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Table Mountain
I apologize for my hat... As I am too full of delicious meats to think, this shall be brief. Today (Nay, the last 3-4 days) have been too overwhelming to really talk about. In all honesty, my mind can no longer process quickly enough to allow me to relate what we've done. Let me give you a quick run-down.
In the beginning, we were in Capetown. We went up Table Mountain, a tremendous plateau in the shadow of which Capetown exists. From its summit you can see ocean in over 180 degrees. It's a natural monument beyond compare and...
As you can see, I can't relate the experience. Next we went to Robben Island which is an experience I think everyone should have, if only to come face to face with what unbridled prejudice can do. Finally, we toured the townships, shanty towns that seem to exist on the outskirts of every South African city; living evidence of the history of this place. I won't even try to tell you what that's like.
Last night we drove to Wilderness where we've been taken in by my co-worker Ashley's family. We're staying in their guest flat which is far more comfortable than any hostel
Stacey with the kids
While these kids are learning, their mother's are next door producing arts and textiles that they sell to support themselves. It's kind of a cool system. we've been in. Today we threw ourselves off the world's highest bungee jump, visited and open park full of monkeys (one of whom tried to steal a candy bar out of Daniel's hand) and walked hand in trunk with African elephants. It will probably be at least another day or two before I can even begin to work out how I feel about today.
Tonight we came back to the Bradford place where Brick and Fred fixed us a delicious (read DELICIOUS!) braai (South African Barbeque) consisting of all kinds of steak and chicken and sausages (with a cool Afrikaans name I won't try to spell), as well as some corn-meal porridge called pap (I think?) and some delicious sauce, plus a dessert that I don't even know what it was. I am so full right now I'm actually light-headed. In fact, I'm going to bed. Depending on how overwhelming the next few days are, I might come back to try and relate the experiences I've had today. I wouldn't count on it though.
Okay I'm back (This part written almost a month and a half later). Let me tell you a bit more about Monkeyland. This morning
They were very jazzed about the jump.
This is before I cut Daniel in the line for the bungy. we got up and all Dev and Daniel could think about was the bungee jump. Daniel couldn't even finish a piece of toast without pausing to mention how stoked he was and doing this weird little hopping, high-five thing with Devan. It was cute. So we go out, make the drive, find the bridge (over a stunning gorge and with a pretty fantastic view of the sea). We got the boys suited up for the jump whilst Stace and myself prepped to follow them out on the bridge. Stacey, Devan and myself rode a long zip-line (flying fox in S. Africa) from the edge of the gorge out to the center of the bridge. Once out on the bridge we were treated to some bumpin' techno from the bridge DJ while everybody got prepped for the jump. Apparently the jumpers are ordered by weight, so the first kid off was this young 14 or 15 year-old. He was looking a little hesitant and made a half-assed attempt to change his mind but the jump-master said something to the tune of "just lean out a little and if you still don't want to you don't have to try again" and then
Best Gibbon Ever
I know he doesn't look like it, but this gibbon just finished scaring the crap out of Devan. basically pushed the kid off. I mean, it was hilarious, but since you can't exactly look over the edge to see if he died...
So he was fine and Devan went next and had a good jump (power dive from the bridge). Daniel started to get prepped but the jump guys finally talked me into jumping too and because of my weight, they cut me in front of Daniel (which he was not amused by, but I was). I also had a pretty decent jump (more egg-roll than power dive though). Daniel got his chance after I did and he amazed us all by executing an olympic level swan dive like I've never seen. It was stunning. After he disappeared from view I turned to the others and noticed that the bridge DJ was actually crying.
So after the jump and all, we headed back in the general direction of Brick and Fred's before making a stop at Monkeyland. Monkeyland is basically a big reserve for monkeys who've been caught or wounded or something. Anyway, the people who run this thing (who are either complete idiots or have a fantastic sense of humor) decided to build a lodge
in the middle of their reserve where they would sell food and have outdoor tables open to the monkeys.
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Jeanine
non-member comment
Bungee jump?
I won't believe this one until I see photographic evidence! - Next up, swimming with the sharks? Glad to see you all are having a blast and are still alive! Jeanine