http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Travelling Artist/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Travelling Artist en-us Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:54:20 UTC Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:54:20 UTC Another incredible day. Again though I am exhaustedToday I was in Knysna a town located along the Garden Route of the East Coast. The town is built on the Knysna Lagoon a body of water that is connected to a river to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. The huge lagoon opens to the ocean at a spot called The Heads two cliffs of rock on either side. It is known as the most dangero http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Knysna/blog-346959.html I think Irsquove found a piece of paradise . . . Late yesterday afternoon I arrived in Wilderness a small town in the Garden Route along the East Coast. The drive was nice. The Baz Bus is excellent. We dropped someone off at a Wildlife Reserve. It was gorgeous there and I saw another zebra We passed through Mossel Bay and I got my first glimpse of the Indian Ocean. Soon after that we http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/blog-346957.html This morning I took the Baz Bus and started moving up the coast. I had one final drive through the winelands. East of the Cape are mountains that have to be passed over to continue East. Past them the area is called Overberg over the mountain. We snaked our way up the mountain having a perfect view down onto George the Strand with itrsquos lovely beach and right around and across False http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Hermanus/blog-346610.html The last few days have been so incredibleMy friend Jackie who I know from my first cruise contract on the Carnival Legend came to Cape Town on Thursday. She and her friend Rico picked me up and whisked me off to the Boland. It was so good to see her it has been a long timeGoing home with Jackie has given me the opportunity to experience a different culture Afrikans. Everyone in her ho http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Wellington/blog-346601.html Today I decided it was time I explored some of the city on foot. So I headed out from my hostel and walked down Long Street one of the main strips in Cape Town where therersquos lots of restaurants cafes and shops. I spent quite some time in Greenmarket Square an open area lined with stalls selling crafts and curios. I ended up doing all of my gift shopping buying more than Irsquod inte http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-346597.html The sightseeing bus the other day talked about property value in Cape Town being based on view and wind. We passed proof of wind trees growing on extreme angles. But it was such a beautiful hot sunny day it was difficult to imagine.Yesterday however the wind was out and it was intense It really whips. The SouthEaster wind is also called ldquoThe Doctorrdquo because when it comes it http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-of-Good-Hope/blog-344491.html Today I went to visit Shale Shale was a good friend of mine when I was on the Destiny last NovemberFebruary. She lives in Table View on the other side of the bay from Cape Town out in the area where they take all the postcard photos of Table Mountains. Getting out to see her was a bit of an adventure . . .The plan was to meet at Century City Canal Walk a mall about halfway between us but http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-344489.html Today Irsquod booked myself a wine tour one of the things I really wanted to do while in this part of the country. There was some initial confusion about getting me on the tour that had me stressed for a bit but it got sorted I joined the group and it was fantastic.The first winery in the Paarl region was Fairview Estates. I took a look at the distillery saw vats holding 50000 litres of http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Paarl/blog-343716.html Yesterday we were up early to pack up and leave camp. We had about an hour safari drive before leaving the park. But it was so quiet. And we were so tired. I could barely keep my eyes open. A few impala. A few kudu. Two zebra were the last animals I saw. And then a long ride back to Johannesburg made longer by flat tires and crazy rain storms.This morning I was again up early. Happy to b http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-343711.html We all thought and hoped we had another night drive today but we didnrsquot. So we were back at the camp by about 5pm. We were feeling disappointed and perplexed with what to do with the time. But it turned out to be an exciting eveningIn one of the trees in our camp was a pair of owls. Irsquom not sure of their name but they were incredible They were tiny maybe the size of my hand http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343708.html Today was another early morning and long day of driving. Seeing animals on safari is all chance and timing timing that you canrsquot control. That was clear yesterday with long stretches of nothing then suddenly something. And it was confirmed today.It seemed we saw far fewer animals. But possibly it was just less novelty Lots of giraffes and elephants. But even impala it seemed there http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343691.html Even after all that driving around earlier in the day we still had more Around 530pm we switched to another truck for a sunset drive. This time led by Thomas a park guide.The first thing we passed was a pickup truck with 4 park rangers two of them carrying massive guns. My initial thought was protection from the animals. But then Michael said they were on patrol for poachers. Someone a http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343338.html Long long long long long long day . . . but a great day.530am this morning which still feels even earlier cause back home itrsquos not even midnight we were off to our next campsite where we left our bags boarded our openair safari trucks and were off.Kruger National Park is massive the size of Israel So even driving all day we only cover a portion of it. But even in only that port http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343324.html First thing this morning I headed off from the hostel on my 4 day safari to Kruger National Park. Along with me is a couple from Canada Crystal Allan 1st Canadians Irsquove come across a couple from England Claire Andrew a couple from Spain a guy from Finland a guy from Holland and a girl from Germany. Full van.It was a long day with lots of driving and wersquove yet to even see http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Graskop/blog-343321.html Today I did a Johannesburg city tour. Again Michael was my guide. The tour focused on Central Joburg the sites and areas within it.We first drove through Hillbrow. It had been one of the most beautiful areas to live in. During apartheid many wealthy whites lived there. It later became one of the first areas in the country where both blacks and whites could live. Soon the white people began http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Gauteng/Johannesburg/blog-340907.html Ah today was much better.I arrived in Johannesburg two nights ago Oct. 30 and it was nearly midnight by the time I got to my hostel. Yesterday was spent trying to get myself organized here and I just seemed to have one problem after another with getting money sorted my cell phone my camera card my electrical adaptor the internet . . . anyway most things are now sorted.First thing this mo http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Gauteng/Johannesburg/Soweto/blog-340904.html Not an entry for my youngest cousins friendsrsquo children or anyone too squeamish about the sex and drug industries Note Due to a ldquocard errorrdquo with my camerarsquos memory stick I cannot access my photos from my time in Amsterdam thus the lack of photos here. I am hoping some computer wizard somewhere will be able to save them for me and I will eventually be able to share http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Netherlands/North-Holland/Amsterdam/blog-340903.html Note Due to a ldquocard errorrdquo with my camerarsquos memory stick I cannot access my photos from my time in Amsterdam thus the lack of photos here. I am hoping some computer wizard somewhere will be able to save them for me and I will eventually be able to share and enjoy them. Please send positive thoughts and energy to my camera as I fear that my wariness with digital photos has http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Netherlands/North-Holland/Amsterdam/blog-340902.html For close to 2 years now I've been working on the cruise ships. And pretty much whenever I've been home between contracts I've been working. Tour Guiding Teaching doing parent presentations and various other things that have come up along the way. Finally after all that work and saving I have enough money saved to go travel on my own. And tonight I am leaving for South AfricaI've got http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Ontario/Dunnville/blog-339407.html My last night on the Glory. Time to go home again well after 24 long travelling hours. But soon I will be home.I've rested. And that was my top priority for this month here.The last few days have been both good and bad.The not so good is that I have been sick. Horribly sick. The night I got back to the ship from Magen's Bay in St. Thomas some sort of stomach bug hit me. And hit me hard http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/blog-339403.html