South Africa

South Africa

2.18.09



First day in Capetown, and I felt sick. Not good times. I stayed on the ship for most of the day attempting to rest and feel better. It worked. Did, however, go listen to three different South African authors talk about being writers in South Africa. Unfortunately, I fell asleep partway through. Bad Steven.

After finally getting myself off the ship, I had dinner at the Green Dolphin along the waterfront. Had a (relatively) quick dinner, learning that South Africans are laid back and so it takes forever to get food, and ran back to the ship to make it for my theater trip.

At the theater we saw "Freak Country", a story about an actor who stops over in a North Africa country on the way to filming a movie. While drunk on the plane he joking fills out his in transit form, leading to him being held as a suspect. It was a three person show and absolutely hilarious.

2.19.09

Woke up early, ready to leave for Kagga Kamma.

After a four and a half hour drive, we finally made it to the Kagga Kamma Game Reserve. As soon as we arrived, we were served lunch, made up of little appetizers and delicious guava and mango juices.



After lunch, we were shown to our cabins, which were designed like caves and quite nice on the inside.



After getting settled, Keith, Hussain, and I went for an hour ATV drive around the Reserve. It was intense. Never driven one before, so it was fun trying to get used to the feel. I was in the back, and fell behind a few times, which led to me running off the trail and flying off of rocks and bushes. It was awesome. Got scratched up, but still awesome. We even saw some bontebok (antelope like creatures) along the way.

Came back, and while waiting for the sundown game drive, we sat and watched some cricket, which our guide explained to us. It's quite a crazy sport. Like baseball. But probably more exciting. And it takes a LOT longer.

The sundowner game drive was not terribly exciting. It was fun to ride around in the 4x4 jeeps, but we didn't see much. Saw some more bontebok and a few ostriches. Our guide Eugene was cool though. He taught us a lot. We stopped at sundown and watched the sun set over the mountains in the distance.





Arriving back at camp, we were served dinner, which was a wide variety of foods: lamb and pork chops, an interesting bean soup, a cacciatore type of dish, a mashed potato dish that wasn't potatoes, and a few other odd things.

After dinner, we star-gazed. Learned much more this time around, and the sky was perfectly clear. We saw everything. It was ridiculous that that many stars were in the night sky. We able to clearly see the Southern Cross and Orion's belt this time, plus I saw two of the spiraling arms of the Milky Way. And we saw two other galaxies (I'm blanking on their names). Plus, Saturn was out, and we were able to see it through the telescope. I now know for sure that Saturn has rings. It was incredible.



2.20.09

The second day wasn't as packed with excitement, but it was a nice day of relaxation.

In the morning we took off for a hike through the reserve with the intention to see some cave drawings of the San people that had inhabited the area thousands of years before. Unfortunately, half the group disappeared (turned out they had turned around after getting lost), and our group trudged forward eventually getting lost ourselves. So we never made it to the cave paintings. It was still a nice hike. And saw a crazy looking grasshopper. Can you identify it?



After lunch, where I tried some more game (not sure what, probably bontebok), we went out in the jeeps to the cave paintings. They were quite neat. Still quite visible and numerous, it was interesting to see paintings from 6,000 years ago.



After that, we came back and relaxed by/in the pool. Bonded with the other SAS people on the trip and just had some fun.

We later went into the lodge and our bus driver explained rugby to us. I decided that rugby is much more exciting that American football. Sorry.

After watching rugby we went to dinner, which I got some beef fillets (which were delicious) and tried some of Keith's eland (the largest antelope creature of the area) fillets.

After dinner, a bunch of the SAS students, including our leader, Jason, and our guide Dave (who was awesome), played Mafia, a fun game of lies and deception. I was killed off by Keith. Jerk.

2.21
-Morning Game drive
-breakfast
-Wine country
-Cape Spier
-CHEETAHS
-Wine tasting
-walked around waterfront
-Walked into downtown
-Long street
-shops
-Sam
-Mama Africa
-tried crocodile
-walked back
-at night
-shady/sketchy
-frozen yoghurt

Woke up early for a morning game drive. Which was awesome. Saw more bontebok, ostriches, and so on. But we also saw Blue Wildebeests... and ZEBRAS! Woo hoo! They were funny. I saw one poop. Good times.





After breakfast, we left Kagga Kamma behind and drove into wine country. We stopped at Cape Spier for wine-tasting. It was okay. Not much of a wine person. But it was interesting to learn about wine production. And when we were told to smell the wine and let our imaginations run wild about what they smelled like, all I smelled for all of them was ethanol. Oopsies.

At the vineyard, they also had an specific animal outreach program:



CHEETAHS! I stroked it good!



And now I want a cheetah as a pet. I read up on them:

Cheetahs are the only large cat that can be domesticated. They have actually been used as hunting companions for thousands of years until the early 20th century. And so I want one. Keith and I both do. Beware Seth, Jesse, and Gregg. We will be living with six persons next year. You three, Keith, me, and the cheetah. He has yet to be named.

Well, after meeting my future pet, we returned to Capetown and the ship. Keith, Hussain, and I walked around the waterfront for a bit before deciding to venture into the city itself.

There we found Long Street, did some shopping, and ate at Mama Africa. Keith got crocodile kebabs. I tried a tid bit. It tasted halfway between chicken and fish. And so another exotic meat has been crossed off my list. After dinner, we walked back to the waterfront, had some frozen yoghurt (yes, that's whole they spell it), and came back to the ship to sleep.

2.22

Was a day of relaxation. Mostly walked around the waterfront. Took a cab to Long Street downtown to the Green Market Square, an open air market with lots of goods.

And after walking around and eating, it was time to get back on ship.

Unfortunately, strong winds have kept us from leaving yet.

South Africa Coming Soon!

South Africa will be up soon! I simply have to write stuff out and get everything together...

Also...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDSAY! You're 21! Woot woot! Have a wonderful day! I hope Derek treats you nicely.

Namibia

2.14.09

It's Valentine's Day! Yippee! Hope everyone had a good day!

Woke up in Namibia! Took a trip off the boat into Walvis Bay, where we docked. Got some cash, caught a cab, and found ourselves 35 km away in Swakopmund, a nice little town on the beach.

Stopped for lunch, had some delicious quiche and coffee with ice cream in it, and went on our way through the town. We basically just walked around, enjoying the beach view, the locals, and the little shops we found along the way.

Eventually we made it to a market square of sorts where vendors roll out blankets and display their wares. Everyone was calling for us to come to their shops, some even coming over and guiding us over. We talked to a bunch of them, most simply wanted to selling goods, but a few, like our friend Stan, simply wanted to talk to us about where we were from, what we thought of Obama, and so on. It was nice to have a simple conversation.

We stopped for a snack, which turned out to be a pizza, and then headed back to Walvis Bay for the night.

Back in Walvis Bay we met up with a few people and went out to dinner at Bon Aroma. As it was Valentine's Day, the hostess brought the girls at our table roses. And they brought one for Keith, mistaking him for a girl from behind. Keith was crushed when they denied him the rose.

Dinner was exquisite. Had kudu, a game meat, sort of like an antelope, tried some of Keith's Oryx, another horned animal. It was an interesting feast.

Then after leaving my point-and-shoot camera at the restaurant, realizing I had after making the 30 min or so trek back to the ship, catching a cab to and from the restaurant, and retrieving my camera, we went to bed.

2.15.09

Woke up in the late morning, went out to a grocery store, grabbed some staple foods for the ship, and got ready for our trip later that day.

Left around two for star-gazing in the desert. Slept for the two hour drive. Arrived in the middle of nowhere.



Having a bunch of free time, we went hiking through the mountains/hills of the area. All stone/sand. So it was fun climbing up the sides, sliding down the sides, and standing on top, peering over the land. The area was simply beautiful. It stretched for miles in every direction.






Explored the area as well. Saw where a river from rain the day before had already dried up.



Right before dinner, a marimba band played for us. They were awesome. It makes me want to play the mallets again. And buy a marimba.



Dinner was good, at the time, but it eventually led to most of the people getting sick. Possibly including me. I'm not sure if I was simply still sick from before, or the food make me sick again. It was a weird several days. Halfway through dinner it rained. So far, we were three for three countries where it had rained while there. It was quite uncommon for rain. Our star guide was surprised it had rained.

After dinner, we had a star guide take us out, away from the camp, to star-gaze. Unfortunately, the rain from before had left clouds, which made gazing difficult. We were fortunate enough for parts of the sky to clear up once in awhile, so we were able to make out the Southern Cross, Orion's belt, and a few other constellations.

2.16.09

Woke up early (after not being able to sleep at all) for the sunrise. Climbed up one of the mountains and watched at the sun struggled to shine through the ever present clouds.



After breakfast, we left for Walvis Bay. Upon returning, I stayed on ship as we left only a few hours later.

Neptune Day

2.09.09

Neptune Day! Gross, green, slimy goo! Kissing fish! Pollywogs, Shellbacks, and jumping in pools.

BALD STEVEN!

Morocco

2.03.09

Left early in the morning with the SAS trip to Marrakech. We left through Casablanca and got a nice preview of the city. Three and a half hour bus ride. The country side is rather beautiful. Just outside the city of Marrakech, we stopped at the Majorelle Gardens, a nice little plant conservatory with many of the indigenous plants of Morocco. Mostly cacti. Not too terribly exciting, but still beautiful.



We then proceeded into the city, which was not as terribly big as Casablanca, or as developed, but still attractive.

Visited an old palace, as well:



We ended up going to the main market square in the Souks (marketplace). We had lunch which was delicious. Lamb. Cooked with figs. It was sweet, succulent, and all around delish! A great first meal in Morocco. After lunch we walked around the square, where snake charmers, monkey sellers, and gypsies tried to get you to pay them for pictures.





From there we were led through the Souks, a plethora of little shops all trying to reel in costumers to buy robes, teapots, lamps, hats, clothes, and more items than one can shake a stick at (they sold sticks too). There was a wide array of colors, all attempting to capture your attention, if for only a moment.




After a bit of free time, we bused to our hotel (a pleasant inn smashed in the downtown area of Marrakech), walked around a bit, and purchased some snacks at supermarket.

Later that night, we drove off to Chez Ali, for a "horse fantasia", as it is called. We enjoyed a lovely dinner of couscous, meatballs and egg, and the most saccharine oranges I have ever tasted. I had two of these oversized, sugary oranges. After dinner there was a show, which wasn't as excited as one would hope. A few horse tricks, some marching, and fire. A few of us went back to sit down at our tables and were offered mint tea, the unofficial drink of Morocco. I thought the oranges were good. This tea was simply astounding.

We then retired for the night, warned of having to be up and ready by 8:00 the following morning.

2.04.09

After a quick breakfast (with amazing orange juice), we took to the High Atlas Mountains. There we visited a few homes of the Berbers. We saw a home with it's own hydro-powered mill. One household gave us a tour and then sat us down for bread and more mint tea. YUM! From there we returned to the market for lunch and free time to prowl the Souks. We bartered like crazy on bags, jalabas (robe-like coats that all the natives wore), teapots, and other things. We did pretty well lowering the staggering prices of the much more learned shop owners.

After our time in the Souks, we came back to the bus and drove back to Casablanca, where we retired to the ship for the night.



2.05.09

In the morning, we left the ship, walked half an hour to get out of the port into Casablanca, and skipped over to the third largest mosque in the world, the Hassan Mosque.

Practically a skyscraper, the Hassan Mosque is huge. It acted as a wonderful guide, since it was so easy to spot in the distance. Upon reaching the mosque I looked off in the distance and said, "My. It seems a storm is brewing." No more than five minutes later, it began to rain. And the wind began to blow. And before we knew it, we were being drenched and pushed back. Attempting to fight the storm as a futile effort, and a few times I found myself moving backwards.

Once we made it into the mosque, we jumped in a tour. Stepping into the interior I was caught off guard. It was large, dark, and highly decorated. Intricate designs flooded the walls, the ceilings, the floors, and even the chandeliers (which, might I add, descend with a remote). Our tour guide talked about the history, how there were eggs in just about everything, and that the ceiling opened up to the sky. Nearly the entire ceiling. It was simply breathtaking.

From there, we traveled to the Souks of Casablanca. Unfortunately, they were not as exciting as the Souks in Marrakech. Casablanca's Souks were much more developed, and there seemed to be less. But it was still a good time. It was raining again.

And then we got lunch. And, of course, it was awesome. I got Lamb Tagine. Not as sweet as the first lamb I had, but just as succulent. Hmm! So good. And the mint tea was great, of course. Moroccan food is so far at the top of my list of best foods of the trip. We'll see where it ends up after India, Thailand, and China.

After lunch, we returned to the Souks to rid ourselves of our few Dirhams left. It rained... again. And with that, our time in Morocco was just about over. A few of us quickly ran to the supermarket by taxi and returned to the ship by taxi (turning the originally 30+ min walk into a five minute drive). It took a few taxis, though. Because I'm no good at attempting to quickly sketch out a ship on a scrap piece of paper and with a non-working pen in order to explain to the French speaking driver where we needed to go. Luckily, the next driver spoke some English.

And so ends up trip to our second destination.

(P.S. Pictures will be uploaded later. I'm on the ship. Internet is limited. Can't upload photos.)

Ship life update:

2.06.09 - 2.08.09

Classes. Bleh. Ocean. Bleh. Stopped in Dakar, Senegal to refuel. We were not permitted to leave the ship. Still got some good pictures.

Tomorrow we cross the equator and celebrate Neptune Day. My hair shall finally be gone!

Hussain and my roommate Zach have a slap bet regarding the number of female student that will be shaving their heads tomorrow. The winner gets to slap the loser. Good times.

Update On Morocco, Soon to Follow

Just to let you know, I am still alive and kicking! But I didn't have any time to find the internet while in Morocco. So I'll have a new update as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I won't be able to upload any pictures at this time, but look for them as soon as I have real internet again!

Hope all is going well!