town, to go on a very, very long busdrive of 3,5 days to Nelspruit. On the way we questionned the other travellers about what to do, where to go and where not.
In Nelspruit we could rest, to get out of bed really early to go to Kruger. In our first 2 hours we hit the big 4 out of 5. Never saw the leopard, but the rest was super.
After Kruger it was time for Drakensberg. First a walk to the Bushmanpaintings, the day after a trip to the Sanipass into Lesotho. And there was snow. More snow than I had on my snowboardholiday a couple years ago. It looked so great.
Time to warm up at the beach. Chilling out in Bulungula. Totally away from stress and from the rest of the world and civilisation. After a long and bumpy ride from Mtatha we reached Bulungula. A great place with the most friendly people right on the beach. At night you can look at the start and listen to the sea. There is no electricity, just some solar energy during the day. Showers are heated with petroleum and toilets not flushed, but covered with some sand and composted. A perfect place to learn about communityfeeling, to cano, to read, to walk and to eat pancakes in the 'restaurant'.
Left Bulungula to go to Port Elizabeth. Here Riccardo and I split up. I did an extra day of safari, he went on to Knysna, Stellenbosch and Cape Town. I saw a lot more elephants, shot some great pics and got some nasty bacteria. The next day in Stormsriver I was toiletbound, but after a day I was empty, so time for some adrenaline. Warm up with a tree canopy tour. Sliding from tree to tree and then on to the big one. 216m! I must say that I was very happy do discover that standing with my toes over the edge and looking down felt very unnatural. It was a very nice, and long jump. It is so silant when you hang on an elastic cord upside down. Didn't quite give me the rush I expected, couldn't tie my shoes for a couple days cause putting my head down still gave me a headache, but it was a super experience.
One of the last days it was time to check some whales in Hermanus. Finally found some at the coast. Walked a bit further and found many, many more. And off course on the way back they started jumping out of the water. Only when you put your camera away, not when you take it out of your back and are ready to take a shot. People just have to believe me the small spots on my pics are really very big animals I could see, hear and almost smell.
Last 2 days in Cape Town, finally to Robbenisland, and shopping time. Not for me, I needed souvenirs for my family and friends. But I also bought an elephant for me. A vuvuzela for my friend, so she can irritate people, a turtoise for my other friend, giraffes for my parent, chocolatecookie for my sis and a bike for her boyfriend. A lion for my gran, a cap for my granddad and an african musician for my other gran. On the way back I also bought something for my aunt in Dubai, but it contained water, so had to leave it at Londen Gatwick.
My parents picked me up at Schiphol, drove me home, did my laundry (thanks mum) and listened to my stories. At home my dog also give me a warm welcome.
I had a weekend to get used to home again, before I had to go back to university, volleybal and work. So far I had two very busy weeks. I've been thrown back in my world again. The only thing that remains are my memories, pictures and more memories. I miss the kids, the country, and the freedom.
Already started dreaming of my next destination. Can't decide, but no need to do that anytime soon. But if you have tips...
But no rest for me, next day get out early ready to get in a van that will drop me off in the childrens home where I will spent a lot of time the next 4 weeks. Speaking about warm welcomes: as soon as you enter it's 'mama, mama, me, me'. I never felt more loved. It's incredible how fast those children go to the new volunteers. They feel completely comfortable around us. So comfortable that they don't try to do the number 2 on the toilet or in the dyper. First day I got double shitted on my twins I had on my lap. Thank you, what a great present. But they were very cute, so this little accident was soon forgiven.
After 3,5 days in the home it was time for some time off to check out Cape Town. Walk around, visit the musea, go on a winelands tour. Very nice, even if you don't drink. And somewhere in South-Africa they have Italian ice, chocolate-orange taste. My favourite, only found it once more in Rome. I already love this country.
After 3,5 days of rest it's back to the children's home. Finally know the names of the kids, even though I still can't pronounce them. Luckily they are used to that and they listen anyway (or not;-) )
Next 2-3 weeks had the same schedule. Either working in the orphanage or checking out everything in Cape Town: the Waterfront, aquarium (big disappointment, it's so small), Kirstenbosch, Table mountain, townships, good restaurants, the City Bowl, more musea, Company gardens or just spending time in Obz where we were staying.
The end of july, time to say goodbye. On our last day we spend 3 hours in the kitchen to make pancakes for all the kids. They loved it, it was fun to do, and the staff was very happy with the frypans we bought and the children's home couldn't use. Everytime I look at my pics I miss those beautiful and sweet kids.
Not only was it time to see goodbye to the kids, it was also time to say goodbye to my new friends and the volunteershouse with it's great staff. It was time to move on. This time only a very short distance, all the way to Longstreet. In a very crappy backpackers I met up with Riccardo to travel the rest of South-Africa. First show him around and we tried to go to Robbenisland, but the weather was not working with us. So we left Cape Town, to go on a very, very long busdrive of 3,5 days to Nelspruit. On the way we questionned the other travellers about what to do, where to go and where not.
In Nelspruit we could rest, to get out of bed really early to go to Kruger. In our first 2 hours we hit the big 4 out of 5. Never saw the leopard, but the rest was super.
After Kruger it was time for Drakensberg. First a walk to the Bushmanpaintings, the day after a trip to the Sanipass into Lesotho. And there was snow. More snow than I had on my snowboardholiday a couple years ago. It looked so great.
Time to warm up at the beach. Chilling out in Bulungula. Totally away from stress and from the rest of the world and civilisation. After a long and bumpy ride from Mtatha we reached Bulungula. A great place with the most friendly people right on the beach. At night you can look at the start and listen to the sea. There is no electricity, just some solar energy during the day. Showers are heated with petroleum and toilets not flushed, but covered with some sand and composted. A perfect place to learn about communityfeeling, to cano, to read, to walk and to eat pancakes in the 'restaurant'.
Left Bulungula to go to Port Elizabeth. Here Riccardo and I split up. I did an extra day of safari, he went on to Knysna, Stellenbosch and Cape Town. I saw a lot more elephants, shot some great pics and got some nasty bacteria. The next day in Stormsriver I was toiletbound, but after a day I was empty, so time for some adrenaline. Warm up with a tree canopy tour. Sliding from tree to tree and then on to the big one. 216m! I must say that I was very happy do discover that standing with my toes over the edge and looking down felt very unnatural. It was a very nice, and long jump. It is so silant when you hang on an elastic cord upside down. Didn't quite give me the rush I expected, couldn't tie my shoes for a couple days cause putting my head down still gave me a headache, but it was a super experience.
One of the last days it was time to check some whales in Hermanus. Finally found some at the coast. Walked a bit further and found many, many more. And off course on the way back they started jumping out of the water. Only when you put your camera away, not when you take it out of your back and are ready to take a shot. People just have to believe me the small spots on my pics are really very big animals I could see, hear and almost smell.
Last 2 days in Cape Town, finally to Robbenisland, and shopping time. Not for me, I needed souvenirs for my family and friends. But I also bought an elephant for me. A vuvuzela for my friend, so she can irritate people, a turtoise for my other friend, giraffes for my parent, chocolatecookie for my sis and a bike for her boyfriend. A lion for my gran, a cap for my granddad and an african musician for my other gran. On the way back I also bought something for my aunt in Dubai, but it contained water, so had to leave it at Londen Gatwick.
My parents picked me up at Schiphol, drove me home, did my laundry (thanks mum) and listened to my stories. At home my dog also give me a warm welcome.
I had a weekend to get used to home again, before I had to go back to university, volleybal and work. So far I had two very busy weeks. I've been thrown back in my world again. The only thing that remains are my memories, pictures and more memories. I miss the kids, the country, and the freedom.
Already started dreaming of my next destination. Can't decide, but no need to do that anytime soon. But if you have tips...
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