Random Happenings #1

Keeping up with blogging is difficult! Sometimes I get too busy to post and by the time I get around to writing about what I've done I've forgotten some things... or they are too random to fit in a normal blog post, so here is the first installment of things that must be shared! List of random happenings... part one.

To start off, last week's Friday VAC activity was a hike up Constantia Nek Trail in Table Mountain National Park. The hike took about ten minutes to get to the top and then about half an hour of taking pictures at the top.

The most fun was deciding what pose to do on the top of the white post.

Some chose sitting.

Standing.

Planking.

Owling.

I settled on yoga pose. The wind was picking up which made it... interesting.

 Some of the interns decided to hike Lion's Head again during the full moon. Last time I went was a day or two before the full moon and I couldn't believe how many more people there were on the actual night of the full moon. It was packed! The trail was so bottle necked at the part where there are chains and metal handholds to climb up that a few of us rock climbed up the side when we got tired of waiting. At the top was a big party with people bringing snacks and drinks to watch the sunset. Hiking down by moonlight was also fun with torches (what South Africans call flashlights) flashing all over the mountain side and the amazing view of the city.

Another amazing picture overlooking the City Lights.

Now here is something truly worth mentioning. Last Saturday while on the train to the beach we sat down next to a guy with a giant bag of dirt. Upon further inspection I realized that he had cactus in his bag of dirt, and after I complemented him on his plant of choice, he offered me one! Of course I would like a cactus! It got even better when Jeffery (cactus man's name) started telling us about his life. I'll give you the highlights. The first time he ever jumped on a bike he won the biggest BMX competition at only 16. For one year he never left his house and never saw the sunlight. He is a Leo. Apparently Leos are humble and nice, but if you step on their tails you get the PAW! He told us that he can't read, but when he insisted on giving me his number he seemed to write fine. Jeffery also gave us a short lecture about plants and life and something to do with the cycle of life. I would write more because we had a nice half hour talk, but it got kind of confusing. All in all, it was probably the best train ride ever.

Can you tell how excited I am about my new cactus?

Food update! A few weeks ago we were at a nice restaurant on the waterfront that had a "Duo of Game" on the menu. Because it wasn't specified what the game was that day we had to ask the waitress to find out that the duo was Kudo (a type of antelope) and ZEBRA. Yes, I ate zebra. It was delicious.

Kudo and zebra just asking to be eaten.

Also I had warthog ribs! I go into a local pub thinking I'm going to get myself a nice burger, and what do they have on the special?? I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat warthog and again I was not let down. Falling off the bone deliciousness with a nice warthog twist.

That's me.

We visited the planetarium on a VAC Friday activity for a lecture on stars. Unfortunately the reclining seats and dimmed lights lulled most of us to sleep, but I think my love of marine creatures rubbed off on the other interns (by the way, since when do planetariums have animal sculptures?).

Hugging a whale jaw bone and showing off our teeth.

Jumping for joy because we love whales!

That's all I have right now for random happenings, but stay posted because they are happening all the time!