Spouse on the house

I have kept a souvenir from South Africa, that I find so funny. It is a beer coaster from the hotel I stayed at in Johannesburg. Ok, it was a cheap hotel by the airport where I only stayed for one night because the transfer to Kruger left too early to make the arrival from Cape Town the same day, but still the text on the coaster: “Free love on the weekend” makes you wonder what kind of hotel it actually was. On the rim of the coaster you can read: “Book a room from Friday to Sunday and qualify for our amazing Spouse-on-the-house rate”.

Have I actually spent a night in a Love Hotel?!? Should I regret I was only there on a Wednesday night? Maybe I would also have gotten a Spouse on the house if I had been there on a weekend?!

Reflections from South Africa (looking back)

Something that quite immediately struck me on arrival in Cape Town was that it did not really “feel like Africa”. Not that I have been that much to Africa before, but compared to Zimbabwe and Ethiopia where I have been, Cape Town felt very much less “African”. And as my friend probably quite correctly stated; you will probably see more black people in southern London than in central Cape Town. However I, honestly, don’t pay much attention to the colour of peoples skin and quite often I don’t even really “see” colour that way. But then all of a sudden something makes you aware of the fact that the colour of the skin can look different, and sometimes it is the strangest things. As for example when you meet a black person with a band aid. The band aid is supposed to be “skin-coloured” not to attract too much attention, but the “skin-colour” is the beige/pink of a Caucasian person, which really do catch attention on a black person. Then it struck me; I have never seen band aids developed for black people. Maybe there are some, just that I have never seen any. Or is our world really still so biased that it has never been developed?!

Kruger Safari

This elephant tried to attack us

 I realise I haven't been writing much here from my southafrican trip although I have seen and experienced a lot, but maybe that is exactly why. However now I have arrived at the Kruger area, although I will only enter the park itself tomorrow. Today I arrived at the Thornhill lodge an had a safari drive in one of the private reserves and I got really lucky!! First I was lucky with the company, two very nice girls from Germany, Tessa and Manuela. They told me about all the animals they had already seen and I got a little worried we would not have the same luck now, but we had. In just three hours we saw all the Big Five!!! Very close up! An elephant even tried to attack us.




leopard cubs

Lioness

 In a way I thought the rangers might have been a little too focused on finding the big five and did not pay much attention to other animals we passed on the way, but I guess that's what people come for. When I asked about some bird, they seemed a little surprised and often did not know, but from what I heard at dinner about tomorrows ranger he knows a lot about everything, even birds. And from what I understood I am going to get a private drive tomorrow so I guess I will be able to see and ask a lot!! Sometime it is good to travel off season! I am so happy! I love safaris!! I

A handsome male giraffe from the Kruger park



Black rhino

Driving around

Today we decided to rent a car. It seemed a little more complicated than expected. The first rentals we asked did not have any car available, but then we found one at a reasonable price. Though only available four hours later, but that was ok to us. We thought we could have lunch, visit the market or maybe even the District six museum first. But that was of course before we knew the administration around the rental would take almost two hours. So the time reduced to lunch and then we decided to revisit the travel agency that we consulted two days ago about safaris as it was nearby. So, now I have booked the three day safari in Krueger. Great!!

Eventually we got our car and started driving. That is I started driving. That was clear from the beginningas my friend Erik does not drive, but it was still quite interesting to see the interaction at the car rental. From the beginning the mainly addressed Erik, because of course renting a car is a men's thing, not?! But after a while they must have understood that it was not him but me that would do the driving. I don't really know what made them realise that because we did not tell them and I did not present them my drivers license before they asked for it, but they must have noticed anyway. It is quite funny to travel together with a man, who is not your boyfriend/husband. Some people simply assume we are married or at least togehter, but some seem to get the signals that we are not. Funny!

Since we now only had the afternoon we just drove a short turn around the city. We went to Kirstenbosch, to Constantia (but unfortunately the wineyards had already closed) then a sundowner on Sandy Beach, dinner in Camps Bay and watching the moon from Signal Hill. A lovely day, all in all! Tomorrow we will go down to the Cape. I was amazed again how easy I get used to drive on the "wrong" side of the street. I had the same experience in Harare too, but that was a while ago. It feels a little awkward, especially in situations like roundabouts etc, but it is quite ok.

Arrived in Cape Town

So, now I have arrived in Cape Town! And it feels good!!
All the way until now I have not really had much time to think about this trip or make any plans for it and at times it even felt like a bad idea going here. I have been working a lot and neen very busy and tired, which made me somehow feel I really needed holiday, but also thinking maybe I should have choosen a place where I have been before and am familiar with, somehow I didn't really felt ready for a "new" country. However, all the time I kind of knew I would like it once I came here and so it is!
Immediately on arrival I felt good. I was a little surprised how calm and well organised everyting was at the airport and on the way to the guest house. I was also struck by how friendly everyone I have met is. And somehow it feels very "normal". It does not feel like a unknown country. Staying at this guest house feels like staying at home with friends (and dogs!)
Ok, I admit I haven't really seen anything yet. But considering the number of hours I have spent here I have seen quite a lot anyhow. As always I seem to be landing running. Already as we shortly landed in Johannesburg on the way here I got a sms about that today is the day of Cape Town Pride and that we should go there. So I landed, took a shuttle to the guest house, had a shower and changed clothes, then my friend came and we went for lunch and then to the pride party. So, you can say I have seen something. Met a lot of nice people and seen the most fabulous transvestites.  I like this place! Among all, and what firsts struck me and what I have missed since I left Brazil is the colours! Finally I get to see colours again!! I love it!!
Looking forward to see more tomorrow! And the coming two weeks!