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Published: October 25th 2007
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Last point of contact we were in Stellenbosh. From there it was a short commute to Cape Town where our tour officailly ended. We had our final group meal down on the water front where there were a number of awards handed out - as voted by all the truck members. Kristyn won the coverted "Scaredy Cat award", while I won the "Dancing Queen" title and the 3rd "Coolest"!! What a result. We also claimed the 3rd "Most Patriotic" on the truck as well. Must've had something to do with the rugby! All in all a very successful evening.
We made our way up Table Mountain for some fantastic views of the city and the Cape Point. We were up for walking back down, but after seeing numerous peoples expressions after making to the top we decided against it. The Cable Car ride up gives some fantastic views as it rotates as it makes its trip up.
We also have done a township tour. 2/3 of the population of Cape Town live in these townships as this occurred during the forced removals of the 70's and 80's. It was a fantastic tour as we were lead around by a
Dune 45
The Dune where our mates got engaged!! A long walk up. guy who was 19 when these forced removals were taking place so it was great to get a person who actucally lived through the whole experience. Before the removals began all races, colours and creed were living all together in District Six in Cape Town, but they were then separated into one of 4 "classes" (white person, cape coloured, black, and of asian descent). During this time they were all kicked out of their homes and made to live in specific areas. They still live there today. We were driven through 4 townships and stopped off in the 4th for a look. We were introduced to 4 very amazing people who have made an amazing difference to their township and the people they live around.
One women (Vikki) had developed her own Bed and breakfast and with this money built a pre-school at the back of her property to educate children who were otherwise wandering around the township. She also feeds a number of children twice a week. Opposite her is another amazing women called Beauty. She was a worker in a sewing factory that closed down, so she taught herself dress making, and has been educating and teaching
other women of the township these skills so that they can make money. She is HIV positive and has since become the surrogate mother of 11 children whose parents have died because of AIDS.
Another women we met cooks 3 meals a day for children whose parents can not afford to give these meals each day. She also educates the people around her about AIDS/HIV so as to try and break the cycle. The final man we met used to only get work for 1 day a week, but had the same dream 3 nights in a row and came across the idea of making flowers out of used aluminium cans. Simple idea, but one that makes his life more than comfortable with the income that it brings in. Classy shops from the Waterfront in town now put in orders for him to fill. These were I'm sure only a few stories of hope that have come out of nothing, and of people who have influenced the whole community in a positive way.
That afternoon we went to Robben Island. It was a little bit disappointing as it was very rushed. We were only on the island for
2 hours, the first 30 minutes was a bus ride around the ialsnd where all the points of interest were pointed out, going back to the times when it was used as a leper colony. From there we were dropped off at the prison, where we were given a guided tour by one of the ex-prisoners. He was put in there in the early 1980's for terrorism!! Bombings etc - Yay! We were shown Nelson Mandela's cell number 5 and only had a few seconds glance as there were over 60 people just in our tour. The place had been given a real spruce up - new paint etc, so it didn't quite have the feel of the politcal agressors prison. Still fantastic to see, and lucky to get there as they are usually sold out for at least 8-9 days in advance.
From there we picked up our car (possibly the ugliest car in Africa) and started on our way around Cape Point with 5 friends from our truck trip that were hanging around in Cape Town. The drive down to the Cape was beautiful, roads hugging the coast line. We stopped at a picnic area for lunch
Second Winery
Still standing! and were warned by numerous books that the Baboons can be quite aggressive around food so beware. We unpacked lunch on the grass with no baboons in sight, and 2 minutes later we were packing up quickly and rushing towards the cars with Baboons baring down on us. We happily had lunch in the cars, passing food bewteen to the two cars. Kaz decided that photographic proof needed to be taken so she bravely got out of the car and took a couple of photos. Me being brave and "at one" with animals joined her. One big baboon came around the end of the car baring his teeth, so we made a quick decision to turn and walk around the front of the car where we were ambushed by 5 other baboons baring their teeth as well! Kaz took off her jandle, threatening it as a weapon at these menacing baboons, while I decided to run. And run I did with 15 baboons running behind me, teeth bared and me yelling to anyone who would listen. Being not very active over the last 7 weeks didn't help in my pursuit to save my own life, but luckily my 100 metre
dash paid off. My support cars pulled up, Kris yelling at me and everyone else in hysterics!
We checked out Cape Point, spotted a whale from the lighthouse then continued on to Simonstown where we stayed in a beautiful place that was orignally an old convent. South Africa has the best budget accommodation of anywhere we have been and these lovely private rooms only cost around 15 pounds a night to stay in!
We drove around the coast to Hermanus where we spotted a number of whales again from the coast then onto Jeffery's Bay. A surfers paradise if not for the howling wind. Watched the most boring game of rugby, (Kris with a St George's Cross on her face!) then onto Port Elizabeth.
After carrying on up the Wild Coast, we are currently in Durban about to bus across to Jo'burg for our flight out to Perth. So far we have travelled around South Africa without incident and have loved it. Plus the Chico has been the best car we have ever hired!
Hope everyone is well and healthy.
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Greg
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Go bokke!
I'm guessing that the "boring" rugby game you hastily mentioned was the one where where we whipped your arses! Cheers, Greg