Advertisement
Published: November 29th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Our Baboon Friend
Better manners than us! Since his last entry, Rich has been banned from further blogs until he improves his efficiency. His skills carryover to SMSing as well, it took the man 32min today to punch out what apparently is a "Short Message".
Unfortunately, I lack the structure of Richard. If we weren't physios, he would be mathematician (Clinical and always right) and I would be a poet (drunk and never really making sense).
We have done lots of things in the last week or so... including some physio work.
Our first day at the institute was... amazing. We watched the honours students doing their research presentations in the morning. Their communication skills and knowledge were all very impressive, perhaps even a little bit daunting for the the two starstruck Aussie boys in the back row wearing their matching stripey tops (ooops, luckily the fashion police are very, very lenient in Africa).
We also managed to score a two hour meeting with Tim Noakes. For the man considered to be the best sports physician in Africa, whose exercise physiology knowledge is unsurpassed internationally, he is incredibly down to earth and nice. He had all the time in the world for us and made a
Animal Cruelty
Rich should have carried the Ostrich point of introducing us to as many people as possible so we would have something to do over the next few weeks. We then ventured back in the evening for a public presentation, very similar to the morning where we chatted to the students for the first time.
Over the last week at SSISA, we have done a little bit of everything: shadowing physios, biokineticists, doctors, cardiac rehab classes. On our second day, yes thats right after about 6-7hrs of work, we joined the graduating honours class for a game of cricket and a braai (BBQ). We got lured into playing for the staff against the students and unfortunately I did not do our country proud on the field. Having dropped a catch early, I managed to bowl a 10 ball over and then go out for a duck. I am swallowing my pride and telling you now so that Rich doesn't embellish the story. Although, even without embellishment, its very embarrassing. Ra Ra Ra Rich apparently took some catches, bowled on the pitch and managed to hit a 4. Ra Ra Ra. Nonetheless, the day was a success as we made a good enough impression to be invited
to the party that evening. Bat in hand we struggled, Beer in hand was definetly our fortay. One of the students had talked up his drinking abilities all day at the cricket. Unfortunately, he made an early exit from the nightclub under the concerned eye of his friends after spending his final hour hugging porcelain. Australia 1 South Africa 0.
After what was a big night for us, Rich got up early to get our hire car from the city. He caught a taxi (glorified van) with 20 other Africans (licenced to carry 12) and stopped at 1 red light (out of 8). We then ventured down the coast to Cape Point, the most south-westerly tip of Africa. I was surprised at one stage to see a baboon on the side of the road... so excitedly we parked...walked 6.5m out of our car before hearing a scream from a German tourist. Turning quickly, anticipating the immediate rescue of this fair maiden in distress, I saw a baboon in our car....eating my lunch. Funny yes... until you realise this beast has 4inch teeth and doesn't plan on moving until he has eaten all yr food (Rich and I carry a
lot of food). So he ate our food, emptied my wallet, bit my bag, screamed every time we came near him... and giggled when we ran away scared shitless. You may not believe me but the baboon took my bag and despite the two of us chasing him (bravely from within the safety of our car), ran away to share his hilarious story with his mates. This is a story that I find hard to repeat and so I will move on...
to the next day when we went to the wildlife park and patted tiger cubs, cheetah cubs and played with an albino Burmese python. The smile on our faces was bigger than my phone bill. Such an incredible experience, probably never to be repeated, for about $75. We also went caving, which although great, just did not compare to being in the presence of such beautiful and powerful animals. Before we meandered back home through the countryside, we did also manage to mount an Ostrich and take it for a quick joy ride! Incredible day, hard to convey how much fun we had.
This week we have moved in with one of the Honours students. The
Wednesday night Picnic!
If only every 13km run could finish this way. locals here are very friendly and although being a tourist is fun, tyring to be a local is even more so. So having known Suz for 3 days, she invited us to move into her apartment. Nice little com
Last night we went for a run with one of our supervisors. 13km through a beautiful vineyard with 750 other people, water stations every 2km, wine stations every 4km. At the end a cold pool to warm down, complimentary bottle of wine for all competitors and a beautiful lawn to sit for a picnic and listen to local music. My god... amazing. That ridiculously large grin from the animals day returned as we enjoyed a few bottles of South Africa's finest ($3.80 per bottle)... the fact that our supervisor is a 5foot 8 blonde ultramarathon runner had nothing to do with it.
So there it is. Hope it all makes sense because its too long to proof read. Now I will just put in some dodgy photos.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.068s; Tpl: 0.019s; cc: 6; qc: 44; dbt: 0.035s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb