Let's be honest though, I hardly fit in at all here, and it's even more evident when my accent comes out. All good though. Most Asians you see here, are those tourists with big hats to block the sun and you can see them taking pictures EVERYWHERE (with no smile on their faces, except for the kids). A little stereotypical, but it is all true. And then you will also have the local Asians who typically own "China Shops", as they are known here. Not many of them, but you will see them on occasion.
Less on that, more on some other big things I have noticed. Cape Town was a huge shock to me when I arrived...more or less. I had an image of Cape Town as this beautiful city, largely white-dominated society that flourished in all its resources....which is the case, but only to a small portion of Cape Town. Cape Town is an absolutely gorgeous city, South Africa is a breath-taking country. The largely white-dominated parts are only in certain parts of Cape Town, but much of what I have at least witnessed and experienced have been areas dominated by blacks and the coloured (I am considered coloured here or just asian). The segregation of whites, blacks, and coloured - the apartheid - that "ended" in the 90's, is still very much present in the current conditions. Having been able to drive through the townships and even go into a couple townships to have a braai (BBQ in SA terms) with the locals, is a truly different experience. The locals build their houses with whatever they can absolutely find, I have seen rooftops made of car hoods. There are so many electrical wires from one electric pole to get electricity. There are only a set number of communal porta-pottys for hundreds of families. There are large amounts of families that don't even have running water through their house. Not to mention the large amounts of gang violence and crimes that dominate much of the townships. Khayelitsha being the notorious for crimes and murders, Mitchell's Plain and Nyanga not far behind, but you really don't want to stick out like a sore thumb in a township, especially at night.
The past two weeks, one day after work we have gone to a local braai in Khayelitsha and Nyanga with our driver, who is a local and knows his way around. It was quite hilarious as drivers in Nyanga were stopping their cars to take pictures of us. All the kids are laughing and pointing with no manners whatsoever. All the teenage boys are hitting on our girls. It is really not too bad being in a township, but I don't think I would want to take my chances. Regardless, we are very fortunate to have what we have at home.
Anyways! The past weekend was probably the most epic so far.
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4TH WEEKEND: So since our paragliding got cancelled last week, we had to skip the Friday VACtivity to go paragliding over Cape Town. We had to do a partial hike up Lion's Head and that was our take off point. These guys are strapping in these HUGE gliders and then hooking us up into them. All my instruction was...was to run and fast as I could off the mountain, and that is exactly what I did. The first step off was a huge adrenaline rush, that I am flying off of at mountain. But as my pilot was gliding up and down and around Lion's Head, it was one of the most peaceful things I have ever done. To top it off, it was at sunset. It is such a different view of the city and is something I'll never be able to experience again. // Saturday: SHARK CAGE DIVING was a full days adventure. They grabbed us in the morning and it was a 2 hour drive to Gansbaai (home of shark week!). So while everyone has been watching shark week at home...we have been living it! Pretty much the normal snack time, orientation, etc... and then SHARK TIME! They had us get into a
cage of 5 people and just chummed and lured in sharks towards the cage. Shawnae, Nikki, Joe and I were in the cage together...Joe and I came face - to - face with a great white and it may have been one of the most terrifying things ever, but it was one of the most majestic animals I have also witnessed. We spent a good amount of time on the boat, waiting for everyone else for a turn in the cage...I managed to also catch some sweet pics. // Sunday: Mzoli's braai in Gugulethu! Pretty much a huge tourist attraction in the township of Gugulethu. It is such a good time, and all it is, is braai, drinking, and dancing. You walk into the meat market with a HUGE array of meat to choose from, choose your meats, give it to the braai master, and then just wait and drink and dance until the meat is ready. Also, I didn't mention that the meat that fed 6 people only cost $20 total..so we ended up paying approximately $3.50 each person for a platter of meat. and it was amazing.
5TH WEEKEND: Friday: started off the weekend great with a beautiful visit to the most southwestern tip of Africa, Cape of Good Hope! Another great hike to go with it as well. The weather has been cooperating with us so nicely...rain during the week and sunny during the weekends. All in all - it was a great day with great company. The evening however...that was a night of MANY selfies. It was our good friend, Melyssa's, last weekend and she wanted to go out with a bang. Lets just say that the entire night was full of wine and selfies // Saturday: ...recovery day - great breakfast at Old Biscuit Mill and went to Mount Nelson Hotel for High Tea. We gorged on delectable bite sized finger food, a desert buffet, and an unlimited amount of tea. It was so nice and the hotel was gorgeous.
// Sunday: celebratory day for Joe's birthday! We ended up doing an epic hike up Table Mountain. We started at the Kirstenbosch Gardens and the trail up is called Skeleton Gorge. Pretty much 3 miles up Table Mountain and another mile or so across to take the cable car down. It was a brutal hike. . . pretty much nature's version of a stair master x 983242 but it was such a fun hike. After the first half of brutal steps, we all had to navigate our way up and around miniature waterfalls. Once we got to the top, it was unreal...just as every hike here has been. To see the things that we overcome just shows what we are really able to achieve. And we ended the birthday day with a wonderful dinner at our favorite South African restaurant, Cafe Ganesh! 
more coming soon!
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