"To Cape of Good Hope from Gordon's Bay" Agimpels's photos around Cape Town, South Africa
Preview of Agimpels's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/agimpels/1/1224412200/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Cape Town, South Africa Entry Title: "To Cape of Good Hope from Gordon's Bay" Entry: "Day 11 - Gordon's Bay and Cape of Good Hope The early birds, Shinja, Alan and I got up and headed out to go shopping for the week, Shinja had everything we needed listed and Alan and I just dutifully followed pushing the carts. Shopping here as compared to Hazyview was definitely more cosmopolitan. An entirely different, not better or worse, just different experience. By the time we got back and unload the van we had life signs in the apartment. The necessities taken care of, breakfast and coffee, we were ready to head to the Cape of Good Hope. On the road again (sounds like a song I heard) and taking in the sites. Wow, this was a new site. We saw miles and miles of townships. Reading and seeing photos are one thing but seeing them up close and personal is another. We were unprepared. What really brought our attention to this was seeing children laughing and playing games right alongside the road running adjacent to the township. We saw kids line up in a field and stamp down the tall grass so they could play soccer. You know, philosophically speaking, if people would be happy with what they have the world would be a better place. We think we're happy with more material things and we always want more. They have their possessions and they are happy. We saw that time and time again in their faces, actions and conversations. Given that it has been about 15 years since apartheid officially ended and they have come a long way but they still have a long way to go. Hopefully they don't get caught up in the "me, mine, my world" out there. We drove along the north end of False Bay watching surfers and looking at the beautiful beaches. The water looked so inviting that we could resist. Whoa there. The water was COLD. Well cold compared to south Florida. We continued on through some really narrow streets on the R310. The homes and stores are right on the edge of the road. We often saw people stopped, pointing and taking photos on the bay side of the road. Naturally, as photographers we had to do the exact same thing but at what? Whales, whales and more whales. They were close to shore and remaining on the surface. Not camera shy at all. We passed through Fish Hoek, Cairns and numerous other towns which showed the Dutch and English history. Finally we made our first destination at Boulder's Beach. This is the home of the Jackass Penguin. We followed the signs for their rookery and paid the very reasonable entrance fee. We're wondering if we needed the long telephoto to capture them but, wait, there's one less than 2 feet from us. There's another and a lot more. Nah, telephoto not needed. We had seen a documentary called "Penguin City Slickers" by Trevor De Kock before we left for this trip. We thought we were prepared for the antics but nothing could prepare us for the hundreds of them so close and interacting with humans. They actually seemed to pose as the tourists, including us, snapped away. It was an experience not to be soon forgotten. The beach and the surrounding area added to the experience. While not a particularly sandy beach it was aptly name Boulder's for a reason. We had to force ourselves to head out for the rest of the trip and, more important at this point, food. We asked the gentleman at the entrance where, he as a local, would go for lunch and he recommended the Simonstown Country Club. That was our destination for food. Good food, great bar, great wine and nice people. We finished, paid our bill and headed out for the cape again. Upon arrival and paying the entrance fee we opted to go to the cape first and the lighthouse afterwards. We did see a few whales in the Atlantic waters adjacent to the road but we were disappointed in not seeing any Chacma Baboons. When we made it to the cape, easily identified by the indigenous tour buses, we were in a photographers treat. The coast is, well, rugged, doesn't do it justice. It's very easy to see why the most south-westerly point in Africa is also the home of numerous wrecks and the names of Wreck Coast and Coast of Storms.. Even with modern technology we did see numerous large ships giving the area a very wide berth. While we were there, within 30 minutes the winds went from 5 to 10 knots to upwards of 30 ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/agimpels/1/1224412200/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Cape of Good Hope and Boulder's Beach" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0126-724a-b6a9?ytv4=1
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Added: 44 days ago by
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"Antelopes, Baboons and Penguins, Oh My" Tonka_eng's photos around Cape Town, South Africa
Preview of Tonka_eng's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tonka_eng/1/1258405484/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Cape Town, South Africa Entry Title: "Antelopes, Baboons and Penguins, Oh My!" Entry: "Wow, Cape Town is really amazing. Dennis, why did you ever leave? It rained for a good portion of the first few days and the rain and the town reminded me a lot of San Francisco or Seattle. It's a huge city (3.5 million), but it feels small because of the mountains that separate the downtown area from the sprawling suburbs. Table Mountain dominates the skyline from any location downtown. I couldn't see it for the first few days because of the clouds, but when I first laid eyes on it my breath was taken away. It is so close you could almost touch it. It must have a profound effect and presence on the inhabitants of this city. While it was raining I explored parts of downtown like parks and museums. The fun didn't really start until the sun showed itself. I rented a car for a day and posted a notice at the hostel to see if anyone wanted to join me for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope. I didn't think anyone would respond, but Maarten, from the Netherlands, joined me at the last minute. We folded into the tiny Volkswagen (he's at least four inches taller than me) and hit the road. I struggled to drive for the first few minutes until I became re-accustomed to the right-hand drive. By the time we reached the highway I had it covered. The Cape of Good Hope is at the tip of a long penninsula and we were traveling down the eastern side. The towns we passed were incredibily cute and looked like good places to visit, however, we only stopped once to take a look at some colorful Victorian beach changing booths. A little farther down the road we reached Simon's Town which has a resident colony of African penguins (formally called Jackass penguins, but they changed the name to something more touristy). We were both disappointed that we couldn't get very close. We were confined to boardwalks above the colony, but it was still very cool. Penguins, like sea turtles, never seem to get ruffled by anything. The terrain of the Cape of Good Hope National Park is amazing. In such a small place there seems to exist several different types. There are rolling hills, sharp mountains, plains, and seaside beaches. Our first glimpse of wildlife was a troop of baboons playing and eating along the roadside. This caused a minor traffic jam as the tourists pointed their cameras at the primates. We saw another troop while we were at the beach. We were able to get within ten feet before it became uncomfortable; for us, that is. Baboons are very curious and strong and have been known to be overly attentive to some tourists. It was amazing to watch each family member; from baby to male leader. We also came across a herd of antelope, the Bontebok, and several wandering ostriches. I know it's not much relative to the diversity of southern Africa, but it was still nice to see animals that are vastly different from animals I'm accustomed to seeing. Finally the clouds cleared and Table Mountain was visible from all sections of the city. I took the cable car to the top and hiked around all day. The views from the top are amazing. Surrounding Cape Town are townships, which are informal settlements by immigrants. The city and federal governments seem to turn the other way regarding the regulation and policing of these districts. They are basically squatters living in shacks trying to make a living. 40% have HIV and a major social event is when one of their friends is buried in the now overflowing cemetary. The unemployment is around 80% and few have running water, but a majority have electricity. They are inherently unsafe places, but still many non-government organizations have stepped up to help them out from housing to education to employment. I was interested in visiting one, and while there are many 'tours' of the townships, I didn't want to feel like I was going to the zoo. I ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tonka_eng/1/1258405484/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Company Gardens and Table Mountain" 2. "Victorian changing rooms at Muizenberg" 3. "African Penguin at Boulders Beach" 4. "View of Table Mountain from Lion's Head" 5. "The view of Monwabisi Park from the guesthous" 6. "Male Chacma Baboon" 7. "Pair of Ostriches at Cape of Good Hope Park" 8. "Bontebok at Cape of Good Hope Park" 9. "Me and resident of Monwabisi Park" 10. "Devil's Peak" 11. "A Beautiful Pincushion Protea" 12. "Table Mountain and Camps Bay" 13. "Children of Monwabisi Park" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00c1-4f64-8a60?ytv4=1
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Added: 44 days ago by
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"Crossing the Karoo" Jesshiggins's photos around Cape Town, South Africa (karoo crossing)
Preview of Jesshiggins's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jesshiggins/africa2005/1115019180/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Cape Town, South Africa Entry Title: "Crossing the Karoo" Entry: "Mainland Africa at last. One would think I'd have all kinds of exciting things to write, but nope--I'm still in recovery mode. I landed in Johannesburg, spoke a bunch of English, ate some falafel, marveled at all the new and shiny buildings, breathed a huge sigh of relief, and promptly got sick. It was just a cold, and a blessing in disguise. I needed a breather after Madagascar, and only the brief but utter breakdown of my body could make me take one. So I spent an unexpected five days lounging around the hostel. I was so happy to be back in the company of other travelers. Getting off the beaten track is great, but I think getting back on it is really underrated. There's not much to say about Rosebank, the Johannesburg suburb where I stayed. Much of suburban life here takes place in enclosed shopping malls, so any attempt at character seems artificial and out-of-place. I do, however, love that the ATM asks me if I want to continue my transaction in Zulu. Why yes, I do! But who knows what I would manage to do to my accounts. And it's wild to hear the people around me at lunch gabbing on in a click language (Xhosa, I think). I decided to wait on Kruger, since a 4-day tour costs about a kajillion dollars (or, 1/4 kajillion per day). Instead, I found a ride to Cape Town with a lovely Swiss-German couple who had brought six different kinds of cheese and even more kinds of chocolate with them from Switzerland. Obviously I fell instantly and deeply in love with them. We took four days to cross the country, stopping in little towns along the way. We crossed The Great Karoo, or as Roland calls it, The Boring Karoo (hey, we didn't ask him to drive it all!) It reminds me of parts of the American West, all open scrubland and irregular mesas. We passed herds of cattle and sheep, the latter sometimes being herded from horseback, and the occasional herd of antelope. And fences--miles and miles and miles of fences in the middle of nowhere. Once in awhile we'd see something exotic, like a pair of ostriches or a black-faced monkey peering at us from the side of the road. Despite these signs of life, the semidesert seemed merciless, the dusty brush withering under intense sun. It was utterly silent. It felt like one good rain might make the difference between a bleating cow and a bleached pile of bones. And in empty places like that, you know that ultimately nature doesn't care which way it goes. I'm not the first to be morosely touched by the Karoo. In Graaft-Reinet, we watched the sun set over Desolation Valley. An apt name, but terribly hard to explain to my traveling companions--how do you describe desolation? Most visitors to South Africa overlook the Karoo, since at first glance there's not much to see, and its natural beauty is eclipsed by that of the Garden Route and the game parks. But it has an interesting history as the site of the Great Trek, when the Boers set out from Cape Town to escape English domination. I suppose it would be simplistic to say that they made the trek solely because they wanted to keep slaves (and the English had just banned slavery), but that was apparently a big factor. Anyway, the Karoo is one of those unique places where a beautiful (in my mind) landscape intersects with the history of an entire country. The Karoo gradually gives way to rolling hills and green valleys, and finally the coast. So you see, even though I've done next to nothing for ten days, I can still write four pages about it. Sheesh! Next on the docket: A cage dive with Great Whites (and mom, by "Great Whites" I mean "kittens"), then an overland tour through Namibia and Botswana." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jesshiggins/africa2005/1115019180/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "_Lion park" 2. "_Big boy" 3. "_A white lion" 4. "_A girl's got to eat!" 5. "_HOW CUTE IS THIS???" 6. "_The Karoo" 7. "_Hills in the Karoo" 8. "_Karoo flora" 9. "_Graaft-Reinet" 10. "_Church in town" 11. "_Door in town" 12. "_Cutest dog in South Africa" 13. "_Wait! We have another contender" 14. "_My favorite hostel" 15. "_In Desolation Valley" 16. "_Sunset over Desolation Valley" 17. "_Can't get enough of that Karoo" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-00cf-b95a-7c50?ytv4=1
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Added: 44 days ago by
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"Cape Town" Seandrade's photos around Cape Town, South Africa (arab music store cape town)
Preview of Seandrade's blog at TravelPod. Read the full blog here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/seandrade/zambia/1176370380/tpod.html This blog preview was made by TravelPod using the TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow creator. Entry from: Cape Town, South Africa Entry Title: "Cape Town" Entry: "Finally......here it is. Although Cape Town lacks the sense of racial tension that is undeniably strong in Joburg, it is for all intense and purposes a very "white" city. Cape Town it's self is set along Long Street, the backpackers haven, the waterfront, Table Mountain, University of Cape Town and then heads out to various suburbs, beautiful national parks, hiking trails, gardens, beaches, etc.. Except for Marvel Bar on Long Street, a very cool, retro, old rap bar with pictures lining the walls of famous Jazz artists and old records, the only African South Africans I saw were the ones serving our food or drinks. You get a very distinct feeling that somehow there is a segregation, is it voluntary, is it coerced, I don't know but I will say among the touristy areas of Cape Town, I rarely saw a black face that was not serving. Now once you are outside of the center, you pass townships as well as distinctly wealthy black areas and all of the sudden there are Africans on the street everywhere....hmmm is there an imaginary line we shall not cross? After learning a bit about Cape Town's history, I could begin to piece together why this might be so....especially seeing as much of the battles of Apartheid actually were fought in Cape Town as it was the seat of the legislature. In the late forties, the National Party took control and took away the right of coloreds to vote, made it hard for them to be employed and refused to build any new black housing. Consequently, squatters were forced to build small shanty towns east of the city and wherever possible, however, the government would frequently come in, bulldoze the shacks and dump the inhabitants farther away from the city....In the early sixties laws were passed forcing blacks and coloreds to carry passbooks which showed if they had permission to be in that particular area or not. A few years later Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders were arrested and imprisoned on Robin Island, just off the coast. The famous District Six area, what was a predominantly colored ghetto, until it was declared a white neighborhood and the inhabitants expelled, is close to Long Street and has since created a museum and various walking tours around the historic area. Now people like to think of Cape Town as one of the most open-minded cities in South Africa...I do think it's very laid back with the surfer beach atmosphere...but just as other parts of South Africa I find it a very bizarre segregated integrated area. Long Street is full of different cafes, restaurants, a great live music joint called Zulu café...funky stores, boutiques, huge music stores and markets. The street is alive all hours and the Middle Eastern stand blasting Arabic music and serving kebobs, pitas, and all kinds of delights fills the air with amazing aromas. After a five hour lay over in Joburg, due to a plane malfunction before we were to take off, we finally arrived in the late afternoon, exhausted and hungry...winding around the roads from the airport to Long Street beautiful views of the bay, the ocean, and the landscape unfolded before our eyes, set against the beautiful Table Top Mountain and Lions Head. We get settled into the Cat and Moose...and yes later discover the dog's name is in fact Moose, we venture out and immediately feel a much more cosmopolitan, lively vibe than Lusaka. Music wafts through the streets, students, and the young 20's/30's crowd is roaming the streets, browsing shops, filling cafes, having afternoon beers, tapas, conversating on a vast array of topics. We arrive at the Zulu Café, amazing food great music that comes up from its neighbor restaurant (owned by the same people) Mama Africa. We kept hearing Mama Africa, a restaurant with a long reservation list, and which looks like a scene from African interior decorating magazine, was great, but I must say the music was much better than the food and we usually found ourselves heading towards Zulu over the next week ..." Read and see more at: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/seandrade/zambia/1176370380/tpod.html Photos from this trip: 1. "Baboons" 2. "Beca and samara" 3. "Boat marina" 4. "Cape samara" 5. "Coast and bay" 6. "Gard bec" 7. "Gard sam" 8. "Kulk" 9. "Lighthouse" 10. "Lion head" 11. "Llandudno" 12. "Lookingout" 13. "Ost" 14. "Penguins 3" 15. "Penguins1" 16. "Penguins2" 17. "Restuarant" 18. "Rocks" 19. "Seal bay" 20. "Sun1" 21. "Sun2" 22. "Sun3" 23. "Table 2" 24. "Table1" See this TripWow and more at http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/tripwow/ta-0149-0238-c6b4?ytv4=1
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Added: 44 days ago by
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111019 MTN Golden Lions Whackhead Simpson
94.7 Whackhead Simpson and fans came down to the MTN Golden Lions Semi Final training to get some autographs
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Added: 100 days ago by
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