See ya later Swakopmund

June 27, 2011

Well I am just getting ready to leave Swakopmund this afternoon and head back into the bush. I have to admit I am sad to leave a real bed, but it is certainly time to leave town. I think I have officially seen all there is to see and I even know some of the locals now from working out at the gym a few days!

Here we are waxing our boards with floor wax! You have to wax the board before every run for speed. The real speed came from lie down boarding! I tied for 2nd place with a whopping speed of 71 km per hour.

Sand boarding in Namibia! Just like snow boarding really, but much slower and sandier! Two showers later and I am still washing sand out of my hair.

Traditional Oshivambo food: starting with the big, white blob dish in the front and going in a clock wise direction - corn pap, fruit for dessert (tastes just like wood), chicken, crickets, more pap, bread, wild spinach, and beans.

Ramen, Juan, Thomas, me and Bombo in picture 1. John, Ade, Helen and Mike in picture 2. We are in a traditional hut inside the township.

A traditional Herero lady. The horns represent cattle, which is how wealth is measured in their tribe. However, they don't keep any cattle once they move into the township . . . they remain in their villages in Namibia. In this tribe the men have multiple wives, but only if the first wife wants one and even then she gets to pick the other wife . . . the decision is completely hers.

Damara Chief "Ouma Lina," 86 years old and the mayor of the township . . . first female ever.

The township Modessa. The people who live in these shacks are waiting for match box houses . . although some will wait up to 20 years. Unfortunately, the shopping mall was closed for business.

My My new friends in the township of Modessa. 6,000 people live in Swakopmund and 4,800 of them live in the Township. The kids begged to have their photos taken just so they could see the photo afterwards.

Today was the German Carnival - Kuska! Nothing says parade like beer and Jaeger at 11 am!

A chameleon at the Reptile House. I watched an addler snake bite a mouse and it die in 3 seconds flat! More importantly I memorized (hopefully) what the black mamba and the different addler snakes look like.

Our first night in town and we dominated the karaoke bar! Strange Guy, Helen, Nick (our driver), Mike, Brandon, Nick (our cook), Lisa and Terra.

The German town of Swakopmund . . . in the middle of Namibia. Walking around town you hear a mix of German, Africans, English and even native languages with the click sounds all being spoken!

Checkin' In From Swakopmund

June 25, 2011

Hello All! I love Africa, despite the fact that is WAY colder than could I ever expected. It is fine during the day but the nights are freezing . . . especially when your camping. I bought a fine jacket here in Africa for like $10 and it is the best $10 I have ever spent. I am in the fine German town of Swakopmund for another two nights and then back to the bush where I will soon be off on my first game drive! Move out my way lions!

Camping at Highlanders Winery - night one!

Wine tasting at Highlanders! Soo many good sweet wines. . . I honestly thought about trying to trek 42 nights with a few bottles to bring some home!

Our campground at Bushwackers on Orange River in South Africa.

Chris and I "canoeing" down the Orange River in South Africa . . . Day 2.

Day 3 - Somewhere in Namibia. My transport for the next few weeks . . . just don't call it a bus in front of our driver!!!

The armoured ground cricket - half the size of my hand but harmless!

The very hard to find Stone Cricket!

The thick tailed scorpion - most venemous in all of Africa. And to think we found all these creepy crawlies in just a few minutes at a random stop in the desert . . . much like where I will be setting up my tent.

Canon Road House - our campground for night 3. Don't be fooled by the lush front. This is just the reception and bar. Our tents were set up in the middle of the desert not far from here, just walking distance to the bar!

Me at Fish River Canyon. The world's second largest canyon, after the Grand Canyon.


Beautiful - Fish River Canyon at Sunset - a perfect way to end night 3! Don't be worried I will spare you photos of the creepy crawlies I found on our night walk!

Sossusvlei - Day 3 - the sand dunes of Namibia! Myself, Lauren, Chris, and Ramen on top of Dune 45!

Dune 45 Super Dune Race . . . running 120 meters down a 60 degree sand dune! I took second in the female division! I promise you it is much steeper than this zoomed in photo looks! Needless to say there was much shit-talking going on days in advance for this race.

Who knew the desert could look so beautiful!

Dead Vlei - this is what Sossusvlei will look like when the wind finishes blowing another sand dune across the river that runs to the area in the wet months.

Back Row: Brandon, Lauren, John, Kirsten, Mike, Dana, Juan, Ade, Thommas, Chris

Front Row: Terra, me, Lisa, Clarissa, Helen, Leah, Matt and Ramen . . . my group

Straight out of my geography textbooks . . .

Believe it or not this is still day 4 - we had to break for mountain zebras on our way to Swakopmund, a German town in Namibia.

Jaws

June 18, 2011

Adventure on the high seas!!! Nothing quite says awesome like a day spent Great White Shark diving. I am off tomorrow for my first night of camping . . . at a winery! We're really roughing it! I think this will be my last blog for quite a while as I head into the wilderness but keep checking just in case!


First one in the water!


Yup - we were that close!


Da, da . . . Da, da . . . Da, da . . .


We saw 6 different great whites today from 2 meters to 3 meters! And lots of times more than one at once!


One is actually not allowed to feed the sharks, but they can certainly grab the tuna heads when ever they darn well please.


My new job as a click and point photographer! The up close breaching may have actually been cooler than diving below the water!


Who knew? - One of the bathrooms at the hostel comes with binoculars and the best view of Table Mountain in town. Clearly made for a man!

South African Lovin'

June 17, 2011

So the shark diving got post poned one more day, but that's ok with me with all there is to do around South Africa.


Carla, me, Helen and Mike bumming around the Water Front. We missed the last boat to Robin's Island . . . darn, guess I'll just have to come back now! :)


Unfortunately the fog rolled in at the very top and we lost our view - but still a spectacular hike!


Thanks to the all the on and off again rain these last few days the hike had the added beauty of waterfalls (to walk under) and the added risk of slipping right off the side. Slippery rocks with a straight drop = scary!


The view of Lion's Head Mountain from somewhere up the trail to Table Mountain.


Carla, me, Xavi, Renee and Matt pre-death march up Table Mountain.


June 16, 2011

Nothing says fun like a day spent outside exploring. I heart Cape Town already!


The southern most tip of the African Continent - although I think the orginal name was much more accurate - Cape of Storms.


Cape Point - where the the light house is still in use for all those who dare to sail around Africa's tip, which is apparently on the increase with the threat of pirates.


The hike from Cape Point to Cape of Good Hopes - stunning!


Who even knew ostriches lived by the beach???


Or baboons???


Helen, Mike and I in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Preserve. The nicest thing about our SAG vehicle is we could just hop in when the down pour started, wait 5 mins and then hop back out again.


My new favorite animal (who knew I have shared interests with seals) - Jackass Penguins!


Chapman's Peak Drive - famous for the Zoom, Zoom commerical that was shot here. I was REALLY missing my motorcycle about now. Ride it for me Sean!


My rockin' hostel - Ashanti Lodge. Note Table Mountain in the background - it only took me three hours and whole lot of cursing to make the hike to the top!