Birthday Bash

Picture by Lora Todorova

On May 13^th it was my birthday so we decided that we were going to throw a birthday bash at my house.  Since it is a University House we had to have the University approve my party.  Obviously they do not know me, or I am sure they would have not approved our house throwing a party.  Of course I wanted everyone to have an enjoyable time, so I provided alcohol for everyone to take a shot upon entrance!  I wanted everyone’s beverages to stay nice and cold so we filled our bathtub with ice, allowing people to store their drinks there.  One of my friends was our DJ and everyone told me the next day that the party was hopping.  I lost track of time and ended up getting a call from the head of residence telling me I needed to end my party.  People did not want to leave but we ended moving the party to the square and a club.  I feel that the bash was successful considering I was in bed until 10pm the next night!

Picture by Lora Todorova

Back in Pretoria

Now that I am back in Pretoria, it means I am back to school L but that also means I am back to teaching at Mamelodi!  With my few weeks off I really did missed my students.  Other than being back at school we have had a few nights out including a night of free drinks!  On a Saturday we had been laying in bed all day.   My roommate Lay and I decided we were wasting time, and needed to convince others to go out with us that night.  Not positive what we were going to do, we got ready and headed towards the square.  Once in the the square I had a guy come up to me and offer our group free drinks.  Free? Of course we will take one!  Lay and I befriended the bar tender and ended up getting free drinks all night.  The night ended with me mopping the bars floor for a free shot and a little dance session on the speakers! Oh what we would have missed.

Shark Bait OHH AHH AHH

On Saturday morning we headed out on the boat towards Seal Island where we would sit on the boat waiting for some Great Whites to swim around.  The scary thing is we were not too far away from where all the surfers were!  We waited for a few hours but only one shark came around.  Since we did not get in the water, they offered for us to stay all day on the boat and come back out with the afternoon group.  Since we had nothing planned, we decided to take advantage of their offer.  In the afternoon, we got a little more lucky.  We were able to get in our wetsuits and get in the cage.  We were able to see a few, but not as lucky as some were with having many swim around the cage.  At least we got to see a few, and relax the entire day soaking up African sunshine on the boat.

The next morning Leah and I had a private mass said for us.  Leah was not feeling well so we went back to the Hostel.  Our new friend Wesley that we met working there hung out all day and we were able to watch some seasons of How I Met Your Mother.  I ended up taking a walk on the beach by myself, which was nice and refreshing.  Later that afternoon when I got back we said our goodbyes and headed back towards Capetown.

In Cape Town we did various things such as shopping, a free concert, bargaining at the Green Square Market, trying many different restaurants, a wine tasting tour, and hiking Table Mountain.  Our eleven days went by too quickly, but it was a great vacation!

The Bungee!

Today was the day I had been waiting for since I have arrived in South Africa, the bungee! Not just a bungee, the highest bungee jump from a bridge in the world! After we signed our life away, we went to get harnessed for the jump.  I have never had so much adrenaline.  I could not even stand still.  After we were harnessed, we had to walk across the bridge looking down on what we were about to jump.  As we were walking you could hear the cars pass by.  Once the group was on the bridge, they started bumping music to get us all fired up.  We met some really cool people in our bungee group, but I mean come on you have to be pretty cool to jump off a bridge!  As each person went all we could do was cheer!  A worker came up to me and said alright it is your turn!  HOLY ADRENALINE!  They then put velcro padding around your ankles so the cord does not hurt you.  As the worker turned away my velcro padding came undone!  That doesn’t freak you out or anything.  I was being a worry wart, when my favorite song came on, Waka Waka! My friends requested that they play my favorite song when I was to jump.  This got me excited, and all I could do was dance.  The workers sure got a kick out of me.  The next thing I know I am standing over the edge.  5,4,3,2,1 jump. Oh I forgot to mention that it had started to rain.  The jump was the most peaceful thing I have ever done.  As I was falling I could feel the mist against my face.  Once you are done with the bounce back, you have to wait for a guy to come and get you on a cable.  As you are hanging upside down you are in astonishment of everything around you.  I wanted everyone to know I was okay so I started doing the Waka Waka dance as I was hanging upside down.  When I got to the top all the workers were laughing and one said to me, “working here we have seen a lot of jumps, but you’re the first to do the Waka Waka dance off!”

After the jump we headed to Tsitsikamma to zipline over 6 different falls.  This was a nice and relaxing way to end the day but, after the bungee jumping, ziplining was not the best idea because our standards were so high.  After our ziplining, we got back in Carmen and headed towards Mossel Bay.  When we got to Mossel Bay, I realized that I had a minor case of Whiplash due to the Bungee.  I could barely move my neck but no big deal the jump was worth the pain.  We went out for dinner on the Beach and then chilled on the beach after.

Wildlife Ranch

On the bike ride home there was also an option of stopping at a wildlife ranch.  This is one of my dreams to hang out with the Cheetahs.  We got a tour of the place and then I had the chance to get in the cage with two 18month old cheetahs.  If only you could have seen my face which had a smile from ear to ear!  My day was complete! I climbed illegally on caves, rode and Ostrich, and hung out with my favorite animal.  After we rode back to hostel we got back on the road to head towards Storms River.

As we arrived in Storms River at our hostel, we knew we were going to have a great night. As we got out of our car Carmen, music was playing, people were gathered around the campfire and G one of the workers greeted us at our car. He brought us inside for our free shot at the bar.  After our shot we headed upstairs to our room to get settled.  The rest of the night we met other backpackers around the campfire, sang songs while some played African drums, burned beer bottles, and just enjoyed each other’s company.

Our Famous Bike Ride on the Highway

At the end of Ostrich Farm we were given our bicycles.  I am use to my bike back home let’s say! I forgot how hard the seat on a bike is…Ouch!  Lay and I got on our bikes and were ready for our 12 k ride home.  Did I mention Lay’s fear of bikes?  Yeah, she is not a fan and this bike ride was probably not the best option for beating a fear considering we were riding on the highway.  First minute on the bike was downhill.. I fly down the hill no problem.  As I am waiting at the bottom, I see lay breaking all the way down!  I went to get off my bike to make sure she was okay.  Well, as my leg swung around I hit my bike seat, which originally was not fully attached.  Yup my bike seat is now off the bike and the only thing I could sit on was the silver pole…Yeah not happening!  Of course this is the one-day I left my cell phone back at the hostel but thank God Lay had her phone.  We got a hold of the bike man and he said he would be here soon.  So here Lay and I are sitting on the side of the road out in the middle of nowhere!  Only in South Africa! After waiting some time, the bike guy got there and gave me a new bike.  Alright,  we were feeling confident again, Back on the Bikes!  Well not even three minutes go by and a truck is trying to pass us on our bikes.  With the sound and the current you feel Lay got nervous and ran into my bike. Both of us on the ground with only a broken chain…Perfect, two girls who do not know how to fix a bike.  We finally figured it out and got back on the road.

Awkward Ostrich

While traveling the Garden Route I was persistent that we stop in Oudtshoorn (pretty much the ostrich capital of South Africa.)  Ostrich Farms are everywhere!  I mean come on the only reason I came to Africa was to ride an ostrich.  Kidding, well kind of!  We figured this town would be lame but Ostrich’s kept dancing through my head so we had to stop.  We got there pretty late so we ended up staying ata backpackers for the night; which I may add had the best showers ever!  Early the next morning we set out for our adventure.  We started out at the Cango Caves.  Since this is South Africa, of course we were late for our tour of the cave.  The lady told us to run in and try and catch up with the rest.  Well, we caught up with the group, but the tour was quite boring(too touristy for me).  I had the brilliant idea of having us stay back so we could illegally climb the caves and get our picture!  I mean come on climbing on caves beats a tour any day right?  Throughout the cave we were taking pictures and going inside areas we were not suppose to be in.  We were now in our last section of the cave when we caught the tail end of our tour guide saying, “Just a reminder climbing on the caves is illegal, and there are hidden cameras inside, Those who broke the rules will be fined.”  SHIT!  Let’s just say after that tour we booked it outside and to the Ostrich Farm without a fine!    

  Then the moment I had been waiting for the Ostrich Farm.  I originally thought I was just going to ride one but was I ever wrong.  I definitely got my money’s worth.  First we could put ostrich food in our mouth and have the Ostrich kiss us taking the food out of our mouth.  Sounds different right? Well it was along with being a tad bit scary, Imagine having a bird come at your face with its mouth wide open.  I didn’t only get one kiss; I got three because my friend was trying to take a picture of it.  After three times, I still did not get a picture because when the Ostrich sees food he sure comes at you fast!  After the kisses, we went to a section where we could ride the Ostrich if we wished to.  The process is quite awkward; let me add the most awkward thing I have ever done!  You have to climb up on the Ostrich as they hold its wings up.  Then they set the wings on your lap and you have to hold the sides of the wings.  The wings are extremely boney so you have to hold on tight.  You must then hug your legs around the Ostrich and lean back as far as you can.  The ride goes quick and it’s not long until you are thrown off the bird. Ostrich riding… only in South Africa folks!