August 3 - 17, 2013
Johannesburg
After a 30 hour flight Niran graciously picked us up from Jo'burg airport and took us to Uncle Segs and Aunty Shamla's house in Sandton. We partied that night at Katzy's and were introduced to Niran's preference for tequila shots. We were joined that night by Sharona and her boyfriend and Ranie.
The following day we picked up Lavena from the airport and I rediscovered driving a manual car on the left hand side of the road. We again partied too much that night and Lavena managed to fall asleep at dinner.
The next few days were spent visiting the local lion park, the Cradle of Humankind, Soweto (where we were introduced to umqombothi - or Jo'burg beer and met Niran's friends - Sipho, David and BK), Mandela Square and eating way to much food (bunny chow, Nando's, meat pies, Shisa Nyama... etc).
After a 30 hour flight Niran graciously picked us up from Jo'burg airport and took us to Uncle Segs and Aunty Shamla's house in Sandton. We partied that night at Katzy's and were introduced to Niran's preference for tequila shots. We were joined that night by Sharona and her boyfriend and Ranie.
The following day we picked up Lavena from the airport and I rediscovered driving a manual car on the left hand side of the road. We again partied too much that night and Lavena managed to fall asleep at dinner.
The next few days were spent visiting the local lion park, the Cradle of Humankind, Soweto (where we were introduced to umqombothi - or Jo'burg beer and met Niran's friends - Sipho, David and BK), Mandela Square and eating way to much food (bunny chow, Nando's, meat pies, Shisa Nyama... etc).
Durban
That weekend we drove down to Durban and stayed with Avashni and Dylan and met my little nephew Pryal. Dylan is a master cook and prepared us an Afrikaner dish called potqui.
The following day we had a giant family reunion at Aunty Rose's apartment with all the Aunts and Uncles from Durban, Aunty Rose, Aunty Yogs, Aunty Viggie and Uncle D.R., and all the cousins, Sagri, Ranie, Avashni, Dhesigan, Vinasan, Niran and there other halves, Sunil, Dylan, Shivanie and Lauren.
On the last day in Durban before heading south we visited the beautiful Natal coastline and I swam in the Indian ocean for the first time... that I remember.
That weekend we drove down to Durban and stayed with Avashni and Dylan and met my little nephew Pryal. Dylan is a master cook and prepared us an Afrikaner dish called potqui.
The following day we had a giant family reunion at Aunty Rose's apartment with all the Aunts and Uncles from Durban, Aunty Rose, Aunty Yogs, Aunty Viggie and Uncle D.R., and all the cousins, Sagri, Ranie, Avashni, Dhesigan, Vinasan, Niran and there other halves, Sunil, Dylan, Shivanie and Lauren.
On the last day in Durban before heading south we visited the beautiful Natal coastline and I swam in the Indian ocean for the first time... that I remember.
Port Elizabeth
The following day (Monday) we started our long drive down to PE to visit Yanesh and his fiancé Nikki. We went via the Transkei and Umtata, the home town of Nelson Mandela, and had a slight detour after I decided to drive off road and blew a tire. We arrived a little late but still managed to knock back some sushi, several tequila shots (it was Niran's birthday) and the first course of our malaria medication. This is what I used as the excuse for why I threw up four times the following morning - twice while hanging out the side of the car on our drive down the Garden Route to Cape Town, however it turns out that the vomiting had nothing to do with the medication and everything to do with the tequila.
Anyway, after a great evening with Yans and Nikki, we were on our way to Cape Town, where, it turns out, they would meet up with us again.
The following day (Monday) we started our long drive down to PE to visit Yanesh and his fiancé Nikki. We went via the Transkei and Umtata, the home town of Nelson Mandela, and had a slight detour after I decided to drive off road and blew a tire. We arrived a little late but still managed to knock back some sushi, several tequila shots (it was Niran's birthday) and the first course of our malaria medication. This is what I used as the excuse for why I threw up four times the following morning - twice while hanging out the side of the car on our drive down the Garden Route to Cape Town, however it turns out that the vomiting had nothing to do with the medication and everything to do with the tequila.
Anyway, after a great evening with Yans and Nikki, we were on our way to Cape Town, where, it turns out, they would meet up with us again.
Cape Town
The drive down the garden route was as spectacular as we were told. We stopped at Plettenburg Bay for some lunch and watched whales playing in the Indian Ocean. The terrain, especially closer to PE was probably the most beautiful I had observed in South Africa. The low scrub on the plateu out to the ocean, bounded by mountains to the north and with amazing deep canyons cut down to see level by the occasional river or creek.
Of all the cities in South Africa, Cape Town was the one we felt we could most live in. It was a developed city that had a constant cultural buzz, a mix of interesting history, beautiful terrain and a vibrant bar and restaurant scene. We didn't get the chance to climb Table Mountain or visit Robben Island due to the weather but we did check out the waterfront, visit two wineries and get down to the Cape of Good Hope. On our final night we all went out to Bukhara, and filled our bellies with Indian food and discussed the politics of a newly born country. The following day was spent on a 14 hour drive back to Johannesburg and preparation for the first leg of our Overland Safari.
The drive down the garden route was as spectacular as we were told. We stopped at Plettenburg Bay for some lunch and watched whales playing in the Indian Ocean. The terrain, especially closer to PE was probably the most beautiful I had observed in South Africa. The low scrub on the plateu out to the ocean, bounded by mountains to the north and with amazing deep canyons cut down to see level by the occasional river or creek.
Of all the cities in South Africa, Cape Town was the one we felt we could most live in. It was a developed city that had a constant cultural buzz, a mix of interesting history, beautiful terrain and a vibrant bar and restaurant scene. We didn't get the chance to climb Table Mountain or visit Robben Island due to the weather but we did check out the waterfront, visit two wineries and get down to the Cape of Good Hope. On our final night we all went out to Bukhara, and filled our bellies with Indian food and discussed the politics of a newly born country. The following day was spent on a 14 hour drive back to Johannesburg and preparation for the first leg of our Overland Safari.
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