Little update

Just a little note to let you know where we are....

I am in Johannesburg for one more night, waiting for Suds to arrive. Then we will be renting a car and driving up to Kruger Natioanl Park for 2 days of self-guided safari. Then we are driving to Maputo, Mozambique for two more days before returning to Johannesburg and a flight back to Hong Kong. We will be back in Hong Kong February 1st.

Abbey's first day of pre-school!

Here is what Suzi wrote to us about Abbey's first day. Abbey is our too cute for words niece!


"It was Abbey's first day of preschool! She was very excited in the morning but has a cold so a little tired. We all got to school (on time) and Abbey went straight for the toys - she doesn't need me! So, I said good-bye and waved at the door - then she started to cry (just a little) I cried more!! teehee The teacher came to her and started to play with her and the other girls, Abbey was fine. The 2 hours Abbey was gone was the longest/quietest 2 hours ever!! So, I went to pick her up and she was sitting nicely with all the other kids and when she saw me she jumped up with a big hug and tons of kisses. As we were leaving we saw Abbey's good friend Max and she was very excited too see him and tell him that she went to the same school. (sort of) Anyways, I took her to McDonalds for a special treat and then home. As soon as we got home she fell asleep in her bed... "

Chobe National park, Botswana

We signed up for an overnight camping safari in Botswana. We were picked up at 7am and driven to the Botswana border, about an hour away. We crossed over the Zambezi river on a ferry and were picked up in a safari truck for transfer. Then we had a 3 hour boat safari along the Chobe river.

We saw 100's of hippo's!! They filled the river.

We were so close to this guy we could hear him chewing! They also make lots of snorting noises in the water, like whales spouting.

We also saw a few crocs, monitor and rock lizards, 1000's of impalas, warthogs, jackals, buffalo, giraffes and 100's of elephants.

After the cruise we were picked up in another safari vehicle and driven for half an hour to camp. We were the only people signed up for this safari (it is not peak season) so it was just the 2 of us, our guide Vasco and the cook. At night we could hear elephants trumpeting on one side and a jackal barking on the other side to warn that a leopard was near, as Vasco explained to us.

This is an eagle who has caught a lizard to eat!

The lizard was pretty big and was stuck in the eagles claws. So he sat there for hours eating and digesting till he could finally fly away.

We saw SO MANY elephants!! Look at how little some of these guys are! The moms were all really protective and quickly stood in front protecting the babies. They also stomped and trumpeted at us, but were quick to turn and run themselves.

We were very lucky and were able to spot 2 lioness' and their cubs. We couldn't get too close to them, but sat and watched them for 45 minutes or so. Both lioness' have transmitter collars on.

Livingstone, Zambia and Victoria Falls

We woke up at 3:30am in Cape Town to catch a flight to Johanessburg and then another flight into Livingstone, Zambia, the home of Victoria Falls! Suds was excited because we flew there in a CRJ, the plane he flew in Canada at Jazz.

This was a bit of a spontaneuous trip so the only info we really had was what we read in old Lonely Planets the day before. We were under the impression that Canadians recieved an automatic free visa upon arrival. We were rather shocked then when the oh so nice customs agent wanted $55US from each of us! They had changed the rules 6 months ago!


It is much warmer here than Cape Town and after arriving at our hostel we immediatly headed for the pool!


We were in bed early and slept for nearly 12 hours!


We are staying in a hut where the entire bed is draped in mosquito netting all the way to the floor. There is malaria here!! I have been drinking G&T's to keep my quinine levels up :)

At 10am we were packed into a mini bus for a free transfer to the falls. The locals call them the Smoke That Thunders. It is a good time of year to see the falls b/c the water levels are not too high and the mist is not blocking the falls.

Half the falls are in Zambia and the half are on the Zimbabwe side with Mr Mugabe as our host :) We were planning on a day trip to the Zim side as well, but that is another $65US visa plus $20 (times two) into the park! The country is desperate for money becuase their president, Mugabe, is running the economy and country into the ground.

We met up with a local who offered to take us to the lip of the falls where the water tumbles over the edge. We walked for about an hour thru knee deep water with Felix our guide holding our hands the entire time.

You can see the Armchair in this pic, it is the mini waterfall in the center.

The rocks were slippery and the current swift at times. Soon we were peering over the edge up close and personal with the roar of the water.

Afterwards we walked to the Angel's Armchair, an big pool overlooking the falls.

This is a picture jumping in. Felix was there making sure we don't get swept over the edge by the current.

Robben Island, Cape Town

This is Nelson Mandela's cell. He was held on Robben Island in a maximum security prison just out of the Cape Town harbour.


We were givena tour my an ex-inmate, but his accent was so thick we missed a ot of what he said.























































On the island there were tons of penguins! We also saw many birds and thousands of rabbits!

These are some singers at the V&A waterfront












We are eatting sushi at the Cape Town Fish Market. It is so good! I think we've eaten there 5 times now! The tuna and avacdo handrolls are to die for!

While Suds is away in Hong Kong I have been trying to catch up on my TEFL course homework. As I am slaving away, I have had some videos downloading on youtube.com (such a multi-tasker!)

Here they are!

Here are the seals in Hout Bay

Lions mating!!

Safari Lodge

Here is a quick video of our safari lodge. No commentary, which is odd for Suds, but you can see how great it was!

New Years 2006/2007

On our hostel balcony having a pre-dinner drink. We drink Savanna cider here, so good!









We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant below the hostel. (Suds made me put on the dumb hat for a photo.) The restaurant was busy and the staff harried. They were supposed to have a buffet, but even by the time we left at 9:30PM the kitchen ad not been able to pump it out with all the regular food orders as well.






The payback photo.












Don't we look nice and tanned?












Smok'n da sheesha on long Street in Cape Town.

I saw this place earlier in the day and thought it would be great. We lucked out and scored seats in the balcony/cupboard. We could look down below us at the dancing crowd and behind us thru the glass window to the street scene below. At one point the guy beside me says, "look at the ceiling!" It was bouncing up and down!! Above us was another bar, where they were apparently dancing. I felt a little concerned, imaging the paper headline and article about New Years Travesty as Roof Collapses on Local Bar.


Down below us at Baghdad Cafe.












Zapora and her friend H are from Durban and are staying with family here for the holidays. We chatted with them quite a bit.









The street scene down below us. The street was packed with people walking and jumping in front of cars and screaming Happy New Year! It was scary to watch because the drivers are a tad crazy here!










The view from our balcony at the hostel where we are staying. The party didn't stop till daylight. When I peeked out my window at 4am the street still looked just like this!