Gosandra travels round the world

Travel time: March - June 2007  |  by Sandra Goritschnig

South Africa: Cape town - the Mother city

Cape town is cool. except it's hot. and sunny. unless you're on top of table mountain, where your covered in cloud (the famous table cloth) and almost blown off the side by horribly strong winds. except, i haven't even been up the top of table mountain. but more about that later.
smooth arrival, nicely flying over robben island, the former high security prison where mandela and fellow black politic prisoners spent quite many years. interesting political education, similar to visiting the concentration camps in europe.
the scenery of capetown is quite fantastic, nestled between the ocean (freezing cold) and this spectacular mountain, up which Sarah and Tim dragged me (literally), choosing an "interesting but not really difficult route". Hell, my first climbing experience with a 800 m drop beneath me. I had nightmares after that! but the views are awesome, as you can see.
i've had crocodile (tastes a bit like calamari), kudu, springbok and ostrich already. warthog is supposed to be really good as well, will tell you about it.
i've done all the touristy things (well most of them) around town, township tours (going to see the slums where 2/3 of the population of cape town live; initially made during the apartheid regime for everyone not classified as white - Am I the only one that thinks this sounds a bit like the Nazi-regime back in the days...?), the south african museum, the castle of capetown, the V+A waterfront.
My favourite was (pseudo-botanist that I am) the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, which is just beautiful, and its also Unesco World heritage. come here early to avoid the big crowds and midday heat, I took a bike, but from Rondebosch its not really so far.
tomorrow the plan is to go to Cape Point (which is not the southernmost tip of Africa) and on Sunday Sarah is doing the Cape Argus Bike race, the worlds biggest timed bike race with 35000 participants and 109km. i'm gonna watch from the side (in the end, during the race i'm more likely to be on the beach
more news will follow

Robben Island

Robben Island

sunset at camps bayh

sunset at camps bayh

Sarah's house, Austrian wine, Linzer Torte

Sarah's house, Austrian wine, Linzer Torte

Cape town castle and Table mountain

Cape town castle and Table mountain

Table cloth on Table mountain, seen from the VA Waterfront

Table cloth on Table mountain, seen from the VA Waterfront

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Table mountain in the back

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Table mountain in the back

Table mountain, or rather one of the twelve apostles. We're going up the one above the sign, Kasteels buttress.

Table mountain, or rather one of the twelve apostles. We're going up the one above the sign, Kasteels buttress.

this was already after the tough climb, and no, I am not looking especially happy (although I'm happy I didn't fall)

this was already after the tough climb, and no, I am not looking especially happy (although I'm happy I didn't fall)

"I'm the king of the world", well I'm alive and on the top...

"I'm the king of the world", well I'm alive and on the top...

mountain goats Sarah and Tim, Lions head in the back

mountain goats Sarah and Tim, Lions head in the back

Kids in the Langa township

Kids in the Langa township

Vicky's B&B, you can actually stay in the township. interesting experience for sure...

Vicky's B&B, you can actually stay in the township. interesting experience for sure...

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The trip
 
Description:
Very exciting times ahead, I'm gonna do a trip around the world! Starting from London I'll do South Africa, Singapore and South East Asia, Newzealand and the North American West coast and back to London. Wow! I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences with you!
Details:
Start of journey: Mar 03, 2007
Duration: 4 months
End of journey: Jun 20, 2007
Travelled countries: South Africa
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
New Zealand
Canada
The Author
 
Sandra Goritschnig is an active author on break-fresh-ground. since 17 years.
Picture of author