OUR TRIP TO AFRICA KEEPS HITTING NEW HEIGHTS!!!

OUR TRIP TO AFRICA JUST KEEPS HITTING NEW HEIGHTS!

Today, Roy and I had a blast as we went zip lining at Drakensberg, Africa’s largest zip line canopy tour that includes 12 platforms that take you propelling through the Blue Grotto forest. This was one of the coolest things we had ever done on any of our trips. It was a view of the forest, mountains and waterfalls that we could only have gotten flying above the canopy. As we became part of the forest we felt that we were in another world. TIA THIS IS AFRICA!

We have a fun video but unfortunately it will not download onto our blog. We will look forward to sharing it with you soon.

The smallest things can bring happiness!

 A long time ago, I had read that during WWII many women saved up their rations to buy nylons and chocolates. At the time I didn’t totally understand why someone might do without a loaf of bread or a few eggs to splurge on such a non-necessity. However, there were times I didn’t have two nickels to rub together and simple pleasures like a warm bath with the local drug store bath oils was all I needed to feel better.

So, when I solicited Bennie Babies for the kids, we might encounter in South Africa it was not to improve their circumstance - we try to do that through other means but to for a brief moment give them happiness.

Today we have a gift too, an unexpected smile on our faces knowing that 16 little kids all slept a little better last night clenching their new Bennie Baby. XO from Africa!

We would like to thank everyone that has followed our blog and joined us on our amazing journey in South Africa. We have so many great videos and pictures to share but most of the places we are staying are extremely remote and internet services incapable of downloading. When we are able we will post everything we can. We miss all of our family and friends and look forward to seeing you soon.
LOVE Cindy and Roy

IT HAPPENS!

I told you so! I told you so! Now that I got that out of my system, I can begin my story.

After leaving the blissful tranquility of Glenrock Farm, we headed to our next stop which was an extremely remote lodge on the top of a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. In all fairness, we had been sufficiently warned that the short road up to the lodge was most likely impassable with a car. We were also instructed that in that case we would leave our car below and call the lodge so someone with a four wheeler could come fetch us. Now that might raise a red flag for some but us, we both said wow how cool!

Unfortunately, what we weren’t told is that the one hundred plus miles leading up to our next stop was also an obstacle course that forced navigators to maneuver around people, animals and yes POT HOLES the size of Rhode Island. That’s on a normal day… but this day was special so add torrential rain flowing down the mountains and golf size hail!

But I digress. If you had read my earlier post you may remember that Roy has an unspoken rule that he is the only qualified person to drive when were on vacation. Even though I’m quite sure my license is as valid as his. But okay Mr. Macho who am I to rain on your testosterone parade. Cindy Hubler that’s who!! And am I also so petty that I would point out one little mistake after Roy has driven over 2000 miles across AFRICA without incident?? You betcha!

Well, the day started out pretty well with just a few delays here and there but nothing to stress over. The sun was shining as we chatted and munched on these fantastic vanilla cookies they sell at the roadside gas stations. We were on schedule to get to our new place by dark and all was good with the world.

Then it happened. Roy started swearing and steering the wheel first dramatically to the left then to the right. I told him to SLOW DOWN as he moved quickly from lane to lane side to side. All I heard is a loud clunk- clunk – clunk as I prayed our little foreign tin hut on wheels would not crumble around us. I shouted this time more firmly SLOW DOWN! But it was too late. We both saw it at the same time… “THE HOLE” of all mother holes. With a big crunch we were falling in and then moments later flying out of the hole. The two of us were like rag dolls being bounced around the car. Had we fallen in and out of the great abyss?? Okay maybe I’m exaggerating a little but you get the point!

As we continued on we moved gingerly silently waiting for the sound alerting us of the damage. Remarkably, we seem to have come through unscathed. We both then looked at each other in disbelief, gave a huge sigh of relief and decide to forge ahead.

After that, the road improved ever so slightly, the skies cleared and the sun came out. All was good with the world. Even the people on the road seem happy as everyone we pass waved at us in excitement motioning us with funny gestures. And although we were traversing narrow curvy roads high up in the mountain the last fifty miles were uneventful.

Finally, we reached our destination. As we pulled the car to the side of the road several men came running towards us yelling… your wheels your wheels! Roy and I got out of our car and then saw that two of our tire rims are severely damaged and our wheels were bent and wobbling. We then realize that OMG we have been driving like this since we hit “THE HOLE”.

After we thanked our Father and father(s) for preventing our demise over a cliff we were at a loss what to do. Keep in mind we are two hours from a town, four hours from a city and six hours from another office of our rental company. So, as instructed we call the people on top the hill to come get us and sheepishly left our wounded car parked below.

After a sleepless night we decide the only thing we could do was call the rental company explain (our new story) that we were cut off by a truck and hit a ditch and then see what happens. To our delight and surprise the rental company responded quickly and said they were sending someone with two new tires to our rescue. YAH!!!

After waiting all day nervously, we finally got the call the man was at the bottom of the mountain waiting for us to meet him and take him to our wounded car. He surveyed the car and shook his head as I talking a hundred miles an hour telling him THE STORY. Quickly, he opened our trunk got out the tire iron and began to remove the bolts. Within minutes the first new tire was on. I was so excited and impressed! Then he pulled out the second tire that he had brought. It looked fine until we noticed the rim was bent. Roy said, laughingly “You’re not going to put that on my car are you”? The guys said,”yep”. Roy said, “Why would you drive four hours and bring me another bent tire?” The guy shook his head and said “No problem…hey man do you have a hammer?” Roy said, “No I don’t have a hammer. If I did I wouldn’t have called you!” Then the guy shook his head walked a few feet and picked up a rock and began to try and bend the rim of the tire.

Frustrated, Roy grabbed the tire and started to walk down the street to find a hammer. Ten minutes later and $8 dollars poorer Roy returned covered with dirt tire in hand. The guy then took off our tire with the bent rim and put on another tire with a bent rim --- huh?  

That’s why people here say…TIA! This is Africa!

So, our car is fixed for the most part but Roy’s ego is a little bruised. Maybe next time when I say SLOW DOWN he’ll actually listen to me.

Until then…I guess I just have to say “I told you so”!

I HAD A FARM IN AFRICA!

I had a farm in Africa… Those simple words written by the Baroness and ultimately spoken by Meryl Strep in the movie Out of Africa always aroused exciting visions in my gypsy heart. Visions of being female in a male rough and ready world intrigued my adventurous spirit. I delighted in the opportunity to be challenged not only by human inhabitants but also by nature in its rawest form.

Although this beautiful story was written many years ago, there are places in Africa that we visited that still remain the same.

If you had the pleasure of reading the book or seeing the movie then you know that it is a unique love story because it is a love story that is not between a man and women, but between a women and a place.

Staying at Glenrock Farm in Mooi River South Africa on a farm for a few days, gave me the opportunity to feel closer to the character in this intriguing story. Words alone cannot possibly describe the beauty and the tranquility that we experienced staying in our cozy guest log cabin that overlooked the greenest valley and hills imaginable. There were beautiful clear ponds filled with bass and trout and farm animal scattered in beautiful pastures, even a few zebras. The days were sunny cooled only by a pleasant breeze and the evenings mesmerizing and star filled.

During our visit to Glenrock, the kind and gentle man that owned this beautiful farm in Africa shared with us a very personal story.

You see a few years ago, he along with his brother purchased the family farm from their parents. But early one morning a couple of months ago, the maid began shouting summoning everyone. Sadly upon arrival, their father found his wife and they their mother had experienced a massive heart attack while dressing that morning. His father was inconsolable as he reached for his dear beloved wife’s hand and with his hand in hers he collapsed in his son’s arms. Fearing his father was overcome with grief he tried to rouse him but soon realized that his father had also passed.

There is never an explanation that can comfort the human heart when you lose someone you love. However, rejoicing that your parent only suffered that pain for a moment before they joined their loved one is unselfishly beautiful.

Roy and I felt so privileged that our new friend at Glenrock had shared his sad yet beautiful story with us as a gift to remind us that life is short and must be treasured.

So, as I continue on my journey, my story can also now begin with… for a brief moment in time I had a farm in Africa. And although at the end of the book the Baroness had left Africa never to return again, I pray my ending will be different.

The Top Ten Things We are Getting Tired of in South Africa!!

The Top Ten Things We are Getting Tired of in South Africa!

10. Driving on the right side of the road! (this after several near death experience!)

 9. Stupid skeleton key that we can never get to open. (This problem actually resulted in me wetting my pants one day or honestly Roy's pants that I was wearing.)

 8. Having weird electrical outlets (All our electronics when plugged in look like a mexican street pole.)

 7. Having the toilet handle on the right side of the tank instead of on the left like home! (In that moment we can't do everything with our right hand!)

 6. We're tired of dividing everything by 8 to figure out the money! (We can get up to 8x7 but after that we get confused).

 5. Turning a corner at 120 km and facing wild game standing in the middle of the road! (It's only a matter of time before giant ROAD KILL!)

 4. Unmarked speed bumps! (We don't mind the bump it's the airborne part we object too.)

 3. COFFEE! They actually believe that instant coffee is REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 2. The internet service or lack of it! FRUSTRATION!!!!!!!!!

 1. AND NUMBER ONE drum roll...... the woman who has been ringing a bell to drum up business in a grocery store adjacent to the internet cafe we are writing this post in for the last hour. Gotta go before Roy goes over and slaps her! BYE!

Note: More video coming when we can successfully download it!

WAKE UP LITTLE CINDY WAKEUP!

Wake Up Little Cindy WAKEUP!

Tembe Elephant Park, where we are staying has the largest number of elephants and the biggest Elephants in Africa. The park is owned and run by the Tembe Tribe. Within the park is a very small camp where a few outsiders are allowed to stay. As a guest you are treated extremely well by the Tembe people. Meals are a pure delight to the palate prepared by a wonderful South African Chief named Dave. As a guest you go on two game drives a day. After dinner everyone sits around the camp fire listening to stories from your Tembe host. The game in the park is amazing but more on that later.

So, now to the story behind the title of this blog “Wake Up Little Cindy WAKEUP”!

Game drives are usually at 7am and 3pm daily. The reason is the time in between is extremely hot in the African bush and since most of the animals take refuge in the tall grass or under a tree, they are very difficult to spot. During our visit to Tembe, the temp has been in the high 90* and even though it is dry heat IT’S HOT!!

So, sitting around the camp fire yesterday evening, it’s decided that we are going to move up our game drive for the following morning to 4:30am to try and see more game. That’s right 4:30AM!  

So, that evening before we turn in for the night, Roy decides to set our alarm for the morning game drive on our rather challenging South African cell phone.

Now you would think that sleeping in the bush would make for crazy dreams. Especially with lions roaring, animal’s jumping around and crickets chirping. But, I sleep like a “hippo”.

So, after what seemed like only hours of restful sleep, I am pulled out of my dreamland by Roy singing “Wake Up Little Cindy Wakeup”. He kindly sets a cup of warm coffee in front of me and tells me its 4:15am and I have fifteen minutes to get ready and get to the truck. I lift my tired body out of bed and survey the room for my khakis and boots.

Although Roy is clearly wide awake he also appears to be rather confused. I hear him say “what the hell my watch has stopped”. Then it starts…”maybe my watch was right and the cell phone was wrong??? but now I changed the watch to match the phone…back to the cell phone …let’s call Linda she’ll be up…after discussing how to call the USA for a few stressful minutes it rings…Linda where are you??? darn no answer”. I sip my coffee. Now Roy’s pacing. He then says he going to the truck to see if anyone else is there.

I lay my head back onto the pillow.  I wait and wait in what seemed to be forever for Roy to return. I imagined him being devoured by a lion or bitten by a Black Mamba. Of course, I stay in the safety of our tent. After all, if he’s met such unfortunate circumstances there’s hardly much I can do now…right?

Moments later Roy walks through the tent door laughing. He said he waited by the truck and of course there was no one to be found awake in camp.  WHY??? BECAUSE IT WAS 11:30PM!!!

 I laughed and called him a dumb ass. As he chuckled and crawled back into bed, I also thanked him rather sarcastically for the 11:30PM caffeine buzz!

SHOW ME YOU’RE HOOTERS!!

When crossing the border into Swaziland we noticed the instructional signage of what to do is virtually nonexistent. As we approach the gate, a gentleman flags us over telling us to park our car. While we wait for further instruction, he takes a seat on a stool directly in front of our car. After patiently waiting for a minute or two he comes up to our car and told us that we have to go in the building. DUH??!!  So, we go in get our passport stamped and without further confusion we are back in car being directed with a pointing finger down the road.  About 200 yards later we see several police standing on the side of the road. A very pretty young women dressed in a police uniform approaches us signaling to pull over. At this point, I got a little nervous because I had lied at customs and didn’t declare several gifts that I had in my backpack. For a second, I imagined being hauled off to some unknown destination to do hard labor on a sugarcane plantation. After reassuring myself that that wasn’t going to happen I smiled and tried my best not to look guilty. Then the policewomen began to give Roy instructions in what appeared to be an auto check. First, the blinkers…so can you guess what Roy did? That’s right. Mr. Blinky turned on the windshield wipers spraying the poor girl with pretty blue water. I thought oh no! Now were in big trouble back to the sugar cane picken….Thank God she smiled seemenly amused at our foreign incompetence.  Now with all lights checked she instructed Roy to “show me your hooter”. Roy looked at me and said, “what’s a hooter?’ Like I should know what the hell a hooter is. I said to Roy “maybe open the hood???” She then pointed to our horn. Thank God! For a minute I thought that I was going to have to take my shirt off and display my “hooters”.  Than with two quick toots from our horn we all laughed and we were traveling down the road in Swaziland.

South Africans like their meat. I mean really like their meat! They eat domestic meats like beef and pork as well as a huge variety of wild game. When I asked our guide why such a plethora of meat he said, “look at nature, the lion and the leopard are carnivores and they are lean and muscular… while the Hippo, Elephant, Rhino and Cape Bull are vegetarian and they are big and fat. He concluded with …need I say more”.

I thought, mmm since I'm a meat eater, I guess I must be the exception to the rule.
Now if I could just think of a good rationale for eating all their unbelievable desserts!

NEXT STOP SWAZILAND

Next Stop The Small Country of Swaziland in Africa!

Okay, I have to admit…we’ve been spoiled, pampered and waited on for 12 days at Zulu Nyala. It was a wonderful and unexpected treat while it lasted. However, as we journey ahead we’re back to being just two backpackers traveling down the road not over the hill.

Next stop, six hour long (if we don’t get lost) drive to a small country in Africa called Swaziland. We’ve been practicing saying ‘SAWUBONA’ which is hello in Swazi to greet our new friends.

The country of Swaziland has been around since the fifteen century and has always been ruled by a King and Queen. I told King Roy that he may want to step down from his throne temporarily.

While in Swaziland, we plan to stay in several small villages and experience the culture. I bought a skirt at a local market to wear there after I was told that without one, I would have to resort to a table cloth wrapped around my lower body.

Since the area we are in is far more remote, we will not have internet service to communicate or update our blog. So Sister Linda, when you do not hear from us please do not call the American Embassy like you did last year. We will be just fine!

So, Hama Kahle Sala Kahle which in Swazi means go well and stay well until we meet again!

ROOTS

OUR FAMILY TREE

Some experts believe that all people(s) originated in Africa and that we all share one sturdy family tree. Maybe that is why when we came here, we felt like we were home.

For Roy and myself, it is the gentle breeze and the vibrant colors that make us yearn to hear and see more clearly. Amazing, is the only word to describe the green umbrella trees scattered in the plains or stunning mountains capped by clouds with hues of pink and blue. As an oil painter, I was inspired by every color of green and yellow that you could imagine touching the South African valleys.

Then of course there is the unbelievable array of wild game in South Africa. Imagine relaxing on your front porch as zebras, monkeys and nayalas peacefully play and graze. Then go on a game drive where you will see hippos, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos up close and personal. This and so much more was what the bush offered to us two young at heart adventurers.

There is also something very special about the African people. When we had the delightful opportunity to talk with them and hear their stories, we saw cultural pride that had been passed down for many generations. The Zulu people along with other African tribal people we met, were anxious to share their heritage with us and proud to tell us about their customs. In one such conversation, I asked if any members of the Zulu’s were brought to the United States to be slaves. The gentleman that I talked to said very proudly, no. He then explained that when the whites came to this area as missionaries the Zulu people were very clever and they hid from them. He then told me that during subsequent trips, the missionaries brought Indians from India to Africa as slaves to work as laborers in the sugar and cotton fields.

Although our journey in Africa has only begun, all the people we have met here have been amazing. From the African and Zulu people that we got to know, to our personal guide Manny who is a crazy fun Dutchman and of course Robert a wonderful Frenchman who made sure our every need was met and shared so much about himself with us. Or the three policeman that after trying to give us direction, finally just laughed and said “follow us will show you how to get there”.

So to sum up our experience in our first 12 days in Africa … not only were we in awe of our physical surroundings but we were also welcomed with open arms, trusted like old friends and treated like we were one of the family.

Now it’s time to move down the road not over the hill……

OUR FIRST HOME IN SOUTH AFRICA!!

AFRICAN SKYSCRAPPERS!!

X RATED MONKEY Adults Only!

Hey has anyone seen my elephants??

So what do you do for fun on the weekend in South Africa? What do you think…you look for elephants in the bush.

You would think elephants would be pretty easy to find, after all they weigh three and a half tons. But it’s kind of like finding a needle in a haystack. When it came to elephants, our guide Manny was a possessed man. He tracked them by looking for broken branches, handling their big piles of dung, and looking for elephant tracks.

We’ve only found them once since we’ve been here. Last time we were within probably 20 yards of them before Manny sensed one was getting agitated and we had to move.

This time it was just the three of us Manny, Roy and me in the truck. Manny said that if he could find the elephants, he was going to get us up close and personal.

The video is long and unfortunately we can only download a small portion of it. It doesn’t even come close to showing what being within inches of these elephants in the wild was like. My heart was beating so fast and yet I was frozen in awe of these magnificent creatures. If you watch closely you will see the elephant charge us and then hear Manny our guide yell at the elephant NO! Then you will see the elephant back off. This is by far the coolest animal interaction that we have ever had. Africa just continues to amaze us.

CHEETAH'S UP CLOSE!

Don't Touch it!!!

The Big Pretenders!

THE ADVENTURE OF MANNY’S MIGHTY PYTHON!!!

MANNY OUR GUIDE

Let me first introduce you to the characters in this little adventure…

Manny is our guide - A South African/Dutchman that loves his job driving around in an open top Land rover truck all day looking for cool animals.

Manny’s friend – Another guide that is afraid of snakes.

Other Safarians - Three young couples one from Kentucky, The Cayman Islands, and South Africa. Also present was a couple from Illinois and their precocious 8 year old son, William.

And of course, Roy and Me.

So our adventure starts out with Manny our guide inviting us to all go on a late night Safari. I gotta tell you that a Safari during the day can scare the bejebbies out of you. So, can you possibly phantom looking for things that can crush, bite or eat you during the dead of night in the South African bush? Well, when in Africa do as the Dutchman say.

As Manny hurried us into the truck you could feel the anticipation and apprehension in the air. Especially, when Manny said, that his friend another guide, was just a couple miles down the road and he had spotted a huge Python. Manny then added we had to hurry if we wanted to see it since the other guide was afraid of snakes. I don’t know about you, but I’m not in a big hurry to see any snake least of all a huge Python.

Within what seemed like seconds, we pulled up to the other guide on the path. He looked rather disheveled, as he explained that the snake had slithered that way into the thick brush. Of course, Manny wouldn’t give up. He ordered the poor guide with his spotlight in hand, to hop on the front our truck. Then Manny drove into the brush to find the missing Python.

After being tossed around for a minute or two and plowing over a few small trees and huge rocks the truck became stuck. Manny thrust the Land rover forward then rocked back again and again to no avail. The whole time we all sat glued to our seats.

That’s when the unthinkable happened…the idiot from Illinois’ said, “do you want us all to get out and push”??? We all gasp! Within seconds the voice of reason was heard when the smartest person in the truck, eight year old William yelled “NO WAY THERES STILL A PYTHON SOMEWHERE OUT THERE”!!!

That’s when we all started to laugh and I turned to Roy and said, “I can’t believe we’re in Africa, in a stuck truck, in the dark, with a group of virtual strangers and a loose Python.”

A few minutes later, Manny freed the truck and we were on our way into the African bush with MANNY but NO MANNY’S MIGHTY PYTHON!

And now The Quest of the Holy Grail!

Hey does this tall grass make my butt look big??

So, yesterday we went on a boat ride on St. Lucia Lake which is feed into from the Indian Ocean and is known for its large and I mean large population of hippo's and crocodiles.

On board with us were our guide, two couples from Holland and a young couple with three little girls. It was a marvelous day to explore the vast wild life on the lake. In no time at all, we spotted our first hippos with their mammoth heads popping out of the water hiding of course they’re even more mammoth bodies. I mentioned to the crowd, that I read that hippo’s stay in and under the water so they avoid getting sunburned. Remember, that was also on my blog under “little facts about Africa”.  As I looked around, I glowed in my ability to enlighten my fellow travelers. That was until my dear husband proclaimed, “folks let me introduce you to your guide Cindy. She comes from the acclaimed college called University of GOOGLE”. I smiled and chuckled along with the other passengers and then silently under my breath said; note to self be sure to make Roy suffer later. Unfortunately, when one person gets punished everyone gets punished and that was the last little piece of information they were getting out of me.

As our trip continued on, we then came to a huge pod (yes I learnt on Google they call them pods) of hippo’s near the shoreline. Two very large, in fact humongous hippos started to swim to shore to lie down in the shade. We all watched in awe as their full bodies emerged from the water. My dear husband then jokingly said, “hey honey why don’t you go stand next to the hippos and you’ll look really skinny”. Oh yes… my lovely husband the comedian. Another note to self, never say yes to Roy again.

The attached video of my two new BFF’s was taken 2/1/2012.

Well, in all honesty, if I didn’t find Roy so damn funny I would probably still be mad at him. As it was, my anger only lasted until he said that he heard one of the hippo say “hey does this tall grass make my butt look big”?

We're UP with going down the road!

Roy taking it easy on our hippo boat trip!

OUCH! A not too politically correct sign in the crocodile park!

How Sweet It Is!