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Published: August 17th 2008
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It seems that some of you are enjoying their month of August as much as me...I've never had so many hits in a
single month on my blog, thanks to all of you.
It's my third visit to the Western Cape region and to Cape Town....so why...well, you've already seen the pictures.
How do you start a perfect day...egg benedicte with salmon for breakfast...great white sharks seeing in the cage for
the morning...lunch of oysters and white wine...afternoon of golf...and great gourmet diner with great view before a
last cigar...I'm a happy man.
Did arrive late evening at the Arabella Western Cape Hotel...just outside Hermanus, this is an amazing place...with
another amazing suite for me. Early morning, wake up early for the drive past Hermanus on my way to Kleinbaai.
There, we board a boat to go to Sharks alley....the spot to spot the Great white Sharks...and yes, we did see them...very
close. Visibility is less than 10 meters...but they do come way closer. These guys are just to big to fit in a
single frame from so close.
This is not shark feeding. As the boat use a bait...it's like playing with a
cat. A tuna head is attached to a rope.
One of the boatman play with that rope to attract the big guy...just in front of the cage. Once the shark is "nearly"
on the bait, the boatman lift the bait....mind...in 2 hours, the sharks ended twice capturing the bait!
This is really prime time for shark seeing. Winter...well...winter with 18 degrees, and pure sun in this morning.
Water is at 14 degrees, so while in the water, you get nicely with a 7mm wetsuit.
40 people on the boat...24 made it to the cage. You do rounds of 20 to 30 minutes at the time in the cage. The cage
can take 7 people at a time. Sea was a little rough, so few people...or let say many ended sea sick...I'm safe on that
side...I could manage three rounds in the cage. The shark even play with the cage few time. This was a truly amazing
experience.
Drove back to Hermanus to the Arabella to play 18 holes. On the rush a little, but didn't stop me to enjoy a lunch
of oysters and chenin blanc. The course has been ranked....by I don't know who...2nd best in
South Africa. You speak
the level of Pezula or Fancourt. Really great experience and special views all over the place.
Late drive to Cape Town to stay in another great place, next to the Waterfront. The best was the breakfast on the
19th floor...imagine oysters and good sparkling wine for breakfast....followed by more egg benedictine with salmon...
love these things...specially with the view!
I finally made my way to Robben Island. The last 2 times I went to Cape Town, the sea was to rough to allow boats
to the Prison Island. The all experience last 3 and 1/2 hours. But the best...and most humble moments are the
visit of the jail with a former political prisoner who was incarcerated there from 1978 to 1982 at the age of 16.
Remembering history is important, apartheid has only been over since 1991...not that long ago! Crazy to see and ear
what human being is able to do...
Went back to Cape Town, and drove early afternoon to Stellenbosh for a wine afternoon. Love the tasting at Ernie
Els place...on the terrace, with the sun...what to ask more!!! Back to Cape Town for the last diner of my holidays.
This time it's with Michael, my buddy from Antartica...last party we had...a great one...was in Buenos Aires, end of
February 2008...it's a small world! Thanks a lot for this great evening Michael, really had great fun. We started
by great wine and sushi near the beach...and end up at the bar ot the Mount Nelson hotel in the Gardens. Well...
that's a place...and that's a bar...grown up public only...full of "cougars"...had really fun with a group of South
Africans...sad they just lose that afternoon to the kiwis...
So back to the hotel around 2am...wake up at 5.30am and fly Cap Town-Joburg-Hong Kong-Saigon. I'm going to pick
Leslie as school is back next week...and on Wednesday we are back home with Ma'ri...can't wait for that!!! But I'm
writing this from Joburg airport...ready for some nice bubbles on the next long flight.
My only regret for Cape Town...I was supposed to do some paraglading out of Table Mountain...but too much wind in the
wrong direction...guess it will be for my next visit...or the next time I take Ma'ri with me to Rio!
What a month! The highlights were massive...over the last 3 weeks, diving South Red Sea, Abu
Simbel, Petra, Ngorongoro
Crater, ballooning Serengeti, diving Zanzibar, rafting Zambezi and Victoria Falls, and finally Great white sharks...
great wine...great fun!
No more entry till the October holidays....but that's only in 5 weeks. And the first true family holidays that I'll have
for many many years. Cannot wait for this one...another stuning place, more diving...great romantic spot...but best
of all, all this with Leslie and Ma'ri.
Enjoy, because I do!
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tinus
non-member comment
great trip
wow - I'm jealous. what a trip! thought you might enjoy some 360 images of Stellenbosch, Robben Island and Cape Town. Just for the memories. Have a look at the Virtual Africa website. It's at dot CO dot ZA.