Cape Point Round Two

Last Friday I headed back to Cape Point with the VAC interns for another fun Friday activity. We hiked around Africa's Southern most Western point enjoying the scenery and unique wildlife.

We had a big group this week!

If you couldn't spot me in the photo above...

Justin, Chelsey, Victor, and I.

To the South Pole!

We found a ton of these little rodents called dassies (also known as the Cape Hyrax).

Elephants are the closest living relative to dassies. 

Baboons!

A great picture taken by Chelsey on our way out.

Echo Valley Cave Hike

On the 17th, our VAC group went for a Friday excursion to Echo Valley for a hike up to the Boomslang Caves. We got to army crawl through some tight spaces, duck from bat dive-bombs, and see excellent views of Kalk Bay. 

Katie, Lena, and I about to start up Echo Valley.

Watch out for baboons!

At the top of every hike we have to find some neat rocks to perch upon.  Kat seems nervous. 

Inside the Boomslang caves. Watch out for bats!

South African views. Stunning as ever.

Hermanus Weekend

February 3rd through the 5th I went with the VAC group for a two nights stay at the coastal town of Hermanus. Unfortunately it wasn't the right time of the year, but Hermanus is known for fantastic whale sighting. Instead we went for the backpackers (hostel) experience, with some shark cage diving, wine tasting, and soaking in the sun. 

The wonderful Hermanus backpackers that hosted us for two nights.

The backpackers had an amazing backyard, complete with pool, braai, and picnic tables.

This was painted on the backpackers fence. It perfectly fit the mood of the weekend.

Our colorful room. I got a top bunk!

Dinner the first night.

Because I had already been shark cage diving I didn't go with the group who went this weekend, but I did lend them my waterproof camera. They took some amazing pictures, so I've posted them here so all of you can see them. They came back raving about the shark biting the cage just inches from their fingers. The water was cold, but I think everyone had a good time.

A great photo taken from the boat.

Some good underwater shots.

This isn't a shark, but I thought the it was a neat picture from inside of the cage.

Scary!

Another interesting shot.

Just a few feet away.

Here is when the shark came in contact with the cage while going for the bait. Notice Kat frantically scrambling out of the cage.

Kat, Keira, Chelsey, and Sam. Survivors of the shark attack. 

Since I was not cage diving I got to explore the incredible Hermanus wine country. We visited three wineries and had a great time sipping wine with the beautiful scenery.

At the first winery.

Enjoying wine tasting next to a lake.

It was a perfect summer day in South African wine country.

The second night at the backpackers I finally got to have potjie! Potjie is a South African dish, which translates literally to "pot food." As far as I understand it's whatever food you have on hand, thrown into a cast iron cauldron, and cooked over a fire. Our potjie had chicken and various vegetables served over rice. Like most of the food here, I loved it.

Sunday morning after sleeping in and eating a breakfast of toast and coffee by the pool, some of us made our way to the waterfront for a bit of swimming and sunbathing. It was a great way to finish up the trip and we weren't ready to go back.

Swimming with some Hermanus locals.

Back to the Crossroads

Last Sunday I went to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens for another outdoor concert. This week was a collective blues show called Going Back to the Crossroads. I don't think I'll ever get tired of  picnics on the Kirstenbosch lawn with stunning Table Mountain in the background, and adding classic blues music to the afternoon made it a perfect Sunday.

Robin, Lena, Sasha, Sam, and I enjoying our picnic.

The whole group. 

Maynardville Theatre

On February 2nd I went with the VAC interns to see a play in the Maynardville open air theater. They were performing Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors... Kung Fu style. It was by far the most bizarre play I've ever seen. Imagine Shakespeare's words between exaggerated fight scenes and people in panda suits. You can read about it on their website here. 

The Asian inspired set.

Before the play we had a lovely picnic in the Maynardville park.

The theater area was surrounded by a wall of bamboo.

We took up an entire row.

Volunteer work in the townships

For the weekly activity this Friday the Volunteer Adventure Corps interns to the townships for some volunteer work. One group went to the Gugulethu Medical Clinic to plant flowers and clean up a garden planted by the VAC interns last year. I went with another group to the Emasithandane Children's Organization in the Nyanga Township to paint the walls of a future orphanage. The VAC newsletter describes Emasithandane as follows:

Emasithandane - affectionately known as Emasi - is a home/shelter that provides education, food and extra moral programming, for orphans; abandoned, abused and otherwise vulnerable children; and those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Currently there are 39 children living at Emasi, and the home provides a community feeding kitchen for an additional 25 children in the community.

While part of our group painted interior walls I got to help paint a mural on an exterior wall. We decided to paint an underwater scene with a various (anatomically incorrect) smiling sea creatures. As a marine biologist who paints as a hobby, this was so unlike community service that I even felt a little guilty. Even with mixing the paint and planning the mural on the spot, I think the final project turned out pretty great. I hope the children enjoy it as much as we enjoyed painting it for them.

The volunteers with some of the children from Emasi.

Doing some serious gardening.

Some not so serious play time.

We got to wear really cool jump suits.

Probably trying to decide what sea creature to paint next.

Elise and the Octopus.

Working on a very happy crab.

Sam helping a girl with a pair of sea horses.

Final product.