Must do list for: Cape Town, South Africa

• Table Mountain – Whether it is hiking up or cable car, it’s just a top attraction, filled with panoramic views of the breath taking city that I call home
  

  Table Mountain and Cape Town City Centre

• Boulders Beach – Penguins penguins everywhere. A beautiful beach off Simon’s Town, with huge boulder’s and nosey little penguins. And be sure to stop in at the famous Brass Bell for lunch in Kalk Bay on your way home.
  

  Boulders Beach

• Kirstenbosch Gardens.  – Be sure to go check out the Botanical Gardens, they are magical. There is a bridge walk you can do over the tree tops. Bring a picnic basket, wine (lots of wine), friends, and enjoy the magic. If you’re here over Summer, you’re in for a treat. The botanical gardens offer sunset concerts every Sunday through Summer. Live music, in a natural amphitheatre, surrounded by trees and Table Mountain as the backdrop.
• Go see a Jeremy Loops concert. By far my most favourite musician that has grown up on these shores, your heart will melt as he captures the essence of Cape Town through his music.
  

  Jeremy Loops playing at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

• Mosey around the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay for a cruisy Saturday brunch with a glass of bubbly in hand and some great local music.
  

  Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay

• Go to The Assembly to see a live show. I can’t explain it. It’s just a must do.
• Go to Robben Island and see where Nelson Mandela lived for so many of his prison years. If you have time before coming to South Africa, you should read The Long Walk to Freedom while you’re sitting on one of your many flights/busses/trains around the world.
• Hike up Lion’s head to watch the sunset
  

  View of Cape Town from Lion’s Head on a Full Moon

• Another great market to go to on a Saturday morning is the Old Biscuit Mill to the Neighbourhood Goods market. Great food. Craft beers. Happiness.
• Drive along Chapman’s Peak Drive. The views are incredible. The road was closed for a number of years because of dangerous rockfalls, but now that that’s all fixed up, take advantage of the scenery.
• Looking for a tip top beach to soak up some South African sun? Llandudno beach is the one for you. A local surf spot, a small beach, lots of boulders to clamber onto, white sand, and the only thing you could try fault it on is the crisp cold ocean, but even that is hardly a fault.
• Go SKYDIVING!! Cape Town has one of the most beautiful settings in the world. Mountains, Ocean, City. Why not do a jump out of a little aircraft and take in all the sites from the sky. These guys are great www.skydivecapetown.co.za
• Go to a music festival. Cape Town is know for it’s PsyTrance music scene, and the parties are world class. When it comes to other music festivals, Rocking the Daisies is a brilliant one.
  

  Rocking the Daisies 2012 during Bloc Party’s performance

   

i made it to sydney

Damn but jet lag sucks. I’ve never really experienced it properly, even though I’ve been all over the world. But this time I really struggled. Just after I had adapted to being home in South Africa after flying from South America, I decide to confuse my body even more and hop across to Australia (via Dubai). So far this year I’ve literally hopped across the whole Southern Hemisphere!! Needless to say, it took me a couple of days to adjust to the time differences.

Luckily, while I was backpacking in South America, I made many amazing friends that happen to reside in Australia. One of them being my friend Mike (he feels more like a brother than a friend though to be honest). He and his family welcomed me into their home in Sysney’s suburbia, where I spent a couple of days letting my body clock adjust. I did also venture outu into the city a few times, seeing and catching up with old school friends, family, etc…and well, obviously I went to the Sydney Opera House too.

A few highlights from my week in Sydney:

• Mike and I went to a rally in Hyde Park. The rally was against the new lockout laws that the government is trying to introduce in Sydney. Basically, there was a fight in the famed Kings Cross party area in the city, and a guy was sadly killed. Now the media has basically forced the hand of the government, to pass a new law that night clubs stop selling alcohol at 1:30am, and close all night clubs at 3:00pm. To me this seems acceptable because at home in South Africa, it is relatively similar, but I understand that it’s not what they are used to in this huge metropolitan city.
  

  Mike and I at the Rally in Hyde Park

• My cousin, Anton, and his wife and their gorgeous little 19 month old twins also live in Sydney, so I spent a night with them and got to meet my second cousins. I also got to catch up with Anton after not seeing him in about 8 years. So happy. Family is always family.
  

  My two little cousins Enzo and Nina

• The famous Bondi Beach is really quite beautiful, but also rather over saturated with people. On this particular Saturday afternoon, I met up with an old friend from High School, Natalie. It’s been about 6 year since we last saw each other. Well, whenever the last time I was in London was, that is when I last saw her. She lives here now. It was really interesting to chat to her about different visa options if I ever decide to settle down in Australia permanently, and obviously just to catch up in general.
  

  Catching up with Natalie, an old friend from High School

• The Sydney Opera House is of course a must see tourist attraction, and with my interest in Architecture, it was incredible to be standing next to this huge piece of art, carefully crafted against the skyline of Sydney and the harbour. There is a bar just next to the Opera House, called Opera Bar, and it’s a must see for anybody visiting the area. I went alone and had a beer, to the delights of an American family snickering next to me about how they feel so sorry for that girl sitting all by herself. My patience for American’s is still very very low, because every time I come across American’s, they prove to be the identical mould of the stereotype that they are perceived to be (bar a few special cases, where I have met and made amazing friends with).
  

  Sydney Harbour Bridge

  

  Sydney Opera House

  
• Back in the days when I grew up in Johannesburg (between my age of 0-11 years), we were good family friends with the Zock Family. One of their sons now lives in Sydney, so of course our mothers co-ordinated for us to meet up. Him and I went out for beers and dinner, and I spoke so much that instead of waking up with a hangover the next day, I woke up with an aching jaw from all the chatting I’d been doing. Poor guy, having to listen to me nonstop chatting for hours. It really was a great night though and I’m happy that I saw him.

And then off I went again, as I do, always moving, never staying still in one place for too long. The next flight out took me to Cairns to meet up with my friend Hayley (a girl I met in South America), and the two of us will be going out and searching for jobs on farms, fruit picking, for the next three months. More to come on that in the next post……

30 hours of travel. 9 time zones of confusion. I made it to Australia

When I first ventured off on this journey 6 months ago, I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would end up in Australia. But here I am. I am in Australia!

After 2 weeks spent at home after my South America trip, I was more than ready to be reunited with my backpack again, and setting off on the next part of this adventure.

The past 2 nights I’ve spent at my friend Michael’s house, getting over my jet lag after 30 odd hours of traveling and 9 time zones of confusion to get me from South Africa to Australia. Michael’s family have been absolutely the kindest to me and I’m so grateful to have a place to get my bearings…but now it’s time to explore. It hasn’t even hit me yet that I’m actually in Australia because everything seems so normal. The shops are the same. The people are the same. The pubs are the same. No culture shock yet. But then again, I have just been hanging out in the suburbs. From tomorrow, the adventuring in Sydney begins.

Saying goodbye to my doggies in Cape Town

7am beer in Dubai while waiting for my connection flight to Sydney

This is the face of jet lag

Reunited with my Aussie friend Mike

almost in australia

Is it weird that I am so incredibly frustrated at being home? Home should be a happy relaxing place to rejuvenate before my next journey. Instead it’s making me more and more anxious and restless.

My previous post touched on how, upon returning home after 5 months in South America, it felt like I had changed so much, but everybody else had stayed the same. But now, after being home for almost 3 weeks, I’ve actually come to realize that everyone else has changed to. Of course life doesn’t stop, and I understand that, but I’m no longer a permanent feature in my friends lives and therefore I’m not a priority. Lots of friends have actually blown me off since I’ve been home, choosing rather to hang with the people that they know will be there in the long term. People move on. Life moves on. Everyone moves in their directions.

#selfie with my Boston Terrier Willow

Don’t get me wrong though, I have had some absolutely magical moments while being at home, I’ve been to a beautiful music festival out in the wine lands of Cape Town (Origin Festival), I’ve been to one of the most prime up and coming electronic music festivals in Cape Town (Cape Town Electronic Music Festival), been to food markets, eaten incredible food, swam in the ocean and spent time with my family and been for countless walks on the beach with my beloved doggies. All of that said, as much as I still love all of my friends at home, it’s become very clear to me since I’ve been home, who my true friends are, friends that are my friends no matter whether I am at home or not and which people have moved on from our friendships probably without them even realising it themselves.

It’s been a weird trip being home, and I kind’ve wish that I had’ve gone straight from Ecuador to Australia, but such is life, and here I am in South Africa. Three more sleeps, a few goodbyes, and I’m off on the next part of my adventure. I am beyond excited.

Have any of you other long term travelers had any similar issues with friendships and reverse culture shock and settling back in at home? I’d love to know if I am being over sensitive or if this is a general trend.

Happy travels xx

I’m home…it doesn’t feel like home

Being home is a weird sensation. After 5 months of freedom and exploring South America, I’m back in South Africa for a quick stopover before heading to Australia on the next part of my journey.

Perspective of Cape Town Penninsula (aka HOME)

Since I’ve been back, I’ve been going through a weird sensation of adjustment. Adjusting to home? Really? Yes! By far the hardest adjustment of them all. Backpacking is this magical world of freedom, happiness, open-ness (is there such a word?) and exploration. Everybody is friends, and if you don’t get along with somebody, that’s ok too, because you don’t need to hang out with them, and chances are, you will never see them again in your life. There is no drama. No girly bitchiness. No judging. Just happiness and being a free spirit (and a bit too much consuming of alcohol).

I read an article about “Reverse Culture Shock” and it’s starting to make me understand what I’m going through.

Definition of ‘Reverse Culture Shock’ The shock suffered by some people when they return home after an extended period of time overseas. This can result in unexpected difficulty in readjusting to the culture and values of the home country, now that the previously familiar has become unfamiliar.

 I’m in my world at home now (although only temporarily), with bitchiness, and friendship cliques, and people with 8-5 jobs, the same parties, the same stories, the same boy drama, and right away I’m thrown back into being the person I was before I left. I’m falling into the trap of routine! What was the whole point of all the explorations if I just fall back into being the old me?  I’ve been through this most magical life changing experience, I’ve seen some of the most incredible, breathtaking wonders of the world and I’ve grown personally in so many ways, yet here I am back home being the old me. I don’t like the old me. I think it has to do with not being able to relate to anybody about my new life. Nobody really wants to hear about anything I’ve done because they don’t understand. And every story I try tell is received by blank eyes. So here I am, adjusting to my old life, when all I want to do is be out in the world, growing more, expanding my horizons, and not being here, feeling trapped.

So basically, to sum things up, of course I am ecstatic about seeing my family, my dogs, and my friends. They all mean the world to me and I love them to bits, but, I have grown out of this life here. I’ve grown out of Cape Town. I never thought that would happen because it is such a glorious city.

I’m happy that my journey is not over. In two weeks time, I will be heading to Australia to go work and travel there, and maybe I will strengthen my new found values and opinions while I am there so that next time when I come home for a visit, I wont be weak enough to fall back into the “old me” mould. I will be able to see my friends, but as a stronger newer version of myself which I am currently on the way to discovering.

 Australia is going to be my new home for awhile. Fresh start. Another new country to explore. So many more  like-minded people to meet along the way.

Bitter Sweet Goodbyes

The past few days (and those few still to come) have been filled with bitter sweet goodbyes. I hadn’t felt any sad emotions about my impending adventures until Saturday night, when a friend hugged me tightly and told me that I’d be sorely missed. That was the moment that it actually hit me. I’m leaving my beautiful Cape Town and all my incredible friends and family.

I’m so beyond excited for this adventure, but goodbyes are really tough.

This morning, a friend sent me two lovely quotes.

Why can’t we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn’t work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.
~ Charles M. Schulz

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here’s a happy one for you.
~Dale Evans

So tonight is my final farewell with all my lovely friends. Tomorrow I finish packing. Tuesday night I’m having a family farewell dinner. And Wednesday morning I leave at the crack of dawn to fly to Johannesburg to meet up with Sam, and then we’re off to Buenos Aires.

Let the travels begin 🐞

A casual 20 hour bus ride to Namibia

Reyno & I before our 20 hour bus trip

Living in Cape Town is quite a crazy life to live if you fully submerge yourself in all the activity’s that it has to offer. Lately I have been doing just that, and it’s starting to take it’s toll on me.

I decided to take some leave from work and hop on the bus to Windhoek, Namibia. It’s a casual 20 hour bus ride. 20 hours is LONG!! But, if you get the Intercape Sleepliner from Cape Town to Windhoek, the trip isn’t all that bad. The seats recline substantially, but do remember to bring your own pillow and blanket. It’s cold on that bus at night and I was stupid enough not to bring a blanket.

One of my most special friends of all time, Jaco, is currently working in Windhoek, and he’s always inviting me to visit. So Jaco’s brother, Reyno, and myself, decided to go on a little trip to Namibia, and here we are.

There isn’t much to do or see, but the time out is what I needed and what I came for. While Jaco is at work during the day, his house mates have been taking us around the town. I’m also spending a lot of my time researching and planning my next adventures. In the evenings we’ve been going to see some of the locals bars. Sunset at the Hilton Hotel, Wednesday night live music at the Warehouse Theatre, Friday night drinks at Joe’s Beer House. Namibia is all about the beer and a miss-mash of English, Afrikaans and German. Everybody speaks a combination of these three. It’s incredible.

One thing random, but worth mentioning, is the dry air. It’s higher in altitude than Cape Town of course, but man I’ve been struggling with my nose. It’s been dry and bloody and crusty this past week. I’m leaving to go back home tomorrow, but my nose is only coming right now. Be warned.

I’m so glad I decided to come on this little getaway, to refreshen my spirit and my body. It really is the time-out that I’ve been needing. Consider me back in my happy bubble again at last. It’s been awhile now.

Sunset from the Hilton Hotel

Related articles

• Overland from Cape Town to Namibia (talesofatraveladdict.wordpress.com)
• Namibia – playing in and on sand dunes (annestravelandphotography.wordpress.com)
• From Namibia to Nigeria, travel to Paul Theroux’s Africa and bring his book, The Last Train To Zona Verde, to life (metro.co.uk)
• The Ideal Itinerary for a Namibian Self-Drive Tour (selfdrivenamibia.wordpress.com)

Summer in Cape Town

Cape Town is my home. It’s by far one of the most beautiful places in all the places I’ve been to in the World. It has everything. History. Beaches. Mountains. An abundant of amazing music festivals. Beautiful people. Amazing weather. And I just love it and am happy to call it home.

I thought I’d share a few pictures of some of our adventures over this past Summer of 2012/2013. Remember that I live in the Southern Hemisphere, so Summer spans from November through to March, but really, it heats up quite nicely from September, and only starts getting cold and rainy again in about May. So we have a good long span of sunshine, music festivals, and happy vibes.

Just a casual Saturday in Cape Town

beautiful girl

I’ve recently become very close friends with an Australian girl that works on the yachts for a living, Bec. She’s wise beyond her words, travelled extensively, and is just such a fun happy person to be around.  She’s said to me that Cape Town reminds me a lot of her home in Melbourne. Also busy, always up to something, always having fun.

Cape Town is such an incredible place and we are really spoilt by all the opportunities it provides.  On this particular Saturday , we went for tattoos and then a happy afternoon of having drinks and festivities 🙂 Aaah Cape Town, you really do spoil us.

I went with my best friend Candy, to get her second tattoo done. There’s this epic new tattoo studio called Hard Rock Ink Asylum and they’ve got a special on today where all the money they make from tattooing today, they’re donating to DARG animal rescue. So that is where we are.

My Lady Bug Tattoo

Last weekend I got a ladybug tattoo and my wanderlust tattoo at this same studio, but no more for me today. At the moment, I have a total of three… and about 4 more I’m dying to get! But today is about Candy, and her tattoo… 🙂

Candy’s new ink

Related articles

• Stop asking what my tattoos mean (s) (sunrie.wordpress.com)
• Lana’s tattoos (lealuna17.wordpress.com)
• Brief history …… Tattoing! (hrexach.wordpress.com)