Monday 23 November 2015

South Africa ~ Saturday & Sunday ~ Washing & Fog

 

Saturday: Well, at some point you have to stop and do the washing..

Below: The laundrette next to the tennis courts..

IMG_4821

And that was Saturday, morning at the supermarket and afternoon doing the washing. The Chalet looked like a Chinese laundry with clothes hanging everywhere, but at least its warm so it will dry quick.

We also booked some tours for during the week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday: we thought it would be a chance to see the view from ‘God’s Window’, but it was so foggy we couldn’t see a thing….

But we did stop at some waterfalls..

below is Mac Mac Falls..

IMG_4824

 

And here is the Renault – wee wee.. It only likes you if you speak to it in French, merci beaucoup..

IMG_4827

And Graham and me at Mac Mac Pools, which we think is  is their version of the Blue Hole..!

IMG_4832

IMG_4828IMG_4833

Tomorrow (Monday) we are up at 0330 for our safari to Kruger National Park,,,,

scan-of-post-it-001_thumb4_thumb4_th[2]_thumb

Sunday 22 November 2015

South Africa ~ Thursday & Friday : travel Days

So, today we left our B&B in Cape Town.
Here it is below, Belmont House, which is right under Table mountain.
 
IMG_4818
IMG_4820
 
Only a small bedroom, but a great shared living space. Our host, Craig, was really friendly and helpful. And it was an easy walk to town, although a slog up the hill on the return, but we found the public bus stopped nearly outside the door so that was an easy way home.
 
Map picture
 
Sputla took us back to the Airport for our flight to Johannesburg.
 
We decided in the afternoon to take a taxi into Johannesburg city so we could have a look around.
Well that was an eye opener. Very grubby, worn and poor.
 
No photos as I was a little apprehensive about displaying my camera in case we look like tourists – which was a stupid thought, as we were the only white people so of course we were tourists!
Gautrain – for people on the move
 
Anyway we got onto the new Gautrain to return to our hotel, got off at the suburb of Sandton and it was a completely different world, new, modern and shiny and safe feeling.
 
th
 
Its as if the Joburg people have abandon the inner city and built new communities further out.
 
And dinner in an Irish pub……
 
IMAG0216
 
Friday, and a long time in the airport waiting for our flight to Kruger. A 45 minutes flight on a smaller jet. And we  have a hire car , a Renault and Graham is learning to drive like an South African, which is either drive too fast or too slow, overtake anywhere, ignore double lines and seat belts are optional. Oh and if you have a ute you can fit several people in the tray.
 
Trivia fact:- Traffic lights are called Robots.
 
Sabi Sun Map
 
 
IMG_4837
 
And finally we are at the Sabi River Sun Resort near Hazyview. We are staying in a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom chalet. This is a golf resort so we look out on lush greens.
 
IMG_4849
 
And….. there are Hippos about 50 metres away from our chalet,  in the river.
 
IMG_4838
 IMG_4848
IMG_4841
 
 
and egrets, monkeys and lots of cats (domestic type)…
 
 
 
scan-of-post-it-001_thumb4_thumb4_th[2]

Saturday 21 November 2015

South Africa ~ Wednesday ~ Tour of the Cape

Photo of the Day - Hout Bay

IMG_4778
Above: Hout Bay taken from Chapman's Peak Drive

When we first arrived in Cape Town our B&B helped us organise a transfer from the airport and we were collected by a young gentleman called Sputla. he told us he could take us here and there and do anything we choose etc. etc. – “What ever you want Graham and Mrs Kim, as long as you are happy and have a great time”

So we decided that rather than give our Rands to the big companies we would engage Sputla for the day to take us on a private tour. Our exchange is so good against the Rand that it wasn’t very expensive at all.

Bless him, Sputla was there at 06:00 for our 09:00 start, dressed in his white shirt and the car freshly cleaned. A safe driver and a very intelligent and polite young man who wants to be a big business man and own his own tour/bus company. And he had a great thirst for knowledge wanting to know all about our culture, religion, politics, world events, aboriginal history…..
IMG_4746
Our first stop was Camps bay on the other side of table mountain, to take some photos. The sand is very white and the sea is a beautiful turquoise. This is one of the expensive parts of town with some magnificent houses with magnificent prices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next, it was back to Hout Bay, but this time we took the tour boat to Seal Island (with numerous Indian and Asian tourists).
IMG_4762
IMG_4772
Lots of strong wind today so a bit choppy.
IMG_4775
IMG_4752
IMG_4777
And then onto the Cape of Good Hope. Last time we were here we nearly had a fight with some other tourists and it wasn’t much better this time. Everyone wants to have their photo taken at the sign and everybody shoves in,,, Which is why I have cropped this photo to get rid of all the rude people.
IMG_4782
IMG_4786
Then at Cape Point we had lunch at the ‘Two Oceans Restaurant’, Sputla used his connections and we got a table with a view.
IMG_4788
Then a funicular ride up to the lighthouse.
IMG_4789
Below, its windy, hence the wild hair.
IMG_4797
IMG_4791
Then on our way back to Cape Town we stopped at Constantia for some wine tasting.
IMG_4800IMG_4802
Above: here we are with our chauffeur, Sputla.
And finally we stopped on the way back at Wynberg, and the area where Graham lived as a boy.
IMG_4808
Tomorrow its back on a plane and back to Johannesburg.
scan-of-post-it-001_thumb4_thumb4_th[2]

Thursday 19 November 2015

South Africa ~ Tuesday~ more tours of Cape Town

 

Cloudy and a bit drizzly today.  So we are back on the hop on hop off bus.

We have done these tours in numerous cities in the world, but Cape Town is really good value for money as they include lots of walking tours and extra discounts with their tickets.

 

IMG_4703

We are glad we went up the mountain yesterday when it was clear and lovely as it has a cloud cover today.

IMG_4705

IMG_4709

History Walking Tour

We travelled into the city to join in a ‘free’ (you give a tip at the end so not totally free),  two hour walking tour of the historic areas of the city.

We started at Green Market Square (above) , which has hundreds of stalls and is very tourist orientated. You only have to stop for a moment to admire something when the stallholder pounces on you – “good morning we have the best prices” etc. etc.

IMG_4710

Our tour guide was Willem, a Uni student, who must make a fair wage from these tours as I saw how much he got in tips at the end of the tour.

IMG_4712

Do you know they have a piece of the Berlin wall in Cape Town? -  Given to Nelson Mandela.

IMG_4714

We had a brief stop at St Georges Cathedral where Desmond Tutu still preaches once a month.

IMG_4715

The tour also included some of the apartheid history. We stopped at the Justice court where they have re installed copies of the original benches for whites and non whites as a reminder of  segregation.

Above: -  I took this really sad photo of this man who could possibly be one of the many homeless that sleep rough in Cape Town. (Don’t judge Cape town on their homeless population, as we have noticed nearly as many sleeping on the streets of Sydney during our last few visits).

IMG_4717

Then our second visit to the Company’s Gardens, the company being the Dutch East India company, as Cape Town was on the spice route and a huge trading port.

The Gardens are full of Squirrels which you can feed.

IMG_4716

Harbour Tour

Then finally, a hop on boat! For a tour of the working harbour at the Cape Town Waterfront.

IMG_4726

 

IMG_4734

IMG_4736

“Oh,  go away…

IMG_4741

leave me alone,,,

IMG_4743

I’ve got to get my sleep.. yawn”……

IMG_4744

scan-of-post-it-001_thumb4_thumb4_th[2]