Before I get to the details of what I've done for the past long ass time, just want to say that I am so appreciative of my family and friends for all of their support throughout this entire trip and throughout my entire life. At first, it was so so hard (as I mentioned in the first post), but ever since then, it has gotten even harder. And not in a sense that I am scared, homesick, etc. It's getting harder and harder because of the family and friends that I am making here. The friendships the are so short lived, but last a lifetime. That's what this entire experience is all about.
6TH WEEK: not the greatest weekend start to this weekend. Friday and Saturday I was in and out of bed, waking up with the chills and a fever sweating all night. I did however go on the VACtivity on Friday to the Kalk Bay Caves and we pretty much army crawled through the caves once the hike was up. Once we got down, it was a relaxing afternoon with some mojitos on the beach with all the interns. Sunday I was feeling much better, not completely but it was enough to go explore Robben Island! We first took a bus tour around part of the island, which was alright. But the coolest part was actually exploring the prison and our tour guide being an ex-prisoner. He toured us throughout the entire prison, explaining to us the entire process from black prisoners to coloured, from the beds (realistically mats) that they slept on, the cells they stayed in, the food they ate, the place they worked, and so much more. But the much anticipated part was Nelson Mandela's cell was something different. A man that no one knew, but one man that affected so many lives.
7TH WEEK: This was an epic weekend. It was our turn to go on the Garden Route. Essentially it is the drive along the coast towards the Eastern Cape. Straight after work, was a 6 hour drive to our backpackers that we were staying at. Sketchiest drive into the hostel...no lights, just one sign from the main road. We drove into the wilderness, just us and the darkness. Lets just have a moment to talk about the WildSpirit Backpackers. Lets just say that it puts Portland hippies on a WHOLE new level. This place was out of control, and in a sense that there was no control. We could have left the place without paying a penny, but once you enter the WildSpirit Zone...it's just something different. Everyone acts as if they are high (which they probably area), 3 fat dogs just roaming the place, but probably some of the nicest people that I have met. We started off from the go! We visited Knysna Elephant Park and had a wonderful time interacting with a bunch of elephants. Had a great time with a TON of monkeys all over Monkey Land and Birds of Eden. Then we ventured on our first safari...on horseback! The only thing we didn't see were lions and leopards, but we saw the rest of the big 5! It was awesome...and then I also ziplined for the first time over waterfalls in the famous Tsitsikamma Forest! It was absolutely beautiful and a bit sketchy...but realistically what isn't? The following morning though...was the much anticipated Bloukran's Bridge Bungy!! It is the worlds highest bridge bungy at 216 m (approximately 706 ft)..and it was insane. Everyone is either pumped or pooping their pants, all the employees are dancing and having a good time, and one by one each of us go down! Let's just say that it may have been one of the scariest moments of my life, but also one of the very few times that I have just felt SO free. (LINK TO WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J1TIOvQIic ) But anyways.....then we went to an ostrich farm! Much cooler than we anticipated - got to watch the entire process, all the manufacturing and everything. and...we got to ride an ostrich! And that was one weekend, jam packed with so many things.
8TH WEEK: Relatively relaxing weekend..but we did have an EPIC braai! So the American BBQ and the South African Braai are two different things. Similar concepts, but the way South Africans braai is almost like another culture, as true BBQing is in the states. We had an EPIC HUGE braai with all the housemates and friends and a ton of people from VAC. And it was an AWESOME time. It's starting to get tougher and tougher to think about leaving as I get closer and closer to everything and everyone here. But enough of that pouting for now. The other big thing we did this weekend was hike Devil's Peak! So now I can say that I have hiked the big 3 in Capetown...Lion's Head, Table Mountain and Devil's Peak. Not only was it a hike, it was essentially a climb! Jumping from rock to rock and climbing to reach the summit. Beautiful views as it is from all the other places.
Heritage Day - was also another day that we did a different hike of Table Mountain, but before we get into that, this day is a national holiday, aka Braai Day (because everyone braais). On this day, was when the apartheid ended years ago, thus everyone comes together for epic braais and to celebrate. So what did we do?...we hiked Table Mountain in the morning and then we had another housemate braai in the afternoon and evening! but lets talk about this hike, because this hike was the most intense and insane hike that I have ever done. Climbing up chains, squeezing through crevasses, inching across rocks while we are traversing the side of table mountain. absolutely ridiculous.
9TH WEEK: VACtivity was awesome! Went SURFING for the first time and it was awesome! I managed to get up a few times...only to have it turn into a tragedy of me consuming a ton of salt water. But can't blame a guy for trying right?? It was so much fun though and I got over my fear of water quickly (if you guys didn't know, I have a slight phobia of open water), because I wanted SO badly to ride ONE wave! Unfortunately I wasn't able to - though I did catch a sweet wave on my knees..if that counts at all? Oh long street..what have you done. Another weekend full of some crazy adventures and our wonderful butt munch Shawnae has her golden birthday! Started off the weekend with a beautiful birthday dinner which turns into a lot of dancing on long street. What else do you need to do for birthdays? Saturday was just another chill day, we had an epic day planned out to go watching the South Africa Springboks play Australia! but some technical difficulties and we couldn't do it. No big though...as much as I would have loved to be there. But Sunday was another Mzoli's day!! except...SOOO MUCHHH MEEATTTT!! it was amazing! dancing, drinking, eating, and everything in between.
Anyways, sorry for the lack of pictures...I will get them up soon! But I wanted to post one before I leave for 10 days and delay this even more! Off to Botswana and Zimbabwe!!
