Author: sage

Tuesday 1st May

What an early start, from Knysna. It was not a really peaceful night as I kept on thinking about having to get up. Finally we got up at 2.30am, got ready and were out by 3am after collecting a breakfast takeaway which the hotel had made for us. The sat nav said 3 1/2 hours to Port Elizabeth, but we made it there by 5.30am (and Sejul says he doesn’t drive fast![bhavni]). We dropped off the car and checked in. After a bit of a wait we boarded the plane and flew to Joburg at 8.40am.

We met Meera and Birju at the airport and went with them, first to Pretoria, sorted the Australian visa and then to their house. We met Birju’s sister, Reshma, freshened up and headed out. They took us to the Mandela mall, where we had a spot of food – falafel before we got a picture next to the Mandela statue. In the evening we stayed at the house, played Bhukar (cards) and relaxed.

Wednesday 2nd

After a bit of a lazy start Meera, Bhavni and I went to the local mall for a bit of shopping. We started off with some caffinated beverages – well Bhavni was odd and had a cold iced fruit drink, before we tackled the shopping. After lunch, we relaxed. Bhavni and I made our chocolate cake and I made vanilla custard. All of us sat outside round the table, enjoying the treats and played cards. Birju and Meeras friends came to visit and were here for a while before going home, to get ready to meet us for the show.

All of us went to “Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams“, which Meera had booked, where we met Sachin and his wife. It was a lovely evening with a four course meal with circus / surf de soleil acts. All being vegetarian we had some cheese,nuts and other bitings first, followed by a large ravioli parcel. For mains it was a risotto based dish – as usual I was the only one to clear the plates. The comedy in between the acts – eg the drag queens and the “Mr Zee” kept us laughing.

Thursday 3rd

We left in the morning for our drive north to White River, passing many farms. Bhavni showed her expertise naming crops as we drove passed them. For lunch we stopped at an Italian restaurant that was recommended online, the food was quite nice. We arrived mid afternoon at Oscars and settled into the Cottage that the guys had booked. We did not really make a plan for dinner – instead played cards, so ended up going to Spur.

Friday 4th

After a nice breakfast, we traveled north to the gorge near Blyde river canyon and had a look at some of the look out points there such as “The Pinnicle” and “Gods Window”. It was early afternoon by the time we returned, but to a activity center near Hazy View.

Meera wanted to go quad biking, which they did here. Initially I was just going to sit with Bhavni on one machine, while Meera and Birju had their own (Reshma was going to sit this one out), but I got bullied into riding one on my own by the instructor. Well it was not too hard to control the machine, so I took a machine. After a little bit of circuits to test us, the instructor led us out, initially on simple tracks, but then into the forest. It was the instructor in the front, followed by Bhavni, then me then Birju.

Along a track, to the side of a river, we were going along, when suddenly Meera went to the side a little, recovered, then completely went off the track and disappeared down the bank from immediate view by me. Im sure I shouted and I could not believe it. Bhavni and I stopped leaving our machines and saw Meera – still on the quad bike, up against a tree stationary. She was shaken up and had some cuts and scratches, but otherwise unharmed. Luckily there was a tree to stop her from going for a dip! The Instructor at this point (after we managed to pull Meeras vehicle up), took out some juices and crisps and told Meera, she just had to get on again and continue. Eventually he also remembered he had antiseptic with him.

After the rest of the ride, we went and had an ice coffee before heading back to the hotel, where we went to the rester aunt and had a nice meal.

Saturday 5th

After another nice breakfast we drove back to Joburg, and after dropping of stuff went to Sachins house for tea and snacks. We went and packed before retuning for dinner (kachri buteta), and playing quite a few games of cards – girls against boys, with the boys winning.

Sunday 6th

Meera and Birju left late morning to go to Kenya, leaving Reshma, Bhavni and I. Sachin came and picked us all up and we went to a restaurant where we each had a large lunch.

Back at the house we just chilled until the taxi came and picked us up to go to the airport at 3.30. At the airport we checked in and after the normal browsing of duty free and the sightly strange baggage check at the gate, we boarded the Quantus plane to Sydney.

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Saturday 28th

Today we were driving to Mossel Bay from Cape Town, which directly was around a 4 hour drive. After checking out of the hotel by 11am, we headed out, but instead of going the direct route down the No 2 Motorway, we drove first to Stellenbosch (it was cloudy and raining most of the way) – wine country which we would have stayed at, if not for the Visa Issue. We had a little look around the town and a few of the shops there before continuing on towards Franschhoek and through a mountain pass to some reservoirs/lakes. Instead of going directly to the N2 (we avoided the toll road), we drove near the mountains, eventually taking a 12km unsealed road, before joining the main garden route. Eventually we arrived in Mossel Bay area, as you approach it was similar to the outskirts of Cape Town, smaller township type housing, but when arriving near the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay, which was pretty much near the center, it felt like a western town. We arrived at around 5.30 and the  hotel staff were really friendly and offered me a glass of sherry – how could I refuse!

We asked about food, as seafood was the speciality around here, and after some head scratching it was suggested to go to a pizza/fastfood place, where we had crumbled mushrooms, salad and the cheesiest pizza (even for me).

Sunday 29th

Waking up in the morning we went for a walk. I managed to confuse a guy who was after a cigarette (or change), especially with the help of my Stewie t-shirt. After having breakfast at the hotel, we visited the Mossel Bay museum which has the largest collection of shells, before checking out at 11am. We went to the coast and had a walk up to the lighthouse and a path on the headland there, where there were lots of those animals which were closely related to elephants apparently.

We drove down the N2 to Knysna, to the Premier Hotel, which is quite a new hotel. The room we were given was quite spacious and on the second floor. After settling down, we went to the reception and asked about whether it would be possible to change our last night to another hotel (due to the really early flight from Port Elisabeth), she said that she would leave a message for her manager to see if this could be done. Unfortunately there was no premier hotel in Port Elisabeth, the next was in East London otherwise she would have been able to change us to that.

We then asked about having a walk, the receptionist was quite funny (in a good way) and basically said she would not like a couple like us going out for a trail walk, but she suggested we walk to Leisure Island and have a walk around it, which we did. It was getting quite late already, but the weather was quite hot, so we were a little tired by the the time we got back to the hotel.

We drove to the main waterfront harbour and had a look at the shops and restaurants, there seemed to be a nice Italian so we planned to come there a bit later, as Bhavni wanted to go to the heads for a sunset view. I managed to find the really nice view (Bhavni did not believe I was going the right way for a good view) on the top of the heads. As we headed back we went to look at the lower view. One of the parking attendants was there and pointed for us to go to a parking, so feeling guilty we parked and went to look at the adjoining restaurant expecting seafood. However it was a pizzeria and they made space for us out on the Balcony with a view of the sea.

Monday 30th

After a light breakfast, we had a talk to the manager, who was on duty. She said she would talk to the central office and see if it was possible to refund us a day as it was an agent booking, but it turned out even with all her help it could not be done.

We decided to go for a walk in the forest, so we drove up the R339 up an unsealed road to where we went on the Red Elephant walk – 9km but reasonably over a lot of gradients. We managed it in just over 2hours – not too bad if I do say so my self. Starving we got a toasted cheese sandwich (well less cheese for Bhavni) from the cafe at the start of the walks.

We went to the waterfront – via the hotel to change, and went to the pizzeria there, but all the tables were reserved, so we ordered a take away, though luckily when we went to collect it, someone had cancelled so we got to eat in. We went to the hotel and tried to go to sleep early.

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Sunday 22nd

Woke up early and got the taxi at 3.30am to go to the airport, and after a bit of confusion got into the correct terminal and went to check in. At the check in desk, we got asked where is Bhavnis Visa for SA…. Now from the UK as she is a resident there, she does not need a visa to go to SA, but from here they wanted one. Well there was nothing that could be done there even after we went and talked to many of the immigration staff, so we phoned home and told them we had a problem, and waited for the driver. Well in the mean time the flight that we would have been on was canceled. Kanti Mama was getting in from London (he was delayed), so we met him and the driver and went back to Kanti Mamas then Surya Masis. With Kanti Mama and Dad we went to see where the SA embassy was, for the next day, before going home and moping around. Eventually we went for some ice cream at snow cone – that included all at Surya Masis house, then Kanti Mama, Mom, Dad, Bhavni and I went for a Indian meal, before the parents headed back to Nyeri.

Monday 23rd

We woke up early and went with Kanti Mama and his ‘apprentice’ to the SA embassy, where Bhavni went in to apply. They refused to give Bhavni a visa the same day and would only give one for Wednesday. They were so rude they reduced Bhavni to tears.
After we went to KQ office and changed our flight to go out Wednesday night (the other flight was canceled so we had a free change). We went home and started to rearrange our itinerary. Late at night we went with Kanti Mama to Art Cafe for a milkshake, they were closing and we were the last customers.

Tuesday 24th

We went into town in the lovely sun to SAA offices to rearrange our flight out of Port Elizabeth in SA, before we went to Lake Nevrasha. We wanted to get to Hells Gate national park, which was just after, but as we got to high ground the rain started and got really heavy, so we stopped at a lodge for some tea. One of the guides said that Hells Gate would be closed especially as in the rain the day before some people had got swept away in flash floods.
We brought the rain with us to Nirobi and just relaxed at Surya Masis.

Wednesday 25th

Collected Bhavnis visa from the embassy and went home to finalise the packing. Kanti Mama came for lunch and we said bye to him before going to the airport. As we got there really heavy rain was falling with little viability, but we made it in good time and checked in. The plane was a little delayed as even the pilot got stuck because of the rain. It was a good flight and after getting the prearranged taxi, we went to Meeras house. At the gate to her compound we heard a screech and looking behind us was a police car – doing a 3 point turn – was it a real police car or just dodgy cops ? We were met by Birju and Mira and had a nice cuppa before going to sleep for a few hours.

Thursday 19th

Went for our morning walk, first to the bank who had not bothered to do anything about the Rands (way too laid back), then to a glass shop to see what the price of glass for the lazy suzy would be. In the afternoon we went to Outspan and back at home made sweet potato and coconut soup, and pasta. Got the skype on the IPad working.

Friday 20th

We went to the bank and got the few Rands they had then we went to Mount Kenya Safari Club, where we had a brilliant view of the Volcano and the peaks. We had a really nice chocolate milkshake with chips, before getting a private guided tour of the place by Elijah. We fed the peacocks and left after 5 hours at 5pm. On to Nanyuki, met Bhavni’s fathers friend and got back to Nyeri at 7pm. The to our favourite pass-time- BHUKAR till the early hours of the morning.

Saturday 21st

Well we went to order the glass for the table and said bye to everyone at the shop. We ended up leaving late (a bit of a repeating theme), with Bhavni, mom and I in the Honda – I was driving. Dad was coming later in another car. Still got Bhavni to her engagement in time even with the crazy traffic on the motorways (that have bumps at certain points – you just have to guess..or go over them and realise!) and within Nairobi.

At Surya Masis house we did some final packing before going out to Art Cafe to meet one of Bhavnis friend, but she ended up being late so came back to Surya Masis house with her for dinner. Thereafter we went to Suresh uncles house, where Bobby had come (for his fathers birthday). Suresh uncle had managed to get us some Rands from the city, so we were sorted for South Africa.

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