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Between Safaris, on the go travels and city after city I found that South Africa has far exceeded my expectations in every way. The people are lovely and proud, educated intensely on their country and ready to share the wealth of knowledge to us ignorant folk. Most Americans I know are unawares of the beauty of such places as this. I'm not speaking of lions and tigers and bears oh my.... I'm speaking of the wild and untamed peoples, the split of feast and famine the advanced and rutted. This country has everything and I could write for pages on the truth that it is.
but
I'm here to share fun travel stories so I'll stick to that. I left JoBurg and was off to Swaziland. It was along my journey to the east coast and again my ignorant ass was unawares that this was an entirely different country. I made it 1 night there, sitting be the bonfire drinking beer with new buddies, straddling the edge of the wildlife reserve just feet in front of me. No guarded electric fences this time. "My dears thats what an indemnity form is for." You get eaten, your own fault. So I
sipped my sweet SA lager outside, empowered on the fact that if did get eaten that at least it would be one hell of a way to go. This place is notorious for extreme everything and its gotten me addicted. Damn adrenaline junkies! I was going to pass thru Durban but by fate/chance/synchronicitiy I stayed for 4 days. Decided that there was more to do here than India so I changed my plane ticket out to Jol it up touring the East Coast. Walking around Durban I thought of Faisal often. My chance encounters have proven to me that this World, is in fact, "very small."
I'll explain,
I met a beauty of a South African boy who accompanied me on my first date of the trip. I should thank him for many things but first I'm gonna give props for a reason to finally shave my damn legs. Lord knows I was morphing into some lion bitch. I was so inspired I even bought a new outfit. Not to say that I wasn't in dire need anyway but I formally got a desperate and much deserved makeover. Mr. Morgan was a journalist in Durban and in every way
my endless source of knowledge. A true gem, one of the type that you can actually have an intimate conversation with. Conversation beyond the mundane. "where you from" "tell me about you" "music...food... blah blah bullshit." OH thank God, Spirituality, being real, the good, bad ugly of life, truth and finally a damn boy who would look me in the eyes. I'm not speaking of a respect thing, I'm speaking of souls with the strength enough to be vulnerable, open and aware and look thru me! With the window, if I so desired to look straight thru him. Refreshing to say the least. We met on a chance encounter and I was picked up for an evening of sushi, wine, arcade games, sweet kisses, followed by a day at the beach, coffee, sweet kisses and a shopping excursion. Did I mention the sweet kisses? All of these things might seem the basics of dating, "ooooh, how sweet"... boooorrrring. But Jesus yall, I haven't seen the likes of civility, romantic company or kisses in so freakin long. Smelling the roses, Oh yea, I feel it! Oh, back to the point of small world... He's a journalist, he was familiar with "Playing
for Peace" the organization Faisal worked for and as a matter of fact he knew who he was. Pretty freakin cool.
Second small world reminder was when chillin at hostel I found two neighboring SA boys who were rockin out to "Sanctity." I had to brag about the kids from back home and spread the word on a few more Asheville bands. These two crazy bastards were my escorts for the evening.
I was running around hostel style and found my way to the sexy clubs of Durban. I think that's the most appropriate adjective here. Sexy. mmmmmmmmm... South Africa. Mmmmmmmm South African boys...
Getting absolutely pissed every once in a while is healing. No, I'm so serious. Traveling solo you don't get many opportunities to let go. Damn, female solo piece of shit. Guards up Always! But I had trusted friends, a ride and 3 lovely gentlemen escorts to watch out for me. So off I went, Ios style with G, Matt and Miguel for a much needed party night. So after a few "Sidebox" shots, tequila, 4 beers, and a couple martini's, and the ultimate flaming something or other (I was making up for lost time) I was
absolutely snickered. HA! Loved it!
I'll refer to that night as Liberation night. This is a personal thing ladies and gentlemen but it has something to do with breaking away, liberation from, setting free aspects of me that were otherwise restricted in some form or fashion. I may be a bit cryptic here but all superheros have their Krptonite, the trick is knowing how to stay the Hell away from it.
On down the coast I went, here and there, A stop over in Port Elizabeth and then to Jeffery's Bay for the professional surfing competition. Fans from all around the world with their golden locks, golden bodies and golden smiles radiating thru their hangovers and BIllabong hoodies. Beautiful people and somehow I ended up in the hub of the action. This Fucking crazy ass hostel which I concluded only in a matter of hours was a club not a sleeping facility. I arrived around 9 am, hit the beach and the shops then by 8 pm... well, Between wet t-shirt contests and Jager Bombs I was sure this place reminded me of something. Oh thats right... IOS! Damn youth and their corrupting ways. and no I didn't enter
the wet t-shirt contest. geesh. To perpetuate the insanity there was an all weekend rock fest that just so happened to be sponsored by Jose Cuervo. I still cant decide if this was a really good thing or really bad thing. I'll say both. God I love me a tequila night. I continued to show my Rockin roots and lived it up in true beach bum fashion. It was a mates B-day so in light of, we had a pirate week. Bloody pirates! but I have to say things took a turn for the worse.
I have and will continue to ask for authenticity on this trip. I'm sure I will continue to get it. My lovely's it seems that Africa is very harsh. Reality of this leaves the inhabitants with walled in homes, security everything, and can't-walk-the-streets-at-night mentality's. As fate would have it I fell victim to South Africa. Of all the natives I met they have had their cars stolen, friends shot, rape and murder is everywhere. I abided by all the rules, played it safe, precautions taken. Sometimes the inevitability of human horrors are inescapable. Please don't worry as I am safe now and everything will
turn out okay. I don't want to say anymore than that but the last few days did break me.
I will continue my journey, smile again soon and know that for whatever reason fate turned on me, well... I know I will be more amazing for it. It seems when life gives you horror and darkness all you can do is remember that the light must exist to balance such things.
I left J-Bay on a wish and a prayer. Numb and confused, questioning faith and hope in humans and wanting the biggest hug ever given. Maybe some familiarity or sleep. I didn't know. I still dont. I guess all that was left was too keep on going. I had fun plans and ideas. I just kept on.
Next on my list was a 216 meter bungy jump as I assumed after risking death in so many physical and metaphorical ways that jumping off a bridge for a 7 second freefall should be a walk in the park. Yes, I am crazy and yes thats what makes me shine.
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