Steve and Ang's South African Adventure

The Wedding

2006-09-27T04:29:11Z

Well we were a bit concerned about the weather to start as had woken to thunder and lightening but the sun came out and is was great to not be too hot.
Off to Glenburn lodge and to sort out the groom and his men.
We made our way to the gorgeous thatched chapel hidden in the gardens and to await lisa.
The sun was shining and the lovely bridesmaids appeared to the string quartet closely followed by proud charlie and his beeming daughter looking just like an angel. Was such a beautiful ceremony with the sun streaming in and an extremely happy Mr and Mrs Babyshoes to appear to the petal throwing crowd.

The reception was fantastic, great speeches, lots of laughter, good food and loads of dancing.

Lisa's dad and his band played and we were disappointed when they finally left the stage.
Steve even lost a bet and had to get up on stage and sing 'Why do you build me up, Buttercup baby just to let me down'. Much laughing to follow and there was also a competition to see who would win the 9 carat necklace that they were giving away. One by one we were singled out and guess who was left on the stage - yes me. They made me turn around before placing the necklace around my neck...turned out to be a necklace with 9 baby carrots on it. The laughter errupted once more.

Was a fantastic night and Ragani ended up catching the bouquet...watch out glen, your up next!

We were so honoured to be a part of tristan and lisa's wonderful day and so lucky to meet so many wonderful people. We had an absolute ball!

The Wedding remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Mabula

2006-09-27T04:26:16Z

The rest of mabula was absolutely amazing, with super close sightings of a herd of elephants (10) and only 5 metres away from us. There were a couple of baby ones and just so cute.

Am writing now from singapore and still trying to remember all the things that have happened in the last week.
The biggest highlight was on the last day of safari. Rags, glen, kit and rick went off on horseback but steve and I really wanted to see the lions again as the first sighting wasn't that good. Well we surely got a good sighting. Was just us 2 and Angie, our tour guide, she was busy looking at the track marks and we came around the corner and ground to a halt as 4 metres away was the biggest daddy lion staring at us. He took a few steps towards us (we were told to keep very still) locked his eyes, sniffed us, licked his lips for what felt like an eternity and then turned his back and joined the other 6 lions that were grazing.

Hopefully my photos will turn out ok, as you can imagine was very hard keeping the camera steady. Was absolutely the single most scariest moment of my life and the adrenaline was pumping for the rest of the day!

Mabula remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Safari

2006-09-27T04:14:57Z

Ok, so I wasn't going to write but I couldn't help it.
We arrived yesterday to Mabula and were met by our guide Fritz.
We went for a game drive straight away and within 10mins of driving encountered a rhino fight just 10 metres from our truck. One of the large male bulls took advantage of one of the smaller bulls and horned him right up his backside and lifted him right off the ground. Fight lasted for a few minutes and they both were left puffing and panting. There was much ouching, and aw-wing coming from our van.

Also saw crocs, hippo bathing in the dam, giraffe, warthog, buffelo, kudo, zebra and baboons.

We were then greeted at Kwafubsi camp by beating drums and drinks and led to our LUXURY tents. They were amazing, raised on a wooden deck with huge bedroom (and mosquito nets) and fully functioning bathroom with bath and toilet. All the finest linen and body lotions and fineries.

We had a fantastic meal of Ostrich neck (the friendly pet Ostrich that was walking around wasn't too happy with us)

and delicious dessert. Everything was lit by candle light or lamps and our game driver had to walk us all back to our tents through a gorgeous lamp lit pathway.
It was a long night of waking to all sorts of noises but such fun (I like this kind of camping).
.....
Today we had an early drive and saw more of what we saw yesterday plus elephant on the hill and a pride of lion only 15m from our truck. Came back and had a fabulous breakfast and have moved to Mabula Lodge. Again everything is wonderful and lavish (I can easily adjust to this lifestyle!!!).
Off to laze by the pool again before our next game drive at 4pm.

Love to you all
a.

Safari remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Soweto

2006-09-27T04:10:03Z

Today a few of us did a tour through Soweto. Firstly we went into a squatter camp to see how the poorest blacks lived. Everyone was really friendly and we were surrounded by beautiful children asking us loads of questions.

Is just amazing to see how they live and that they are quite content with it. We felt sorry and brought lots of ornaments that we didn't require just because we felt priveledged to be there.
We also saw Nelson Mandala's house and Winnies.
The best part was the Soweto Memorial Museum where it held all the stories about the 1976 Soweto Uprising and all about the students that were gunned down. Was really emotional reading the stories and feeling the parents/teachers sorrows.

Battery about to run out but off to Safari for 3 days so won't be in touch for a while.

Take care love a.

Soweto remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Sun City

2006-09-27T04:06:03Z

Drove to sun city on sunday (after the boys had rested their heads). Made it there by dark and went and had a look around and an amazing italian meal. Sun City is just unreal, with palaces, casinos, hotels and is just huge and so ornate. We all had fun on the pokies with rick winning some and steve losing some, but ragani and I couldn't stop on the phantom of the opera pokie game. Would bash out the loudest tunes even if we only won 12 credits.
The next day would have to be the highlight of the trip. After the boys had gone to golf us ladies (lisa, rags, kit ,annette) went to the Lion Park.
OH MY GOD, I have fallen in love.
We were able to go into the compound and feed and hold the baby cubs. They were so adorable and the little one I held just feel asleep in my arms.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww he was the cutest wee thing. The guard had something to say as I started leaving with him in my arms. It was just amazing and we fed them bottles of milk. Was just the cutest thing.
There were heaps of lions and we got really close to them and yes (rolled off another film).

Upto 3 film nights booked in now.
Went to Sun City again in the afternoon and did a tour through the palace which was just phenomenal, so much detail in everything and the statues and lavishness was just fab.

Had a lovely lunch and then went to the valley of waves for the rest of the day. THe most amazing wave pool and sunned ourselves, enjoyed icecreams and read our books.
The boys turned up late after their 18 holes but had had a great time and even threw stones at the crocs on hole 13!

Sun City remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Johannesburg

2006-09-27T04:00:51Z

Sorry for not writing much is hard to pull ourselves away from the pool!
Wow has been an action packed trip. We got to Joburg on Friday and have been going non-stop.
Was great to see Tristan and Lisa and meet up with all the crew.
Saturday was the Hens/Stags do and was a great day/night.
The boys went go karting and dressed tristan up as 'baby-shoes' (lisa's pet name for him) which included nappies, hat, bib, babyshoes and tommie tippie cup for him to drink out of.

Was a late night for the boys and a few sore heads the day after.
Us ladies also had a great day, having cocktails in the afternoon and going to this amazing restaurant club called Afrodisiac/Voodoo lounge. We had our faces painted african style and this amazingly gorgeous black african was dressed up some kind of wild tiger type creature kept coming up behind us scaring the be-jesus out of us. There was great african music and we danced into the night..

Johannesburg remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Capetown

2006-09-27T04:02:46Z

The next day we travelled to Hermanus and watched the whales (southern right) just off the shore, they were so close and we had lunch at a lovely place called Burgandy and watched the whales from where we were dining.

Yesterday was the Wine Tours of Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Had a great wine tour and lots of tasting, cheeses, breads, wines, port, brandy.

Went to one place Franschhoek Pass Winery, OMG was the most amazing house I have ever seen in the side of the hill, tuscan style, huge (can't even explain it, will have to show you the photos).

Just so you all know, I have taken soooooooo many photos, don't even think one slide evening will cover it! (Nick your lens has come in very handy, sly photos of the baboons and yesterday taking photos of the cheetahs - nice and close).

We have been interested in things we wouldn't have thought, like the squatter camps/villages, there are so many of them and just can't quite imagine their lives.
The people are really lovely, I just ran into a bunch of giggling black girls, when I asked why they were laughing at me they said 'nice smile, nice body but we want your sunglasses' was quite a laugh.
Our tour guide Gary has been great value and has been totally flexible with our demands and we have taught him a few things too we think. He keeps introducing the boys as All Blacks, although mostly people just laugh at us.
Nice to have a quiet day today, think we'll go back to Camps Bay as is it lovely and sunny and maybe into town to listen to some jazz tonight.
Tomorrow we depart for Joburg, so looking forward to seeing Lisa and Tristan but a little sad to be leaving this wonderful part of Africa.
Also sad to hear the Crocodile Hunter is dead, Lauren, Marc, Piper and Tanner were off to seem him next week. Hope tanner is feeling better loz.
Love to you all.

Adventures to be continued....

Capetown remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Capetown

2006-09-27T03:58:45Z

It is getting harder and harder to get to an Internet Cafe, not because there is a shortage of them, but because we are having such a great time!
Is the twins 31st birthday today and steve and glen have gone off to play 18 holes while ragani and I hit the shops. Rick and Kit have decided to climb Lions Head (which is quite a walk).
The last four days have been action packed with tours every day.
The first day was the Cape Peninsula Tour,

the next was a tour of the city and up the Gondola to Table Mountain
. Some higlights were the Marley Quarter (brightly coloured painted houses)
and the District Six Museum - District Six was a region of the City that the Government demolished and people were forced onto the streets and other areas. Some only having 4 hours to leave before their houses were bulldozed down.

The main highlight of the day was catching the ferry to Robben Island. Was amazing being escorted around the prison by one of the former political inmates and seeing where Mandala was kept and the stories of their hardships. Was very humbling.

Capetown remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Capetown

2006-09-27T03:50:38Z

Wow - Capetown is such a beautiful place, doesn't quite feel that we are half way around the world - some places seem so familiar. We were met by Gary our wonderful host and taken to our fantastic little boutique accommodation. Beautiful rooms overlooking the beach and lighthouse, with a delightful and apparantly trendy Italian Cafe below us - no shortage of convertible porshes, lamborghinis, BMW, audi tt's etc.

We spent the first few days getting accustomed to the area and spent much time at the fabulous V&A Waterfront.

Amazing restaurants, shops, marina and the culture is really great. Lots of groups singing, playing music.

Good mix of locals and tourists and definantly the place to be. The weather has been kind to us 22-23 degrees and took a lovely sailboat out one day - even had to giveway to a huge oil rig on its way to Angola.

Steve and I took a lovely stroll (10km in our jandals) to the beach on friday - Camps Bay. The most amazing beach, white sands, palms lining the streets and again the trendiest bars, cafe's lining the beach road. All of the flashest Mansions lining the hills.

Yesterday we moved to our next accommodation the LUXURY Waterfront apartments overlooking the whole marina complex. The most amazing place we have ever stayed. 3 bedroom/3 bathroom all equipped with baths, boudours (sp), marble floors, tiles, amazing kitchen, complimentary wine and free chocolates - just like de spa ones!

Ragani and Glen arrived yesterday and so lovely to see them both. We had plenty of celebrating and lots of beers (also in comisiration for losing the rugby too), vodka and pizza later all fell into a deep sleep.

Went for a Cape Peninsula tour today right to the bottom of the cape, walked up a very windy hill to the lighthouse, saw random baboons steeling some tourists bag.

Also saw zebra, antelope and some gorgeous little cape penguins. Ended by walking through some amazing gardens - Kirstenbosch.

Love to you all
a.

Capetown remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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We have arrived

2006-09-26T20:29:54Z

Well has been a pretty amazing time so far. Our short stay in Singapore has been a real eye-opener and action packed!!!
After arriving last night and after a good nights rest we have had a full on day. From shopping Orchard Road this morning, then to the National Orchid Gallery (trace you would have loved it - took lots of photos) and then lazed by the pool for a bit.

We then went to Raffles for a Singapore Sling, but went to the super flash bar first (not the peanut shell floor carpeted one dad) so we ended up trying out both.

Then a tad more shopping (mikem your sister was right - their are shoe shops everywhere). Feeling rather hungry by this stage made our way to China Town, where we had indian (only in singapore eh?) and then somehow the boys, instead of hailing a cab, hailed 2x tuk-tuks (with built in sub-woofers mind you) and took us on a tour through the city and then back to our hotel. Not quite sure that it was legal as cycling with no lights, helmets and towards traffic on a 4 lane main road was probably not the safest way to travel.

Am very sleepy now as is almost midnight here and have been up since 5am and am so over airports.
Hope you are all well. Will try and sort out photos in Capetown.
Missing you all but loving the adventure so far. love a.

We have arrived remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Am getting excited

2006-08-18T01:52:13Z

Not long now until we leave for our South African Adventure.

Am getting excited remains copyright of the author angelhead, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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