Sparks

‘We choose a foreigner to hate’ Barenaked Ladies – Sell, sell, sell

Oudtshorn is the Ostrich capital of South Africa, if not the world. We managed to catch the last guided tour of the day and learnt much; such as the fact that ostrich leather is the most expensive in the world. I didn’t even know you could get leather from ostriches! We had the chance to feed them – which I did, sit on them – which Duncan did, and ride them – which no-one was brave enough to do. We did get a demonstration though, which included pulling the neck about to control them – left to go left, etc and back to stop. It was all quite strange. That night Duncan completed his ostrich experience by having ostrich neck soup and an ostrick steak – which tasted divine – like beef, but much more tender.

On Friday we began our drive back to Cape Town. It started well – long highways and nothing on either side but scrubland and ostrich farms. But once we went back through the mountains we hit the driving rain and gusting winds. The car was buffeted from either side and the rain made visibility a bare minimum. It was not pleasant to drive in.

When we arrive in Cape Town we drove to Justin’s place to discover he was working at the Food and Wine Festical in the centre of town. As he looked to be working there and at his regular job until 5am, we decided to stay at a cheap backpackers for the night. I’ve never stayed in a backpackers before, and it was an experience. Not to sound like some stuck up rich girl, but I won’t be doing it again. There’s something about sleeping in a bed with strange stains on the sheets that puts me off. I challenge any of you to think differently. But it was cheap and safe, so I can’t complain (even though the ‘double’ room had 3 single beds in & we had to put mattresses on the floor so we could sleep next to each other!)

With our bags safely stored we drove out to the Waterfront for something to eat. We also decided to watch a movie and so saw Spiderman (as Star Wars wasn’t out yet), little knowing that it wouldn’t be released in the UK until June 14th. If you get the chance, see it. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Saturday dawned and our last full day in South Africa. After dropping the car off we walked to the Waterfront, planning to go out to Robben Island. However the sea was still deemed too rough for trips, so all boats were cancelled. It was the one thing I regretted not doing. Instead we took ourselves off to the aquarium, which was a diverting way to spend a couple of hours, plus I got the chance to hold a starfish, which felt quite strange – totally hard, and stonelike. It’s hard to believe it’s a living thing. After a late lunch we met Justin and took ourselves back to his house. It was his sister’s birthday and we had agreed to go out drinking with Justin, Vicky (whose birthday it was), their step-sister Chantelle and her boyfriend Mark and their cousin Lucy and her boyfriend Jason.

Here’s the thing about going out in SA. It’s not like over here where you go to the pub around 8ish and head for a club later. Instead South Africans go straight to the club around 11ish. So by the time we finally went out, I was knackered. The club we went to, The Fez, is where Justin works, so not only did we get in free, but we also got half price drinks all night – very cheap. Unfortunately the club was full of the kind of people I detest (looking down their noses at anyone deemed not ‘trendy’ enough) and the music was mostly house, which grates after a while. By 1am everyone else was tired and we left, leaving Duncan and Justin to catch up and drink a bit more.

When we arrived back to the house it all went a bit wrong. Justin lives on a 1-way street, & when we arrived there was a car full of young black guys parked facing the wrong way. As soon as we started getting out of the car, so did they, surrounding our car and acting up to us – like they were gangsters from the Bronx or something. Me & Vicky headed for the house, only to discover that the only person with keys was Justin (who was still at the club). Vicky was freaked by the guys so started hammering on the door to wake her dad up. Next thing was Lucy wanting to call the police. Apparently one of the lads had mentioned that he had a gun, and she believed he’d use it.

So Justin’s dad went to see what was wrong, whilst Lucy called the police. First she got the answering machine and on her second attempt actually got through to someone. Yes – you read that right, she got the answering machine. Surely I can’t be the only one who thinks there is something wrong with that. Apparently its normal over there. The police showed up in 15mins – a record response, and searched and questioned the lads. There was no gun, the car was legally theirs, so there was nothing to do but forbid them from driving it home that night (which actually worked).

We left Cape Town on Sunday evening and although the flight was full, it wasn’t too bad. I managed to get some sleep and at least we took off this time. By the time we left I was more than ready to come home. As much as I enjoyed South Africa, I was tiring of living out of a rucksack, and craved a night in my own bed.

South Africa is a beautiful placfe and there is something surreal about seeing Table Mountain wherever you look in Cape Town. But the place is still scarred by apartheid. The whites I met held similar views about how the place was being ruined by the black people and I found that if you listened long enough you’d be affected. By the end of the holiday I was nervous and felt like it would be any second now when I was mugged/attacked. Which is unfair to the country. It’s no worse than anywhere else as far as I could see – in terms of personal safety at least. Taking the same precautions that I’d take in Newcastle & I felt perfectly safe. When I tried to explain this to people they looked at me as if to say ‘poor English girl, doesn’t know what she is talking about. It’s much more dangerous here than safe little England’. Other misconceptions about England? It’s never sunny/hot and in winter it’s permanently dark and rainy for 6 months (I laughed so much at that one!).

We got back on Monday lunchtime to doscover a leaky valve on the washing machine had made the plug sockets nearby wet, which had shorted the electric. Everything was off, our frozen food was ruined and the flat was cold. We had no electric until Wednesday morning. Welcome back to England.

Since then I have worked (and my area was in a sorry state when I returned), seen Star Wars 2 and am now enjoying the World Cup and 4 days off work. Already it seems like a long time ago that I was standing on the top of Table Mountain.

I am trying to catch up with everyone’s diaries, but it’ll be a little bit longer than normal, so forgive me. I have no inclination at the moment to be online. I’m sure that will change soon though!

Until there is a next time…

xx