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Published: October 18th 2008
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Hello Everyone,
This is my last blog for South Africa which I unfortunately have to leave but have loved my time here so much. My first stop after the last entry was Jeffery's Bay, this is a very famous surf spot and one I had heard much about before I even got to SA, we stayed in Island Vibe backpackers which is situated right on the beach! We stayed here for 4 nights doing lots of surfing and shopping at the quicksilver and Billabong factory shops, however the only things to do there is drink, surf, drink and shop so we dicided we would do all the activities on offer! However I was getting quite tight for time before I would be flying out to Perth so I went to Storms River with the intention of doing the worlds highest bungy jump. Unfortunately when we got to the hostel it was thunder and lightning and the town was out of power, instead i just sat by the fire and chilled hoping the weather would improve for the morning. That night I tried to keep a clear head ready for the adrenalin that would come the next day but got persuaded that
it would be better if i had some alcohol in me for courage! Not that it was needed!! Luckily in the morning the weather had cleared and i was up nice and early to go and jump and it was pure Adrenalin! Take it from me 216m + 6ft to my eye level is a long way down, but I did it and absolutely loved it. The bus then picked me up from the bridge and took me on a bus journey that lasted until 9pm that night. We were supposed to be going straight to Capetown however we got chatting to a friend on the bus and she was going to Hermanous to do some shark cage diving, so how could we refuse, a quick call to the hostel and that was that we were booked in and going cage diving in the morning. Unfortunately it was another early start but we were soon out in the dive centre and being briefed on the days activities. The five of us friends went out and had a great day, we saw 5/6 different great white sharks and one locked on to the cage, it was all very exciting as you
can imagine and with half of the boat being sea sick off the side it made for a feast for the sharks! In the afternoon I sat on the cliffs just looking out to see and watching several whales breaching out of the water from only a couple of hundred meters. It was brilliant, hermanous hosts the SA whale festival each year and they have about 96 whales in the bays at one time!
From Hermanous it was onto Capetown to continue the adrenalin activities and do a sky dive!
On our first day in Capetown we did the pennisular tour going to Cape of good hope and Cape point, having a cycle as well as seeing penguins, seals, ostrich and whales. We had a great guide and learnt a few things of what there is to know about the cape. That evening a few of us went out to celebrate Damiens birthday (my belgium mate) so we hit long street and a good night was had by all. Feeling slightly delicate we decided the next day we would get the cable car up to table mountain and it was a great way to get rid of the hangover, and
feeling rather ambitious we decided to hike down, which take it from me is still not quick or easy! But the views were just amazing and we got so lucky as all the other days table mountain was covered with cloud and you would have seen nothing.
Day 3 was a planned skydive however due to wind and cloud cover it got postponned to the next day so we just walked around capetown and the waterfront seeing some very impressive yachts. Day 4 we went to district 6 museum which is about the main part of capetown today and it's history. Basically it was where all the "blacks" and "colours" were housed as it was close to the docks however the "whites" then decided they want this area and therefore forcable removed all the residents to out of town, it is very interesting but also sad. We then visited the Castle of good hope before being picked up to do the sky dive. Damien and I were very excited as we were finally going to it, however this was short lived as about 5 mins from the jump site it got called off due to high winds! Gutted doesn't come
close.
Instead of rescheduling again we decided to join our other friends who were heading up to Stellenbosch (wine region) for a tour of 4 vineyards and an overnight stop. Off we went to taste some fantasic wine and ended up forgetting about breakfast and feeling rather drunk before it was 12.30, all i can say is by 4.30 we were all sleeping in the back of the bus! That night we had a fairwell drink for me as it was my last night before heading to Perth.
South Africa is a fantastic country, definately not a dangerous as we percieve it but you do need to be careful. It has so many fantastic things to do and unspoilt coast lines. To pick a favourite place would be impossible and I got so much from so many different places.
Sodwanna Bay was fantastic for diving, Durban was party central, Eshowe meeting the Zulu's, Coffee bay & Port St John's which it beauty, Storms river the bungy, the views from table mountain and not to forget Kruger Park!
This is a continent i must come back to!
xx
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Frazer, Karen & Hannah
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To Tommy
Wow we cant believe the fantastic time that you are having, only just read your blog which is brilliant , But the Bungi jump was scarey, we are seeing quite a lot of Emma who is surprise surprise having a wonderful time !! but she is a hoot , this is from all of us , be careful and keep the blogs coming when you can , thinking of you and love you loads . All the Williams in Cardiff