Blogs from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Africa - page 55

Another birthday come and gone and I still don't feel any different. Although I am probably approaching that dreaded quarter-life crisis, I don't quite feel it yet. (j/k). Actually, the only birthday i can remember feeling significantly different on was when i turned 20. The thought of never being able to be a teenager again seemed disconcerting at the time ( though most would probably consider that a joy!) I had another wonderful birthday in Durban, surrounded with good friends. My friend Kathleen, whom I share a birthday with, was down from Nairobi so we put together a birthday feast plan. We booked a room (yes, i know how glamorous!) at a Morrocan restaurant called Fabulous. I had been there once before and the food is wonderful and the vibe awesome. It is an entirely ... read more

Sat 28th Woke up at 6 for the 6.30 dive to find the dive wasn't happening due to bad weather :( We were quite relieved to be able to go back to sleep, but on the other hand it was a bit annoying as it was only reason we'd come to Ukamas. With nothing else to do in Ukamas we headed to Durban where we would say goodbye to our our car companions, Gary and Nicki before heading on to Pietermaritzburg. Got quite lost trying to find accomodation in Pietermaritzburg and when we found it, it wasn't that great. Luckily we fell across a really big, really lovely, old victorian house where we got a knock down price because it was in the late stages of re-decoration (there was only a mirror missing from the ... read more

The past 3 days (after leaving Kruger on 21 April) were spent relaxing in beautiful St. Lucia on the Elephant Coast (South Africa's NE coast to the layman). Driving from Kruger to St. Lucia was quite the experience--lots and lots of sugarcane fields, people walking, hitching, and selling pineapples, eucalyptus syrup, and avocados (which apparently grow like weeds), cattle, goats and sheep grazing right alongside (and crossing) the roads (another reason not to drive at night), the mainstreets of run-down, mostly black cities with their markets selling anything and everything, and the occasional checkpoint for foot and mouth disease (mainly when we drove through Swaziland). Seeing the differences in their way of life, and the poverty that encompassed it was overwhelming. We arrived in St. Lucia (part of the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands--a UNESCO World ... read more

I've hardly been in South Africa and I alreayd have to leave, that makes me sad. I''ve had such a wonderful time here, I love this country to pieces and I wish I didn't have to go so soon. I have been staying with my Aunt Anne since being in Durban which has been lovely. She has the most gorgeous Pikinese (sp?) dog who had a fascination with my left foot, bless her. And a lovely cat who was very put out during my stay, as I had stolen her bed. My first night I just spent relaxing and then had a lovely long lie in the morning. Then we tried to go on a karkloof canopie tour, which is a big foife slide (yes they are called that, it sounds like foo-fee) through the canopy ... read more

Today is a rest day in Umhlanga Today I slept in, ran errands and visited the Durban Ducati shop near the hotel. In the afternoon I took a cab down to the beach and walked north where there were hardly any people. A1 cart racing is on this weekend and I suspect most people are down town taking in all the festivities. I have the beach all to myself and walk for miles without running into anyone.... read more