South Africa Trip Overview

Duration of trip - 6/1-21/2010
Countries visited - Germany, South Africa, Lesotho, and Netherlands

South Africa, I will be back. 

This has been my favorite trip I have taken even as of writing this overview (11/2015). South Africa is an amazing country that has so many options of activities to do, absolutely stunning landscapes, friendly people, and some recent history (which to me is way more interesting than ancient history) to learn about as you explore the area. Some things were very fortuitous (the annual wine festival, Brazilian beer tent invite, etc.) while others were unfortunate (waterfall overflowing in Lesotho, not getting to pet penguins, etc.) however on a whole, this trip was fantastic. Being able to go from shark diving, to ostrich riding, to elephant watching and bungee jumping in a matter of a few days is just spectacular. Having the opportunity to see a world cup match was pure icing on the cake. Jim did a great job putting the trip together, the 4 of us had a great time hanging out with each other, and, most importantly, it gave me a chance to travel with and forge many great memories with my older brother, which was a priceless experience in and of itself.

My older brother posing for the camera. Love this guy! Thank you for this amazing experience. 

I can easily recommend many of the places I have been for people to go, but this is one of those places I almost browbeat people to take a trip to if they are even remotely thinking about traveling.

South Africa Trip - Day 14-the end: Returning for our extended layover in AMS (6/17-21/10)

Fly first to Jo-berg then try to connect to our flight through Nigeria however there is a representative at the gate saying we need a special visa (US citizens only, literally no other country has this requirement) to transfer through the airport, and since we don't have it we cannot board. We try and figure out what is happening and to get my bag. Turns out they did not unpack my bag so it gets sent to Nigeria. We wound up getting a later flight directly to FRA (where the flight through Nigeria would eventually land). We actually land in FRA before our initial flight and then catch our original flight to AMS. After arriving in AMS we realize my bag didn't make the trip; turns out it got taken off the plane in Nigeria since I didn't make my connecting flight – I was not thrilled about this as I have heard stories about the airlines in Nigeria taking people's stuff from checked luggage and my bag had my souvenirs in it. We get picked up by S's friend and call the airline once we get in to have them get my bag to our address once they get it; until then I wear borrowed clothes from C, my bro's friend. We spend the next few days (my bag comes the next afternoon) exploring their city (Utrecht), watching the Dutch win a match in a local bar (crazy atmosphere, where even they had the bane of my world cup experience – the vuvuzella), going into Amsterdam to have some herring (whole fish – wasn't a fan but gotta try it) and try some Belgian beer from a pretty sweet beer bar, and eventually spend a day on a boat exploring the countryside which was beautiful and an incredible time. S and I say our goodbyes and make our ways back to our respective places (he goes back to work in KZ and I head home).

We are just chilling in the lounge trying to get out of South Africa. Having access to these lounges definitely helped with the travel experience.

Finally got into AMS and got on a bus from our friends' place to check out the town a little bit.

Me admiring the beers at the Belgian beer bar we came to in AMS (I believe it was called gollem.

The AMS gang with our beers. Great time though that first day was brief as we had a full day of traveling under our belt when we got there.

Going back into AMS for the next day for a proper day of exploration and fun.

Saw these people on the water chilling in a recliner. Not sure exactly what was going on but I deemed it funny enough to capture and share.

Taking a boat tour of the canals and going through a small tunnel. Extremely pretty.

There was an old sail boat in the marina that we came across as part of the canal tour. I believe that building behind it is the maritime museum. 

Helping my friend out. The urinal we are using comes out of the ground at night so people have public restrooms to use during the times people go out. I love this idea and think more cities should adopt these in high concentrations of bars so people are not tempted to relieve themselves on buildings, fences, etc.

Sean got defeated by Craigy after we got back to his place. Oh what a night!

My bro and I standing in front of a pretty garden as we explored their area.

We are on a boat! We took a boat out for a bit to explore the inland waterways and go to a few towns.

Sean found a windmill. They are cool little buildings.

Dutch countryside. Not too shabby. 

Looks like we are coming up on civilization. Though didnt know people still lived in tents. Tents the size of houses.

Back in civilization at the next town. Those cars get awfully close to the water. Pretty towns abound.

My bro and I on the boat having a drink and enjoying the great day. This was the last day of the trip. The next day we were on planes back to our lives. Wonderful trip with a fantastic friend.

South Africa Trip - Day 13: Cape town waterfront exploration (6/16/10)

J and C leave to the airport to catch their flights back while S and I head to the waterfront to explore that area and get souvenirs. After doing some sight seeing and shopping, we stumble upon a microbrewery (Mitchelle's) where we try some non-lager beers while having some lunch. 

Stadium in Cape Town. Was really close to the water front area.

This bridge was an ordeal. It was the major crossing and it went up often. So you had to wait then run across when it was down if you wanted to get across. Cluster of people trying to cross over.

This was a ball floating in the water with people in it. It was like a paddle boat. 

Seals chilling on the docks. Seems like a nice day for laying out. I dont blame them.

Mitchelle's on the waterfront. Was a nice break from all the typical beers we had been drinking the whole trip. 

As we walk around, there are these advertising ladies from Brazil (the host nation of the next WC) offering us something, initially we are saying no, but then we listen to what they are saying and we say hell yes; they have been trying to get us to come to their hospitality tent with free food/drink and games. So we get to the tent with the tickets the lady gave us, and it is awesome; tons of Brazilian food and beer with foosball tables and video game soccer stations set up to play while you enjoy the hospitality (they even have TVs showing the WC games of course). We spent more time in there than I think either of us expected before heading back to the hostel to get some sleep for our flights back to AMS.

The Brazilian Fan Zone tent. Lets check it out.

No one here. I guess we can stay for a drink and check it out

Free food and drink is not too bad. People are starting to arrive and the live music is starting. Why not have another one or 2. 

My bro and I enjoying the last night in SA. 

South Africa Trip - Day 12: Returning to where it all started (6/15/10)

Today is a day for penguins!

Flew back to CT and then get down to Simon's town backpackers hostel down the coast from CT in what was a long and expensive cab ride. We check in, drop off our bags, and then head out to see the local penguin colony; I was super excited as it sounded like you get to mingle with penguins from what I read. We get there and it was not what I expected; its a park with elevated pathways that you have to stay on, however you do get to see many penguins, just don't get to get too close to them as I was hoping to.

The gang on the hostel balcony.

View from the hostel balcony. Not a bad view for our final stop.

Interesting street name. So we celebrated their openness.

We must be getting close.

Made it. Now lets try not to get too close. Your finger and wallet will both be hurt.

The penguins had these lil houses they could lay down in. Was cute.

Found a penguin I could pet. It wasnt as travel size as the other ones but it was a penguin :)

Me with all my lil penguins. Love them! I kept wondering if the 500R fine was worth just jumping over the railing and playing with the penguins until they came and stopped me. I did not do it, but I sure would love to.

After this we went down to the southern cape point (cape of good hope) and explored that area a bit before returning to the hostel to grab dinner down the street, have some beers and reminisce about the awesome trip we have finished as the others leave tomorrow.

They are excited they have baboons. I wonder where they are.

Oh there they are right in the middle of the street. Must have a death wish.  There were more up in the trees and what not as well. 

My bro and I at the Cape. We finally made it down here despite the baboons best efforts to stall us. 

Just a couple dudes enjoying the view of the southern point. 

Look at those clouds at the cape.

My bro and I down at the water's edge. 

View of the cape. Looks spectacular.

The gang at the Cape of Good Hope. Last picture of the trip of the 4 of us together.

South Africa Trip - Day 11: Soweto then WC match (6/14/10)

Sign as we enter the Soweto neighborhood. 

Woke up early so we could fit in the tour of Soweto before the WC match. Exploring the area is very humbling and amazing. Our guide took us around and into some of the shanty towns where we were able to see that these giant ghettos are pretty impressive; people are friendly, they have many of the normal community establishments (we went into one of the bars and got some beer where they had a little pool table and some neon signs), and we even go to play soccer with some of them which was a lot of fun. 

One of the shanty towns. We had seen some of this in Cape Town on the first few days, but here, they are in giant swaths throughout JoBerg. The highest congregation of them being Soweto.

Some artist painted the old smoke stacks. I thought it was a great idea and good use of previous buildings that are no longer useful. 

Us walking through a shanty town. Our driver guided us around and was also a pretty awesome tour guide. 

Here he is giving us a tour of some of the buildings for the shanty town. I believe this was the bar where we bought some beers for the road to the game.

Sidenote: that is one of the reasons I really love soccer – all you need is a ball, as I travel I see people playing soccer on all kinds of terrains, with all kinds of goals, and a range of shoes (sometimes bare feet is all that is needed). Another impressive aspect of these shanty towns is their sheer size; I think they cover more area then the city I am from and have significantly more people, a true city within a city. I imagined a small group here and there like in cape town; you really need to see it to really grasp the size of Soweto. Got to see the house Mandela used to live in, as well as some museums which were informative and great to visit. We then headed to the main stadium (where the final will be held) to watch the match between Holland and Denmark; lackluster game with the first goal being an own goal (Holland won 2-0). 

We are high tailing it to the game. The walk from the drop off to the stadium was quite the distance. It felt like we were walking forever before we got there.

We finally made it to the stadium. Now time to go in and catch the action.

Vuvuzellas are the devil's horn. People are enjoying the action.

Final score of the game. 

The gang after the game with some creepers, soon to be friends hovering in the background.

Was a great atmosphere; during the game – flags waving everywhere, people cheering and in a generally festive vibe, after the game – a South African guy came up and offered to paint our faces with green and yellow paint (all but S let him). After the stadium cleared out and we were ready to leave, we headed over to get picked up from a gas station; as we waited we hung out with some locals and some foreign fans where some shared their beers with us as we just talked to even more friendly and fun folks. 

Creeper felt bad about being in our picture, so he offered to face paint us. He wound up face painting a good dozen people after the game. 

Creeper does good work. My bro and I after the game before we start heading back. 

Some people we met in the parking lot as we waited for our ride back to the hostel. They had some beers and offered to share some, which was really nice of them. It was like a post-game tailgate.

We went into the city for dinner and watched some soccer in the “quad” where the city had put up a projector on a large canvas to show the games; was nice as all the restaurants/bars around there had plenty of patio seating and the quad itself was full of chairs for everyone to enjoy the games in public. Eventually we got back to hostel to watch some more soccer (its the thing to do during the WC) and took it easy as we have to fly back to CT tomorrow morning.

The watch party in the square where we ate dinner. I forget who Paraguay played in this game but it was nice watching so many people hanging out together watching a match.

Clearly I didnt hear them say look over here. Too enthralled in the match I guess.