Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Scarborough, and then Back Again to Pretoria!

Travelling around, and being a tourist in my own country, is a lot of fun. I enjoyed the fact that everyone told me how it would constantly be raining in the Cape at this time of year, and that it would be a miserable experience, and that I should of rather waited for summer. However, barring for one or two days, there was constant sunshine. I am a hopeful, or a hopeless, depending on the view you take, and have a tendency of doing the opposite to what people tell me to do, especially if I think I am right (which is most of the time... hey, at least I am not lying to myself, and to you).

The Cape was marvellous all the same. Cold, yes, but a delight to go and see again. I met a bunch of new people, strange as they may be (hey, I am a city guy, so everything seems slow and ethereal to me when I am out of my element!). It was quite fascinating to see how people in the Cape are more relaxed (or move at a slower pace), everyone in fact seems to go by their own time frame, service is slow (which drives people from Gauteng, like me, crazy), they seem to think that food does not get cold, and that people are never in a rush. They also seem to care more about enjoying life, and so this to me was a refreshing change. I always get stumped, or surprised, when people cannot seem to enjoy themselves, regardless of what they are doing. If you are not at least going to try and have fun, then why bother doing it? So, that aspect of the Cape really got me, the people seemed to have a sunny disposition.

As I have said before, at some point in my Blog, not sure where, and not sure whether I have really said it, my family is quite small (compared to the huge families you see all over the place), so we have a tendency of adopting family members (basically, if you are a friend, you are part of the family. I am omitting names, because you never know... I am a bit paranoid, every now and again). So it was nice to see my sister again, and my brother from another mother, who is also my other mother (quite the mouth full!). My sister has become quite the chef, having worked at very up-scale (five star) restaurants, and made some fantastic dishes, and won the hearts of the other chefs (She's my little sister, I am allowed to embellish!). My brother from another mother, who is also my other mother, works for some kind of golfing company designing web pages (or was it editing them?), and seems to be doing very well, even if he sometimes gets bored. My sister and he share a flat in Stellenbosch, which they were kind enough to share with us, they even had a spare bed for my brother and an inflatable mattress for me.

We drove down with a friend who was moving to Cape Town to live with his girlfriend, who also happens to be my sister from another mother, who is also my other mother, and the sister to my other brother. Stayed in Colesburg, and as you might have read, enjoyed it.

I am a people person (Most of the time. Some of the time. Well, only to people that I actually like...). So meeting people is what I do. I met my sisters boyfriend (Do not worry, I tried to be nice, and refrained from cleaning, playing with, or constantly eyeing, any weaponry, like some of the previous times! No joke!). He seemed a nice enough fellow, so we let him live, for now. We also met my brother from another mother who is also my other mother's boyfriend (Yes, he's gay. So what? Do you think we would let him 'live' with my sister for so long if he wasn't? Also, he is my brother, he's awesome, and one of my best friends. Some people, really!). He also seemed like a good guy, so we had to refrain from instilling the fear of death into him as well (actually, we are usually very good natured people, I just like to pomp ourselves up a bit, to make the story more interesting).

Well, in any case, so my brother and I (my actual, genetic, comes from the same mother, brother) explored Stellenbosch flat. It was quite the walk from one corner to the other corners. We tried to vary where we ate, and tried all the not-too-expensive restaurants and eating places (we went to the restaurant where my sister works once... and had scones and coffee). Tried to see some of the sites, which there are some in Stellenbosch, but it is a student village after all, so you easily see everything in a short amount of time. Luckily, we met an awkward (an inside joke) German and his girlfriend who took us to go see Scarborough, where her father had a brilliant holiday home. We picked Mussels from the beach, then cleaned and cooked them. They were delicious and we're still alive! We drove past Khayelitsha, one of the world largest informal settlements, and it is huge! 

Image1: The Awkward German and my Brother cleaning some Mussels

Image 2: Sunset on Scarborough

After Scarborough, we got back to Stellenbosch. We decided that a trip to Long Street, in Cape Town, was in order. We went during the day on a Saturday (a mistake as we were later told), it was empty, with only a few places open. It was interesting, but they say one should rather go in the evenings, because that's when it really comes alive (will have to make a note of that). So, I did the whole touristy thing of taking photos and warding away hobos (or Bergies as they are 'lovingly' named).

We had a fantastic time in all. The weather was not too bad, and we were actually very lucky. The people of the Cape were awesome, and I enjoyed all their idiosyncrasies. We stayed there for three weeks and it was time for us to go back home to Pretoria. So we boarded our bus, one of the most uncomfortable ways to travel (will have to avoid it, for future reference), and got back home safely, and in one piece!

Colesburg to Cape Town

Colesburg has a quaint middle of nowhere tourist trap charm to it. Made up of mostly little guest lodges, and mini churches. You can walk from one side of Colesburg to the other in under 10 minutes.

The guest lodge we stayed in was clean and hospitable. Though, if we had a problem with it, we could most probably cross the road, or go to the next house to see another. The owner told us that the area is very safe, and that there is almost no crime, and that was the reason for him retiring there. Being from Gauteng, we were left sceptical, especially since the house was circled with a high wall and barbed wire fence. I was the first to suggest we explore the town, and the others seemed less than keen. The town, basically a tourist location, is dead this time of year, with one or two people appearing out of the woodwork. It was suggested that Colesburg would be the perfect place to film a Zombie movie, which was not too far from my original idea of chainsaw wielding locals, maybe with a cannibalistic lust to boot.

Colesburg has some amazing buildings, and worthwhile for anyone who likes to escape the bustle of big cities, and finds that they preffer a quiet little town as their holiday destination, and they would want to stay in a guest lodge... I seem to go in circles, but I cannot seem to stress how many of them there are. Every house seems to have a little swinging sign with the words 'Guest Lodge' emblazoned on it.

So as we leave the sleepy little town of Colesburg under the blanketed night sky and head towards our next destination, I can only say that, luckily, I escaped without getiing eaten by zombies or chopped up by bloodthirsty locals. Colesburg is a very sacchirine sweet town, too sweet for words actually, and a lovely place as a stop over.

To the Cape, the grand adventure...

Woke up at the crack of dawn, the sky only just showing the first small glimmer of light, the rooster having not even had time to cry yet, this was going to be a trip to remember.

Through sleepy eyes we packed the car, full of the things we would need for our trip, and then some. We checked that we had everything, that we had made all the necessary arrangments, and that we were set to go, and so we packed ourselves into the car and off we were.

We have been driving for hours by now, our co-pilot even fell fast asleep and made snorring sounds with mouth wide open, yet luckily our pilot was wide awake, and continued couragously with the journey, with some mild bemusement at the expense of the co-pilot. Rock music on the radio playing, and rather boring flat countryside for miles round, we three were the lone-rangers (it sounded cool, though if you think about it, lone we were not, and probably closer to the three stooges than actual cowboys), on the dusty trail to the great wonders of the Cape.

It would be a grueling journey, but through perseverence we would get to our distination in one piece... We were going to stay in a dodgy inn in Colesburg, where we might get butchered by chainsaw wielding Boere AWB hockey-mask wearing locals, but most probably escape, and make the story more interesting than just saying that we slept well...

Poetry

Tryst to the Politician
I have listened to your fetid lies
self effusing charlatan.
You demonstrated your impalpable hatred,
your inept insight into the world.

Bleed the very lives you wish to save,
corrupt the good, break the past,
belie those that have made a difference.
Sing your false songs of revolution.
We have had true heroes.

Your name will be tarnished by history,
forgotten in time,
all that will remain is the joke that was your legacy.
Not everyone lives to kill,
singing it aloud for all to hear.

We are a nation under one flag,
culturally diverse,
a beautiful dream that will come to pass.

I wrote this poem after listening to Malema (ANC Youth League president) speak on TV one day. He was someone with so much hatred that it seemed to ooze from his every word. I could not believe that this man was trying to incite more racial hatred in a country that has such diversity and beauty. As South Africans, we live in a country that should be an example to the world, we should strive to strengthen our distinct culture of tolerance, and make this a place we can all be proud of.

Random Thoughts

I've always liked making people think, about everything, so it is of no surprise that I sometimes play Devil's Advocate when my friends and I are in a deep conversation (fine, sometimes they are not so deep, but we do try to be intellectual most of the time, except when discussing sweets).

I just love posing questions, even when I already know the answer. It allows me to see what others think, or how they react to a certain topic. I find people interesting, or maybe I should be more precise, I find the world interesting, and everything is bound to get me thinking, reading, researching and learning. I am a very inquisitive individual. I can never take anything at face value, if someone tells me something, I have to go find out about it.

I suffer from insomnia, which means I get very little sleep done, which can lead to terrible boredom, so I read about anything and everything. So when people start saying something that I find incorrect, I just have to argue. I have had many arguments about the most trivial things, which has allowed me to learn and teach at the same time. Nothing bothers me more than someone being closed minded about something, especially if they do not fully understand it. My favourites have been topics revolving around evolution, and the all too oft used slur of "it's just a theory". Which just makes me upset that they have not read up on what a 'Scientific Theory' is, and also most of the time, shows that they have not even taken the time to read up about the evolutionary theory, which has brought so many interesting hypotheses forward, and is everyday being proven with new discoveries.

The world is too interesting to leave everything to the unknown. The human spirit, if you like, is always striving for knowledge, and that is how it should be. Why should one group, or individual, have the right to restrict the progression of the human mind in a world filled with so much wonder.

Love of the World

I must say that I have a deep love for the world. I find beauty in everything, and sometimes find it sad that others are unable to enjoy it as much as I do. People seem so bent on making themselves and those around them unhappy, that they forget that the world can teach them, and show them so much.

Even with all these diverse cultures, religions, races, languages, people end up having the same needs and wants. Everyone is looking for happiness, self-fulfillment, and a rich (and by rich, I do not mean monetary) life. Though we are all unique individuals, we all strive for the same goal, a good life worth looking back on.

Not everyone can follow the same path to the 'ultimate' goal of true happiness, and I think this is a fact that is all too often forgotten. Some need religious, or spiritual upliftment, and others find more comfort in rational thought and logic. Those that try to comform destroy their ability to find themselves; unless that is what they truly want, but then they should not judge how others try to discover their own place in the world. Discovery is part of the mystery and wonder of the world. Everyone should have the right to be different.

I have tried my best to understand prejudice, and how it works, but found the old answer of: "if you are not comfortable with yourself, then how can you accept others", to be the best answer so far. I have many friends from diverse backgrounds, some have been subjected to racial, to gender, to sexual, to cultural, to language, to religious, prejudice. To me, they all come from the same place, insecurities with ones self. If you are truly comfortable with yourself, why would you be afraid of the 'other' (and I mean this in the form of the 'other' being people who are not like you). I may be a little bit of an idealist, but I cannot see why people cannot learn to enjoy, respect, and live with each other.

Some people will say that it is the way they were brought up, but I find that a poor excuse. People are able to learn, so what makes it so difficult to actually find out. You have the right to be an individual, and so make a choice to enrich your life and educate yourself about other people, and in the end find out who you truly are.

The only prejudice you should have is the one against prejudice.

Our House in the middle of our street...

I just have to say that I love meeting people, talking with them, learning about them. There is nothing more poignant than making new friends.

My friends are from so many different backgrounds. Not one of them is the same; each being a veritable individual. We have our arguments, discussions on worldly issues, random banter, and jokes, but accept each other implicitly. I find it is the differences that make these individuals so interesting, and I find them all unique and wonderful.

I pride myself on being a good host to those that visit my house, no matter the circumstance. Friends are always welcome to pop by, and they know they can find a bed, a shoulder, and an ear, in good and bad times. My house has seen a world of people enter its doors, people that come from so many different worlds to my own.
 I have always believed that 'variety is the spice of life', and that it is the differences that make everything more interesting, and it is through that that I have learned to enjoy people more. I have always tried to learn from people, and tried to see how the world seems to them, and I am sometimes surprised by how they answer.

My house is always open to a friendly face, a story, and a cup of coffee between friends, and I hope that people start to understand that it is not through violence and intolerance that we will change the world for the better, but by being understanding, and always keeping an open mind, and a smile.