5th Oct 2009

CAPE TOWN! I have arrived in South Africa and feeling incredibly excited and hopeful for fitting into a pleasant lifestyle here, with a balance of work, fun and exploration. Just over 24 hours ago, I arrived at ‘The Backpackers’ hostel even though it feels like it could have been a week.
The hostel itself is fantastic, offers everything you need including a travel centre, booking you in for all the crazy excursions Cape Town has to offer. Right now I am sat on the terrace outside the bar which are both very cosy and comfortable with leather sofas and relaxing water features plus a wood burning fire. Nothing better than completing the atmosphere with friendly chatter and Nirvana playing subtly in the background which followed on from the likes of the Bee Gees (!!! :]) and the black eyed peas – how diverse. I am sharing a room with up to 7 other people in bunk beds. Last night, we had a full room so I only had the choice of top bunk but now I have switched to bottom bunk (realise that the floor has much more storing potential than the space around the top bunk!) everyone is fully in the ‘travelling’ spirit and starting conversations is easy and then friendships are made.
In my room is a lovely couple from Camberly, UK, Laura and Chris, who are nearing the end of their 6 week holiday after spending time in South Africa as well as a period in India. We share the experience of coming from a third world country into a more developed area like Cape Town. It is astonishingly difficult to adjust to such different surroundings; when you think about it, like India, in the Middle East I was used to seeing either built up areas, full of skyscrapers and hardly any greenery or complete desert land. South Africa is completely different, just take the view from my window as an example: sugar palms and orange trees in the courtyard below, lavender pots along the pool side and the phenomenon of Table Mountain just stood there, right in front of me, like it was the most natural thing in the world – which it is, obviously! But adjusting from my desert lifestyle makes it seem so surreal. And the weather is different! It is a hell of a lot colder than the UAE by 15-20oc, so a few more layers are required! This morning it is murky and a little wet, but it doesn’t matter, Cape Town has so much character it can fit in with anything.
Another element I am struggling with may come across as a little strange but it shows how much society affected me in the UAE. I can now mix with the male gender – something that I am used to prohibiting myself with. We are all equal again! It is a crazy feeling of freedom and I don’t expect anyone to grasp the idea unless they have experienced it. I am sharing a room with girls and boys! Definitely not allowed in the Middle East. But I love it, because that is what cultures are about!
Now, my big news – I have a JOB! In under 24 hours of me being here I have a job – how fantastic is that! It is at a restaurant a few blocks down from where I am, named Jardine (www.jardineonbree.co.za) and I believe it was voted the world’s 79th best restaurant in the 2009 St. Pellegrino list. I have been pursuing this job since before I left England and have shared many emails with the Head Chef Eric so it was nice to finally meet face to face! I don’t start till Monday 12th Oct so I have a nice week to get to grips with Cape Town and do some adventuring! I will write more about it once I have started.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi wasn’t always a ‘walk in the park’ but was a holiday compared to what I’m expecting here – and I just cannot wait to get stuck into the lifestyle!
Come on Cape Town!
Love, Ashleigh xx