Nearly 4 weeks in and I am aware that I have not posted anything. I have received nagging mails from blog followers with nothing to follow so these have spurred me into action. Not sure what to call this – Oli Blog, Captain slog, Adams blog but anyway will try not to bore but give a summary of what we have encountered so far.
Surprisingly, for me anyway, internet access has been quite tricky in South Africa – but in their words – “This is Africa”, so we have had to make do.
The days leading up to departure were filled with excitement, various goodbye’s and last minute packing but there are a couple of moments that stick in the mind. The first is that following the long xmas break I had just re-shaped my ‘xmas goatee’ into a handlebar ‘Mo’ moustache as a joke for Vicky and her sister Sarah and then out of the blue I had two visitors who popped in to say farewell and there was I looking like something out of a YMCA video ! SO apologies to Paul and Lucinda and Dougal as they managed to keep straight faces whilst we chatted !
Everyone has been really supportive of our adventure, none more so than both our families, and the way that Nana said goodbye to Charlie at the airport was hilarious. In essence she gave him 55 kisses on his cheek in a ‘machine-gun’ fashion whilst he giggled uncontrollably – a really great way to say goodbye.
What is all the fuss about Terminal 5 ? I have found it to be quite superb. British Airways have performed a masterstroke by upsetting all their customers with all of their cabin crew strikes, meaning less people fly their airline which means their new airport is empty – and therefore highly efficient !
So we board the plane and the Captain announces that everything is on schedule and we should be leaving in 10 minutes time. 5 miinutes later he announces that one of the stewardesses has banged her head (clearly she wasn’t wearing the new compulsory hard hat uniform) and she had to be taken off the plane and we had to wait for a replacement – no more than 45 minutes the Captain announces – 2 hours later we leave the tarmac ! However, our adrenalin was still flowing and the flight was reasonable with Charlie having a reasonable sleep. Due to the delay we missed our connection in Jo’Burg and there was a certain amount of faff at the airport but we eventually got the next flight to Durban where we were met by our hosts for the first part of our journey – Pip, Tim, Amy and Nicole.
We settle in immediately and have been enjoying the 25 Celsius temperature – albeit with the odd shower, as we see that the UK is still wet and cold ! In our first week we have enjoyed trips to the Aquarium and seen the dolphins, the beach and walks around the lakes in Pip’s garden. We have picked lemons and got to know a BlessBok (like an antelope) that has taken up residence next to Pip’s house – it is a bit like Dances with Wolves where every day I get a bit closer to him ! I don’t remember Kevin Costner having a four year old with him though as Charlie always simply wants to run straight up to him. Add to this a couple of afternoons in their hot tub (or hot water bottle as Charlie calls it) I think we can say we have had a good first week !
Notable injuries are mostly to Charlie – A split lip from a slip on the rocks whilst rock-pooling (we think he might have killed a tooth too!) as well as a badly grazed knee that he keeps knocking but that is finally healing now. Only Sunburnt feet for me and a day feeling poorly for Vix, but so far so good.
Week 2 in Durban started with a trip to a local Game reserve – a place called Tala. You drive yourselves, so fairly informal, but no real predators. However, we saw Hippo’s, giraffes, zebra, rhino and various antelopes and we had a nice swim in a warm pool – all for £20 so felt like great value.
We also spent a day at the water park in Durban where we had great fun in the lazy river and on the tube rides. At the end of the week we managed to fit in a short week-end break away with Pip and Tim in Southbroom, 2 hours south of Durban. A beautiful spot with wonderful beaches was a great way to relax. Deserted beaches with rock pools and swimming pools and some naked sand-diving (children only) led to a great week-end. We also managed to see some Crocs and snakes at a Croc park.
The last few days we have been in Cape Town. A great journey from Durban to Cape Town via Mango airlines which to Charlie’s delight served mango juice !?! We also left and arrived early which is something very unusual for us to have experienced. On Day 1 we tried to go up Table Mountain as it was a clear day but it was too windy up top and so the cable car was not running – much to Charlie’s disapproval.
However, on Day 2 on an equally clear and sunny day we did get up the mountain in the morning and the views were spectacular. We also visited Robben island in the afternoon and saw Nelson Mandela’s cell and heard about how the political prisoners were treated up until quite recently – quite moving stuff.
We then took a road trip to Cape Point and spent the day getting there and back, taking in crazy golf (!), penguins, Eland (more antelope), ostriches and baboons. Cape Point is where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet but it was fairly calm when we were there. A great signpost showed London to be circa 10,000 kms away, Sydney (our next destination) 12,000 kms away and Beijing 12,000 kms away. This reminded us how remote we are, however with technology (Skype) and good old fashioned telephones we have been able to stay in touch with family.
A quiet, but still very hot day today has allowed us to relax some more and given me some time to wrote some of this down. Tomorrow is the Botanical gardens in Kirstenbosch and a walk in the local forest with the baboons ! Then back to Durban on Tuesday and then Jo’Burg and Sydney at the week-end – Oz here we come…
A quick update from Oz…
A 12 hour flight from Jo’Burg to Sydney went pretty well with Charlie sleeping for approx. 7 hours and we had to wake him for breakfast. We arrived in Sydney to a near 40 degree heatwave !! we have been on a round the city bus trip and up the highest towere and the Aquarium and wildlife place to see Kangaroos and Koalas. I even managed to see England lose to Australia at the SCG where I sat for 4 hours in the boiling sun but managed tonot to burn thanks to Factor 40 and plenty of VB Mild !!
Met up with our friends Clive and Paul today and we may see them again in New Zealand – great to see friendly faces and share stories etc. Off to Bondi beach this evening with Vicky’s friend Nikki and Dave and then we are going to a 3 year old’s birthday party tomorrow that Charlie should enjoy. The next few days we are staying south of Sydney on the coast for a mini break !!
More soon….. hopefully !
