Thursday, April 24, 2008
Photos Added
Photos are up on Facebook Now! If you're not my friend, you may have to add me to see them :)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Shark Diving.. Dun Dun DUNNNNNN!!
Great White Shark Cage Diving, the #1 reason I decided for a stop in Capetown.. Was it worth it, ABSOLUTELY!
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ... Alarm goes off, its 5:15 am, and we jump out of bed. The 9 hour time zone difference didn't appreciate that too much, but its time to brush teeth, and head out. An attempt to make tea and breakfast in the kitchen was successful, and we head out when the driver shows up.
A long 2 hour drive later, we arrive at the Shark de-briefing room, where we learn the ins and outs, and how not to get eaten alive. ..
Launch time!! We head out on the boat, to where the Sharks are, anchor out and the chum is thrown in the water. 10 minutes later we get our first bite, two more bites occur from other sharks, and the first group gets into the cage. I'm still cold, and not ready to get in. 45 minutes later, no more sharks, so we move to another spot. Throw chum in, and again a few bites. Folks get in, and 30 minutes later, no sharks.
I made a suggestion that we change the chum, so I don't have to stay in the cold water forever. Finally got my wet suit on, they added new chum, and I got in the cage. 3 sharks in 10 MINUTES! I went down, and was scared to my whits. Pretty sure I had 3 heart attacks, one for each sighting. Can you imagine having a shark come right at you while under water in low visibility...? Well, it was the scarier than I thought. Truth be told, the new bait was the winner, and I was lucky not to have to sit in that water for 45 minutes with no sharks. Maybe it was just luck, but I was happy to see them under water.
Would I do that again.. Possibly...
The fears in order of the day:
1) Huge wave to turn the boat over like, what happened last week which killed two Americans and a Swedish guy: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23541870-952,00.html
2) Shock from freezing water
3) Sharks attacking cage
Now to book the Sky Diving Trip..
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ... Alarm goes off, its 5:15 am, and we jump out of bed. The 9 hour time zone difference didn't appreciate that too much, but its time to brush teeth, and head out. An attempt to make tea and breakfast in the kitchen was successful, and we head out when the driver shows up.
A long 2 hour drive later, we arrive at the Shark de-briefing room, where we learn the ins and outs, and how not to get eaten alive. ..
Launch time!! We head out on the boat, to where the Sharks are, anchor out and the chum is thrown in the water. 10 minutes later we get our first bite, two more bites occur from other sharks, and the first group gets into the cage. I'm still cold, and not ready to get in. 45 minutes later, no more sharks, so we move to another spot. Throw chum in, and again a few bites. Folks get in, and 30 minutes later, no sharks.
I made a suggestion that we change the chum, so I don't have to stay in the cold water forever. Finally got my wet suit on, they added new chum, and I got in the cage. 3 sharks in 10 MINUTES! I went down, and was scared to my whits. Pretty sure I had 3 heart attacks, one for each sighting. Can you imagine having a shark come right at you while under water in low visibility...? Well, it was the scarier than I thought. Truth be told, the new bait was the winner, and I was lucky not to have to sit in that water for 45 minutes with no sharks. Maybe it was just luck, but I was happy to see them under water.
Would I do that again.. Possibly...
The fears in order of the day:
1) Huge wave to turn the boat over like, what happened last week which killed two Americans and a Swedish guy: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23541870-952,00.html
2) Shock from freezing water
3) Sharks attacking cage
Now to book the Sky Diving Trip..
Day 2 in : Cape Town - Table Mountain Hike
So, I made friends with Sara in my hostel room, and we decided on a hike up Table Mountain today. Its what everyone tells you to do when you arrive in Capetown for the most breath taking and amazing views of the city. You have a few options
1) Take Cable Car up and down the Mtn - Cost 65 Rand each way ( divide by 7 for US $)
2) Hike up Mtn
a) Easy Route
b) Hardest Route, up the Face of the Mtn
The day before, we both agreed that we wanted to do the easy route, ending with a picnic at the top of the mountain. So, we got up early ( considering I was still on 9 hour jetlag), and headed to the supermarket to make breakfast and buy lunch.
We taxi there with our other friend James, and head up the mtn. Long behold, we have ended up at the HARDEST ROUTE, which was said to be a 2.5 hour hike up the face.. Done in 1.5 hours, thank you very much.. But the hottest day they had so far, with the sun scorcing down on us, and stair sizes which varied from short, to about 1 foot tall. Ahh, good times.
Let's just say, it was the best work out I've had in ages, and felt very good once we made it to the top! Lunch was great, and we had a nice glass of wine to finish off the day.
We opted to take the Cable Car down ..!
View were amazing! Photos to come soon!
1) Take Cable Car up and down the Mtn - Cost 65 Rand each way ( divide by 7 for US $)
2) Hike up Mtn
a) Easy Route
b) Hardest Route, up the Face of the Mtn
The day before, we both agreed that we wanted to do the easy route, ending with a picnic at the top of the mountain. So, we got up early ( considering I was still on 9 hour jetlag), and headed to the supermarket to make breakfast and buy lunch.
We taxi there with our other friend James, and head up the mtn. Long behold, we have ended up at the HARDEST ROUTE, which was said to be a 2.5 hour hike up the face.. Done in 1.5 hours, thank you very much.. But the hottest day they had so far, with the sun scorcing down on us, and stair sizes which varied from short, to about 1 foot tall. Ahh, good times.
Let's just say, it was the best work out I've had in ages, and felt very good once we made it to the top! Lunch was great, and we had a nice glass of wine to finish off the day.
We opted to take the Cable Car down ..!
View were amazing! Photos to come soon!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Wallet Found & Safe in Captown!
Well lucky for me, as I phone the CC company today to cancel my card, someone found my wallet at Ocean Beach, and called it in. What a nice fellow! Unfortunately, too late for me to actually use it and take it with me, but let's hope he placed my Driver's license in the mail, so I don't have to get a new one when I arrive.
Made it to Capetown in one piece after a 2 far too long flights! Thank goodness for my short layover in London, which I made into town to buy books ( as I didn't have time the day I left, due to wallet fiasco), but just enough to re energize for the LONGEST flight ever!
Capetown, so far.. Nice people, Great looking city, Mellow, and lots to do! I haven't booked anything yet, because my body is till warped with the time zone changes. There is a girl in my hostel from Seattle, and another guy from Vancouver, same coast for a first (amongst the usual, Brits, Aussies, and Europeans). Small world!
Made it to Capetown in one piece after a 2 far too long flights! Thank goodness for my short layover in London, which I made into town to buy books ( as I didn't have time the day I left, due to wallet fiasco), but just enough to re energize for the LONGEST flight ever!
Capetown, so far.. Nice people, Great looking city, Mellow, and lots to do! I haven't booked anything yet, because my body is till warped with the time zone changes. There is a girl in my hostel from Seattle, and another guy from Vancouver, same coast for a first (amongst the usual, Brits, Aussies, and Europeans). Small world!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Don't lose your wallet the night before you leave for Africa!
The title tells it all..!
Unless you want to make the last hours prior to heading to the airport the most exciting part of your journey, I don't recommend losing your wallet the night before heading to Africa. If you find it at Ocean Beach or by the Golden Gate Bridge, let me know !
1,000 dollars in cash, and 1,000 in Traveler's cheques - let's see what happens. I never reccomend traveling with this much money, but here it goes. So far made it through my layover in London.
Plans for more African stories to come, after my 12 hour flight to Capetown.
Unless you want to make the last hours prior to heading to the airport the most exciting part of your journey, I don't recommend losing your wallet the night before heading to Africa. If you find it at Ocean Beach or by the Golden Gate Bridge, let me know !
1,000 dollars in cash, and 1,000 in Traveler's cheques - let's see what happens. I never reccomend traveling with this much money, but here it goes. So far made it through my layover in London.
Plans for more African stories to come, after my 12 hour flight to Capetown.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Heading off shortly
Time to explore a new continent. Africa, I am coming your way!
Plane tickets - Check
Malaria Pills - Check
Backpack - Check
Time off - Check ( I quit!)
Current itinerary:
Capetown - Great White Shark diving; Sky Diving, Table Mountain, Wine Country; Townships..
Antananarivo (Capital of Madagascar) - 1 night
Madagascar- 2 weeks with MY SISTER!
Tanzania - Safaris, Islands, Drinking.. Good times!
Stay tuned!
"Just know, If I die tomorrow.. I will die happy!"
Plane tickets - Check
Malaria Pills - Check
Backpack - Check
Time off - Check ( I quit!)
Current itinerary:
Capetown - Great White Shark diving; Sky Diving, Table Mountain, Wine Country; Townships..
Antananarivo (Capital of Madagascar) - 1 night
Madagascar- 2 weeks with MY SISTER!
Tanzania - Safaris, Islands, Drinking.. Good times!
Stay tuned!
"Just know, If I die tomorrow.. I will die happy!"
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)