I stepped off the plane in Cape Town, shuffled my way through immigrations and picked up my pack. As I walked out into the balmy air a smile pushed it's way across my face. I was standing on African soil. The scene was ordinary, an airport, it could have been anywhere. But the fact that I was on a far away continent that I had only dreamed about was very exciting.
I looked around to find Clive, a surfer that Phil and I met while we were in Costa Rica. Clive not only picked me up at the airport but his family opened up their home and made me feel welcome. His dad, John, took me on an insiders tour of the Cape. We visited Kayalitsha, one of the townships making news during the early 90's when the aparthied government was being replaced with democracy. Another trip was to the Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meld together. Here we saw some wildlife including baboons, Bontebok, a Puf-Adder and a Cape Cobra-two of the deadliest snakes in the world. Other trips to Boulders Beach to see some penguins and Seal Island, where Great White sharks feed, were a good introduction to South Africa. My home for two weeks was in Sun Valley, a stones throw from Fish Hoek on the False Bay side of the cape peninsula and Nordhoek on the Atlantic side. The coast and the beaches are amazing, so much so that they are featured in many movies and music videos. The coast surrounding Cape Town is the stomping grounds for the rich and famous. In spending some time in this beautiful place, it is very clear why.
I was suprised to learn how modern the cape area is. At first glance it seems very much like America. However, there is a dark side. Tremendous poverty still exists in South Africa and with one in every four people infected with AIDS the country remains a third-world nation. The township wars of the early 90's were not long ago and they were terribly violent. Change of this magnitude does not happen overnight. Crime is not uncommon and it can be violent. Despite the diverse cultural mix of races and religions co-existing in South Africa, or perhaps because of it, there is a feeling of intensity in the energy here.
The Cape area is very interesting and I am enjoying my time here. However, I am looking forward to getting out and about in Africa. Seeing different cultures and landscapes as well as some wild animals! Stay tunned! Jeff.
I looked around to find Clive, a surfer that Phil and I met while we were in Costa Rica. Clive not only picked me up at the airport but his family opened up their home and made me feel welcome. His dad, John, took me on an insiders tour of the Cape. We visited Kayalitsha, one of the townships making news during the early 90's when the aparthied government was being replaced with democracy. Another trip was to the Cape Point where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meld together. Here we saw some wildlife including baboons, Bontebok, a Puf-Adder and a Cape Cobra-two of the deadliest snakes in the world. Other trips to Boulders Beach to see some penguins and Seal Island, where Great White sharks feed, were a good introduction to South Africa. My home for two weeks was in Sun Valley, a stones throw from Fish Hoek on the False Bay side of the cape peninsula and Nordhoek on the Atlantic side. The coast and the beaches are amazing, so much so that they are featured in many movies and music videos. The coast surrounding Cape Town is the stomping grounds for the rich and famous. In spending some time in this beautiful place, it is very clear why.
I was suprised to learn how modern the cape area is. At first glance it seems very much like America. However, there is a dark side. Tremendous poverty still exists in South Africa and with one in every four people infected with AIDS the country remains a third-world nation. The township wars of the early 90's were not long ago and they were terribly violent. Change of this magnitude does not happen overnight. Crime is not uncommon and it can be violent. Despite the diverse cultural mix of races and religions co-existing in South Africa, or perhaps because of it, there is a feeling of intensity in the energy here.
The Cape area is very interesting and I am enjoying my time here. However, I am looking forward to getting out and about in Africa. Seeing different cultures and landscapes as well as some wild animals! Stay tunned! Jeff.
posted by Phlip | 6:37 AM
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