Bonjour!
Its 28th May, ive been here a month already, and what a month its been!
Looking back i arrived a little weary and wide-eyed and more than a little wary (so many friends warned me about staying after dark and not wearing jewelry in public)
Ive been shocked by the divides here, ive been delighted by the warm welcome and all the wonderful people from far-flung places ive met whilst working here, from the inspiring world travellers to the workers in transit passing through while on a job. Working in a backpackers has been a perfect start as it meant I got a good feel for hostel life (although I've been spoilt in this one)
Inside a month I've sea kayaked, township toured, been to Cape Town twice, experienced numerous wine tastings, boat tripped to see southern right whales, rode a horse through wine valleys, played drinking games till the early hours, walked Jock for miles along the coastal path, taught American Kevin how to drive with gears, learnt new cooking skills from Austrian Mel, hiked many times in the local Fernkloof Nature Reserve, seen animals and plants i never knew existed, climbed in caves on the seashore, and walked miles of white sands, ive visited the most southern tip of Africa and also the most South Westerly and ive watched in awe at big cats enjoying comfortable free lives in a sanctuary.
It's fair to say ive done lots but really its only a speck of whats to see and do here i this beautiful country.
Its time to move on and ive a couple of weeks in Capetown planned as ive kindly been offered a free bed there, so here's to city life for a little while.
Current daily spend for May was about £20 a day but i think i may struggle in town!
Im not feeling too home sock as i have everyone at my fingertips most of the mornings and evenings with good wifi but am aware it won't always be this way.
So, June im coming atcha, what have you got for me?
S
Monday, 27 May 2019
Friday, 10 May 2019
Kayak supreme
Today i went on one of the local excursions, sea kayaking. Ive kayaked many times on river and once or twic on the sea so i wasnt scared or super excited but fancied seeing a seal or two.
Met the lovely guys down in Hermanus Old Harbour who run Walker Bay Adventures and got my lifejacket, we discussed taking phones etc and i stood my ground as im a dangerous risk taker etc etc. I shared a kayak with a guy called Michael from Berlin who hadnt been kayaking before, and we were off. It was a beautiful morning, mist still on the bay as we paddled hugging the coastline. We saw seals playing on the rocks and they saw us and dived into the water to show off a bit. Out into open sea we got some great info about marine life and even tried some seaweed called 'sea olives' and it was actually quite nice.
Suddenyl the mood changed and our guide told us to look up 'dolphins!' he said, i squinted into the distance and could only see a minor disturbance in the water. We all stopped paddling and waited, i grabbed my phone in readiness. Soon we were aware of a huge pod of dolphins heading straight towards us, you could hear the sound of the waves they made as they leapt into the air steadily making progress. I felt my heart soar - they didnt even seem to be bothered by our prescence. We sat still as they approached , no-one could speak, its was the most incredible moment as they passed through the very water we were sitting in and onwards into the distance, we were literally in amongst them. Im so glad i took my phone!
We watched them fade into the distance and stayed a while in the hope they might return, but i think id used up all my luck points for the day, week or even year!
On the way back to shore we watched a sea lion who had got himself an octopus for breakfast, he was flinging it in the air and i think showing off a little too.
Back on dry land with a soggy bum and a big smile i was in seventh heaven.
Hermanus and indeed South Africa just keeps on giving, what a wonderful country.
Wonder what ill try next!
Met the lovely guys down in Hermanus Old Harbour who run Walker Bay Adventures and got my lifejacket, we discussed taking phones etc and i stood my ground as im a dangerous risk taker etc etc. I shared a kayak with a guy called Michael from Berlin who hadnt been kayaking before, and we were off. It was a beautiful morning, mist still on the bay as we paddled hugging the coastline. We saw seals playing on the rocks and they saw us and dived into the water to show off a bit. Out into open sea we got some great info about marine life and even tried some seaweed called 'sea olives' and it was actually quite nice.
Suddenyl the mood changed and our guide told us to look up 'dolphins!' he said, i squinted into the distance and could only see a minor disturbance in the water. We all stopped paddling and waited, i grabbed my phone in readiness. Soon we were aware of a huge pod of dolphins heading straight towards us, you could hear the sound of the waves they made as they leapt into the air steadily making progress. I felt my heart soar - they didnt even seem to be bothered by our prescence. We sat still as they approached , no-one could speak, its was the most incredible moment as they passed through the very water we were sitting in and onwards into the distance, we were literally in amongst them. Im so glad i took my phone!
We watched them fade into the distance and stayed a while in the hope they might return, but i think id used up all my luck points for the day, week or even year!
On the way back to shore we watched a sea lion who had got himself an octopus for breakfast, he was flinging it in the air and i think showing off a little too.
Back on dry land with a soggy bum and a big smile i was in seventh heaven.
Hermanus and indeed South Africa just keeps on giving, what a wonderful country.
Wonder what ill try next!
Saturday, 4 May 2019
The coastal path
Today our bosses went off on holiday for the month leaving us here to manage things. Strangely I dont feel nervous really, but i do want to do a good job.
I work five hours a day, five days a week and the work is pretty simple once youve been shown the ropes, check people in and out, meet and greet and make sure you are always available.
Today im working 5-10 so this morning i took myself off on the coastal path to explore.
Hermanus has a path about 11km long, starting at the New Harbour and finishing in the East on the stunning Grotto Beach, handily theres also a really cool bar/restaurant called Dutchies at the end too.
The pathway meanders through thick hedgrows and there are many many benches if you fancy a break. You are never really out of sight of the big skies and seas im becoming familiar with.
I spotted birds, lizards, some kind of locust, a couple of seals and numerous plants I wasn't familiar with. The path is so well made its accessible to all and every couple of km there were staff looking after the area.
Its a fantastic walk and the sea is really the superstar here, big rolling waves crashing into rocks, kelp lazily swinging to and fro and seabirds in abundance. Despite a warm day there is a refreshing mist in the air to enjoy. My hair isnt totally keen on the atmos but hey ho, you cant have it all!
I work five hours a day, five days a week and the work is pretty simple once youve been shown the ropes, check people in and out, meet and greet and make sure you are always available.
Today im working 5-10 so this morning i took myself off on the coastal path to explore.
Hermanus has a path about 11km long, starting at the New Harbour and finishing in the East on the stunning Grotto Beach, handily theres also a really cool bar/restaurant called Dutchies at the end too.
The pathway meanders through thick hedgrows and there are many many benches if you fancy a break. You are never really out of sight of the big skies and seas im becoming familiar with.
I spotted birds, lizards, some kind of locust, a couple of seals and numerous plants I wasn't familiar with. The path is so well made its accessible to all and every couple of km there were staff looking after the area.
Its a fantastic walk and the sea is really the superstar here, big rolling waves crashing into rocks, kelp lazily swinging to and fro and seabirds in abundance. Despite a warm day there is a refreshing mist in the air to enjoy. My hair isnt totally keen on the atmos but hey ho, you cant have it all!
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