tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83769123671824663792024-03-19T23:30:08.223-07:00A Hop, Skip, and a JumpTravel Diary of Ryan and JessHopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-16577270890704962042011-10-20T08:29:00.000-07:002011-10-20T09:08:03.305-07:00London<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExVwpcetpJidx0Ivqornm0e0Fenho-CJFyEgtFHBFz-xvEDifjCj2u1FFfC6hk5CHCFDHDFxbR5DldVD9FyTAMwgtaYb3Ytnvs5r8KcuqIIMU85Sg3PfaVs-9Zx0Di5Rk9NLeBb8b5WQl/s400/IMG_0985.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665597997814008082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>Had one last morning game drive yesterday at Londolozi before our flight to Johannesburg. We met us with our friend Maddy who Jess taught with in Taiwan and is from the area and had a few G&T, great fun. We then boarded our flight to London for the 11 hour flight. Again, we were booked in First Class on British Airways and our plane had their brand new upgraded cabin so the flight was a complete pleasure and the service was absolutely top notch.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>During our second to last day on safari I was starting to get the end of holidays blues and contacted our wonderful travel agent Isla (The Travel Network in Toronto) to ask her to switch us to the brand new Four Seasons Park Lane in London. I needed something to look forward to! Isla worked her magic and arranged the switch and when we arrived in London we were upgraded from a basic room to a lovely suite which is huge by London standards. London hotels are very expensive and the rooms usually very small compared to many parts of the world. As we walked around to today with looked in the window at some properties, in this neighbourhood a 500 sq ft apartment sells for $1.8 million dollars!!! Yikes.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilksjfCxYTmq9HuXZcOF-Cd55DM3iHNLYbijGqlrADyf5-IQ54bKhQus5EbUSH-y67YnyuRm3N9QRXJMbu1QXinsJM9Vy_Xjy8dMPohuyGVx6FHLvD7EYCwR8f3-5jldR7lPKLECzXB8_7/s400/IMG_1580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665601167573260130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">View from our room</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsd91YFBKDUlDm7H8nzhRBRr3YVBWGLiWLpM69mCVwGZ2S8Rdbvz77rS86RIPE1kcT-1CTjvwiRqcTSdqfqXdDoxVQnVBMIjtMfY2rZry6llP0z6tVRfc-j2Edkqm7cMtitUvKrWzDd0lZ/s400/IMG_1583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665601170963472370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrBLf8FN_lAFMlkpgMsGeuFnwZaERQbDfQtHuTXOBOnph17R1bH5RfkHmMqqW6NmXwgWRQXXQFnqfxUtiKKg2zECfiBY_kuK88DhcxJmbnxcud6DAuPAcs5Lu13g_D6UkCgCRPaRrO1_s/s400/IMG_1584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665601184809084978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Living Room of our Suite</div><div style="text-align: center;">(no bedroom, bathrooms pics, we have messed those up already)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>We have been completely spoiled on this trip and stayed at the most amazing properties in the most amazing rooms which makes it very difficult for a city hotel to give too much wow factor. The room is beautiful and they truly have thought of everything but for me the true wow here comes from the service which is Four Seasons perfection. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today has been lazy, got our room at 10 am. Cleaned up, went for long walk and lunch, long afternoon nap in super comfy bed and glass of wine and some quick blogging.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tonight we are off to meet our friend Jimmy for a drink and bite to eat before going to see Pricilla Queen of the Desert on stage here (super gay, looks amazing!).</div><div><br /></div><div>Fingers crossed that the hotel car (a gorgeous Rolls Royce) will be available to drop us off in front the the gay bar in Soho to meet our friend Jimmy! </div><div><br /></div></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-12484211889337040522011-10-18T20:13:00.000-07:002011-10-18T20:14:40.118-07:00Leopard with kill<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Com2aYRevEk?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-39758943826394153152011-10-17T05:36:00.000-07:002011-10-17T05:37:49.526-07:00Herd of elephants strolling by our suite...wow!!!<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0ZvL-wMmqnk?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-44757474354458617372011-10-17T01:21:00.000-07:002011-10-20T01:58:13.351-07:00Third day on safari at Londolozi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Z5piIoFWw4AUhTwoqIbOt3Lk_4sbeP8vdziO9tN1jxe01m6mP21PH59wthy1DhOwHlnTC9KYbR3z0rL1iqz-f6ppyuQsC6kETf0Qn6k6n39L2mZc8o0gRkfhP6UICD6mIkmGa1OiPBh/s1600/IMG_9777.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx2Z5piIoFWw4AUhTwoqIbOt3Lk_4sbeP8vdziO9tN1jxe01m6mP21PH59wthy1DhOwHlnTC9KYbR3z0rL1iqz-f6ppyuQsC6kETf0Qn6k6n39L2mZc8o0gRkfhP6UICD6mIkmGa1OiPBh/s400/IMG_9777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664768380387958130" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">We are on day three of safari and have been on 6 game drives so far with 2 more to go. At this point we have seen the Big Five and much more. Believe it or not safari is hard work, the 5am wake up calls have not been getting any easier which is not helped by the fact that any time not on game drive is filled with eating and drinking. Our morning drives are usually 4 hours and the evening drive 3+ hours. Never could I have imagined having the patience to sit in a vehicle for that long but just when I think I have had enough we come across an amazing sight. This morning was particularly tough, it poured rain for the first 2 hours of our drive and we didn't see much of anything (a giraffe here, zebra there, yawn!) we were trying to track down either a herd of elephants or buffalo and were having no luck. I was telling myself that I would not do tomorrows morning drive and the next thing you know we are looking at a leopard trying to wrestle its kill out of the tree, quite a sight, and totally worth the wait.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yesterday Mike and Neeta from Vancouver left and were replaced by a couple from Mumbai, India. They actually turned out to be very lovely. They have been on safari many times and just jetted down here for 4 days on there way to Dubai (because this was totally on there way there!).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is us with Neeta and Mike and our ranger David and our tracker Lucky.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS6nmpvGOxlOzByOFI-1ujbQDip9ctF5qEo4z_4Y8OuVKuxjLHAvzc0A9I9x3byn0AYQDMd89FmyKVpU8iYh9WYcrZDYIs5Vig4w_IO-O79h5MBWPG59m8JxjuyJysf575tRqKYkoAT0_/s400/IMG_0969.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664410398944494658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>This elephant just strolled by our camp.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lLAcZxiwCcz9pjaUQgw0mCPKRAGAwUGX8zMmE8PfkP9yukcqAOj4r4noXD_XngCtJHX0rpD6zH-wTZlroFQFNr9rI-UUl9nCPWGKYVt8CqXuFIMDfg_RBm7SPa4C6JxnMak23fFvyRpj/s1600/IMG_1213.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lLAcZxiwCcz9pjaUQgw0mCPKRAGAwUGX8zMmE8PfkP9yukcqAOj4r4noXD_XngCtJHX0rpD6zH-wTZlroFQFNr9rI-UUl9nCPWGKYVt8CqXuFIMDfg_RBm7SPa4C6JxnMak23fFvyRpj/s400/IMG_1213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664513531246995954" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkKE7Lx4TnkG9Z39gJq6Mn_IFlLA5M4lo7LMctXcK_FddiDZqx-OSR8z5RP0se32-YwNcEIMY2K6x9QQ2DGjhLVuPDuo4cQUCt-S5OOD_LDu600Ic62OOi_ampFrjAn2pwnZMUv53BRnC/s1600/IMG_0690.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrkKE7Lx4TnkG9Z39gJq6Mn_IFlLA5M4lo7LMctXcK_FddiDZqx-OSR8z5RP0se32-YwNcEIMY2K6x9QQ2DGjhLVuPDuo4cQUCt-S5OOD_LDu600Ic62OOi_ampFrjAn2pwnZMUv53BRnC/s400/IMG_0690.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664375390750776450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JMfI3SPR9GLZaBZPFmn3yqLNA9CxRhPhgX-Hwkl69FuL4tGGY9K50OzSMhYvWctkazk7ExVNbQbd7KFBUXtXPvS07vVKtD9cAU71xQNyY8aO4Ql216wb3iSznkD3GXtnSfkt8TudDq2W/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JMfI3SPR9GLZaBZPFmn3yqLNA9CxRhPhgX-Hwkl69FuL4tGGY9K50OzSMhYvWctkazk7ExVNbQbd7KFBUXtXPvS07vVKtD9cAU71xQNyY8aO4Ql216wb3iSznkD3GXtnSfkt8TudDq2W/s400/IMG_0882.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664402844345740978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrnUZ-IV0GtQu2hphIW4VMS1rXwen_KpAwpd0FuV0jgCVOGP7o4BFjzpcxppAKji0O41byBrsN9icq-iCtc7HZxnxHrIuQuR9KqyHclLXoBariYMjWgxPqxfe-qRTTTUgp8GIGZVAwSAa/s400/IMG_0970.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664412922655685218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrvkvtpQOMqrh2rnZfPJEFo9MMmxBvGRrhPxQtDxvbPT_T3bTMva2VvmopKqYVWXj9EWHH7pwFPuhQOocmdDYGSHbKQleGsNfQQC2ebGC2cB3CkIIdHv9EUHAkpMc0WJNneEJ3dR-GRVt/s400/IMG_0945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664408087226160930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkrjb8njssjGmqxOQy9wTWjJQGU0k1ZSu8w7tAQZurd3rjCnbEILa6i7HpLj5L6rNeyVjWIpSREjq5gkasDQdNZYqxHSsj-LpT2krHZaOiKtk-C0LYZBvMKR__Sdg04vQWEYd5Mz5uES7/s400/IMG_1003.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664756340481639922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div>We spent quite some time trying to track down these lions. They are two lioness' one with four 8 month old cubs and the other with two 3 month old cubs (there were 4 but 2 were killed by water buffalo 10 days ago). The cubs were so cute, we sat and watched them play for over an hour. As we drive around Jess and I both have the opening number of "The Lion King" playing in our head (live broadway version). FYI according to our ranger hyenas got a bad rap in that movie and all male lion are like Scar. There are no nice sweet Mufasa males. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGsR6Nm7ufLCb2xDGanN31hrfcgQiaoNwrJ1JJpkt_Ldq-7htHZhz5nR3mV060hBj_mtzhfsZ9MXlepN2t_q_sHdXwrRTYRvVz1MLWTOjXkPTQgzi8M8UQiDmbrpIeW6RqWEZv70HMZ_i/s400/IMG_9764.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664752364773234434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWCgGbmSGK1EPJ6NP_ki8Ta-0IK_ZbvLs7FgrhYo0hmX22uvBRj03vUtuIZZ8XFCzKS37i4Y8OuSI7WMjl-hGvf_JhSO_yJIaQLJmQ5EECKLKZSCb3vElp6WQXYnh-LXogiOEPH6y4zjT/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnGvzjKWz618pST4aVJ3ilMjAQV6QXsdADQkJ4_9ILrEj0p7aN1GSjYPYBD4GyPPuKeH_Vrw2XoZ7qc0Aoo7yv9XWNYBpPL9ILsEmlm1-V71m6_4UnwbNRJh3CMGAFYY6ShgqavlgYoZ6/s400/IMG_1128.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664453062609734338" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvO4ys7s2Bad0ZTNdAjIYay7njd0JO0X2NL4CCTC5OyvxleCXd1Gj_jmVkq7QwCHlsPcHw8giGzSfA0-EQpFtCz8m_1Zyt6iKpirFWxGQLeeBR9m0Gju37k7gZxakxoGrEFkme6ZkBk7lL/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvO4ys7s2Bad0ZTNdAjIYay7njd0JO0X2NL4CCTC5OyvxleCXd1Gj_jmVkq7QwCHlsPcHw8giGzSfA0-EQpFtCz8m_1Zyt6iKpirFWxGQLeeBR9m0Gju37k7gZxakxoGrEFkme6ZkBk7lL/s400/IMG_1113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664449566749006226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGe4P19yB3pY6AeXuUm1lOpINJMO0kfu248P2VivwJm5o_zts-BpVGzUGxYZIqGn9DrNd4NhsPOPz-Md_j5wOEgh1XiPDNoVyptfBzrFLarjrVfdWDmuBIdySu0eFJlvMWX1bxDAfUNdi/s1600/IMG_1079.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGe4P19yB3pY6AeXuUm1lOpINJMO0kfu248P2VivwJm5o_zts-BpVGzUGxYZIqGn9DrNd4NhsPOPz-Md_j5wOEgh1XiPDNoVyptfBzrFLarjrVfdWDmuBIdySu0eFJlvMWX1bxDAfUNdi/s400/IMG_1079.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664442679247758658" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBfQDCH-cpxJZ6r438fCoSIXKf-UoTvvkdUXxpvCO1x-eLnMLRkPsJFWfj2JfTqjpK3HZnEsHPxtvtyMBmqM5qAqld9-SNufWohszS8UYhjd6XtdxnHaazm3I4fs23quSOWO2b_RQDnKe/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GQkZTBcVuJ-DGhho2oNd91zy9IkwB_fvAEzWkWKK2qgES8DI7fa0AtcuRu9ALem6DEm_yeCbEB7iArWrUICnJe5TaIW1g6GUQv8N0ABwliXBfjATwgPfF9GCyosDURTaquyNt_bp_v6X/s1600/IMG_1075.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GQkZTBcVuJ-DGhho2oNd91zy9IkwB_fvAEzWkWKK2qgES8DI7fa0AtcuRu9ALem6DEm_yeCbEB7iArWrUICnJe5TaIW1g6GUQv8N0ABwliXBfjATwgPfF9GCyosDURTaquyNt_bp_v6X/s400/IMG_1075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664436979717604818" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM_apgK_CX9mw0daQ5L4PP57WFTmUomAkVZIcCLASQOaFK0Za6-FTNC2ESiPWWX1q3lEyh0Dl-JfO_fBDtY0pqSdILZC3mhpm-QtCslLqYoPCwrC5hJiLizDM5qUYlQqNfV46Ecoy8jcK/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48ppaQRIz7bpPZKuKuNjmp7rWAZ4BS7Km_DpG9Ri8VBBdJwNeH_mngg-8qJCGbW6KkEWMWOBkMPU8IJOdEfC5PVWfPFXFKRqtakKiBN3Cet7ZHqPhchvYZNTMNsWbxqpgf7Ps2l6UndHg/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; text-align: center; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48ppaQRIz7bpPZKuKuNjmp7rWAZ4BS7Km_DpG9Ri8VBBdJwNeH_mngg-8qJCGbW6KkEWMWOBkMPU8IJOdEfC5PVWfPFXFKRqtakKiBN3Cet7ZHqPhchvYZNTMNsWbxqpgf7Ps2l6UndHg/s400/IMG_0983.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664418700824674114" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM_apgK_CX9mw0daQ5L4PP57WFTmUomAkVZIcCLASQOaFK0Za6-FTNC2ESiPWWX1q3lEyh0Dl-JfO_fBDtY0pqSdILZC3mhpm-QtCslLqYoPCwrC5hJiLizDM5qUYlQqNfV46Ecoy8jcK/s1600/IMG_1025.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMM_apgK_CX9mw0daQ5L4PP57WFTmUomAkVZIcCLASQOaFK0Za6-FTNC2ESiPWWX1q3lEyh0Dl-JfO_fBDtY0pqSdILZC3mhpm-QtCslLqYoPCwrC5hJiLizDM5qUYlQqNfV46Ecoy8jcK/s400/IMG_1025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664433964076528978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutI7qYjIbSaIxaVDGeFLwpD9TS2fswj0jgnq4rUMRt6dqLpLCm0vXrE378bgL20pySSy7PuCNXlygYGE5aiekLc96P9n92pT0Fh40C_tHiIlj3gleRCJJoGnVzbiZE36GlX1HYpZIbi_H/s1600/IMG_1020.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutI7qYjIbSaIxaVDGeFLwpD9TS2fswj0jgnq4rUMRt6dqLpLCm0vXrE378bgL20pySSy7PuCNXlygYGE5aiekLc96P9n92pT0Fh40C_tHiIlj3gleRCJJoGnVzbiZE36GlX1HYpZIbi_H/s400/IMG_1020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664423472255923314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48ppaQRIz7bpPZKuKuNjmp7rWAZ4BS7Km_DpG9Ri8VBBdJwNeH_mngg-8qJCGbW6KkEWMWOBkMPU8IJOdEfC5PVWfPFXFKRqtakKiBN3Cet7ZHqPhchvYZNTMNsWbxqpgf7Ps2l6UndHg/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48ppaQRIz7bpPZKuKuNjmp7rWAZ4BS7Km_DpG9Ri8VBBdJwNeH_mngg-8qJCGbW6KkEWMWOBkMPU8IJOdEfC5PVWfPFXFKRqtakKiBN3Cet7ZHqPhchvYZNTMNsWbxqpgf7Ps2l6UndHg/s1600/IMG_0983.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJhEytfVGSGM6Pw_XolPV1uklGk_yXNG-ErY5gAoTyBDDTGlQbROqDRozekRtlvciD7EsqRwm0ovrk-OhNjgnXul5hy3stqqHbjbBimMqNIZ1ekaWfZT88U0KXmI-Mm1eCEgqB3FY0pnp/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJhEytfVGSGM6Pw_XolPV1uklGk_yXNG-ErY5gAoTyBDDTGlQbROqDRozekRtlvciD7EsqRwm0ovrk-OhNjgnXul5hy3stqqHbjbBimMqNIZ1ekaWfZT88U0KXmI-Mm1eCEgqB3FY0pnp/s400/IMG_0974.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664414716894205522" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdE7ZhMs8Ck0uj6tVDCLSrASBhO4ucBIr1hHFukdZPDEeaAeyu45DitnmIyKY9AqHtuJZeSkwj9zmRQre2nngmzQkUfZSdnZ0i7t3US8EfSpedpYmTxx1bbKu0Wbwv43WZbKE1Q0B3WrH/s1600/IMG_0953.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqdE7ZhMs8Ck0uj6tVDCLSrASBhO4ucBIr1hHFukdZPDEeaAeyu45DitnmIyKY9AqHtuJZeSkwj9zmRQre2nngmzQkUfZSdnZ0i7t3US8EfSpedpYmTxx1bbKu0Wbwv43WZbKE1Q0B3WrH/s400/IMG_0953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664409663910228786" /></a>Here is the leopard that we found last night and watched her climb into a tree for a rest.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5fTyV1ed4aFoYvV7gmFu2UYv3wLJfEmORbutXw-f9PJMr5o_kDzqYxjHOM5Bf8DC-3ft8dJ_3IJS3hPXjIxgNIly3jix6SzYdEJ7pJMbBEwXR4uz_Aqp8iI-MOTho4RK7cmufe-AGGh3/s400/IMG_1293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664763127845709234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEews_QLwnT7pD-aJTaT7XCaTwNG2Xo-YmofiLnP2Fo9C_11AEynhKgGUod29yh0H4rHaoNon2lGCFZUvRdiv1J0Gs0Zi0UNh96gCsTBZJo__jsYaFL4HDla7XODJ0GAUIWGxvV6gQWtl/s400/IMG_1309.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664763134236770722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>Our tracker spotted this guy in a tree as we were driving home. On the drive home I was jumping around like a nelly schoolgirl as we were pelted with orange beetle like bugs that flew into our lights, not fun.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbs0BW3tzUs-aRCXHpYsJ9FNHUWzfDxHv0vr6-viNntUb-1K0v_Ml6iEVOFUrcwmRLaPRZ5PQfMsE02bzrnvcyNoWBrrCLVa10L6yEMPM61OgXymEyQ6ZahsbSAL4D0E-99nvT1SOaVF2/s400/IMG_1336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664764492078710290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>This is the leopard that we found today. Leopards drag their kills into the trees so the hyenas and other animals don't get them. We watched this guy climb into the tree and then try drag his kill out of the tree but the kill got stuck and he was swinging back and forth, amazing to see.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBbWztkDMZ9eGRWQrQNuz94Xlr9zb-Tgjgn9OCKnKxlMe9ZmJKNSReGdi7ggtRTnSHaEspGInPwX1vYRR4O7SKA_28xocznN8hwGE_xnxOcvZmkH86WeNWU7PR8BrMAIzChOkB734DuCC/s400/IMG_1349.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664764493166342722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhAyeE-R5Set5mkWtiAglr898hBlhrhKEr8Fw2sdK5tbldfrdHn2IxcSepzohnRM-5VK5D1jIRmysyX_4Vr6HS7pzvUmyz9b_4KfQw_2mPUrxN1_tT0xw0rHP27PKXHeId59MEA6vzWNK/s400/IMG_1361.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664766692694339650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCyE3eoJJjWu1uAKPesjlBk7yKizxi4pPiYvZ44snsVGNqlLeCUFI1u3Ltt35rdpdn2ChnMPkeXDvkMht6D5b4GqTJgSbjHTvB2Wnfaco5MFQX5oRvMzIaejhLxBDPj2F7F3hzRV0KiMl/s400/IMG_1366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664766703231614658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt51y-fmsi8n1P7zUp0fUgGTz0_GvXns0DPeO_OZcOZW3uspuDcGDNLysPUP-2riYgo6wyzl4xcP4XWxcNhKCF3TS3NhD6iD99HolGExF6blJsAaAGd97IJYqN0DsNFuyDVAZuZ41Zy0ef/s400/IMG_1396.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664768376757591794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div>Running off for another game drive now. Very hard to blog with this schedule!!!!! Tomorrow, we have an early morning drive, fly to JHB at 2:30 pm and meet up with Madelaine, who Jess taught with in Taiwan, before our flight to London where we will spend 2 days.</div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-91410355991507438792011-10-16T20:05:00.000-07:002011-10-17T00:57:07.851-07:00Room 2 at Londolozi Granite SuitesIt only took 2 days to upload this video onto youtube!<div><br /></div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4QQXpBZdNE0?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-5294213230353545852011-10-16T03:35:00.000-07:002011-10-16T06:29:23.484-07:00Londolozi<div style="text-align: left;">We left Hermanus yesterday and flew to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mceglobal.net">Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport</a> on South African Airways and then took another 20 minute private airline (light aircraft, seats a maximum of 9) on a 20 minute flight to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.londolozi.com">Londolozi Game Reserve's</a> private air strip. You can get a road transfer from the airport but that takes over 2 hours to get there. The little plane was a wee bit scary as the plane couldn't go very high because of the short distance. Quite a bit of bouncing around but our 2 nineteen-ish year old pilots handled it well.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6T6XEvI1QmJ7GF1XIoaZtg90clECRJnGGFQ3k2nJ_x293YuPgaRokw1HPUyMW8hchHzbngtN38RURlP2OsxypazEYsDRa_s-yosiVaUIGfQmS_31VM6LFblWgw2X-bMdTLPT_uorUWfkm/s400/IMG_0941.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664048083415628594" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIphAl5jNCPobGxNjYQZLGDtRcdHZk2pVxkiUA_8Z-E3X-EuN4HLMqyzC-iJ9dT27WkArUKA-cYgqtt7SEa-QogzA9MKnO1pncW2QnNu1NsNPO0COB3ELbEgz8WDnbQEXJEtinPoCS_Air/s400/IMG_0942.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664050191949482626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2K1VdShNZ_b5cd5ShcoqIp4oUnLXbkkhBQebQXOw_K1x0XMdnIjbN-e6TnhviwjbczL0_TIqiZjGsA4sK-5dkZRgv8sHCtoIAcEXbsnY6brapQA_z-9xJWGEMIIvlVOpH4gklJA2NOgu/s400/IMG_0951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664051690391299970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>We are staying at the <a href="http://www.londolozi.com/en/lodge/granite-suites/overview/">Granite Suites</a> at Londolozi. There are only 3 suites in this camp and there are only two other guests here at the moment which is fantastic. The other couple just happen to be from Vancouver, too. Small world! Our suite is huge and gorgeous with outdoor private pool, outdoor bathtub and outdoor shower. We tried to upload a video but this beautiful country's internet is total KOK ('shit' in Afrikaans). Here is a picture right outside the back of our suite.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYjEdt4UZ-WM5Y5HRs0vc6wH7iXUwpYhneujx-ZSvKhcI9thmOlfKotPRYGIbZeYum9mkpaX-eNBKVCj1eib3Jy1i66TrjfmaKC6pFje-5U1okWYrJ3ATnB8xkQMEcXTrYKwM9vjjQbCt/s400/IMG_0662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664067911557397954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>The days here are quite busy and go something like this:</div><div><br /></div><div>5:00 a.m.: Knock at door to wake you with coffee and pastries.</div><div>5:30 a.m. game drive</div><div>8am crepes and coffee out in the bush</div><div>10am game drive done, full breakfast buffet plus hot breakfast</div><div>1:30pm lunch</div><div>4pm tea and pastries</div><div>4:30pm game drive</div><div>7:30 dinner</div><div><br /></div><div>Someone had told Jess that all the animals here are microchipped and they can find them easily at anytime but this is not true of the private game reserves. There are no fences on this property and the day can be hit or miss. We have only been on 2 drives so far and both have been definite hits. Here are just a few of the pictures from 5 hours worth of driving (oh, and the giraffe picture is crap but we were racing to find two female lions and their cubs which we never found. Hopefully we'll take a nicer one tonight). The safari has been so brilliant. Last night we saw a leopard eating his kill in a tree (an impala... which we captured on video) and a bunch of hyenas eating another impala that they stole from the other leopards mother. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and you should also <i>see</i> our guide. Hy sit n huppel in our knupples<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif;font-size:85%;color:#333333;">. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy_SCeE7_gCqbTBsET_2yKaLHoziUbW5xgVZTjXcEMnUNVTOveoCRmjLyx5dD_9zKJLD07bxr4crPU33PAjUT-n3q3mV-UM-669wEX5lf8IM6kHRYhggk69ViyYI3g39SU3RoREsrv5Y6/s400/IMG_0672.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664054534944470370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4oKxZphZk5qwyzUPmBcyLdIuJg7TAr_Kew9TNDVMfJFqP0A2bc3w5FzCgD-H2Nijn9OIJsPIilj9aaiSU9e72VL0nt6HhtquOYKkmzYPwnMTdcuZcuj83rphP49WNXeYnfWsPXSgy_bR/s400/IMG_0811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664069871270450066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPel4i4RovqecIg3kyt7OtBhlrnjeU9zPypFXZQT4xByuhNbUAY86I3CmNPD25yZ0UFc8LGNl-gXvzgx22c9Py-oGngMdihTqS1sGg3AInI6p0Nhzj4Wd0LeCFEpp0ozFzcKYRTc08gd4/s400/IMG_0816.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664072847418068178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vKOEdhfGMKaSLNLOq1RpDs97dtyWr6yg3Gnvgi-e9rIZEaGl5YTloy7RiKcrWR0_BGvKZAPVJ1qYWV9zkZdjIC36kEMgQGGHqAAb_LIExf-_rB_RqE6kF8txR5GFlTXA6kC8Up_zWahw/s400/IMG_0804.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664075711366201106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxQu1qGiusfKRTfCbb34hFXy6kQRYaSsrucE9inrBOA4x8X80FDEYAOw2g8DSMta0dGUSdbhAkXex_pJxAftTaXwlCQtZpfK-ColfjwJIh4DnHYHVjiTotHupm0bY5tCSzJuzSOGOGrfn/s400/IMG_0806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664079298756811506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit2yKNmbReXgt5T4JcPW02IUgdxt0njzwL9s3574i4h0S-WRh6wTKP90_nwSfwtjsIbpOyVvFyk-w4havfovibXwL7E20N0MQ3lTROFkSDWUKopfvq1Vlekzz6DHfMralB_Mv09OB8b5T/s400/IMG_0853.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664079300241116930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>There is much, much more to show you and write but we're not willing to spend our time hoping that we have enough bandwidth to get everything onto a posting. Maybe we'll have more patience tomorrow. </div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-23573712311845520702011-10-14T03:08:00.000-07:002011-10-14T07:43:35.529-07:00Last Day at Birkenhead House in Hermanus<div style="text-align: left;">Today was one of the only days of this trip that we have absolutely nothing planned. I tried to talk Jess into doing a couple of wine estates, which he vetoed. We had a leisurely breakfast and then did the cliff hike into the town of Hermanus (about an hour and a bit). The homes along the way were stunning, complete with electrical razor wire fencing! The security business is huge in this country. We toured the art galleries and Jess fell in love with a painting which, after measuring our luggage, fits and he has gone with the hotel driver back to town to buy it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Every stop on this trip has been so different and every stop has totally exceeded our expectations. This stop has been all about whale watching and sharks. Yesterday's shark dive was something I never thought I would (or could) do and absolutely amazing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our room here at Birkenhead House is lovely, the best in the hotel, right at the front of the property overlooking this view from our front balcony. I completely rearranged our itinerary so that we could get this room and I'm so glad I did.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNw05ywIpVX5IM1C1bGa5sOdWxFxsGoPPwmh4Wf_B7-1IW4TMG3bPK0XG-gQ-nf3a9Iy8ertWovYWsHa9-Xks184LwP1-XGBlI2iBVBdbOF7xlQHBMJcVsebpq9EUH-zbfwT6M1_g_f4K/s400/IMG_0639.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663310848604855010" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnELs6tqra2Wi-zqR58Ztf3bZOpZvAr_uqNwkBQ6hXc-PEDQUix4HF56OkGNLxh1kroFnijBkbWP5JHvB6wjH8ocuvKo6K60WJ7W43YMrk_Hxw-LCTYiIZEy-AICDMDOEJXZtHuc330hd/s400/IMG_0638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663310846102663810" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is whale season here and viewing is better from the shore than from any boats. Boats are not allowed to get closer than 300 metres from the whale and they are much closer to the shore than that. We have seen tonnes of whales, often breaching where they jump right out of the water. They often breach 3 times in succession so it is quite something to see. Here are a couple of pictures taken from our balcony. Unfortunately, all our pictures show the final stages of whatever was going on. We never quite get the money shot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVpGMAleFLTb_0miGRnmzwkJfvwLxLQvJ1z1BgyBRDCXtz-U1NztVg1EBo25CYtxsmC96bZR-lTz09NuNhpeWvvQa72oUU0Pcuen_2GTDFFHsTJn_fisfXW9mWUK5v32JfbyuNPDJoP1P/s400/IMG_9641.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663321001789472834" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta72HkflGQjku7gBoSYafpF8K0zyyS63xWcNO8TwG0o2uLFv4iktTXpI4ydNoSfPq-yzIWJihXtLwdGMxenklPTRF2ZLTtSWCbnjdfSYIPJ1eIidKkR2yynF-zgt4y8C_2QTd7MTAHQmg/s400/IMG_9636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663320998487444978" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 207px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfGBUJW8plCvESy1Fc_wISy7wgRYTZWJpUR2zTWi4ob3iFo4EVLeqLBi4J3wHpGvNL3APN-VU4LtVlGFuEGy-9D6wG_gFPgm_ghpvFaE8V4pWV2uw6TMSIPojR-H6XPLhx1oFohyphenhyphenZ6f_h/s400/IMG_0840.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663311640709442242" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Birkenhead House has been amazing. </span>This place is an all inclusive where, well, everything is included in the room rate... food, booze, laundry, transfer, you name it. When we arrived, Ricardo (some super hot, sexy, latin flavoured man) toured us through the property and took us by the hotel bar and told us to order anything we want and to also feel free to step behind the bar and make something for ourself if we feel we can do it better. He also took us by this table and told us to help ourself whenever we like. Surprisingly, we have yet to partake in either of those activities. Shocking!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ9jZiUlrTf8L97gWMBFNG83ZJYTo3mLmkrLU-uostwMQDubT5gRLhKqFUzbP7I7SOwFz4PK2WOvpX0z5B_oRN9B_ak6KnPm_PrX0AImseACTGIbf4U_r8Qd8X3VsgPMAkB3egKXkF01w/s400/IMG_0634.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663306888017441010" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The<span class="Apple-style-span"> room is the smallest of the trip so far but the decorating is lovely and the hotel service superb. The food has been amazing with special vegetarian menus for us at dinner each night.</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOP3pvlPAIvaMbJjOPsgQAYxTkxCtLl_qYnL9XhG-AANndqv3fM9wAJSe3yX6rVYs3nEr-U2O8GqBsBw12qAsOwFZInfhYRbVyZaTksAdOEr3DbHchhmCJ8UTVlfriMml00RMoaBj467x/s1600/IMG_0637.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOP3pvlPAIvaMbJjOPsgQAYxTkxCtLl_qYnL9XhG-AANndqv3fM9wAJSe3yX6rVYs3nEr-U2O8GqBsBw12qAsOwFZInfhYRbVyZaTksAdOEr3DbHchhmCJ8UTVlfriMml00RMoaBj467x/s400/IMG_0637.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663309438037116082" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv1wwQYEsRhM8wUiQ3wAJxb-_2EAYmCx-3Vega7LQ-LyAeS7fMSvfJBVYg8O3LEZNWlZcOKPIhHDGPAbxn-wEppjgcm48D62oAV4jqR-iqwJQy0vkds7oJ75sx6dTQRi5-MS4keoC-SG_/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYv1wwQYEsRhM8wUiQ3wAJxb-_2EAYmCx-3Vega7LQ-LyAeS7fMSvfJBVYg8O3LEZNWlZcOKPIhHDGPAbxn-wEppjgcm48D62oAV4jqR-iqwJQy0vkds7oJ75sx6dTQRi5-MS4keoC-SG_/s400/IMG_0636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663309434911492290" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9brhlQ3nKyMohjfsA-0GUrZYichPBHPu1HOfDFajyzO4zACCoEjNINlJXZmpjoOXw-otFa_2cPR6ONmND3X5sTcH0UqJ6R5I6YUDTFwXVbSpB4Y5R_1NJFeCq85ATn2uqbm6OmOl0-nDY/s400/IMG_0545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663289327593014866" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some of the common areas of the hotel.</div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcPPvuIpT5y8hlmdtC0wJY-FtaM4W5e7y0bWIG8PoxEt93wgx59_LRnsU2LGxFMd6gHKyL-uyNoqX71-5l6oFKFPZJMcYxdAmVgfSkgM9zOO5aAm-WKtDgUg3XiFTxvh7dY8u0yFOrGAp/s400/IMG_0632.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663293218052691554" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqECRUpDgSGQPcIIEW3wyXH2W5f_Iyop6n5A6DZAnb-nyG-GkRttPKFI0QW6dsR3B0P70Jf6GQCYGFQr9p70mjSLZDh9mWau_29s-gOvjwAlqmJyp8izvNjARkftK8VWN0FUczmPzcz7aH/s400/IMG_0630.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663293215775886146" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1czn9oBeXiomJSJ5RictQPVxUf0DpVFYQEyXr0AgFdC4vBxutjMHhsOtQW8LidaAbEOQ7WrjAPKO7oibedWqRQadrBgReJx_2XsnDxBOphOy4iLMq25FT3ugCUwfgvVrk4H1Ni5HZBYnH/s400/IMG_0628.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663291080747668754" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the living area below our room (this is not our room, that would be TOO much). Jess is chilling here after breakfast waiting for housekeeping to refresh our room. Man, how long does it take to pick up 10000 rose petals ladies?! Honestly!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6zKegvNU6H5RqUeh3GtwgkJw4BI7j3IaOfp_VzIj-xcKrgoMxrP-JzXYe2n188fi4FoGrKzVCwDXrP4dG1y9uUKqAiN6Ibffuq7WAfcAx9mlEH4vhAsvEPg6CV-pJsIvTch2B_0oHLqN/s400/IMG_0627.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663291075105210322" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxqwlHaNWLanbchciFi-aQ0kcH-gh5T1Hd_rWNSRekVWvmqiyQ9nR7ZBuoNfXYMRBuycMI2gio5uTr5SwB3i3I3jar5U8JftArTTj9p3-UvLnc8ytZ3ohanlqD3cQ0zcDytH_9dOKP3Ts/s400/IMG_0622.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663289331690941602" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow morning we fly from Cape Town to <a href="http://www.krugerpark.co.za/">Kruger National Park</a> to <a href="http://www.londolozi.com/en/lodge/granite-suites/overview/">Londolozi Granite Suites</a>. This is supposed to be the highlight of the whole trip (with the exception of the wedding). I hope they have an internet connection considering it is very remote. Forgive us if we don't blog. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Until then we will pretty much spend the rest of the day doing what we've been doing until now. We're both in heaven.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUagRo2vU0EFpnHeq7JdUBfA_HgVV608r8nTOQEiM13Io8MmZ-qeNAbgIj7CBZfNgBPZFoK5kcfHwSJsUG8QbeuFbeLfpxVLYFM9VrBh8DhW5fZtKRL0bFa3L4RlfWMmeCYHnO1N7kIIfo/s400/IMG_0643.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663357727093951394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-56487395069362525692011-10-13T12:16:00.000-07:002011-10-13T12:17:50.674-07:00Shark Cage Diving VideoIt's somewhat anticlimactic but it gives you a better idea of our day.<br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1Jv5OnYspaQ?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-15711219269870613412011-10-13T08:48:00.001-07:002011-10-13T10:35:34.117-07:00We're Alive<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ceOrobSUeNvwqWcMfAwYUuMTLTpBw6DFeQDdmc4AzGS03OegSO19bVRJbOcNrTvtXs7r1kHK7bBw1uqpNjUFTmFTyeRmqV__Yk76iAbrVK9TF4J1RfRj1qdEwDe11YZ0Gx3ouy8BFY9e/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Today our hotel drove us from <a href="http://www.hermanus.co.za/">Hermanus</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gansbaai">Gansbaai</a> where we would meet up with our Great White Shark cage diving tour, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.sharkwatchsa.com">Marine Dynamics</a>. Originally we were scheduled to go with another company but due to the high winds and poor weather throughout the night, they cancelled the tour. The hotel arranged us a tour for the same time, same day, with another company should be want to go. Damn them. Of course, we went.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I should mentioned that I have a phobia of dark water and whales or large fish (childhood trauma), and Ryan hates the water and has a seaweed phobia (go to work on that one, psychologist friends). This is not exactly our dream excursion. </div><div><br /></div><div>Had a lump of coal been shoved up our assholes on the way there, we could have pooped out a diamond in a matter of seconds. Both of us were more than tense but at that point, there was no turning back. Our driver dropped us off, we signed away our lives on the paperwork, and we headed toward the boat.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJrQLxYm7wXs2S_FlIRBZOuD0dX_NpTJndQ29609NTEqsj2-qF7phL_71Aadn-NmUv3P4QzawgFglLCaGRW0pzcWmKGG6AGCAv_8CFKY_tnAuQAeK7dFy-MF7teoJg-vGBZQJLl_v82in/s400/IMG_0873.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663007110596807522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLvV9HoMwlyIZVLMKVIJkHpHbL2WPoOg6TFwrb7Fret60lGQZmvryKTFtPhdDTiGfJVGdJpEz8HlccPN_d6yxBroD4GAreLgDpxUEcx0OXxFVsJO7sZ3iU5mxoMbPfqUUIf2911Ba80xH/s400/IMG_0557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663010470138694002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGlnZhKJ1QCSXsu_Chr4rA1bsEiSh7ETWL0DeR6lrk0BxEg5qwt8I9A4bTF9y579odJumiDSUEgVgkv3Kqjq1q-POqgme4o5yJcJYJUL1oVgny0HemS7b-VVc1zjngB8OaIVw_pBjvSi7/s400/IMG_9651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663013862288492114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>Once we were aboard, we were given a wetsuit, wetsuit booties, an inflatable lifejacket should we need it, and a raincoat. I am pleased to say we did not need the lifejacket or coat. We also had our camera bag with us which I was bitching about initially but it captured one or two cool shots about about 3000 shitty ones of dark water. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't looking forward to wearing a wet suit in public at all but after stuffing myself into it, I'm considering wearing one at all times under my clothing. It won't make me look smaller and still shows my belly but at least it mashes my boobs down and sort of forms my torso into a trunk instead of profiling my lady lumps.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQAIKxklM3oLbDsfxLLlwJ5AXns4DJZcSkamVssZHQJ4pdUntpYZ451zWj7Dh3cL6kHkcSpb4BdrmG8zz5J_hwrP191AtUBEDq026YXql6c68yXhqy9SMji37JlFtYMc9P-ShkPNPTXtD0/s400/IMG_0877.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663011333919967634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>We anchored and the crew got to work. Tuna heads were bound together with some sort of rope (something ingest-able, I assume - the company is very keen on keep the sharks healthy and doing research to increase their numbers), and chum (blech) was stirred up which slowly leaked out of the boat to attract the sharks. The crew also threw in a board shaped like a black seal. Harmless really... only, what does that board look like to you? A miniature version of, oh, I don't know, a HUMAN IN A BLACK WETSUIT?!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtkScTGnLeyjaa_mJ5oaCPci53Y4i-H-BAEaZEWlJ9tk2ZBsAHRM87u43FBNbKPomRoQiuaXIkJsRF85QjisN30MY-HghqAs7VajGueWRsY8itBkGPBzceIIEneKgiLUqpQfz7cStSEZE/s400/IMG_0878.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663012071697889122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEa2dAn91X8ZziTvovqnPLLGFgiV-B_t2qe8Z3C7VclPOLQs9VDujWsFN_M6q4I0BkQ4jFusamY7YN7lv0EJrwoMYgtgLSABa2jmeZbB8jZFIxJPhaU9J1JsN8OzaL3DwiVlykYPZaRMM/s400/IMG_0893.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663012591256717442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_FKNAIM_sxYjlv6XpmJnzusDB1qiv9-ETA-0KE2PCm1K5Q2kn3KjuRAVuGuvUTDvk8VgUyjNGnokz3zWk7ujyYLIjXG_sYubOmDWBa3LZstFyvRYz5-OCTxe9vZbLIUnyO2ylTBJDVhj/s400/IMG_0885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663013213447099442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>We waited at the first site for about an hour with no luck. They hauled up the anchor and headed toward another spot that another company was just leaving after some luck. Within minutes, there was a sighting. The first was a 4 meter long male. Un-FREAKING-believable. This is not, by far, the biggest sharks there are to see. They <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white_shark">can grow to about 6 meters (20 feet)</a> but even seeing 'a small one' at 12-13 feet was amazing. </div><div><br /></div><div>After a couple sightings they lowered the cage into the water and the first few went in. You line up like a row of sardines with only a mask and when they yell, for example, "DOWN, RIGHT!," you hold your breath and do just that. Before you know it, you literally have one of these magnificent animals within feet from your face.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5ahBgv1Kcuh62xPxiDREiv6lg4KAa5jLnSRIzr2rfPablwcwBI8cduv1zaY6li64iEuGFyaySgS_3N8GeuXCJLLTFDN-7q8bWWk1HxAK-pY8uQ2aa8ct0B4xk53WtnYa9Jf82qz2MNU3/s400/IMG_0901.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663015614584855106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEG8aJHA4hg_Z6B8jwzExnMebjQa52GsRzSS4aWFymhb7EIUtZLoU3UUTNw0uZ64ypIrlQvLt2CnHMUyj3gPStCCdFaL8WPWnMYwN0tiIcv-JKtJg29pWUyiKG_OTMa4s9d-VwTW2Ah5Y/s400/IMG_0568.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663016749912449202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>Like I said, we were both shit scared before hand but once everything had been explained to us and we were in the water, it was really peaceful and inspiring. You're witnessing an enormous, graceful animal manoeuvre through the water in his (all 15 we saw were male) natural environment.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIZ6x6HEv0MaoRkSXe9gqxiz5NhmdeS1NZoaJDkCb2l7Yi42BfAtfOz1lAJ7ln-mylxqMsaBEhKQ9k_xulDRg5TlUiT_BSX8hkJrwEmh4nx4wCKT-9w-n2YjavQLDFSWbTJrcnXnMfNA2/s400/IMG_0571.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663018206159242386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_UignCisncefIvuvbjiH5BduRgCsnWMGkiHAIJ69nfKb0-6SDsv5EjA-O-mTeZ5aqFqGwsD32aAFnQxZbJlO0UmQi85_wfAKT3N6bv7LtEc-ZeQKiVvQtybEIUAB59QizmjM6qKIL4F8F/s400/IMG_9664.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663018939837225986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-AxTCpZ2Cwl5mS6mKHbHUbs_mCZjXhIEHlxotEnmNBWs6LVeYIw9-NXKnRYmUiOPByKHj_Idiw126bqI0dcR8fA6faIhycSFIy1Tvw-Lp2bgdj9GAgHXGrxbVccvf8E4i6a0SkdoB8pF/s400/IMG_9668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663019622463844226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>The sharks are attracted to this area because of Geyser Island which is a stones throw from <a href="http://www.danger-point-peninsula.co.za/dyer.shtml">Dyer Island</a>, just off the coast. Geyser Island has between 40K and 60K seals on it at any given point. On our way back, we stopped between the two islands (known as Shark Alley) and took a few pictures. Only the mothers and young pups were there. Apparently in November/December, they jockey for space and the rock is totally blanketed with creatures (by the way, those darks things in the water isn't seaweed... it's seals). Unfortunately these photos don't do the spectacle justice. It's magnificent to see. Our telephoto lens was already stowed away because we were on our way back and didn't want to get it sprayed by the splash off of the bow.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgalywAOG3s8Gg7DHY-SwfTMbLpUknWCc8mkUKBUI44sITvUHh7QwFhCwmWwwkoQLUOrCKbXmzlZhrWqtSk_4OUkIKdiEJLHpP6xcozkPiaYAKVri-d766OZ5p3znsaMIrzzWzJERyTJaVL/s400/IMG_0592+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663021638940634578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUlfXY9-3wn3M18wkLMa6stopLxN6j2BIBy4OznnCo3hC7Zp78FvjQizmwB5E3HseNGLX8dGvgreQzdoXWxia2zAJlkvveZ8gBSUh4rDV8REfiT-WQry6Gh4geZNeuJcYxd3ud3io0kPt/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663022598571264962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>I can't say enough about our outing today. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. We both think it was the best adventurous thing we've ever done on vacation (which maybe isn't saying much) and has opened the door to many other things in the future (I'll tell Ryan later. Hey, he's the one who insisted we do this!).</div><div><br /></div><div>AND... if that wasn't enough, here's how the view from our hotel room balcony is topping off our day. Bliss.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcL9Thu2ayXX2tv9DLw6NU43JLgqLo5ivY8Vm87DPCy_Xf3HOmUwd0ew2NL8zOizRBSdKB8vrzKmtgSSvqLkTOHYBXvR59hUELcquEtVMW96HVygskJDGboQEyLtJr1Rz9wBY8peWqLdt/s400/IMG_0597.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663023609327642514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ceOrobSUeNvwqWcMfAwYUuMTLTpBw6DFeQDdmc4AzGS03OegSO19bVRJbOcNrTvtXs7r1kHK7bBw1uqpNjUFTmFTyeRmqV__Yk76iAbrVK9TF4J1RfRj1qdEwDe11YZ0Gx3ouy8BFY9e/s400/IMG_0612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663031416952255282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-10953030914184498572011-10-12T12:22:00.000-07:002011-10-12T12:24:24.518-07:00Birkenhead HouseOur room away from home... our other home... and family at La Residence. <div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HYSCPcH7zZo?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-62049720245363636812011-10-12T07:56:00.001-07:002011-10-12T12:59:13.214-07:00Saying Goodbye is Never Easy<div style="text-align: left;">This morning we said goodbye to <a href="http://www.laresidence.co.za/">La Residence</a> in <a href="http://www.franschhoek.org.za/">Franschhoek</a>. Jess and I both woke up this morning threw open the blinds (the only thing you have to do yourself here!) and looked out at the view and were so sad we had to leave this beautiful place. Although La Residence is an absolutely beautiful property in the most stunning location it is really the people who make it the BEST HOTEL we have every had the pleasure of staying at. We have stayed at many very nice properties around the world and never have we felt like we were saying goodbye to family like we did today. Quite bizarre when you think we've know these people for four days.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is Jess and I with Chantell and Edward. Chantell, the events coordinator, arranged everything about our wedding before we arrived, all through email. I would send her an email and moments later have her response. Of course, nothing was any trouble at all. When we finally met she was the sweetest girl you could ever imagine and when the day came everything was perfection. Edward is the general manager of the hotel and I picked this photo of him because he looks like a GQ model in it and I knew he would like that. Edward was one of the witnesses at the ceremony and the nicest person you could ever meet. Edward came and sat and chatted with us each day. Our conversations revolved around such topics as how to get the hot gay cook to come out of the closet, and how he had to fire a very hot gardener but because he was so hot rehired him again to do his floorboards at his house because the view was so good, you get the idea. We loved him.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xh3Nk4C9bPukid9iW3QMRr-KX7w4uWAfPqX0tZw8nhgTcrBJdDrmae-Nx2CWgo4FDAN4Z2OOu-c5nUNyybA9cy7rg6LKquopkqPicL9Ih2IVNxEXuQ1OU3-ot1PGGO_cTgZVdDhPWzxK/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xh3Nk4C9bPukid9iW3QMRr-KX7w4uWAfPqX0tZw8nhgTcrBJdDrmae-Nx2CWgo4FDAN4Z2OOu-c5nUNyybA9cy7rg6LKquopkqPicL9Ih2IVNxEXuQ1OU3-ot1PGGO_cTgZVdDhPWzxK/s400/IMG_0796.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662620334193117186" /></a>This is Jess and I with Nick. He was also a witness at our wedding, where he wore a suit! To give you an idea of the service at La Residence Nick drove from Cape Town (1 hr away) to deliver a document we needed to make our marriage legal in Canada. Today, Nick showed up looking like an Abercrombie and Fitch model, which we enjoyed!! The nicest man.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAqVYyNlRKHEOcRMby36i_ibwiJcifEZmfNlP76Z7X-tcBMjo8JKgNH8K2CoVpGcioxiWgqnkBELtAATVv_e_AN6mgvqxO0774Jf_p4fb2q8gww0qsHTc8wMbkiav7W5Lhw2ffdUWxbm3/s400/IMG_0802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662621288504542562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px; " /></span></div><div>Another team member who stood out was a fellow named Evan. OMG, he could star in an American sitcom, such a character. Evan decorated for our wedding and our wedding dinner, and it was FABULOUS... and we're pissed that we either didn't get a photo with him or we can't find it on this damn computer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today as we drove down the driveway to depart the hotel this is what we saw......</div><div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaGYEFdWpLwzobtHnlcEkwAxQq7gT1rkT8zvJVuFRXcVu4iALZka8hxkv0gJ563gOL3LoP0zQBEtxGPTRotbFVrajLsrt96K2iHXR3PRdN8VrvK5dfagesdJv9kncRgbQvY1ZNeWDy7DR/s400/IMG_0804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662621292122327522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>How can you not love that!!! You would never see that at the Holiday Inn (I have never stayed at a Holiday Inn, for the record, but I am sure you wouldn't see that). Jess and I were seriously emotional as we drove away (I wanted to cry, NO JOKE!) and headed into the mountains to our next destination.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVR3KIFWXgwnQfdwy9cMougxW7xrsPS-zajdeoQxS2OeLKZ6FeXZmWdF8fd8c8sDZB22_IKBNlVaDKCkY1bRFpZs7ROhfzprSd6OA_eQpZXDkxJO-qGOmJiFMVT52-6YMlTmuIWW56t7U/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662623261821032242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></div><div>We said goodbye to the Franschhoek valley, but know we will definitely be back.</div></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-11268848817436329112011-10-11T22:34:00.000-07:002011-10-11T22:37:57.207-07:00HermanusHere's where we're headed today. Land of whale watching and shark cage diving. Yeesh, why did we book that again?!<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=La+Residence,+Franschhoek,+South+Africa&daddr=Hermanus,+South+Africa&hl=en&geocode=FcS5-v0dfMUjASF-Vm2pUFBeiw%3BFRD18v0dDL0lASnXTTkmAQvOHTELzp_2bvpq0g&aq=0&sll=-34.404644,19.14093&sspn=0.585794,1.229095&vpsrc=6&gl=ca&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.404644,19.14093&spn=0.52249,0.19284&t=m&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=La+Residence,+Franschhoek,+South+Africa&daddr=Hermanus,+South+Africa&hl=en&geocode=FcS5-v0dfMUjASF-Vm2pUFBeiw%3BFRD18v0dDL0lASnXTTkmAQvOHTELzp_2bvpq0g&aq=0&sll=-34.404644,19.14093&sspn=0.585794,1.229095&vpsrc=6&gl=ca&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=-34.404644,19.14093&spn=0.52249,0.19284&t=m" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br />More later tonight.HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-13658059674488335232011-10-11T08:31:00.000-07:002011-10-11T09:43:46.285-07:00Medicine and Wine<div>We went to dinner last night at a place called <a href="http://www.dutcheast.co.za/">Dutch East</a> even though Ryan was feeling miserable. I told him over and over that we stay home but he wouldn't hear of it. Not quite sure why he insisted on playing the martyr but I was glad he did because I was feeling GREAT and the food was the best of the trip. They even prepared a special vegetarian set menu for us - something we both felt bad about because Ryan didn't eat. We're going back there tonight again because Ryan is feeling much better and he wants to try it out, too.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uVgsyrm5n0O6MSB0P2oW2YHSd3H_4eeCTv4RURyDvh04Yv7hS0LC9aJHcUbP5w1LHk-gEh_647wPrNcUIbhvqNbaKaaoaIat-SRDUsaj6WDI_cemj1rVtkEkXxY-J9Dmd4L3QwIUi2-m/s400/IMG_0746.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662262878962912850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG1SqWvAjHVl5_smVVEazQ-bdOe-xOTnLYIKapf1aViOBH4TBLPI1QoCeSs-_YD3d54_1dHNeZRt8sOPtg9cOYj3BPI3YQkeKpkyAIUQb2fDpR9dUzDm3AyOZ0FTOxarNSYCK4QJmiFMw/s400/IMG_0747.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662263309658330466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>It was more breakfast at the hotel the next day. I've got to say, we are currently the only guests staying here right now and considering they make you feel like family (all 78 staff), it feels like La Residence is our private estate. I could get used to this.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81wexyfWzGlHDhu8SNW3ac403BEFivDm8nVP2d9B5eQ8cW5RyxmAoGYetoWt-WKghBXlvLq0MoZXYVdO0jmU2WQHrVkmHob2kCm_AIGUCGwdTggV52qx6her4vJZC9Z0ahb2KBzLjawpD/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662263971477836642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkDzqG6ZrwQ-GpLMLMVl3yt2SMbaEB5EDOfWGz4uF5KN7hGFypbQrcZHn0KDBhJmSMx66w6Z6DA6Q6k0RrmJcKORWxDodT0pJzYAtAVjVrHPT8AKbFtrN16HgxSIBw2fbHsdSQgEZ4CHV/s400/IMG_0758.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662263620396784706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAd7AMZsgjt-ycGjfJ_FBzDZ4bPWlcKyXvdZArvzkRYwgBfvFhupjQw_lovSRxG-M_MEbsh4PmjO4iLn8Z2NOlnSCdVNdf9_dRoH2vQ57OdttNQP6lounuUQ5CizR5UUREMjE2mNr4A_d/s400/IMG_0790.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662266369253267394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcUoDDE1qaUeuAEslW4YpA7H33z_XC1UjW9nD_-y8extEHIYz4kD6eGXcLXolam5k86kzSYiy59XnXAYxtoHj0_9puzjbTG5cK0oJeCViKtUED9thmzRh98ZThz0tDyXxxcZCFD2qDjq9/s400/IMG_0787.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662266364023182706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /><div>After breakfast we were off, again, with the fabulous <a href="http://www.vineyardventures.co.za/">Glen Christie</a> for more wine tasting. Glen's tours are tailor made and change as you go depending on your preferences. So brilliant. We visited <a href="http://www.rustenberg.co.za/">Rustenberg Wines</a>, <a href="http://www.warwickwine.com/">Warwick Wines</a>, <a href="http://www.thelema.co.za/">Thelema Mountain Vineyards</a>, and then went for lunch at <a href="http://www.la-motte.com/">La Motte</a>.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6St7JUw9pBFG-YMTixL1aukh9U3vbCgtDmnFFk_A1Z5yMc_axIfSS2ITAJRXRrxPVw11xfp5ITFwFisIHu46keoqjM9mqX7k6BBsTFlaLBtbe1ta3thH3jqhnx9LFpjQxpqTS6gHmq8a/s400/IMG_0784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662264498318075138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadf6RiCOVhM-2NNZgxcfIGyUi7k7BY4Wtw3g9rKe70CaT6lI-SKJi3rtmf6dgvhqI9AohWhnqOlMWAxOAbxhgm5M1thb5XEewhimTio8GjS_J_3GaixKhUhtT8FaVVs3Vxz2yhb9dxVRp/s400/IMG_0522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662260452160167346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWBv1hodzyOTGFbhEM8qPqZBV0eqDpX7WryKQQxmsUSyFNr4yGNqQxxgpO5cuFmqTHTwv_Yj0aT8dUs2eJ6s0hxAEXhJUErwA8CEHe8EoSBj9FBo-p1JO9OpIUAatOE-Kt_Fpd-k0cvKr/s400/IMG_0518.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662259167578714802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSeU0cG6p6rHrMOdHmBVlmp2kwAQ2HAXE1OIXii1JkYGLzPO3sIDVeSN-F-zmDQ9WMEvCyRCVeDf36bi_VrmUkI0xkINLyWSW9GxwA84pisHxfMJYImUsLIH3vZszlfa4Oofg-jwf-3fI/s400/IMG_0532.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662261348123534578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div>We were totally stuffed but decided to go to just one last winery - we're not quitters! We headed up to <a href="http://www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za/">Boekenhoutskloof</a>. We had about enough wine at that point and decided to go back to the hotel. After a bit of shopping, we really worked up an appetite and are getting ready for dinner. God, I'm going to need a bra soon. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKnRXlQlGFgL3hP0pph38dIkNNZoWh0iXBF3sRhMTkoBnZHGjdluEvKLENCtgBRnz75MPcsW2tF_FK_DyzFWFrHAC13XPlD5MCYPzIgrqwQxODURtjzfpRV4as3oZDstkkwhST2ANxpKlH/s400/IMG_0786.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662265059872546754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Tomorrow we leave this amazing place and head about an hour and a half away to La Residences sister hotel, <a href="http://www.birkenheadhouse.com/">Birkenhead House</a>, in <a href="http://www.hermanus.co.za/">Hemanus</a>. It's supposed to be a completely different experience and we're really looking forward to it.</span></span></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-22527131208946935082011-10-10T07:30:00.000-07:002011-10-10T09:53:10.774-07:00Post-Wedding and Stellenbosch Wine Tour<div style="text-align: left;">I'm not exactly sure what we've missed on this blog over the past few days. I'm sure there's been a lot. No apologies, though. We got married. We're also in a magnificent part of the world, at a magnificent hotel. Oh, and the internet reception is magnificently bad but considering it's the only complaint we could actually come up with for this property (with thinking about it for awhile), we'd come back a million times over.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our suite, if we haven't mentioned it already, was designed for Sir Elton John who stayed here a few times. In fact, there is a picture above him on the desk he's autographed to the hotel as I write this. Over the past few years, Elton has gifted six <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacaranda">Jacaranda</a> trees to the property which surrounded us as we got married. The rock we brought from the very peak of <a href="http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm">Whistler Mountain</a> (where we live on the weekends) is now wedged in-between the branches of one of the trees and will stay there forever (the gardening staff has been informed by Edward, the manager who was one of our witnesses, and also is friends with Elton and travels with him while he's here).</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNpV-MFCudQK6YvuxUC9iClNPjjipFsPOo8_OW3klNgQ5pJyN2_zDcHDkfamS1kDMdvglrEa4rVQ7KwTvI0Hfs3biWH9uIv4cuanLHG8Of9NAcrFORDm4ENKpNGI-uM_OfL2aeFHI1qAa/s400/IMG_0722.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661871757323332258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>Today, we got up late to a disaster of a room. We got back from our wedding dinner (I wish we had pictures... again, they will come from our photographer in a months time) and the room was covered in candles, petals, and a hot milk bath was drawn. There were chocolates on plates and champagne on ice. Amazing. Not so amazing once the bath was taken, towels were thrown, and petals were wilted. The housekeeping had their work cut out for them.</div><div><br /></div><div>We met Glen Christie of <a href="http://www.vineyardventures.co.za/">Vineyard Ventures</a> after breakfast and set out on a tour of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellenbosch">Stellenbosch</a> region wineries. Glen is amazingly knowledgable and took us to some amazing spots. We first stopped at the <a href="http://www.meerlust.com/">Meerlust Estate</a> (which was actually the setting for the '<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Covenant_(novel)">The Covenant</a>' by James Mitchener) and, of course, forgot to take pictures. We followed that by <a href="http://www.rustenvrede.com/">Rust en Vrede Estate Winery</a> which had a spectacular setting and very much reminded us of the mountain wineries in Napa Valley, California.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipVfJ5skoWxMVU4yXoBwDhabI7GDj983VxXIlkPg9mDVBGdWeP7zEyDZbd15koWs6raJ7_G-DU1wFrlh7Aq3-8B6EMKAtvE_EnT5Sj6ImlsrjYAQd0E1YtWQJf4rv7Lia8l5sMnVkPU2E/s400/IMG_0723.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661872307792740386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXeMSl5byW5kbIlKyEF-U0L3HtuHC9_qB5fFHwCa1XsjYx-O4wVhswy7dezlixgqu2aJPgFp11wnLA9RaZNjOIls5RCKnCTyJCFRHBj7EWSKmnW4qjQuJVZIPqGTqZZ9EhBQVH5Xx67bG/s400/IMG_0724.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661872665041126866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VXLoPsJAafCpL5be2ukuOy5dF5KkeJdaDbPHiCuI9ojeBwg9KSckLdvDhnAWIehNk7jiXeC8m5b7rQSGaqN6CdDl_WC94hh8ybrFxcgegDPh-Ws42fN1vcE6SbdwqjhOusPzifr2pvAQ/s400/IMG_0727.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661873791334559026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><div></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fA6Wk6reF8A2VnOgAq7if98Ph4z-KEwB5K99NsnFIpEPuQOiURBvwUhhYPyTXu0UvO1QX3uC5hB6xVQl8cmbErgraPnjUbzoNcDn_PESVyHIngCNTJx0UsrGzAGYlaoMnbgx24lqU522/s400/IMG_0728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661887058488258226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>We then went to the <a href="http://www.waterfordestate.co.za/">Waterford Estate </a>which was a bit more commercial but still lovely. Unfortunately, Ryan is now the one that feels like he's on death's doorstep which kind of put a damper on the day as it went on. At this point he was close to being done. Don't get me wrong - we are <i>really happy</i> I was over my sick business in time for the wedding and if Ry had to catch something (from the millions of kissing pictures, perhaps) we're glad it's now - post wedding, pre safari. Sucks anyway.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcT_At5n_EgbNqq4or8DM1Md-sz4VTRm210yha0UKHZRz4yg1afj0OP4baRF2_TAqYHoIebCzydaSfUuxLNiyPcQroPqK47RzTBJ75Au6OSxyZlQChwA5KIkhqRflgcHuzuwJ5cvzHhUn/s400/IMG_0730.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661887472457827474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO-ayiK9WFtsVg7eFHalcw1By7DFtAX3PUmRwS-UrJDhCoIDY8sdfIa4wn_t53dQjPChmdR_5Wb1UyoXStLrPXaHbWP9jCcujJFL4MjshFM_bE7OCaiZ3vTUFgnwpk2jhvMiq76ebfE5O/s400/IMG_0733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661887930561226642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>Sick or not, my HUSBAND pressed on. It was, after all, lunch. Dale dropped us off at <a href="http://www.delaire.co.za/">Delaire Graff Estate</a> (as in, the diamond producers). I thought lunch was amazing. Ryan did 'the Barbara Walters' and cut up his food and pushed it around the plate to make it look like he had eaten it. Ry also pushed his 'once sipped' glass of wine my way to finish. In other words, THE BOY IS SICK.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga5-5Q_3jL-Ju-5gx_r4mvWusJdYwynYPajzNvuY77zOE8_PIg-C3s7AyY8Pq6cX6U-ypfPFwGqQevHA0lkwAZ4lmnzu2kOIUqH2Cyf7QMf7iNEFxLbHK5OJF9mOxO-hqOl3y-8_S27Yh/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga5-5Q_3jL-Ju-5gx_r4mvWusJdYwynYPajzNvuY77zOE8_PIg-C3s7AyY8Pq6cX6U-ypfPFwGqQevHA0lkwAZ4lmnzu2kOIUqH2Cyf7QMf7iNEFxLbHK5OJF9mOxO-hqOl3y-8_S27Yh/s400/IMG_0741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661889077769357922" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7PrXdBa2H0jjUNZcRtlIYSdhVzh_oDop8cEmV53Oo9yBtjOpW3XaEMZux2lqSj3Q6AXyaOl8v1aTHUuYSCjU8hQm0VyADg2weUcFZD66GvH50U-4edzBsNO3wOVVmhmbzQmq_dxg8AmC/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7PrXdBa2H0jjUNZcRtlIYSdhVzh_oDop8cEmV53Oo9yBtjOpW3XaEMZux2lqSj3Q6AXyaOl8v1aTHUuYSCjU8hQm0VyADg2weUcFZD66GvH50U-4edzBsNO3wOVVmhmbzQmq_dxg8AmC/s400/IMG_0737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661888427634046210" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcBQnnuZpGgczGMSeQ5_hZTUrqathhtmBN72bPOJmgvHkc5kiNAAV8Q0sdgGGY4ry-1ADfGBQjdxi8TwjvmE2ok5bPhVLIBRnzapGyf1dA4CBALbgai7jH1DZvDpEAGAVUpcH7JBkAyDP/s1600/IMG_0736.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcBQnnuZpGgczGMSeQ5_hZTUrqathhtmBN72bPOJmgvHkc5kiNAAV8Q0sdgGGY4ry-1ADfGBQjdxi8TwjvmE2ok5bPhVLIBRnzapGyf1dA4CBALbgai7jH1DZvDpEAGAVUpcH7JBkAyDP/s400/IMG_0736.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661888203073011778" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">We're supposed to go out for dinner to a local place called <a href="http://www.dutcheast.co.za/">Dutch East</a> but right now Ry looks like this so we'll see how the night unfolds.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5uMlpCx8OkRPkIq4WKubKS6iC1BMGJmV4AYVBnvYoqwXGdDf-DrGXT79qsgdLAyzp3ckl8AhYgmnR3tvzDVZjmf0SMcWZL5U7hupZ3u3UQmPc3gy7Jwp8H-PV2-JqWFvZOwWtw80Mk8H/s400/IMG_0743.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661902896717870450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNpV-MFCudQK6YvuxUC9iClNPjjipFsPOo8_OW3klNgQ5pJyN2_zDcHDkfamS1kDMdvglrEa4rVQ7KwTvI0Hfs3biWH9uIv4cuanLHG8Of9NAcrFORDm4ENKpNGI-uM_OfL2aeFHI1qAa/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-88072956900270796552011-10-10T06:59:00.001-07:002011-10-10T07:10:24.308-07:00Best. Day. Ever.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBZDolgXP23sOQjsFGeM98OTj73_69YFhc-6NPkVffBqINAElBTnn4-Bw5gaQGHqsW1jPgsqCNZdvkvOPqpcFbR5XMQIV5qVy6ugGbMCW8LRRmhXmU5tmyHDa1dsMUT5YTFznyaigknQB/s1600/IMG_9193.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBZDolgXP23sOQjsFGeM98OTj73_69YFhc-6NPkVffBqINAElBTnn4-Bw5gaQGHqsW1jPgsqCNZdvkvOPqpcFbR5XMQIV5qVy6ugGbMCW8LRRmhXmU5tmyHDa1dsMUT5YTFznyaigknQB/s400/IMG_9193.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661865478189031762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XzwJqoiGwKkRftGVq_c6ft3dOcwpx_Ko0vr6H6oXYhyphenhyphenB9x19kBD2R8x4iZmaIWqBG2Ho7pbpASa6rwYE67oNrWl_v0LAPtvM86kJsJVd-nsHeFrTLVdKvrEHRotIkkQEdV58_9_mza-I/s1600/IMG_8528.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XzwJqoiGwKkRftGVq_c6ft3dOcwpx_Ko0vr6H6oXYhyphenhyphenB9x19kBD2R8x4iZmaIWqBG2Ho7pbpASa6rwYE67oNrWl_v0LAPtvM86kJsJVd-nsHeFrTLVdKvrEHRotIkkQEdV58_9_mza-I/s400/IMG_8528.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661863898592547778" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierA4Xsq1lx1VhI2XfKzCGAW0p-Xnj6oqsQavYQ5_eRXyCGyJAVdHnpgAEOsViRlB09Zioea9nqfbUtrCbD8b3tzYV7F9c21jLwEaopmFifx4zTuG5gDiWABQgmAEWgDMTKi3hmUajosfF/s400/IMG_9035.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661864138500609730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VeppnZV_eJxKgYli8TxeWTYgsvR6m6TKYTEfWgl0rpKJyOLMyvCz_2WwYe0tEDMlJcCJFP0pN5emxz4fdXrkZ9kFo9FovpDfZXcWTo0DNHYpvJiuey9IBFlrMJ9lOQrvdl9qTzfJKxvD/s400/IMG_9213.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661864338862732098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyFRu6VDoRpTf4oHY9NogcfPeAURpmk5F_ZxATSaMwTNOq6103bqSgz2kL21-M5k5HMTrXLHXFSbP9AVlfjv20e2uwNj9LzZzConEq4KNLIO7kdUOhDsVunCaMmqoi2EN4DIcQNyKgtLR/s400/IMG_9424.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661864712932190690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div><br /></div></div>HopSkipJumphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04307434085920933412noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-65997292127935591022011-10-09T13:01:00.000-07:002011-10-10T00:54:28.388-07:00We're Married!!!<div>Sorry for the lack of blogging, bad internet connection and very busy days to blame. Hey, guess what we are married. Our photographer promised some photos by tomorrow so we'll post some then. The day was perfect, freaking hot 36C but cooled down nicely for our ceremony at 6pm. We were blubbering messes but couldn't be more in love. Until we can do a more detailed post here are some photos of La Residence where we were married. Absolutely, the most gorgeous place and hotel we have every been to in the world.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lJKm5ueRlB1yknV5LGntYoY8LNwML-HskNm811yiOeK7lPVB_CzUDAgczEJuzMX5Z-p7No8ldbbumDZgGVn3s-hrIS2jGPaDEb5xH1kOnA5ZN5ONOYGBUYHX2uvdiDDfULZKJwbAADw/s1600/IMG_0723.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lJKm5ueRlB1yknV5LGntYoY8LNwML-HskNm811yiOeK7lPVB_CzUDAgczEJuzMX5Z-p7No8ldbbumDZgGVn3s-hrIS2jGPaDEb5xH1kOnA5ZN5ONOYGBUYHX2uvdiDDfULZKJwbAADw/s400/IMG_0723.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661588012100307298" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuBduGvDr1YmlofyZrEaMWHsRwAiF5Ivonmow68oW0M-w9H8J-aKvFAsnQghKQUo6wufAfW8M2xezqh77V06HOYDmxGsTLeV8lqW5MBtkKZC8KyUw5S5LrMomiCmRX2v4J9zEcfHsKRo/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuBduGvDr1YmlofyZrEaMWHsRwAiF5Ivonmow68oW0M-w9H8J-aKvFAsnQghKQUo6wufAfW8M2xezqh77V06HOYDmxGsTLeV8lqW5MBtkKZC8KyUw5S5LrMomiCmRX2v4J9zEcfHsKRo/s400/IMG_0708.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661587629562360626" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iA0KrJeLO7WHRiPsf1e_cKlP1ib76SsHwhvyOT64qI6cDCcjosHNMKswDyvtBgNdCnS3f1nrxSgaQlUlemKTf4_xc2cm2kPYAjfebrjIr6UpQzJWOaCzlbmkDyQAjjE515UCPXcH8PY/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iA0KrJeLO7WHRiPsf1e_cKlP1ib76SsHwhvyOT64qI6cDCcjosHNMKswDyvtBgNdCnS3f1nrxSgaQlUlemKTf4_xc2cm2kPYAjfebrjIr6UpQzJWOaCzlbmkDyQAjjE515UCPXcH8PY/s400/IMG_0707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661587276327610962" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMXzjzckqp1c4htsaGH0X1W18lZvwyuUuck401wgsOOHg4iB8PzfwiFeBonpd_yFhFqbmdpPYdPtQFStaGDBD3ZyoY6JtxO6gE5WbGrbOZGpfjCz9HpLFjLzfzgs0ZfdfwG6NElTSfHs/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMXzjzckqp1c4htsaGH0X1W18lZvwyuUuck401wgsOOHg4iB8PzfwiFeBonpd_yFhFqbmdpPYdPtQFStaGDBD3ZyoY6JtxO6gE5WbGrbOZGpfjCz9HpLFjLzfzgs0ZfdfwG6NElTSfHs/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661586926440280034" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKzZkntakKvg0CkKsBuUY4mjpl54w_oqz5hj7EJS-rNHLV65ex7r5FR1fO4Dg_8oAbGzWo9Sf8ZQuHjnfzghoYZqfas0bwlwktkx6UCVZmwhoUHrJWt6154YbqvCVzl-5tVUyKY8EbEE/s1600/IMG_0697.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKzZkntakKvg0CkKsBuUY4mjpl54w_oqz5hj7EJS-rNHLV65ex7r5FR1fO4Dg_8oAbGzWo9Sf8ZQuHjnfzghoYZqfas0bwlwktkx6UCVZmwhoUHrJWt6154YbqvCVzl-5tVUyKY8EbEE/s400/IMG_0697.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661586619762148914" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAZQdft0jJehaQl99dmm5N82wYv0wR0fHICiuzaoUStx0QxrUCbR4H3Dvu73EfimiWBDBpQLDsZxSwo5fKTGp-yk1RHlEEnCCPOKHotY9qXY9ixhhlauE4JzsspOnng9a40neJDRNqJE/s1600/IMG_0695.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAZQdft0jJehaQl99dmm5N82wYv0wR0fHICiuzaoUStx0QxrUCbR4H3Dvu73EfimiWBDBpQLDsZxSwo5fKTGp-yk1RHlEEnCCPOKHotY9qXY9ixhhlauE4JzsspOnng9a40neJDRNqJE/s400/IMG_0695.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661586333682079106" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q4f_HEZdqNFgZuOphHaW7aCbtIa6teJ53Kely6zqkE-S5ECl_jPGG52bLn-9d5a3zQ8MtBu24WSdZmpgDKw4Pxf_pFqHV8z1JNxiwlHVxZksMy92UfbW0yCZ5MOoo5wvvnQVKMGX5h4/s1600/IMG_0693.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q4f_HEZdqNFgZuOphHaW7aCbtIa6teJ53Kely6zqkE-S5ECl_jPGG52bLn-9d5a3zQ8MtBu24WSdZmpgDKw4Pxf_pFqHV8z1JNxiwlHVxZksMy92UfbW0yCZ5MOoo5wvvnQVKMGX5h4/s400/IMG_0693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661586024553075522" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUda5D8Rp_ofgGeTdMhqwWpAZU14xZt0pfjpV8cUuoCv7mmzRuTpYR8ItU18OK2oJtWTI7Vo_CncoucKWRD93lGPeGZ8UpaUjtxweNYIltp9G-7jTzjiIGuEJzkR79KyR0gxIrnXtY4A/s1600/IMG_0692.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUda5D8Rp_ofgGeTdMhqwWpAZU14xZt0pfjpV8cUuoCv7mmzRuTpYR8ItU18OK2oJtWTI7Vo_CncoucKWRD93lGPeGZ8UpaUjtxweNYIltp9G-7jTzjiIGuEJzkR79KyR0gxIrnXtY4A/s400/IMG_0692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661585758729270226" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXPWcxrCTSHLKqccS7V7qEv8_XPuhrSQnCAgWmBqsO9iBJeRS6yr3xdAYGNEgrioxwORvbDqwIl9wm8Y9EdayqhPKF8pp07btEQQPMCiOAzBkcGSUhvliZDk8JJguExufYNOr-uMO12U/s1600/IMG_0689.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXPWcxrCTSHLKqccS7V7qEv8_XPuhrSQnCAgWmBqsO9iBJeRS6yr3xdAYGNEgrioxwORvbDqwIl9wm8Y9EdayqhPKF8pp07btEQQPMCiOAzBkcGSUhvliZDk8JJguExufYNOr-uMO12U/s400/IMG_0689.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661585440823206866" /></a><div>Tomorrow we do a full day of wine tasting in the Stellenbosch region.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-17666385880676017342011-10-08T08:58:00.000-07:002011-10-09T02:21:20.619-07:00Birthday Dinner and La Residence<div style="text-align: left;">Last night we went to the fireside area for a drink before dinner and made our way to the dining room. We finished dinner and the manager came and asked us what we'd like for dessert. We declined and asked for the cheque. Moments later he came back to tell Ryan there was a phone call for him. So, before wine, I would have immediately figured it out. After some vino, I was thinking that a) Sharon's dead (Ry's mom), b) Walter is dead (our dog), or c) the wedding officiator/photographer got into some kind of accident and can't make it. Turns out they had a cake for me and wanted me to stick around. Ryan assured them I would hate that (he was right), thanked them, and asked that we could have it in our room. Turned out they were way ahead of us. The staff had already covered the pathway, bathroom, and bed with rose petals, and lit every candle they could find.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bZ1C4FyvrNIZsN2A6giwPy15aA8e50HZoT2uBHGLBq8wGWjQ3xcODLIRjoXzQsHhmSQJhfokI8OciSqDaypBai_UNtHu39hDTpHYH_DJZiCE7wRowHV4UvwYonPsQS0cL08D2AqK6sY/s400/IMG_0631.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661152768122660658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAuZudIMFXAhomapzWRjH8ANQ6sqLzgbWKRbgSkl2XKtSA-sLnnhvh0x6GUnQvuYuFT3Xc62Dm-jYrYzLVVhOIFHjNH8xU5xmj7neiSjQia2vvbANvXEzS-cxjOLQRQsMclBEt2MLzag/s400/IMG_0635.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661154942126620194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYs3JSWMLsA98IMzy1nAKTQl2szDmeYwj_zhl6GZbNyQmjaz3mchY1Aua25v2YSv1hn09ZHohgwnMQXCd-kVkHsxaD2Z2CyFYEsyC77BEiivO08yRszQeEqn5RGSEoBHB5rvk5WrheIQw/s400/IMG_0629.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661155399452343714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt9GYItF54u8iNJ5S0qJWKRen_gsk6xMwYPsBtXerE8NkSw6IJRqWNd3IUijvxUMYkEHnjpJ9OykRnTwkxCp-nYK-Qt4Hgu5VTJJaCmZSkeaDm83gq5hu5APfGNSXxoPBuhaE8izTQzc/s400/IMG_0634.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661154295946658226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>This morning we made the three and a half hour drive to our next hotel, <a href="http://www.laresidence.co.za/">La Residence</a>, in Franschhoek (South African wine country). We spoke to soon when we said that <a href="http://www.bushmanskloof.co.za/">Bushmans Kloof</a> was our favourite room ever. The <a href="http://www.laresidence.co.za/room11.html">Maharani Suite</a> is absolutely blowing our minds, as is the service. Of course, it would be here that our room video refuses to upload. Pictures just don't do it justice. </div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, we had a huge post written with a bunch of pictures to show you but somehow lost it. We'll have to try uploading it again after we're HITCHED. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-54561638732615691642011-10-07T06:40:00.000-07:002011-10-07T08:42:50.513-07:00Last Day at Bushmans Kloof<div>This place has totally exceeded all our expectations. Pictures do not do it justice. Last night we found it hard to leave our room after lounging for hours looking at this view. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVue6thyySQDFrIqsn6JlUeChMOE2wBFvQde4gJhn7Bcg-dY2kZ0O9tdcuq136ExwjqzFLxVE0ItgVuqeza6vMG1xespnfjRoROg6VkWkII90SMl1BAWqb3iPSIw0_2RVq_8NmbGTJb0/s1600/IMG_0358.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicVue6thyySQDFrIqsn6JlUeChMOE2wBFvQde4gJhn7Bcg-dY2kZ0O9tdcuq136ExwjqzFLxVE0ItgVuqeza6vMG1xespnfjRoROg6VkWkII90SMl1BAWqb3iPSIw0_2RVq_8NmbGTJb0/s400/IMG_0358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660756099357102770" /></a><div>It has become rather hot very quickly (we were wearing jackets two days ago) and is supposed to be high 30's C by tomorrow so our plunge pool has been a lovely reprieve. Jess, of course loves his "tubbies"! The bath overlooks the patio, plunge pool, and view so it really is quite lovely.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeGPV0fqwtVRKOR25D8O0hEK2h9F6be_RB631aMp3muM2_3vUrbnn0uEOfplbu1zFniorMalds7voCWttUDCoQmhRGA4e1cxZRZymMJGSu58LHEtY8xP6zu3XOF0nlgAvbd87rl8H8Xw/s400/IMG_0373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660745880320674546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>We headed out to dinner and were lead down a candlelit path to "Embers," a large terrace built into an rocky outcropping with a fire pit in the centre. The surrounding rocks were illuminated and it was just a stunning setting. We sipped sparkling wine here before heading up to the other outdoor restaurant for dinner. While sipping our bubbles the manager came over to make sure we had had a amazing day and to let us know they had arranged a picnic lunch for us tomorrow and that they would see us at breakfast to arrange which wines we would like to take with us. Wow!!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTReercd3WJJyvc40V6dhZ_WvWRPySQfhOfFuLbuDtjdAaupQe2z5YYRSTejFK7GifeQ9fOm5OalWHy2t-ACDzErPSbVLs00hXXKI_N4Crqma3QJoat9FNVwvvux6YmNE0WIvsS46Nvik/s400/IMG_0380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660748998611510386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheTCxScxMS6Eb9BZAzWi3tEyUMP0PEr_ASN2Bv6doyWBfF5NljMPsCjWcWPzsKuXhWlzaMEHA_7mWdTcWDCTU24XYT3rCLbl7ckzf20lGZiFFdIRXxKtBUS6o66ck6mfOcJwIC1EfbDo/s400/IMG_0386.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660749000907935506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>Dinner was amazing, again. Everyday the chefs special tasting menu that they offer us is different than what the offer the other guests and is totally vegetarian. The other guest's chefs menu is all meat but our menu is printed up to look just like theirs. At first I thought they had turned the whole resort vegetarian just for us. Again, just a nice touch.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Today we started the day with another couple hours of spa time after breakfast. Instead of the spa, we requested the riverside gazebo for our treatments. This was a couples treatment room so Jess and I were together for this one. The treatment room was stunning you could hear the river and birds chirping in the background, so relaxing. We had the same "therapists" we had yesterday and they were both amazing. The girls told us they would leave for awhile and we could undress down to our underwear or choose to "lie naturally" under the towel and they would be back. Jess damn near gave me a heart attack when he glanced over with a puzzled look while the girls were knocking and coming in the room, and asked why I had a "boner". I obviously didn't but he sure got a good laugh out of it. Nothing like getting super tense instead of relaxing! We asked the girls about their work schedule because the nearest small town is 40 kilometres away, through the same tundra we've posted pictures of. They said they work 18 days here and then get 6 days back in Cape Town (3 1/2 hours away).</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPtYBfp0FVxFn0WmS8xb3XlTRQ7mONQVbWKH-_s3h_H7kS5tO6Snf88ZodHj5Kh42NxqDc6Z9rb78K1RZx-eZ7QaMuD_Az0nKZaPBz35NdOG686gKuD4ON8PrVtyS5Y2oEI9aQFR-89c/s400/IMG_0604.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660751164793389858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KrzmGPSfYMSpqfeFFGYmXtCkecFXbuafrMT4S8OI32AKFSw8zoI9nXHYTABoiYlw9ZykY_tmEBkyqXyuFtBpQj0G-wwWsfnKNN_OwDKGDTZC-799K5gHuLb6jdAEhqHIMyaadXUe6iA/s400/IMG_0606.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660751174263146658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JYJm5JajXCRyiRcEy6cn-7Yu4V8NM6Z4Jz5h_F73FTdNjrKYF6aazXYm96WiZXRdW2FbYH4keJTotY_Z9jyoUzBc2X3NVDUN4m8-mXeHb7m9nXXtP9DKAvYMGk7M0472CKO4kNR8Y7c/s400/IMG_0605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660751168454510194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">We met our guide "Werner" at 1 pm for our picnic. He drove us in the Land Rover down to an area overlooking the lake. When we arrived our picnic spot was perfectly set with umbrella, pillows, blankets, wine, water, picnic basket and an amazing spread of food. Again, wow, wow, wow. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb72Z4CAa7av2fRvGXe1kfd_FKQ0QjfynYMmDI9F8B3mXNFsce43ZZ28u52V1GHbg6staazhiYI71TXJOPvRiP81gdk8WxOA_Mis1Pl2fNAwcWrCt6Eke0f5PKDbHYG0wa6mItQidV4c/s400/IMG_0406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660750249856115010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlhQvVGEMZsADs77CRdHED3_U_fDJh418f50KMrVK4Tv-0IjppaLZAkE1M29Cy1Nckhp0LWbLL2mt3e9LFxurXBpH70Fy8W5ussWockpvXcUI-zR9rbp7BikCPM1ssMbrhL96y9-srqQ/s400/IMG_0414.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660750257169509474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Csh0EgDcbWeqXrFIUU_sd_Ar2oA6jxWiy4JMVcVrGHgOC83p3uUc3YXzz5cScJXSGeYME7UOZi2kjerrOcJTqZezc7eRtoWuTtjzWL5IZyeWtN06kycET1U98-axqBC907r0JKs8ajQ/s400/IMG_0611.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660751947711954434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNv4nNxMKPT0D4IzinQjchtHqhyphenhyphenTaPWuI3LvLbq3x9EbKcnmcTknKoh4GDbgFdtcMD_01xLK7jyOUjyPCn8n0Pk-zolc23TvnQmtQ8x1zBLAuUVczKtX4SmCQdzmhXUPn-9WFOzH-RbA/s400/IMG_0615.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660751952851910834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>As you can see, the food spread was a little sparse, I mean who can get by with this menu for lunch:</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>bread</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>cheese straws</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>3 different dips</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>assorted vegetables</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>butternut squash tart x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>mushroom tart x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>caprese salad x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>veggie sandwich (to die for) x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>cheese and tomato sandwich x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>brie and fruit x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>pecan pie x4</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>berry pie x2</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>strawberries (a garnish, I am sure)</div><div> grapes (again, as a garnish)</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>wine</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>sparkling water</div><div><br /></div><div>We tried really hard and didn't come near to finishing it. Shocking!</div><div><br /></div><div>We are currently reposing in the room and enjoying our last day in this amazing place. A little concerning is the fact that Jess is quite sick. I was feeling like I was getting sick yesterday but have rebounded (hopefully). While we were doing our Township tour a few days ago, two little kids ran up to us and wanted to hold our hands as we walked. I couldn't help notice the little girl had snot running all down her face. I kept my hands extended from my body for the next two hours of our tour until I could get to the hotel and disinfect myself but Jess may not have done the same. Jess is convinced he's on his deathbed after drinking that beer. I hope he rebounds as quickly as I seem to have.</div><div><br /></div><div>Below is the map showing where we traveled from (Cape Town), to where we are now (in the Cedarburg Mountains), back down to La Residence in Franschhoek where we're getting married! Can't wait!</div><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=West+Quay+Road,+Victoria+and+Alfred+Waterfront,+Cape+Town+8001,+South+Africa+(Cape+Grace+Hotel+%26+Spa)&daddr=-32.118137,19.106367+to:La+Residence,+Franschhoek,+South+Africa&geocode=FYeR-v0dzhYZASFm8Ox037ewcQ%3BFYfqFf4dP4ojAQ%3BFcS5-v0dfMUjASF-Vm2pUFBeiw&aq=0&sll=-33.050112,18.797607&sspn=2.380405,4.938354&vpsrc=6&gl=ca&hl=en&mra=ls&glp=1&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.050112,18.797607&spn=1.85575,0.75273&t=m&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=West+Quay+Road,+Victoria+and+Alfred+Waterfront,+Cape+Town+8001,+South+Africa+(Cape+Grace+Hotel+%26+Spa)&daddr=-32.118137,19.106367+to:La+Residence,+Franschhoek,+South+Africa&geocode=FYeR-v0dzhYZASFm8Ox037ewcQ%3BFYfqFf4dP4ojAQ%3BFcS5-v0dfMUjASF-Vm2pUFBeiw&aq=0&sll=-33.050112,18.797607&sspn=2.380405,4.938354&vpsrc=6&gl=ca&hl=en&mra=ls&glp=1&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.050112,18.797607&spn=1.85575,0.75273&t=m" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-16550450878621891702011-10-06T07:31:00.001-07:002011-10-06T08:13:21.033-07:00Sp-Ahhhhhh<div style="text-align: left;">This has pretty much been our day... you know, apart from eating and drinking. Life is good.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdy6z3mlerLWncvXc7Reg5RSmjlzGuklWk2TILnTDR4gVN1XGRj3XNx_0QWb6WCyiG9biPKP74axraLUWuvvd6TFp_lTSDBSofbxOa17UiufR8VFXdBZ4kk578QCjM941zeakWdOZRsAw/s400/IMG_0329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660388062314154210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0HxaEmI4cldguGKpdjzUVSI8FKrdiwjSoVSXlaYqfVxZ7hcD2u8eDP9nzIFTRYBYH2XaQ06bTaHwLtUxaA4Wzk5yV88tv69hhCUTPfRCEaxIBLwM9xrEh4I3owGiXQnOUp6k-TN3T98/s400/IMG_0331.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660388522604947474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10ElJctdHDd39ibvOdk1w_tQEHAnrNseHbdK1_VeGwa7K2N11UH8ATzLwzIFGHoycO6lzaTX5_QZY2-wRP8X-gLzveXwpb5UnejzTwbej2EvvQf72_m5-dQQqoCos_J8lzJVxpfmayiY/s400/IMG_0332.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660389223210016674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYkVaNUadiXSDlGktXsY6GszULVkfPd417tinb17Z2cJRIhz8ntBnvB0TK1gvjWj7s0jEZsy5Wxi1EdMGVoG90rqOlWpLifVZRerpABcZe65LH-qRt8JbiWJA2aklVufhW4sChzhnwDU/s400/IMG_0336.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660390403488267074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy6sDHVH3W3WxqS667h93vtbIFM0qZf_QkRjjUimjc4BsjgJkBHZpteVVvNspvoRJfDsHRoP4NXz4CJBgxEKrDLLtFsmAmbGB0uULIlEq-R1jrX5TER62yVOSr_jtFLy8mvjsHuCjwFc/s400/IMG_0337.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660391006065654754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOQnPYYoMaYyrRsJzHOAfZG_HkS0ApUxMcBRjay6UWkfXmWahuE10N7SCPB2NKFh3bvOFARjwe_e4W43tEn-znNblGLeiMVqff0Yjx3FGS5Mj2YKgQoju3cHSCAnKnhnlTb3ntaYUNdY/s400/IMG_0338.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660393993650524370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZPma4WfCg4mKkIIiC3-lVEsokMD4jmyPPN2r20v0c_4iQlraVge2MCmeNTdNaI185XS3ipNjOKBDmY81omqZIc2qrDvvfKQ5rcRBANAVGFAQib8tHI6hB0pA9GtVnr_YKrInZvUMqsI/s400/IMG_0340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660394432410708306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP-Aw5k-oNXBGTLauSCu-JHI5eS6fi-XLbx74EsyhFF8oZFFir9n0fySpysxp2J2zaSNYKYJMmwn2wABFXN1Kwm8eMXzT413IqsoZmg5q56WXLNWDYHkIkvZ5Pk6aWYBy1N3UglZRIqc/s400/IMG_0343.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660395221601814962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>My favourite picture is the last one of Ryan pretending he's relaxed on a lounger and didn't just step in a super muddy patch of grass covering his feet and slippers in mud.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, we didn't ONLY spa. We did some major cardio in the plunge pool, as well. Exhausting going from side to side trying to remember where you put your wine!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPr0UW5YXkooiNYZWiA2rIMx0Bt6mfJH5psOYts1s9OlvRPmMSO0Q5uPgxqrR8VwcVKb6EC5XqXkSE0zx5pqARda5M0BvOQXCaqBkzckxrXx8Oa-wacSIP1VVFq35YJ1YwyYFugHWzEI/s400/IMG_0600.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660396520266480178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nz8B6en_3Gbmt2NZmIJvM1btVB9HsQoGBQT9QXVL9Xa1mOUkdZWEZ1w-1Z4dbNvs_p-fm5CiLnAGP4W48IBziamyS0GwIl4C4NaOkm0yVAP4sKe5ejU-lNFkww7e1u5_SGk5r2yfcdw/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660397105053544946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD4fimJnIBdAvVqYI_iIyrwdslEGBnBY3e8vchleWGqbkY7qyrsv2VpOAzAI6-BQjnoIqo_oyOkKRS_Hvlv-H-i5q-TF01NlnsgMf9yFFiJTMxeUsttYBx0iMNrdUChwM3V-OSemri2N0/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660397432154549538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-55760223104241064612011-10-06T00:59:00.001-07:002011-10-06T02:03:33.382-07:00Game Drive and Cave Paintings<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sIENO70tiaUrXG-87VAOD4Hsn69cSKfSmhZLFGwybxMwz1n_N0lkb7LUOUHaurNljR5mRC9UE5QP7QNhUYcHmlToLMcIl3edZoB5wPFcu_9-vvd7ZnaJEopUClFS5cRu2OA50g4kdSc/s1600/IMG_9583.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday after we arrived, we were introduced to the guide that had been assigned to our room, Werner. If we were interested, he told us he could take us on a game drive. It was tempting to stay in the room and just relax the first day, you know, swim in our OWN pool but we opted to go. It was amazing. We met Werner at the reception desk and he asked us to get into the truck. Super annoying that the Circle of Life from the Lion King immediately got stuck in my head. Within about 10 minutes we were driving through the area and we were gobsmacked by how beautiful it was. We were suddenly reminded that we were a <i>long</i> way from home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWjPV4uCkyhnfAp9XaHCuqaFlbjSh3Bos-1ogAVSjB4TmfRCJJ0dY9LINLkOvgXutm7ZpjoR5_0_kdoWjsxbHRk5-NdmhQ_K-4Gzlh8ILfFTD-eCAaX-dDiocDNNtq2-Z2xhe6n9XZvE/s400/IMG_0290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660286639909076162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCugs0wavKzdIhd7_M3dvd_Wi5mwPjLNiFWqARfDac1h4XBb4-QoNfD5ZJHSMBDbuddwpcDA0g_4G1dySiQKBsInA-Ve2doTfqAswOGsl6wJEvol6gkQMTiocH4mtIDqnlklGreVGdGdY/s400/IMG_0294.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660287822287999810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCyH72cLUas4odLaLn5qYHxvMmfVtxzFsEHQL2YsesZMN8C3vUWOrfFzn7FRTIyOb5OYyx2K9y9p6bIuVB4tEfnZDn0GC972Wf5z8zyVcPuFRo1drYOLxgivYQ7117cp0lyOEAkvBnqU/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660288609575793666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>This reserve doesn't have big game but we were amazed by the animals we saw. There were a couple we didn't even know existed. It really was king of Lion King-ish... all of these different types of animals in groups, all together in one area. We first spotted some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bontebok">Bontebok</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springbok">Sprinkbok</a>. We knew of Springbok but Bontebok was something new. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJPL0irQiD_iJqstx_o2g_5vsYaB6fL5vN8ZISYWC8rc4nhbsCoUzxVysfjfc7ud-v0QN1J_08Dm94ZokaqSPbi_xW9vHwiP7SbzS5Z2jF_K0PWCfciF84-gMJsdPTWKQdgUntHPmxhk/s400/IMG_9560.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660289540755924050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrA1GZG4_H3IRimHNPB9SLFO1e9B086_ToHZNdDoKDzGzI0Gqvl4ZIAK9lniaVArwZXsSMqepNuOGYYljmeQcm539t8F-N1UzHaph8Z0sIhjX7N4BObE_7Z5F_8zN2pFS_u8C1sUSPUg/s400/IMG_9503.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660290167946334930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>We also saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartebeest">Hartebeest</a> and Ostrich. the Heartbeest were quite amazing, and very lively while we were there. They were running around like a pack of wild horses. Kind of neat seeing ostrich in the wild as well. Our guide told us that ostrich can be quite dangerous because of their stupidity. Their brains are smaller than their eyeballs and they have talon-like claws on their two toes so if they can't run away from you and feel threatened, they'll kick forward and try to gouge you.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-MzIV2AYgZkICDr1uHPluqWZBrM8ePOUsBy8fiJvSUjnYqg76kfknzNkX94FBIzUVpsXCsGzqlToDZGNU5PTQJU4EeD-pMOp87iTEsZG0_ISrNI_kt4Ola0S9vB-JZKK3Vc6BqLvsZ8/s400/IMG_9509.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660292311217017650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO8J8w04s4QnwdRtqntTLzK_ovXF0WKVD-IPEhfUAdeQ1IoHlvq1qozQziuuloJUn6g1aUSn3eiVy14cVRmrYZ2F2QNWQb3lwMqY3wQPW9FGdARt9VZ8Y4-5TOTrl4pLc4KW-udMZLUY/s400/IMG_9510.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660292859261454946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHcny7-MSljB67EOq5gBw4j_d9HoCbdF8HHvusAjn3UI-4LqHOTXZuBok3y55j19YBdX1K0BbPlF5_U-E9E_5X9URQHMtQRYPhRjd7V3iD7yJyX8dM-prFPxRjueQZwotvX9XOqPupuk/s400/IMG_9515.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660293333425449858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>There was also quite a few <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Mountain_Zebra">Cape Mountain Zebra</a> though they were quite skittish and did not appreciate that we were there. We are quite luck to see them as there numbers were down to about 40 at one time though through breeding programs, they are now in numbers of about 2500.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fCUtt0YZjuDWxxNpX2vbMj3NYxixmQEqh96W7g4T7WOTR0dQj725GB5dR1I3dmv1pfuYefaHrziSyk5mDOxrR8a5SXgamejqiZ1tbHLuZkmPwRk_ee8TSDcu5aXU6KSAvvLX-7YX9sQ/s400/IMG_9543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660296110228557618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>As the sun went down, our guide stopped and asked whether or not we would like some sundowners. I'd never heard the term before this trip but I like it. Werner put down the back hatch and set up a full bar. My kind of game drive! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncmX-nq71E093eCXYskNrVryJkQCOgT4iy-SiQo_OdGaKLUB7Tvz8NwX3fSEdtxtd4kVwEo9_gCSjYPG-ukVD_c56ul4YSnKrhFOcx81Z_Gdz-vJyhqnLs357rYOxEj-846SGaXMK6Ts/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgncmX-nq71E093eCXYskNrVryJkQCOgT4iy-SiQo_OdGaKLUB7Tvz8NwX3fSEdtxtd4kVwEo9_gCSjYPG-ukVD_c56ul4YSnKrhFOcx81Z_Gdz-vJyhqnLs357rYOxEj-846SGaXMK6Ts/s400/IMG_0307.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660287307380950770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3dHWanS1xck_SzOxO9kA9a8kUClM9Hs_8YIzrfvgWolkZazPQd5dLeGNR_DQiD8_-6jeXauTWsjusFay_x0_fDn8Q164HTw1iTzp24CWvIuVYxLReg2etHlG3QLzssZz-TYPWbgPywA/s400/IMG_0305.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660295024003669106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>We also stopped many times on the way to look at different birds and bugs. All over the grounds of our hotel are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Weaver">Cape Weavers</a> that weave round nests like these in the trees. Really neat.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jhOycVb92FBFovn_BmsAVk2Xu7SLGW65LlYX5j0wNTCO-NOgmxX1ExBWIx8-XJadeIc264mruH1kMBJh1hEqx80uyRs7LWSu_8vyXXpvx97XnQLVRQ__sEm5IRptQja1NKo16vG1Ndw/s400/IMG_9569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660294063860156626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>Werner also showed us things we didn't really need to see. Reminding us that things like this live here is really not good for the psyche when walking to dinner while it's pitch black. Unsettling. Now Ryan also just about leaps out of his lounge chair every time a leaf lands on his arm or a bird lands on the awning above us. So nasty.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqdUcvE9rVQ8mqcpWEiT4984sUWuDSvLqfeN3uTHcDEawwpy_R41NCEiNrYbd82o0WBrc5YAqiIi6cCTK8SV6AjPqu0sqo6a9ErvKHsCRfD1LkRTzkFsSN2KMmlTO5SrvHKNTcrIedMM/s400/IMG_9536.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660295312011145794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIX8uSuUrAeK7b5GB99BE1xun1NtsCTFY7-MDoLOLcOQD8XX7crS6E1pafN23dhO6-0nSYb3RIWPQBD8h5TmZBX32zviKwNiEcMc2WEVYnUiODeqauX-NCy-dYISZ8Szg9BtAIkEshlHg/s400/IMG_9595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660295666010899410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div>This morning, we got up and had breakfast in their open air restaurant. It's so brilliant being able to start the day this way.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKOHtkBtO2CCyjEv6rLvbY-4QRtLjqvif1ZhzDMcFNyDnoTqGKx_a2YUCxqYM4dkX6Lt1e8zpJhd8qKyvKV8eC6vBHwCy9YPSz-RTwwzBBcWRyJwg1GnmCVsW-4BCJYPtU1ClLwNLlI4/s400/IMG_0311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660298014242610274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS_DaehGDFvrvi5WuyVwbmLoub8wrRqYcxSB06e_r4GM6Jnzu77VDvT9KlkU7ZHLJm7gdXqERQDzJ4yVEvGkGgDWMvsFYo6yV5395gQZt5OaV3QPHy9RVDD7HU3YenTzAI2ySS_CG6fs/s400/IMG_0313.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660298607358600834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div>We drove about 15 minutes away to some 2000 - 3000 year old cave paintings by bushmen that used to inhabit the area. The red is the only colour that has survived, made from blood, dust, and plants because it actually stained the rock. The yellow, white, and black has all washed away. Really cool we had an opportunity to see them.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_zonVXdyCy558ZaUNdmS4g939B0QtEg_0_k2puvcCfM8cbJ3EIM41C0z5O3IJJovUcQB_Q7QijvW3A-W7PDGJEEpqILN8Y6ZMJx4BsfxgSJozvVVpzF314Sl0ldKMJS_OHbKjRPQ9IA/s400/IMG_0321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660300063949275698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EjRrhZclxz74dyYPCRzRsfpiq1MiUIb9XaMOC4kQx4Lv3OUilwFi_ZzhJWHn43U278j0L2Nm1ahBmHFXGS2mZ_zzS_8jMMKfQO7vSf_sCfux4SOjI2zAWgiF3OI4E-H4yy6HwnYIBa8/s400/IMG_0318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660301444834173602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNif8ezZOn3CA3SRcM9ZnXb9DzfUcFCmIektyOAglIt2zp3ghFzvxPYDY2NKiM0NH9Num6xLvFsY8m-sILgsI7_U4x_6vE0XNomnXwQrhBa0FxFTa0UP_ivLwxgfNn2ub78PoX33DCMU/s400/IMG_9572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660301800781703090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-sIENO70tiaUrXG-87VAOD4Hsn69cSKfSmhZLFGwybxMwz1n_N0lkb7LUOUHaurNljR5mRC9UE5QP7QNhUYcHmlToLMcIl3edZoB5wPFcu_9-vvd7ZnaJEopUClFS5cRu2OA50g4kdSc/s400/IMG_9583.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660302158539579618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>We're back at the hotel now, relaxing by the pool and trying to gear up for an exhausting afternoon of facials, foot massages, and absolutely nothing. Ahhh.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-49324429649473532612011-10-05T22:09:00.000-07:002011-10-06T02:05:54.810-07:00Bushmans Kloof<div>The Honeymoon Suite at Bushmans Kloof.</div><div><br /></div><div>Best. Room. Ever.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UgtxMkDsicg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-61218970069615242052011-10-05T05:17:00.000-07:002011-10-05T06:14:53.571-07:00Mountains, Whiskey, and Friends<div style="text-align: left;">After our township tour yesterday, we decided to head up <a href="http://tablemountain.net/">Table Mountain</a>. It was our last full day in Cape Town and the concierge told us we'd better go that afternoon because it's been really windy in the mornings lately and they often won't open the tram until the winds die down. Considering we were leaving the next morning at 11:00 a.m., we decided to go.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>Another nice thing about the Cape Grace Hotel is that they have a complimentary fleet of vehicles their guests can take anywhere if they haven't been booked by another guest. All you need to do is call. So, we called and Ricky sped us up to the tram.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99DszFq-NWzRS0DXnLE4ueXKyCxopXXBzJpYwmxnq9VsFSdWPCq-2AcsFdmXXGJgARlrroTZbkwEeRW0PZ2edJ-Z1eMDZUfFubvLDqzpg2HaxxMsQgDDLJEHAu2sQWUbJ0xE7-Yvol0I/s400/IMG_0237.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659984312001639602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>When we got there, the line was really short which we were thankful for. We headed straight up to the top and put the cameras to work. The views from the top are stunning. It was also freezing cold and windy. We read in the newspaper at breakfast about a <a href="http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/top-story-uk-couple-spends-night-on-mountain-1.1149202">British couple</a> that got lost and spent the night up there a day or two ago. Can't imagine. We're really glad we had the opportunity to go up with the weather we've experienced since we got here.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2oYNA-cAcsPOO6-_efgPdh-We41tL9epVQazn_lE3pU7VZ9rDH6Wsujr9H32-B5yYhJ1dSm7WO1bkYIYqlxj-MEppTd3bggIwfJaNUDYxN-4a0W68gav-LKPzosdirz7qCvszDzFtLg/s400/IMG_9452.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659993087470761090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKjICZ3UHIo4Ar9b4m6UUHh4qUndCVmTSKiD-jtg-yDRBptTKxenm6QsvNQZ9gU7YqiXaWeZuuedXhkrzJd0in1Y0qAmk7g6mK0TKHr52iKwCh-DhgrkAFw8dcrtPRq5cWCVT1HliczE/s400/IMG_0202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659993804951896370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmi1xUk8mNwS4ieu_-1sYo38DfDlEufMfnCDTznonuLFH2dzkINqHn27N35mc6k6mORdDMUCzxdfI8ebAGHo5N5fEXH-XBFf3ofwPraznOjvTPawWvSeK93_QST0ntu77B3fYDRyEPbQ/s400/IMG_9457.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659994297138240098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooItu3VZ0pfF83aznJE7-LnBm4-Q-56vI-6lf9KmWY9Nd5DCzXPwJxt2ECgOKPA41Pwjaj27tUSBTyRi_18JxkW2wu0W471KORMBKvRsM4et8Yarxqa3TxMKgpF64HX9PI8NR0Kd4G24/s400/IMG_9473.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659994695333800562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aLqAMjppuDhmw4XyWxuY1U6ruEp5iT-ExlhXHLDMkaYVjQPcyABiOSRH89AcCBOYszmAONcUNh0vnvwHAEOLJZx6czGJdMiG0yU4udcqC8iOq7OlzHPIppBBf2lxMmUAlbDOmaTIB2k/s400/IMG_0214.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659995192388918082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>One of the gifts we got from the hotel was a complimentary whiskey tasting in their whiskey bar, <a href="http://www.capegrace.com/dining/bascule">Bascule</a>. They serve over 400 types of whiskey, including a 50 year old Glenfiddich that they charge R18000 ($2400) per OUNCE. I obviously wasn't doing the conversion correctly when I mentioned it in another post. Anyway, it was delicious! Kidding... as if...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOPWHYfNzt9wTfoL25CRCqyFolfPwnN5I4s_IbZnFg2gGOogsjkXJhF0x7TZpaYE8Q142yS3xzFdvWsVEEmdulf-sdsDnGwhGMBprtVo6gX2z9-K4olLvCcFlWUV0-1HKt-GQ6fqPxxw/s400/IMG_0254.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659987136851392178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>We learned a lot at the tasting. First, we learned that we don't like whiskey. Second, we learned that you don't have to do a complimentary whiskey tasting just because it's complimentary. When you go for wine tasting, you toss around words like cherry, dark chocolate, and cinnamon. Here, we were getting told flavour profiles like peat, burnt tires, and iodine. Umm... no thanks. It was fun, though, and the guy leading the tasting was a trip. Big huge laugh after everything he said. I felt a bit bad for him, to be honest. We, obviously, took it very seriously.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW44MrwjFmHJ3osUr1Zb2sTOQmbA367AZQPiqH_A-ME3LlvCuSpF3ttdbR4Ess7gmuU-x-FL8g00JHxb7KafaNNAcH31Qvy9lR0L5LeIv-OKXtobVzXWNZZOi921RXtkxkdQJwYf7Y_Q/s400/IMG_0252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659988497913633538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieU87j5MwNd9pNC41jSwaoayYvw99wWY_5Z5U08d74kLCZTXYUOSk8DpbBrlxkH0txiHFAX5II9SIO3Vxzd8Temj-ec2LqUHYA7C66isPwSL5DUrKROhuC1DVAMcREe7sjJDULh0wQ__s/s400/IMG_0247.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659989241960622498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPWw2AOJ7DipGr5Dh32r0lqMBOEiUWL7a6ic-RyxOsyqjDezg_IMqDKEM7i_zK8029jF9MCwnZKoPIvToZcwKKy-LSXv3yW4qsVgs6PeCVdUcsXueIpJeSu6xUcBQlGZMl_fofX0TT8w/s400/IMG_0255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659989860638651826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>While we were finishing up our tasting, my old (not age, Tanya... length of friendship) friend met us and we went out for dinner. It's been years since we had seen each other (lived in the same Taiwanese city going on 8 years ago) and it was like no time had passed. We went to a restaurant called <a href="http://www.fork-restaurants.co.za/">Fork</a> and had an evening of wine, laughs, wine, food, and wine... which eventually steered the evening somewhere it might normally not have gone. That said, no complaints!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivitD8T_Hgmxt9HuF7RTLjbU1ckkjyI5XRP2qzdCm7pMcak8nLAyasDVVi3R-XgHI7e3tNCihU5ZIxkwMNMs2Dj_lnqP4nltCmU2cCNztTlD-91TyE6i-vp61CbAqY4ywOizNmcX_h-uY/s400/IMG_0260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659990681822382802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OG8pXRmSxv3unzDU62_soIX1AF7FmH06yozU0rKYl98o2KLw_O5DapO-qFXq1wXAay1DROY7DqBWE958KPLfSvqcGtwhSUeZRFCCvPguql8hR3r_gDsW98_xz94kpXQIxghkV4_7tyw/s400/IMG_0264.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659991902495389010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span><div>We woke up this morning and packed our things. A driver was sent from <a href="http://www.bushmanskloof.co.za/">Bushman's Kloof</a>, the next place are be staying, and we drove the 3.5 hours to get here. Now, we've been lucky enough to stay in some pretty amazing accommodation over the years but after they took us to this room, we both agreed that it is the BEST hotel room we've ever stayed in. Stay tuned.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-8175175220582834172011-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:002011-10-04T09:30:26.588-07:00Township Tour<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJcvqjGbfEDZ35ML49hWyjb0XhIXDnH8ixjK4JrXqkz8yd4YL-P7EJPwhHk1SeBigGpz7DF5UzOe27MNo532wlAt1j43kEpvty7qyvyABF8ELfhQoxksqpYlXwZUuovOK8T2QSzflE1Y/s1600/IMG_0522.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJcvqjGbfEDZ35ML49hWyjb0XhIXDnH8ixjK4JrXqkz8yd4YL-P7EJPwhHk1SeBigGpz7DF5UzOe27MNo532wlAt1j43kEpvty7qyvyABF8ELfhQoxksqpYlXwZUuovOK8T2QSzflE1Y/s400/IMG_0522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659626207569122898" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">We spent the morning on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Township_(South_Africa)">township</a> tour with Samantha, one of the owners of <a href="http://www.gocamissa.co.za/">Camissa Travel</a> who specialize in township tours (she is from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langa,_Cape_Town">Langa</a>, one of the townships). It was an amazing experience and we both agreed it has been, by far, the most eye opening tour we've ever been on.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were picked up at the hotel and driven to the <a href="http://www.districtsix.co.za/">District Six Museum</a>. It is an old church that has been turned into a a museum to help educate people about what happened in this area of Cape Town. During the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_under_apartheid">apartheid</a>, all black and coloured (meaning mixed race and/or asian) people were forced from their homes and dumped on the outskirts of the city after district six was declared a white-only zone. Their homes were destroyed, and the land was cleared for developers to come in and rebuild for white people. Many white people were against apartheid as well and business developers wouldn't touch the land. After Nelson Mandela was sworn into office in 1994, the government has been trying to bring the original families back to this area. The problem with this is that they have to prove by way of deed, picture, title, etc. that their descendants lived there. Many people lost all records the might have had. The museum is trying to help original residents claim their land by way of a giant map of the city on the floor that district six residents can write their names on in the block they lived. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIMSozPxKPXAFmCOowiCQ51C01Elb3aJkG9rd5uUDAnmxYwLG_MfWWN1de3BU8PWFKCch0BjioIy-hG1VYBtaQjV0AOZPWH_7Sh5X8fkgsSbS0JbX0EXXWujQ7KGNcdzSatCaEGoj-q8/s400/IMG_0524.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659625913065127890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>After we spoke with the man that helped found the museum (a former resident of the area who is hoping to move back), we drove to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langa,_Cape_Town">Langa</a>, one of the townships, and later to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guguletu">Gugulethu</a>. As we didn't know much about what to expect on this tour, I was a bit concerned at how this would be perceived by the people in this area. I could only assume they would see it as rich, white people coming into their neighbourhoods like they were on a safari, shooting the poor, black people with their expensive camera equipment. Our tour guide explained it was just the opposite. This was an opportunity for some of the tourist money to flow to their neighbourhoods and went on to say that all of the tours of people's homes were prearranged and that a gift would be expected. I won't say that this explanation put me at ease but considering their rent was about $20/month, we made a few people happy for letting us peer into their lives. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrC4Vx-Bt3d3JSR2odg5mAYeAW7mmwUKEEcHvvI6AUurgSTE2vqDPfjtnkeHwfOO_JIVjYD46y0PNykISGXb2-qT2BncxWi6WGo9FAGGvnFXZmFXKP50hCpnt0tcjTj7q2mUrjRmgInw/s400/IMG_0526.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659628669765320802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2sHXZtb967tLZJEZcu7EuuqexGu2BXDjy3R_Joa7FLM9qzebcpaW6Xaa_i-7A3TNnHp_0D0iwddHfjlai8TKzZCOFWOVeudK_bRvRJvNEYHuo5ZIoGriXFb2GqEt-ylWstZlnmhdmKE/s400/IMG_0527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659629015290738242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcqGpsfOG5rhv09z7XdaTeVOPAJm6gGBFThyiPNtj5sSxSfX-sXq9QBnmKLPkWOLWl9L8luz01CGNMR94s3tEQ18HfzKWVEHAqElKNuEYRUrBcgTKJ99hMcUS8wqvEe0-tjJPEBgsA0s/s400/IMG_0538.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659629330823211698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2WviEeJaPhQzP0R-B7Rz-ZTxDuLr5nsNvNuFVSWQdfrHj0EmcWz3Or9DmJPpkS5ZmKTQ6lbJdojR4XcTC0RM_PkHfDvhyphenhyphenRnVRUFp1tkFEDNFy-dPaJt4inXMk0_GIcsUD-IxjMTbKno/s400/IMG_0534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659629584858183106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTm-_XQ5b7UE4kLmQ70WWBxZsMV0eA8v0jP4kGHMtnB-zyPeHl2upLUiN4bbFOh3ZUQoagkpPx3lkbd7VlzqSY73N9bdYB-NGnu7kqr402Qqa4Jp0-PtvjDa0-mj_Y7zOj3Szc6LBwNY/s400/IMG_0539.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659630557503133810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlan4KyCVeZB-MN996Uk9sOx625-BI6MZDchSJ3_UVkPYzHwYdVMvJETHYFx8JSiJZzckFMGG1FXlcnRnGBnunowTanLtYO7m2RKBOBzRgVrybMCx855JVQVaTLh003N_T4gPBt4xBZI/s400/IMG_0533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659629792703905378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8S7JFVs_rN_L14UAXNfXDo-JSiQ7l48tl0OZrQTSNJ2w5xQeIqOn32KyoEpyehATMpNnD0qssNDPsBpioI8N7FKZt2KXsib7V1VUv6fY3d-JhZjB80tyu0nz6OgNJR_v4mx7mRlXYQs/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659630108067419490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>We had the opportunity to actually go into some of these homes. It was astounding. People are so impoverished, entire families are sharing an area the size of one of our bathrooms at home with many other people. Below is a video showing the home of three families. The parents sleep on the beds, and bedding, cardboard, or clothing is put onto the floor for the children.</div><div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/76delBF3H-A?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div>As we wandered through the area, we ended up at an 'informal pub.' We were led inside and asked to sit down. This is the part of the tour where were wondering whether or not this was an elaborate scheme to rob tourists. After all, we ended up here, at the Masincedane Pub.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYsZqJ2QpofAaAbiZmd6YhiDeIBTwbG6iPSZXyKU0INhIN5PTwD5s2ZQ9HNGRtyqmPhf5UTxZ8rUJRnB_ihCKrs-b8jnh6AHaXw1CTT3Bw_ng2W_15SUijh-WSrIcAFDDNr21hy7zMhw/s400/IMG_0541.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659632875104464754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uhi-bM1XdqDkOdW-AEeelRvjADg2jXBgY3mlwC8YFXGmjhuL91KxNwA1TOLwsLEllI2kWYbKzfRa-u1W0jNJ5RoX7qzh6u_TeKjlagJZYPf9RX4dYvF0XT9sVfqYBNz_PFRvMqKhMqw/s400/IMG_0545.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659633279182627170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>The guide explained that the residents make their own beer and people come to sit and drink out of one communal bucket. They sit around in a circle from oldest to youngest and once the oldest person takes a slug out of the bucket, it gets passed around and the youngest person puts it back on the 'table,' which is a piece of wood on the floor, next to the other bucket that has wood burning in it to heat the shack. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQzQPfGRTIeRVhtlPZ571yGNeaC_RjRh3y-KgL560dbo95eF-fNPDwT-GB2Ug2a7C2uib8LtGLz9oLkqPemHNy2uhfP6ZgmWGO97CGrZAzQEVcnquaM7XWjdRKxvEzZeq4E5zt9Jf7Kw/s400/IMG_0544.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659634330525160050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_QbBxrqcpYObHwsSTU8RsIp_mD2Upvd9PB2Veqr3QjhsaCIJF3ke_xRvqDY_fsvPzwl87rYh0mCTW6fa5RjESgqL20kpp49LHCYJ1dmJ8PfkMLlXBAEdl0dtg_xOeZg5Hmp84DTYKZI/s400/IMG_0546.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659634585278195394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>Oh, and then it became clear that <i>we</i> were supposed to drink out of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>OH. MY. GOD.</div><div><br /></div><div>We got the vibe that it would have been really rude and uppity if we didn't partake. We both wanted to die. We watched the woman 'wash' the bucket we had just seen an old man drinking from. No soap, and no idea how many times the water had been used. We're counting the minutes until certain death... because we both blew off the froth and took a sip.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdyU6bgpGVgBa3UPwMEEexRyE0sCBWDdIpRqGZ4W4BXp1OFxUWWNHpHfEAuhYfplZx5IN_NcUJmZTxmoQ5NXwUYmcv_Q_DjdwGsEF93MEl228LGDxJWJYW8X850ctNplQMupVbPtVnho/s400/IMG_0547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659665118013624066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvAPlTUGwABH-IbGuE-pobGlyL2_POEwkl-N_g5YYXFGJaI1xnGyojNcl48AjXXYGzUn628a8YtwjtEin-Lvsnge7a1zity_KKLENR6VbO1w1m0LsEGLe3vC0dfMthnU39FIzKak6OxA/s400/IMG_0548.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659665496365706354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><div>We finished off the tour a bit shellshocked. We were thankful for everything we had and heartbroken that people live this way though they are proud of what they've accomplished with what money they've managed to earn and rightly so. We had given money to the people's homes we visited and bought wooden salad tongs which we will never use from a woman selling her wares but it seemed so futile. Here are groups of hundreds of thousands of people (growing by 20,000 people per month, coming from the country and other countries seeking asylum) who do not have the means to buy a proper home let alone go to University (which costs about $10,000 give or take, depending on the program). Literacy is low as well which exacerbates the problem. Our guide told us that there is often money earmarked for things in the townships but the government is so corrupt that it often goes missing and that she gave up trying to change things about eight years ago. Sad. Still mulling things over in my head trying to process it all.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQc0pK0Em2mvMF4pz8eaDrccrXW7MlLPmRZxQWj17TdMBRuyp-XSaPUmt7b3BP7_jW_vgwrC5UpkOGcQTgtEzT7D1ebtSbH3i2sh7cy4u0I-y-GM6_Gg1ner5DS2z31sWjap5FFHmZUo/s400/IMG_0550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659665945857541154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>Once we were back at the hotel, we had the <i>privilege</i> of going for lunch. The concierge (who we have to get a picture of... his name is Hoon and he NEEDS to be in a movie, playing himself) booked us in at <a href="http://www.theroundhouserestaurant.com/">The Roundhouse</a> in <a href="http://campsbay.com/">Camps Bay</a>. Hoon also booked the hotel car to take us there and pick us up once we were finished. It was lovely... picnic style where you tick off everything you want that is listed on a big menu. We had thin crust pizza and ciabatta bread with jalapeƱo hummus, truffled cream cheese, and caramelized onion pate which all came in jars as spreads. We loved the concept, the setting, and the flavour of everything.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35CbiOUTPx8jGZ_FsDtq3Z1pmxymQUOa3ywZKu_MhTHPTDLoEIo9QSYNqWz0XaEiK843itNjCx-O8i2tsqWe4LX1R4ulh_Mrg2-gLc0X3BHxAS1MYSzvz-KT9x-Zb2RQ-UW3aTUsQcVg/s400/IMG_0552.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659669813334007170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz3eDddMiJysInEJUIxLAonWzk6hX0Yd7PuAvJVUIjsr_2SOSPeVnxhRTMzb16pntAzLUFVQnE-ycKESboINtmpYipJkX_-BtVfcutHdFgdB7meCOWE4Z0C7BCsEqLR0GQTWPE6kI2Dk/s400/IMG_0567.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659670702590303154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>We also couldn't help but notice that the number of staff there were for us (we were the only table there for lunch; they had just opened for the season) who, no doubt (and confirmed by our tour guide), came from the townships. They get paid approximately R1500 to R2000 per month which works out to $200 to $300 per month. Our lunch was $80... what does a person say at this point? </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitybQAWIv5Lv7IXhpNcxOJHU8lbYaNkAEqWGnt8wNj3zM9tUIJ188luVNoWyrRR-G0d0V8_n-i2IIaCAZQElfcV4T6u1ymUnit4krKHy1umfjkKeu7HIsLN-gE3bAP8EJ96E35Q79cu2w/s400/IMG_0564.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659671033806837074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div>Apartheid ended here in 1994 and though I never experienced South Africa before then, I can't imagine it would be much different than things are now. Two white boys having a glamour lunch with eight black people waiting to serve and meet our every need. Blurg.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-70760122479745654892011-10-03T06:50:00.001-07:002011-10-03T07:35:17.913-07:00Cape Grace Hotel<div style="text-align: left;">There are a few things about this hotel that are spectacular. I can't help but write about them as I can't figure out how to work them into any of the other posts.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, the flower arrangements in the foyer are amazing. The national flower of South Africa is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protea_cynaroides">King Protea</a>. There are many types of protea and they are my absolute favourite flower, especially variations of the <a href="http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantklm/leucospcordifol.htm">pincushion protea</a>. We have seen them everywhere, here, growing wild. We've asked <a href="http://www.laresidence.co.za/">La Residence</a>, the hotel we're getting married at, for boutonnieres that are bright, punchy, and local to South Africa. We really should have been more specific. I'm hoping that one of these will be pinned to our suits.<br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4IJLlMMKLwmPcLSq8753qwsufjLTyzPx6oDDNhc-0q6_tK4AiVETMGVeQaiKThoMOR4-Vr5hBOX3Yq6Kajs6hQVv3jE5VwBbMdlQ5FA9TJTefVHQRKxy3rmIS8znHS4qDy2O1SQ42Jg/s400/IMG_0496.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659265362541246866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>There is also a crazy amount of talent around the hotel on the waterfront. Perhaps South Africans might think it's kitschy but for someone that's come from the other side of the world, it's really nice to hear and experience, especially since it's old gents that are amazing at what they do... even if the song they're playing is the theme from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=banXT6azA-4">The Littlest Hobo</a>. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwd2FaP2sen1F2vFLGi4o9lSmS3LT8UAWIqzXIgkiq_628zL_m9JUpEHgqNqJ_sC0YzTzw0W2T_FQ_I-9x_NXacMN77p5Fm299rLa2pcs-zctTOnoo3D5jBXIbj9zetHvEpse1fQHYto/s400/IMG_0492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659268804653199938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>So, the hotel we're staying in has a yacht you can charter. WTF!? Seriously. If you feel the need to take a private tour of the waterfront, you can book it for about $500/3 hours. I know that seems expensive BUT you get a free picnic. DEAL! Ya, so we won't be doing that.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrETq3dA9JnsK4GYN7mXMgbTKYCX9OXLcgvq3cdhs0Wwo0x1aOOp2LAmIvT3nTNqKsqml0zLK-O9taDO5n5kAaLwU6RoefKUXUJVl10Ey3UubS9_Bzm4nPkShH00_5Tb2ufKTVUtqGqb4/s400/IMG_0495.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659272164960729234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>There is also a really cool whiskey bar that is on the ground level of the hotel called <a href="http://www.capegrace.com/dining/bascule">Bascule</a>. They have over 400 types of whiskey and we were given a free tasting by our travel agent (which we haven't taken yet). The tour guide we had yesterday, <a href="http://www.smallworldtours.co.za/">Mark September</a>, mentioned something about a whiskey available there... 25 (?) years old, and if I did the conversion correctly, works out to be about several hundred dollars a shot. We also won't be having that (on the private yacht charter with the free picnic).</div><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbouwy-CoVACQ0pccZI2OVo7grN_oqX0QOZQF_Wlcy2lOn7FnBNBNWNVWOwuhewEFCdpAp1XyyNWjyfzs23vqR3fyKpVXNTRz4SkBVafQPcagQ8MVZZAA1Tp70K_WpiPrFsgZcmq1GQg8/s400/IMG_0494.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659267980221762898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>The hotel has also been very lovely with gifts they've bought up on a daily basis. We're not sure if we're getting them from our travel agent or if every guest gets these. For example, they brought up a package yesterday morning that was perfectly wrapped and contained bath products. Lovely.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtlL1TGsg-ILiU0Oy22ir78YuWElkIMOYYTd58kz2W6Gga70zs_lLy7Q70WAED4Izyah3JCtpBAI4kuzywxededxj7Cb72EDDkcxsovx0fvMu_KJqbPBTXZFpgUXilxRdswqGkUMdixE/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659270677232968418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXm-Rty-95vT5cXtsVhr8w4fbHvEkebZnLmaDFMPxIsOWABdaEmhx7-4zAj8-2oaTxUV8osJA5EjvdygYekM_Vw9AqVQeFUOEmX9EjoWGCQ0Goad6X_8tDFYSYjXn-U3K3wtwX5Ie5B4/s400/IMG_0500.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659271091538233954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></span></div><div>What's interesting is that fact that the guy who brought us up to our room for the first time was mortified that I was referred to as 'Mrs. Kaltio' on a card but that we're still getting greetings like this on these gifts:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIkCVh4yMzFW3cMaIMBa4bZp2ujzqkL9q4QiFXkA9UpEU3oReWlFKZ8C9pXE4ym1Gs8SRtVtXSpmp_vYxIpiT-xnLZGCrQUD16yCCf1ogx46KDs4SBumK_pBZra0Y6Ri41o8IRbiHHfBc/s400/IMG_0498.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659273029161539346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>Listen, bitches. I'm Mr. Magee for another 5 days. How dare you!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376912367182466379.post-71665965995255115392011-10-03T05:49:00.000-07:002011-10-03T08:36:53.089-07:00Robben Island<div style="text-align: left;">Today we booked a tour of <a href="http://www.robben-island.org.za/">Robben Island</a>, where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela">Nelson Mandela</a> was locked up as a political prisoner for years and years. It was a beautiful day despite the fact it was supposed to be miserable so we were thrilled. Not sure our stomachs could have taken a half hour ferry ride on stormy seas.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprt6Juj1UD1mXoWUmu30mf8BsOutvlfhq2zCg9ZrzXCh9fWca9VR6gxXreGgIYWpywRR604iw-zHH53djTiGOofx-6u7PE-2Df_5BPJuxW81DEz5NhfXLbUEfHDIPUx0xJ2NgdHqKY6g/s400/IMG_0098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659253391184713042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">The ferry departs about a 5 minutes walk away from the hotel which we were also thrilled about. We were up at about 3:30 a.m., had breakfast when it opened (6:30 a.m.) and tried desperately to have a snooze until we had to leave. Ryan was successful, I was not. Had I managed to fall asleep before the hydraulic lift/buzz saw (Ryan fell asleep before me), I might have had a chance.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxV6-eZZAAJa2mNo4pwEVrB3njP7QSrwX2eS9AaKCwvRzHV7yTPm9YbyijU2zRIjH7tCjVcdVTeNZJNCl2T2vi7VlS9svH6ismZzPYa98BONd0WT2gJyrtQLNj-nUG3JeqID65_QRgHI/s400/IMG_0509.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659252802508865394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7Y5KLfgHrlmUzRnPPm91ciDYcOrxnsasZocjHg9o-ISNeRecIKCtFNVQcXOV4Yq10Q6FwcqL3OBCCoN7XDSuT5WNAySsUAsAZD_3P-JkSOgyGhI-PibT3KiNRbNmvkDj3V2Ah6iz7UI/s400/IMG_0510.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659253630803391282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;">We boarded the ferry with about 200 other people and we suddenly realized that we were in for 3 hours of 'tourist' time. People pushing, having to line up like cattle, and being packed onto busses that were cramped. Not our style at all. Not to say we need to have a private tour every time (which isn't even an option there) but I honestly think that I'd rather read a book about it than brave that again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Given that we were packed into a bus, there wasn't a whole lot of photo opportunities. The guide (who was quite good, actually) would tell us about something on the opposite side from where we were sitting and we'd just take his word for it because there were a bunch of people standing up and blocking our view. We did get a few chances to hop off for photos, though, and this is about as scenic as it got.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerSTh6q79R1CS2qzsqsTxXU13XwbpbVBiROj0wtZvKdIGfu8ridnAee116OfhnqFS-yTckcicS7XYGM46GJynbVJdXBeArhWd77MvfAYJfgQfaBa_Pg2pTPKphri2gqhzRZxrHj4xuPU/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659254921035972354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>Ryan got a cool shot as we were driving - a 'Penguin Crossing' sign. There are about 40,000 African Penguins on the island that nest in all of the bushes near the roads. They literally choose specific spots on the road that they are willing to cross together and then shit their own paint stripes across it so the cars know where to watch out for them. Amazing.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZVNeGu-AMIc8_Wi4d_04wGmyRikAhaPZasMR3wybgU-t5N8_dQvcKzGUd4xxuoUbH6KQsRolq6VojZ_k0KcCh9SJKagNYcPSHw54vY16dp9VSIIZYrrjFbc9Tudj7h7bVjA5tnqu0_A/s400/IMG_0512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659256207902426482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " /></span></div><div>There is also a beautiful view of Cape Town from the island. While taking a picture of Ryan, I was fortunate enough to capture the rare South African Purple Hippo in her natural habitat (bitch was told by the tour guide to not go off of the pavement because there is an endangered bird species that have their nests in the grass beside the road and you wouldn't be able to tell if you stepped on one if you did). Like I said... 3 hours of 'tourist time.' </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-36tC74wI13BRmOY_4bJtH94fSGViP6yxOPSiSJNlqmsPNPPsBrAVWVdlkylvXRt5eH30AIgLfobs3KatKGuifRkI5I0zoctv48sdidC5L_J2EhXZN47isHEZnH63HoHcdb0-3TJqKM/s400/IMG_0103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659256484593628850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>The tour guide we had for the island was not the same guide we had for the actual prison. Once we left the bus to tour the prison grounds, they had former prisoners taking us through and showing where they stayed, what it was like, etc. We thought this was brilliant. It was also nice to hear about some of the other prisoners (apart from Nelson Mandela) that South Africans think of as heroes.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aom6jwcrpXH8-nTyCTtbV_v1MiwMP6_IaBJLC8YsxSxMa3bwkxTGplV3vUnuDIQO4yBGSdeJNAIcsH3HWV3tRmXLW7BJ0wDgwt04Pvr2X7Pcl3FIxYMNQCJTVgjBy8Q63aVMdTbY0tw/s400/IMG_0106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659259250540938146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div>That said, it is pretty much all about Nelson Mandela. Here is a picture of the outside of his cell (first window on the left... I think) and a picture of where he stayed for 12 years. Unbelievable that the man and everyone else that had to stay in the single room cells didn't go insane.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOp3CsFQfMtDOirwHKRnrRil179xvDoIVZjO1xICmB1zGtCCPYzxraiMmfNqPSOBqbHDJHIajLJFJugTitQkApGka1ELRLQn8mCuNlWgrYHzatxRKnHTrRElOuZVSIPU-rTED76pVTVg/s400/IMG_0107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659259600816475490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_R-MtYFErGQP-48JocJGlqtSoqGoKAcQpFPhUvzlJWKPF7vRklPJ-VS_HV6TGxBXTJBG5J2xLNI7jmif3Bd1nXY_SrXoY6b_fMNaOlclxCv5SsmpougK3C6Gq9werlS0KTLGFyUngj9Q/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659259863053588146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></span></div><div>After what seemed like forever on the ferry, we got back to <i>our</i> natural habitat.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvQ_v5qzchPDSC3iHpxBF1jmbSQmPQDkJU1C7nz8szFoyZGvz1PPZAMDj2nAIbn68rOz3-E44cf6wIssmjTTX0sVbJI6XsNXbNmrS0g_Rp3NUehbF46HVbmGRRT_BxqCISg8k3zVfUvQ/s400/IMG_0515.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659260240770330530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;">We had planned on going up to the <a href="http://tablemountain.net/">top of Table Mountain</a> after lunch but because it has been so windy the past few days (they won't operate the tram if the wind is over 40 km/hour), the concierge told us that once we shuttled there, it would be more than an hour wait to get to the top. We couldn't deal with that today so we are chilling in the room (and by chilling, I mean that the hydraulic lift/buzz saw is running in full force... (Ryan sleeping)... again...) and keeping our fingers crossed for tomorrow.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6