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Published: December 13th 2008
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10 Nov - strike camp for the final time, no more tents or communal outdoor ablution blocks, woohoo! Get final photos of the group, the Ding Dongs and Priscilla. V sad to be approaching the end of my 52 day grand adventure round Southern Africa.
However, still lots to see and do. Strange feeling approaching semi-familiar Cape Town and Table Mountain, experienced so much in the two months since I left here. Quick farewell to Priscilla then we take a trip down to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Great coastal views here at the most south westerly point on the African continent. Great lunch at the terrace restaurant looking over to the Cape then a quick uphill walk to the lighthouse. We drive further along the coast and stop off at Boulders Beach to see the Jackass penguins who've made this area their own, great wee guys and soooo many of them in such a small area. Our final stop is at Kirstenbosch, botanic gardens with stunning mountain backdrop. Weather has been fantastic today so a lovely way to end the trip.
Back to the Tulip Inn where the tour began. Got a room to myself
The Ding Dongs
Errol and Janet :) again, result! Final group dinner at Mama Africa on Long Street. It's packed, great atmosphere and a fab marimba African band playing. I have the SA delicacy of bibouti again, as I did when I arrived in the country and share a bottle of red wine with Nav which is of Darling origin, lol. Then the dancing begins, drinking continues, Janet plays the drums with the band, we head to the Dubliner about midnight for even more drinking and dancing before leaving about 4am and staggering back to hotel. All pished but happy.
11 Nov - only a few hours sleep before we're up for breakfast and to say our farewells. Several of us feeling a bit delicate / still drunk. Extremely sad to be saying goodbye to Janet and esp Errol and Charlie, we've been through so much over the last few months. Gonna really miss them and Africa...a wonderful country, friendly, diverse, picturesque, safe and with great food and even better wine...and savanna...and amarula. Lasting memories of Errol wearing his Googlethu t-shirt and Janet singing Flower of Scotland while crawling, literally, into the lift, we're all still peeshed.
Pack up and checkout, need to find a
bed for the next few nights. Wander along Long Street and my first choice on Long Street Backpackers has a dorm...GBP7 per night, I'll take it. Turns out that Peter from our trip is staying there too. Back along to Tulip then humph the backpack and rucksack to hostel before crashing. So much stuff to do in my hungover state but top priority is getting train from Cape Town to Joburg as I fly out to Mumbai on 15 Nov. DISASTER, train is full. Manage to find bus station and get a seat on the Intercape coach leaving Cape Town the following day at 1745, gets into Joburg at 1400 the next day. Starting to feel like a proper, independent traveller now. Head for Dosi and Thali Indian dinner with Peter and Brent, the US boys. Manage a few glasses of wine but but at dorm by 9pm - hungover, knackered and emotional. One day less than expected in Cape Town and unfortunately it was too short notice for Duncan Macduff, my mate from SWIP to meet up 😞
12 Nov - early start, loads to do, Breakfast with Peter in a great wee deli called Pickwicks. Had hoped
to climb up Table Mountain with Nav and abseil down but the weather is horrendous - storm winds and torrential rain, front page news! Head to internet cafe to get photos burnt to CD at last, check emails, book Mu,bai to Delhi flight and phone Twana to see if they have a room for a few nights. Speak to Arne the owner, he would be delighted to have 'Scottish' to stay! I then manage to find Darling Street in Cape Town, take a photo but then manage to delete it 😞 Also track down the GPO, purchase two boxes and pack up my souvenirs to send home...not convinced they'll ever reach Haddington but ever the optimist...
. Pack then head for quick pasta for dinner, savanna and glass of red wine. When I go back to the hostel, Carole and Wayne (aka mum and dad) are waiting to see me to say goodbye and then Nav turns up with Manuela to see me off as well. Great to see them, v touched that they came to see me off. Quick farewells then taxi to Mama Africa with Miho
Great name for a bottle of wine... bus station as it's still pouring with rain. Bus delayed about 30 mins, only a handful of whities in the bus station but don't feel unsafe. Bus quite comfy and have two seats to myself (until the next morning), only about 10% of the passengers are white.
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