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Dani and I in The Shark Tank
Dressed in the local colours - it was freezing - we got ready to cheer on The Sharks. Despite the recent concerns expressed to us by our various hosts about the inherent dangers of hitch hiking in South Africa we had no choice today and set out from Inkosana in the Central Berg with the ambition of getting to the small town of Winterton where we would hopefully find the first of what would likely be several mini bus legs to Durban. No more than two minutes were we on the road when an elderly couple stopped to give us a ride. It turned out they were only going a few km in our direction, but we were inclined to agree with them that every little bit helps. They had just enough time before reaching their turn off to give us the usual story about not picking up hitchers, but then seeing us and thinking we looked ok and also to relive a few fond memories of their travels way back in the day. It took us even less time to pick up our second lift than the first, this time with a young bloke by the name of Clayton. Clayton turned out to be a Champion. He was our age and had done the backpacking thing for a
Happy Bday Deano
Our new friend Chris and I drink free beer courtesy of the drunken saffa! while, but now that he had a wife and family on the way, had to do the bread winning thing instead. Based just south of Durban, Clayton was a rep for a chemical company that specialised in eco friendly cleaning products for the hospitality and farming industries. He'd finished his calls in the Central Berg and kindly said that if were happy to bear with him whilst he made two detours via other clients, he'd take us all the way to Durban. Clayton the Champion! In the first coincedence of the day Clayton told us about how the previous day he'd met a dude by the name of Mark who kept Eagles and Falcons and they'd spent the previous night drinking and carrying on and now he was running late after sleeping in. He stopped briefly at a Wimpy Restaurant in a small, sleepy town aptly named Greytown where he sorted us out with juice and coffee and then next at an awesome pub in Pietermaritzburg called the Firkin and Ferret that his mate had just taken over. Coincedence #2. His mates wife was from Manly and the beers and wine we drank were on the house! From P.M. it
Last goodbye to fine Virginia
One of my many last ciggies before the stroke of midnight. was only a short trip back to Durban and Clayton insisted on taking us to the door of the backpackers we wanted to stay at. Coincedence #3. When Shaneen opened the security gate for us, her and Clayton both stood there in shock. They had dated for a few months three years back and hadn't spoken since. The BP was quite full due to a trade convention being held in Durban that week, but thankfully a Dutch couple that we'd previously met in the mountains had remembered us telling them we wanted to return to Home BP on this date and made a booking for us. I dont remember telling them anything. Surely that qualifies as coincedence #4. It was so great to be back in the big smoke again and we were able to put the extra time up our sleeve, thanks to Clayton the Champion, to good use by heading into the city and after simply walking around soaking up the noise, pollution, chaos and pace of friday afternoon metropolis, we stocked up on supplies and managed to complete a few chores. This also meant that Saturday May 6, my 30th bday, was completely free to enjoy however
Man must wack???
Definately dont try the special sauce in this place! Point Rd Durban. I saw fit. Seis de Mayo (practicing portuguese for Mozambique) was an important day for another reason. I'd been telling Dani, and myself for over two years that I'd give up the ciggies for my 30th bday. Now the day was here. SHIT! I lasted until about 9.30 am and pulled the final joker from the pack by saying that after all, it was my bday which should give me until midnight to give up! The day was spent wandering through weekend markets and hip suburbs of Durban, smoking, and getting ready to party the night away. The plan was to go to a super 14 rugby match between The Sharks and The Stormers before returning to Home BP and kick on in comfort and safety. Apart from Dani who is now a veteran of several big sporting events, Shaneen had never been to a rugby match and our new friend Chris from Knysna had not only never been to a match it was his first time to both a proper stadium and a big city. His eyes lit up like a kid in a candy store when we entered "The Shark Tank." Whilst awaiting service at one of the
Durban CBD
Town Hall Clock Tower from a rare green spot in the city. portable bars I began swapping friendly insults with a loud mouth and very drunk South African Oak who hated Aussies because we were winning every major sporting event on the planet. He also thought that buying everyone within coo-ee as many beers as they could possibly carry made him look cool and between the four of us we managed to relieve him of half a dozen beers and an armoury of juice and soft drink for the girls who had snuggled in a bottle of Vodka. My shout turned out to be a free one. Happy Bday to me! The game itself turned out to be a dour affair, but aided by more free beer from a legless and now thankfully incommunicado oak, we still managed to get into the spirit of the cheering and atmosphere. As we were leaving, coincedence #5 took place. We met up with a few travellers we'd met previously in Coffee Bay and they took us to a nightclub within the stadium that was absolutely pumping, especially as the Sharks had won, keeping alive their slim finals hopes. Coincedences #6 and upwards took place often throughout the night when people would approach Shaneen and say
Chris and Shaneen
We had to buy these beers, but here's cheers anyway! "Aren't you that chic from that band?" and "I saw you guys at the so and so. You guys rock!" Shaneen was in an underground band that ofcourse this old bastard had never heard of. The band was doing the Durban circuit and just starting to get some recognition. Ofcourse she was stoked for the feedback and kudos. It was truly a great night and although I don't remember getting getting home, I certainly remember how I felt the next morning! I also remeber being bailed up by a new staff member whilst I was making a mess of my fry up. It turns out that the strange guy we'd met when previously staying at the BP was not a guest but infact the owner. He had recently been born again and was in the process of rebirthing Home BP from a totally cool place to a born again Hostel and religious centre. In the two weeks we'd been gone he'd re painted all the walls, forever covering the artwork and messages from guests and staff alike thanking whoever for the hospitality and good times etc. He also draped a sheet over the breasts of the very large and colourful
Marking out territory
Whilst the mascot was doing laps he and the remote control car that drove out the kicking peg had a spectacular and very impromptu meeting! mermaid that was portrayed in a massive wall mural in the reception area. On this particular morning this new staff member from Kenya who was so black he was shiny began preaching and trying to convert me. To this day and probably forever more I will feel guilty about it, but after I couldn't take it anymore and he wasn't taking the hints I said that I had a stinking, rotten hangover, I was gagging for a cigarette, I had a big blunt knife and that it would be in his best interests to F*@* off very quickly! He didn't speak to me for the rest of my stay and I can't say I blame him. It took us all that day and night lounging by the pool and in the shade to recover from my bday celebrations and we promised ourselves that in a months time for Danis 30th, we' go a bit easier on ourselves.
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snozlington
Dean and Danielle
Happy 30th bday!
Gday snoz, good luck with the non smoking. Maybe now you have a bit of extra time to dedicate to shaving. How does that sexy wife of yours handle the beard rash, or wont she let you kiss her with that growth. I wouldn't!