Freezing in South Africa!!!!!

I truly have never been this cold in my life!!!!! Everyday since I have been in Cape Town I wake up in the morning freezing, put on layers of many odd combinations of my summer clothes to try to stay warm all day, wear socks in sandals, looking like I just got off the boat, and wear my green fleecy that has Victoria Canada embroidered on it over my red nightgown to sleep at night!!

Let's remember, that I am below the equator here! The "unseasonably" cold rainy weather continues. It isn't slightly raining, it is raining so hard that building an ark has crossed my mind.

Up this morning and when some blue sky and sun appeared we decided on an adventure day/drive. We drove the Western Peninsula around Cape Town. This included going to the Cape of Good Hope.

This was a place I was really looking forward to because I am a huge reader of "sailing on difficult sea adventures" books. I started a book just before I came by the title of Cape Hope - One Man's Dream, A Wife's Nightmare! I have read soooo many books on the terror of sailing around this big hunk of rock where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean - very cool (meant both ways!!!).

Today we saw a pod of 6 HUGE whales VERY close to shore - Tom must have shot 100 pix in rapid succession, CNN style. We also went to a shorleine famous for its penquins - too cute - I really think parrot Togo wouldn't mind if I brought one home. But they stink - we got up really close to them and the holes they live in - stinky!!

The most outrageous thing I loved was seeing all the baboons running around at the ocean at Cape Hope. They are nasty, mean animals, but I think they are cute. It's spring, so there were lots of babies running and tumbling around playing with each other!!! One mother baboon was still carrying her baby underneath her - it was tiny with fresh pink ears and clutched like death to her.

Lunched at a lovely restaurant at Cape Hope that had a very nice INTERIOR dining room, with a propane heater INSIDE (like the ones at Earls, or our deck!!), but the other 3 vetoed that idea and we dined OUTSIDE overlooking the water, where it was VERY windy, and, aside from the 5 minutes that the sun provided some warmth, bloody cold!!!!!

It took the whole day to drive the peninsula and see many interesting sites and a few shops we checked out.

Tonight we had a wonderful dinner at the beautiful home of friends of Gary & Denise. Lovely people with 3 grown sons and a daughter. Very bright, sophisticated people - very enjoyable.

And for the really SORE point - I am using their computer to write this post. I still can't get the wireless at the guest house. Had a few nasty words with the owner this morning - we were just trying to make the point that they are in the business of serving tourists from all over the world, and since we aren't paying a cheap rate, being cold was not great!!!

The guy who owns it with his wife is quite cocky. When we suggested this morning that it might be a nice convenience if they had some power converters and plugs for people from other countries, he said he wasn't there "to wipe our butts, and we were quite free to go somewhere else if we chose" - obviously graduated from some school of public relations!!!!!

The wife was really embarassed and put a portable radiator heater in our room - very nice of her. He keeps blaming MY COMPUTER for the reason I can't get on. Funny, it works at the cyber cafes, you turkey. He needs to upgrade his system!

I am sooooo frustrated about the computer - this blog was important for me to do and the pics are good. Don't know how this will resolve. Our friends are NOT big computer people so don't understand my frustrations with this.

I hope things will change when the weather changes - probably won't be until after we leave Cape Town on Friday. This all underlines what I already knew: I am very North American, have to have central heating,a plug for a hair dryer and curling iron, some tv channels (we can only get CNN on our room TV., I need to have the pleasures and conveniences of home, and next time I go to a third world country, can you spell H-I-L-T-O-N??????

Some of my friends told me this - any third world country is fun to experience if you have top level accomodations with all the North American luxuries. Some people scorn that, but I freely admit to being a person who likes creature comforts (LIKE HEAT!!!!),some luxury, room service, being able to easily take a cab (like to a cyber cafe, which is what I want EVERY stupid day now!!)I wasn't prepared for this, but Gary keeps telling me that this is a country with a 1st world infrastructure, but is a 3re world country. Gary & Denise tell us that it is too dangerous to take a cab here to go anywhere - could get mugged etc. Others say it IS safe if you use a certain company.

Gary is an awesome driver of the huge Mercedes van we have, and has given us a great tour with all info today. We have enjoyed meeting their friends. Were out at dinner last nights with friends - we found it most pleasurable to visit with their 2 20+ daughters and the finance - think I mentioned that. These kids were much more our contemporaries.

Ellen, when you told me to take my boiled wool sweater/jacket, why didn't you just go and put it in my suitcase??? Oh yeh, I remember, Tom said "we're going to Africa for shits sake, you won't need a huge boiled wool sweater - there's no room for it and you'll never wear it." Well, if I courier all my short-sleeve t-shirts and cute capri pants home, could you send my heaviest boiled wool sweater and some long johns, please - HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

I REALLY need to warm up before I am going to feel I like this country - I'm not just cold, I am freezing, as in, colder than I have EVER been at home even in the winter.

Today was fun, but I would still rather just be warm - I'm becoming obsessed with warmth - weird!!!!!!!!

Well, WARM thoughts to you all, N-J!!!!!

I'm In Shock!!!!!!!!!

The flying was easy - the bed pods rock!!! South African Airways is sooooo superior to Air Canada- not that that would be hard!!!

We are in Cape Town SA! It is cold and pissing rain - good job I brought only summer clothes!! It is very much like Victoria in the spring when the weather is bad.

At the last minute I threw in my jeans and jean shirt - bought an animal SA t-shirt yesterday, have it on UNDER my shirt, and that may be my uniform until we get to better weather - hopefully soon!

I am having a LOT of culture shock! Like for central heating! Also at the last minute I threw in a HOT WATER BOTTLE for Africa - sounded dumb to me too, but my grandma always travelled with one. she was from Chilly England, my grandpa from Scotland, and she was smart, so I thought I'd be smart too - thank you grandma - it saved my life last night.

The guest house in Cape Town is lovely, but absolutely freezing - a small, kinda heater, no thermostat. The bathroom ceramic tile floor is heated, and last night I SERIOUSLY considered taking my blanket and pillow onto the floor to sleep!!!

The bed is too hard, and Simon, my back isn't as good as it was! I stood in the shower this morning in hot water - Meg, I see why you do that - it was finally comfortable!!!

Worst of all for me - my f***ing computer couldn't pick up the wireless at the guest house. They're not computer people and don't understand the thing!!!

We've come to a mall, hopefully to get my computer FIXED, cause we thought it must be the computer - I didn't think it was - I've travelled all over out of the country and been able to use wireless, and it wasn't me, it is their weak, weird service.

Second day on African soil and it is going to take some culture adjustment. I thought the staff in Maui businesses were slow and not clued in - this makes Maui look like Bill Gates!!!! Maui is in the fast lane - but maybe it is just us and we haven't found the smart, fast, clued in people yet.

The fabo, young smart, clued in guys at SEATTLE coffee company got me onto their wireless - but they are young and in the groove. I am sitting in a hot, small back room in a tiny coffee place with a lot of noise - nice to be hot though!!!!

Wanted to get a blog post off so that you didn't think we were faking coming. Hope my next post is a bit more positive!!

I REALLY REALLY REALLY wish Laura was along with us - she "gets me" more than even Tom, and she is so fast and quick and bright, that in these situations she makes me laugh and see the humour in disaster - I NEED HER!!!!

Meg, you may be the only one understanding my problems!!!! Ron, "Happy Ass" is not happy - bet you're sorry I can't call, huh?????

Welcome to Africa!

Thanks God We're Off!!!

YIKES - it's 3:00 PM and Laura will be here at 4:30 to pick us up.

Now, the fun begins - if being locked in a metal tin can for 22 hours can be called fun!!!!

I was packed last weekend, I packed Tom on Monday (I know, I need a wife like me!!) and we have been very organized and calm. Even went to the Faculty Club for dinner last night - really chilled!!!

Well, except for the suitcase Nazi! That would be Tom! My gawd, I made the worst mistake.

When I was at McLaren's Luggage (the best luggage store in town - say hi to Dave!!) I bought a new case, some accessories, and, stupid me, a neat little hook and scale gizmo that WEIGHS YOUR SUITCASE!!!!

Crap, had I known where that would go I wouldn't have toched it. On Thursday night, my suitcase all zipped up, Tom "steams" up to me it INFORM me that my case is 72 pounds - we are allowed 70 in business!!!! So crucify me - we are actually allowed 3 checked bags totalling 150 pounds - 2 pounds, big friggin' deal!!!!

Nope, the stress of leaving the business when the market was PLUMMETING down got to him, and it came out in the weigh scale!!!! Now that the market in down 1,000 points, it has been hell here.

For 2 days Tom has just walked around and weighed every damn case as it was packed. Laura was here last night and had to calm Big Daddy down!!!

Her suggestion - why don't you take one of the 50 suitcases you have in the basement, put all the gift crap you are taking over in it, lighten your cases CONSIDERABLY, and then chuck it there if you have to!!!!

That's my girl - from my gene pool! It worked wonderfully - took the extra weight off and I thought everyone was sooooo happy!!!

Today has been bedlam again - first Togo has gone to The Spa - that would be the vet clinic, for $30 a day (anyone want this job - it is a hell of a lot of money for a month!!) and Tom RE-WEIGHTED EVERYTHING - the boy has to settle down!!!!!

All is done, I'm calm, Laura is laughing hysterically at us, but tearing up a bit - we are very close and miss each other a lot. That's what phones are for - what the hell - so I have to call her a lot - only $$$$$$$!!!!!!

First to Heathrow - about 8-9 hours, we have a day room at the Hilton at terminal 4 for the day tomorroow (get the London tomorrow morning) and then tomorrow evening get on South African Airways for the 13+ hours to Capetown!!

I am ready to kill the cabin crew after 7 hours from Van. to Maui - this is like doing that trip and turning around and coming back to Van. - YIIIIKES - no telling what I will morph into after all that time.

But we have beds in bussiness - YUP BEDS - so maybe we'll survive!!!! Gotta go get dressed. Please remember us in your prayers (sign of anxiety???)

I have 5 rosaries with me, the 20 religious medals my dad gave me are pinned to my bra (will be interesting in security - hell, I'll just pull up my shirt and show them!!!) and I will be saying a LOT of Hail Mary's!!! I'm a rebel Catholic until I have surgery or travel, then I am hard core.

Here we go - oh no - Tom just walked down the hall with the weigh scale..............

Who is Khuluma Umfazi?

 

I meant to tell you about this on my first post, but I was so freaked just trying to get it working that I forgot!!

So, is she a black South African woman that we are going to visit in Zululand? No, but the Zulu thing is close!

Her picture is here (not that I was wanting you all to have my picture - I just need picture posting experience so that I won't get upside down ones again!!!!)

Yup, it's me N-J, but I needed a name much more exotic than my present "formerly Marilyn Monroe's" name. In my first blog I told you that in Scotland I am known as a "Bletherer" - person who loves to talk - and does a good job of it, I must say!

Sooooo, Khuluma Umfazi is (loosely translated) the zulu words for "Talking Woman" - fits, doesn't it????

Ooooh, Aaaaw, comments on the pic accepted - cheap shots on my talking also accepted!!!!!!!

We've Been Shot!

This past week, August 25 - 30 has been hectic!

First huge item for Monday was going to the Capital Care Travellers Clinic to find out what shots we needed and what meds. We had already gotten the first 2 shots for Hep A&B, but needed to have the 3rd still, 6 months after the second. That would make the date not quite before we leave, but we were going to fake it!!

Well, once we got to the travellers clinic, any anxiety I had about health problems were NOT dimished by the LOUD TV they had in the waiting room which recyled a tape over and over and over describing every terrible way you can get sick, AND, my favorite, every colorful description possible on "Delhi Belly", "Turkey Trots" and "Montezuma's Revenge" - take your pick!!! Well, its' a topic I know a lot about anyway, so the added facts and color commentary were NOT soothing!!! Imodium, don't fail me now!!

Next we saw a nurse. She proceeded to show us a map of South Africa and started in on what we needed. Compliments on having the first 2 shots for Hep A&B, but said we MUST be AT LEAST 6 months between second and third, and if there is any doubt about that ( there is!), we should leave the third until we return. She said we are covered with the first 2, and taking the 3rd too soon negates having a lifetime immunity!

She told us we also needed a shot for tetanus/diptheria (combined in one shot, and a shot for typhoid - she shot us! Then we would need to take Cipro with us, a prescription antibiotic drug for diarrhea caused by bacteria, and a presription drug for treatment of general bacterial illness like bronchitis/pneumonia. Also some Tylenol 1, because it has some codeine in it - good to stop diarrhea, mosquito repellant with a high percentage of Deet (purchased from them!) - passed on the bed netting they sell - I presume that's what you get in the private game reserve that costs a million $$$$$$ a night, for craps sake!

I had also been having some tooth pain the week before, so our dentist gave me a prescription for some pennicillan just in case, and a miracle cream that zapped the stress canker I had!! On Monday AM, before going to the traveller's clinic in the PM, I had been to my dermatologist for a prescription for cream to put on bites (I react to bites) and, my favorite, a new Epipen (mine was past date)because I will go into anaphylactic shock from wasp bites. This is a gizmo I have to carry at all times and if bitten, either myself, or some kind soul with me, must take the lid off the pen and jab the needle into my thigh for an injection of epinephrine to keep your heart going (and give me a panic attack in the process!). That will be Nurse Denis's job - pray I don't need it!

Then there was the big one - MALARIA! All of the options were outlined, but if you don't want hallucinations and bad side effects, you opt for Malarone - the expensive one. We had heard a rumor that it was $45 a pill, but I think it was actually about $5 a pill. We start on it one day before we go to Zululand, which is just on the border of the malaria area, then we go from there to Kruger National Park, so we keep taking one a day right through the time at Kruger and then for a nother week after leaving - the week we are in Scotland! We were told only 1-3% experience side effects, so I am going with a positive attitude, but often with meds I AM the 1-3% - hope not this time!!

Then the clinic suggests you take any over the counter meds you use here, with you ie: tylenol,zantac,imodium,gravol, gastrolite powder packets for electrolite rehydration in case of diarrhea,etc. YIIIIIIIKES - I have been to the pharmacy at least 5 times!

The problem is that you have to make sure you carry all of this stuff in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost permanently! I am a very organized person for my travel stuff - I have wonderful clear zip cases from Mtn. Equip. Comp. that I put the meds in - one for prescription, one for over-the-counter and another one for my own stuff I take. Tom has another of his meds.

I must say this has been the most stressful part of getting ready for this trip. The clothes etc. have been easy, but I have found getting and packing all these meds was stressful for me - we will probably never need them, except for the malaria, but smart travellers should always have them.

The nurse at the clinic was very knowledgable and told us everyone who travels anywhere today should have these shots. Hep A&B in particular, every traveller should have tetanus and the others are good. These bugs are everywhere she said, not just in unusual countries. Certainly Mexico travellers and Caribbean travellers should have them, and even the US and central Europe have these things. Tom and I got very sick in Portugal while being incredibly careful how we ate and drank - we came back, and after taking samples to the lab for a month, they found we had picked up - through food - an intestinal parasite that is endemic there - NICE!!

I have been sick all 3 times I have been in the Caribbean (it is waaaay too dirty there for me to go back)including when we stayed in the world famous Atlantis Resort in Nassau - we drank the bottled water they gave us in the hotel, got really sick and when I came back and still had a bottle of their water, the Dr. pointed out that it may be the La De Da Atlantis, but one check of the bottle and there is nothing about it being purified or being spring water - often they are filled out of a tap or hose somewhere - NO MORE CARIBBEAN for me!!!

Same thing for the Virgin Islands - came back sick!

Do you see why I am such a huge Maui fan - just relax, eat the food and drink the water. Never had so much as a stomach ache there - love it!!!!! Tom has qualified for the Manulife Top Performers conference in Puerto Rico in May, so guess we will be medically good to go!!!!!!!

Well, we've covered the illness bases. Tom thinks we may get stopped at the border for running an import drug business (tee hee). I just hate the damn room they take up in my bag!!

Next, on to putting the clothes in the suitcase - they're on the bed, now how much room will they take - OF COURSE I'M NOT TAKING TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom is Totally Ready From Tilley's!

Men are stubborn - damn stubborn! I have experience around this statement - 19 years with Tom and 19 years with JB. I have done 38 years of hard time, and MEN ARE STUBBORN!!

What do you need when you are planning a trip to Africa, which will include a safari - the right travel clothes. Who specializes in that type of clothing - Tilley Endurables!

I'm sure most of you have heard of the famous Canadian invented "Tilley Hat". For my friends in the US that I met at Duke, here's the story. Alex Tilley from Toronto looked for years for the perfect sailboat - he found it - then he realized he needed the perfect sailing hat - one that could stand up to the elements (good and bad), could take salt air and waves and still survive. In 1980 he began to invent his hat.

The rest is history. Tilley hats are known far and wide and worn by many travellers around the world. Alex Tilley himself presented many to sail race contestants in Austrailia! The hats have a lifetime guarantee - replaced at a moments notice, and have a secret pocket inside for valuables!! Much of their clothing has these pockets. Alex gets many testamonial letters from travellers about how great they found his clothing and hat, and many tell how the secret pockets saved them from being robbed of money and stuff!

His company, Tilley Endurables, has gone on to manufacture everything light and quick drying, while being fashionable, for travellers. The stuff is great - if curious, just google Tilley Endurables and take a look.

But I digress - back to stubborn men! Victoria has 2 Tilley stores, and Tilley hats are as common as rain showers at the wet coast. When we were at the condo in May, I suggested to Tom that we should go get a hat and he should also get one of their fabo safari vests with the zillion pockets (some of them secret!)to carry all his photographic gizmos in. NOOOO INTEREST! NOPE - he did NOT WANT a Tilley hat. I have had one since the first week they came out in 1983, also bought my dad one, and we always looked very jaunty and travelled when we were together wearing them!

I dropped the subject since I HAVE a Tilley hat - old and worn, but rather cache still! And I'm not a nag - I'm a motivational speaker!

We are out in Victoria in July and I rethink the issue again, and mainly want Tom to get the vest, sooooo I may have mentioned it again, the motivational speaker thing - OK I lie - now I hounded him about it!!! Sometimes you get lucky - he decided we would go look - probably because our Maui friend B.J. was visiting and she expressed interest too - thanks B,J,!!!!

Long story short (but not that short now!!), Tom walks in (2 visits to both stores), starts trying on everything the salesgirls (who were now fawning over him - you know - the blue eyes and that innocent charm thing he pulls!)were pitching into his change room.

Only $1,000.00 later he could be in their catalogue - shirts, shorts, pants, "overnight dry" undershorts, a jacket, the SAFARI VEST, and, of course, the TILLEY HAT!! And he looked dashing in the hat - I have never seen a hat that looks good on Tom. And he is smiling widely when B.J. and I ooh and aw about every outfit.

They sell women's clothes too - in the store, mainly sizes 8 & 10 - while I AM a 10 (???) they weren't my style. Come on, B.J., who is Mrs. Thin, couldn't even get something to fit! Soooo, I got a new (microfiber now, and nicer style)Tilley hat and a 3 ounce umbrella, THAT'S IT - PERIOD! So, Mr. Stubborn walked out with 4 bags of clothes, which he can now just dump into his suitcase and he's packed!!!!!!! And now, he talks like it was all his idea!!!

I hope to attach a picture of Mr. Stubborn looking soooo cool (and rather smoochie I think) trying out his new hat while kayaking in July. So, I will end as I started.

Men are stubborn - damn stubborn!

P.S. Please lay on your side to see middle picture - I am still learning - should have rotated picture first, ya think??? Ron, you'll wet your pants from laughing that hard!!!!!

Seemed Like a Good Idea Last August!

Well, here we are - less than two weeks from leaving for South Africa!

Am I excited - yes, am I anxious - yes, am I worried at all - yes!

This all started last August when we got talking with our good friends Gary and Denise, who are originally from South Africa. They moved here 8+ years ago. Gary is an engineer and Denise is a nurse (thank gawd - she WILL be able to save me from anything untoward on this trip!!!!). When they were in South Africa, Gary was offered an engineering position here in Edmonton, and because of the changes that had taken place in South Africa, and the limitations in lifestyle that had resulted from that (more crime etc.)they jumped at the opportunity.

We have listened in wonderment to all the great stories of their beautiful country and the animals and safaris - thinking it would be the dream of a lifetime to see their country!

Once we had declared that, one thing led to another, they were going to go "home" this fall to visit friends and "rellies" and I'm not sure if we invited ourselves to go along, or they actually asked us - I'm sure it was the latter LOL!

We grabbed all of our aeroplan points and made the plane reservations last August!!! Sounded like heaven with lots of "shits and giggles"!!!

Over the year, as we have gotten together with Gary and Denise, we have made all of the rest of the plans for the trip - routes, where we'll go, accommodations. So, at that time, when we decided we were going I was ecstatic - but my "worry gene" hadn't kicked in yet - that took a year to happen!

YIKES - now it's almost time to go and I am getting MUCH more worried! Remember, I heard all of the stories of crime etc. that influenced them to move here. Also we have many other wonderful friends from South Africa, all introduced to us by Patrick, a radiologist, and Renee, a teacher, who moved here before Gary and Denise. They are from Johannesburg, and I have heard so many stories from them of the crime and dangers that exist particularly in "Jo'burg". Renee comes back from there today, where she was visiting her elderly sick father, but she had cancelled going a few weeks ago because of the danger, but then knew she had to go and see him. She is back here today, so I will definitely be calling her!

I AM feeling somewhat anxious - I don't want to be knifed, and my kidneys sold on ebay! I have been told:
-NOT to wear jewellery
-be aware of your surroundings at all times,
-don't look rich or dress so that you stand out
-don't flash your cameras around
-don't go out after dark
-don't flirt with the Zulu nude male dancers - OK I lied about that - I plan to!

See what I mean - I love adventure, but fear is not an emotion I like!

Also, I don't want to get sick there. Remeber, I have the terrible gut (aka. awful IBS) and I really don't want to have bad attacks there - the kind where you have about 20 seconds to find a bathroom! I mean, where do you "go" when one strikes you in the safari jeep, just as you come upon the lion kill? Certainly not behind a bush! As most of you know, my middle name is "Imodium", so I hope it gets me through!

My game plan is to really avoid my IBS triggers - two of which are fatigue and stress - and eat very conservatively - no warthog, giraffe, water buffalo or crocodile for me. This trip may be the best diet I've ever been on - toast, toast, fish, fish and back to toast!

Well, my fridge magnet says "Worry is the interest we pay on trouble before it comes", and gawd knows I've done that plenty of times, so I'm trying to relax, find good drugs and think that everything will be great and safe!!! I've got Dr. Tommy, Nurse Denise and Tour Guide Extrordinaire Gary with me, so what could go wrong, huh?

I am accepting all words of comfort by telephone, so if you have words of relaxation, please call! Remember farther up in the post I said I thought it would be "shits and giggles"? Now I'm praying for JUST the giggles!!!!