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Our new video production is online !! The Philippines video captures our entire 16 days there, packed into a fun 11 minute video. I think you'll enjoy it.
#2 Philippines: https://vimeo.com/226474660
#1 Thailand & Myanmar: https://vimeo.com/225094016
Password for both videos: harrakavideos (all lower case & no spaces)
Sawubona from South Africa ! There are 11 languages spoken in South Africa alone, and "Sawubona" is a greeting in the Zulu language. Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu
Today marks our final day in Cape Town, South Africa, as we depart early morning (leave at 4:30 AM) for Lilongwe, Malawi. It's been a great 5 days in Cape Town, and there's quite a bit of history and conflict in recent years throughout South Africa, including Cape Town. Haley pointed out that many of the neighborhoods feel like a hybrid of San Luis Obispo and San Francisco. It's very outdoor oriented, with some outstanding nature sights including one of the Seven Wonders of Nature (Table Mountain). Hiking, biking, paragliding, surfing, it's all going on here.
We had a layover of about 9 hours in Johannesburg, South Africa, and after some quick research, we came up with a game plan to check out a couple places in the city. We also went to a clothing store inside the airport shopping, as we came from mid 80s to low 90s the entire time in Myanmar & Philippines, to 38 degrees upon arrival. Yikes !
No jackets and hardly any pants, just shorts & tshirts. That's not going to work, so we picked up some necessities. Fortunately Malawi has weather around the high 70s to low 80s.
In Jo'Burg, as it's called, we spent most of our time at Constitution Hill and Court. The guide and the exhibits taught us about the segregation history in South Africa, and the apartheid. The government at the time required every black to have a "pass", or face jail time, poor treatment and poor conditions. In District Six of Cape Town, local people lost their homes and land, and were forced out to a different region, as dictated by the apartheid government. The museum in Cape Town tells the story and provides artifacts from the era. Mandela & Ghandi both served some prison time at the jail that we visited, now referred to as Constitution Hill.
The terminology here is quite different on certain topics, such as race. Here, colored is the acceptable term for a mixed race background, and yet "mixed race" would be considered offensive. There's African, black, and colored. Until 1988, when the new constitution was enacted, the law prohibited any interracial relationship or marriage.
Speaking of difference in terminology for the same English language -- they don't say "honk your horn" -- they call it "hooting". Additionally, they don't refer to "traffic lights", but rather call them "robots". (a little bizarre !)
During our Uber rides around Jo'Burg, we heard radio broadcasts about the taxis who are talking about arming themselves with guns and may incite violence. At one of our pickups, I waved my hand when I saw our Uber driver, and a guy on the street told me not to do that, as it's dangerous right now. Don't bring any attention to possible Uber drivers or passengers. Then we passed by a location that had taxis, multiple police officers, and news cameras. It's a big deal right now, and likely to become a bit "dodgy" around here, and it's getting quite edgy.
After a 3 hour flight from Manila to Singapore, and a 10 hour flight from Singapore to Johannesburg, we were left with just one short 2 hour flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. A 6 year old in the seat in front of us did a few lines of cocaine and ate a box of Frosted Flakes before the flight, resulting in a Non Stop flight, with a non stop 6 year old jumping in his seat and non stop chatter. So between the turbulence that lasted 2/3 of the flight and cute little Damien and his in-flight exorcism, it was "ample entertainment" for Haley & I. The parents were calm as cucumbers despite the monster child next to them, but I guess that's God's way of balancing the family and preserving a child's life.
We've been busy doing a bunch of activities in Cape Town, from paragliding, to hiking the summit of Lion's Head, to the V&A Waterfront, to rappeling down the face of Table Mountain, to a cultural show and dinner. Unfortunately, the cage diving with great whites was a disappointment. Apparently the shark activity lately has been driven out by the orcas coming to town in the last several weeks ! Sharks don't like orcas, and orcas like to eat great white sharks. So, the sharks are saying "we got to go". We were looking forward to that activity, but what can you do ? Nature doing its thing. But now the weather is fantastic.
I've got to go now, eyes are drooping and we leave in 5.5 hours for the airport. Please enjoy the video production.
More to come as we arrive tomorrow in Malawi, Africa, and then over to Zambia for a safari.
Robert & Haley
- comments
Jim Haynes I have heard it said that God makes little children cute so that their parents won't kill them. Come home soon so I can hear a few words in Xhosa and don't forget my souvenir.
Rosanna Harraka I'm so glad that kid wasn't on my flight! Missing my connection and spending the night in Hong Kong was enough to rattle me!
Dad Your last video was absolutely outstanding, great underwater sights especially the Whale Shark. Also great adventures with fabulous photos. Have fun with the elephants. The math questions are getting easier.(2+2)