Sunday, June 17, 2007

Kagga Kamma, Ceres, Western Cape, South Africa

This was a private Game reserve which according to the website http://www.kaggakamma.co.za is aituated in the Swartruggens region, which can be described as a southeasterly extension of the Cedarberg. The Swartruggens plateau is bordered on the east by the arid Ceres Karoo.

Went on holiday with my family one weekend, and it was awesome... Just before that weekend I had some hectic issues and counselling and the weekend provided an oppurtinity to think through everything that was said and actually come to grips with it, and just be silent, and calm and serene in the middle of nowhere ;)

Had some family issues too, but as I said, the nature, just helped you to get back on track and deal with it, and just enjoy the surroundings together. I found it great that there was no cellphone reception there, no TV, no electricity after 11, we even found a tiny scorpian in the shower, and one morning when we woke up found lots of hoove marks outside our front door... This time also inspired my desire for a 4by4 bakkie, because we had to drive extremely slow on the rocky road, while all the 4by4's sped past.

Here are some pics we took that weekend. (I was still sick then)


If you didnt believe me, now you can see a hotel in the middle of nowhere

One of the main features of this area, the rock formations....

Hiking trail, Somehow you just know you're on the right track though theres just a field and some marks on rocks on the way. At that point we tried not to think about wildlife that is on the game reserve ;) Hoping its at a sectioned off area

Me at the rock painting, I didnt like some of the history of the pictures comments not inline with my beliefs but found it interesting when the guide told us about the drawings with pants on them, indicating the bushmen drawing the first europeans to enter the region. Also their skin had somehow evolved to handle the extreme cold in the region


Just added the arrows so you can see where the drawings are the orange more clear drawings are older than the black drawings, you can see that they are better drawn.the black figures show pants on the figure and shoes, which is an indication of when the first europeans entered the area and they were drawing them. Also the fact that the drawings which are newer are worse the theory is that they probably let ordinary tribe members begin to draw as well and not just their spiritual leader. the current khoi tribe members arent able to say what happened as they are to modernized. (in a nutshell)




[Not sure who photos were taken by,one of my family members or Calvyn]

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Port Elizabeth, South Africa 1

I have to say the image that goes with Port Elizabeth for me is serenity... Though I absolutely love looking at our mountains, the jagged curves, etc. the lack of mountains in PE just gives me a feeling of peace, calmness, solidness... That and the colours of the city, blue sky and green hills, palm trees, blue sea almost everywhere. Love the fact you can see the ocean from my friends house and from most parts in PE

(however the serenity could be attributed to the fact that I only go to PE when I'm on HOLIDAY, away from home, meetings, work, etc...)

I am not including the fact that its pretty windy in this post, because Port Elizabeth is known as the Windy City but also the Friendly City (and thats what I've experienced in my 3 holidays there). Also love the pancakes with caramel, banana and icecream... only found in 1 restaurant in Cape Town but in almost every restaurant there...



Road washed away by flood that happened just before I came there...



Blue roof of the Boardwalk mall/amusement centre visible in distance

Really Old Library...



Port Elizabeth is named after a Lord's wife who died in India...

From the top of the lighthouse



[Photos taken by Jodie Johnson and Chandre De Wet]

Introduction

I thought I'd create this blog because as I love going to different places and especially seeing the beauty in them, I thought I'd share with you too. I have to warn you I am biased when it comes to SA, and may make a comment or two that another city, country wont like, but unfortunately, if you born in the most beautiful city in the world :) you kinda adopt that attitude ;)

I do find the more I explore, or visit the same place, or here from others, the more I am open to other cities too :)