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Sunday, 27 July 2014

MY FRIEND BUDDY

I made very good friends with Ms Beanie during my stay in Johannesburg. She has two sons. Max is 19 and heading off to the US to go to university. Buddy is 13 and attends ICOT.  Before Buddy headed off to New York, he and I spent some quality time together. He is such a special. magical boy to me. Once you meet Buddy, you never forget him!

At the Johannesburg Zoo and enjoying the rides.




Buddy walking his big friend Noah to school. The dog's handler
was so kind to Buddy.
I got to watch Buddy perform in a singing competition.
He loves music of any kind. He had so much confidence!

Receiving his award. 
We went to the Joburg theatre to see a show called
"TRIBULATION" which I thought sounded like African dancing.
But, no! It was belly dancing!! With bellies of all shapes, sizes,
ages, piercings and adornments! We still enjoyed the show!


Our last treat was a trip to Maccas where everybody knew Buddy!
What a star!

I am going to miss you, Bud!





Saturday, 12 July 2014

OUR SOUTH AFRICAN ROAD TRIP - Champagne Golf and Sport Resort

The last leg of our 3500 km journey saw us head to The Drakensberg Mountains, near Ladysmith.


We had booked into The Champagne Golf and Sport Resort. A very family friendly resort with endless activities to do for all of the family, young and old! We were to play 18 holes of golf. The fairways were very dry with the winter season, but nonetheless we had a wonderful time. We both loved sitting close to their perfectly stoked fireplaces. Plus, the resort was hosting a "Christmas in July" dinner during our stay!


 Mr. O. watching the Sprinboks play a match. Everyone was glued to the television.


It was so cold in this part of Africa, that even the water from the irrigation pipes was frozen!


Carrying firewood.


We had a wonderful experience during our two week road trip. Lots of photos and stories to share!

Thursday, 10 July 2014

OUR SOUTH AFRICAN ROAD TRIP - The Wild Coast

Our next port of call was "Port Saint John's" on the Wild Coast of Eastern Cape of Africa. We had to drive about 10 hours to get there from Knysna. Below are some of the sights we saw along the way. Street performers in the middle of the traffic at peak hour, people sitting by the road waiting for the combi van taxis, shoppers, laundry drying, houses new and old. Never a dull moment!






 Ahhh… then we arrive at Port Saint John's! Very much like Mozambique. Stunning seaviews, but dirty streets, potholes everywhere, many beggars, poor living conditions and mangy dogs.  After driving ten hours, we reached our destination at "Lodge on the Beach". It was not our usual standard of accommodation, but with one very tired driver and passenger, we decided to stay. On day two of being greeted by the four dogs and two cats who shared the abode, we decided to find something else less pet friendly, cleaner and with a bathroom in the room!

The Lodge on the Beach - BLAH! A dive! ;0(


Breakfast with a view at Delicious Monster!


  Trying to take a selfie!




 Yikes! Beautiful beaches, but "Second Beach" at Port Saint Johns is 
the most dangerous beach for shark attacks in the world!




 The markets at PSJ.




 The one and only diesel and petrol station in the area!


 One happy shopper heading home with her groceries.


 Buying a wooden walking sticks from a local craftsman by the side of the road.


 The sights you see and must be careful of when driving in Africa!


`Looking down on PSJ from the airstrip on top of the mountain!


Mr.O. pretending he is a pilot in our car and driving down the middle of the airstrip!
Boys will be boys!


 Our second accommodation t PSJ. Clean. Tidy. Ensuite. Bed and breakfast. 
And a helicopter in the back yard!!!!


Beautiful coastline (just don't go in the water!) Cows, cows, cows are everywhere!


We had gone to PSJ to see The Sardine Run. This is when …. Every year, between the months of May and July, many millions of silvery sardines travel north from the cold southern oceans off South Africa's Cape Point, hugging the shore as they make their way up along the coastlines of the former Transkei (northern Eastern Cape) and KwaZulu-Natal in what is commonly known as the annualSardine Run.

Visible even by satellite, these famous sardine shoals travel in seething masses stretching for up to fifteen kilometres in length, three and a half kilometres wide and nearly forty metres deep. 

The Sardine Run is a spectacle in itself, but add to this, hundreds of predators arriving en mass to partake in a feeding frenzy, and you get a wildlife extravaganza rivalling the Great Migration of the wildebeest across the African savanna. Birds, dolphins, sharks, whales and game fish all gorge themselves on sardine's-a-plenty, putting on a show that will undoubtably live on in memory for a lifetime! (From Sardinerun.com)






Saturday, 5 July 2014

OUR SOUTH AFRICAN ROAD TRIP - The Knysna Oyster Festival

 Back to Knysna for the 2014 Oyster Festival! We found a great pub on Thesen Island where music of "our generation" was playing. Fish  & chips, lobsters, oysters, prawns and more, were coming out thick and fast! The perfect spot to enjoy a winter afternoon by the sea!  Have you ever heard of an "oyster delivery" van, before? I hadn't, but I sure would like to have one where I live!




 We went for a walk around Thesen Island. We saw an old turbine station turned into a five star boutique hotel. Complete with a deck named after  Mr. O.! THey also had some lovely artwork int heir foyer.



 Golfing at Simola, Knysna. It was a  freezing, but beautiful day!
The views were stunning!




 And lastly, before we left… we bought a gift at the local craft market, for Beanie and the family to remember us by. This is a sculpture of two Gannet birds made out of a local stone. Beanie loves birds and we thought they were just perfect! Thank you, dear Beanie, Cliff, Max and Buddy for sharing your beautiful home with us! We look forward to you all coming to stay with us in Australia, one day!