MARK ''Hey people, leader of the group and head of security here, hope all is well? Firstly, before i get properly started, i'd like to bring up the mini golf issue, it was a windy day and in my defense i was first up on every hole, meaning they all got to see how the hole plays and how not to do it!! Oh.... and it was Nathan's birthday so thought i'd let him win, but forgot to tell Paul, anyway, enough about golf.

Can't really describe how good a time i'm having, its a dream come true doing this and couldn't have asked for a better first week, South Africa is amazing, i'm sure previous blog entries have gone into things like public transport (crazy is not the word), people, weather, accomodation and more importantly how cheap the beer is, so i'll try to avoid repeating stuff, but it really is a good experience and we've already met some cool people from all over the world.

Yesterday was a cracking day, it didn't get off to a great start, coach was well late and only had two of us booked on the trip, but got it sorted. It was Cape Peninsula Tour, and our first stop was at a harbour to go on a boat ride and see some seals, weather was a bit overcast and wet so not the best time to go but was still decent. Our second stop was better though, a penguin colony which was cool and we got plenty of photo's of the little guys waddling around (as i'm sure you've seen by now). From there we stopped a couple of times to admire views and take more photo's.

Then, out came the bike's, and we cycled down through table mountain national park, it was class but have to be honest, haven't been on a bike for years and it takes a lot out of you, no need to worry though, dinner was to follow and they put on a good spread of sandwiches, crisps, salad, fruit and juice.

Once all re-fuelled we drove down to Cape Point, which is beautiful, a trek up to the lighthouse where the views were breathtaking came next. You'll understand just how amazing it is when you see the photos and i'm not sure they even do it justice! The only downside to the day however was as it started off grey and wet, none of us applied any sun cream and so all got burnt, but used to that by now. When finished up at the lighthouse it was back down and then further down the the beach we'd seen from the summit and this was some beach, it was similar to the beach in Zante, Smugglers Cove to those that have been, when i say similar i mean in appearance only, everything else was even better, the sand was lush, the sea looked amazing but was freezing, the whole beach looked fantastic, it was a steep walk down and backup but so worth it, there were about nine of us in our group and once on the beach, still only about fifteen people in total there, so a total paradise, we could have stayed there all day without a care in the world.

After the beach a track over a mountain led us to the point most south easterly in the whole of South Africa and more photo opportunities, the perfect end to a cracking day and i loved every minute of it. Some beutifull sights and thats just one day out of the ten we've been away so far, i'm hoping the other three have written about previous days or i'll be here all day and to be honest i'm far too busty living the dream for that. Oh, and i forgot to mention on the way home we also saw baboons and a couple of ostrich but by then our camera batteries were well and truly dead, plenty more chances for photo's again though, i'm sure of that.

So with that i'll say catch you all laters and take care everyone. Speak again very soon."

PHIL: Howdi guys - all have a good laugh at mark's golf comments did you?!! He was right about yesterday though - it was amazing! The best day so far probably....allthough then nath's birthdya was ace...and the aquarium....and Camps Bay Beach...hee hee am I rubbing it in enough yet?!! Not sue if Paul mentioned Camps Bay actually but that was gorgeous - we went there on Tuesday, got there quite late on, about 2pm so we just set up camp on the sand as sunbeds were about a fiver for the day. The beach was gorgeous - just in front of Table Mountain so amazing scenery surrounding us and some well pluch restaurants lining the front. Th water round this side of the Cape is freezing though - the highest it reaches is apparently only 11 degrees, whereas around the other side it gets up to 22 so there's a big difference. Seriously it's so cold it actually hurts when you stand in it - Nathan was a mad man and went running in, only to go completely numb!! I chilled on the sand (wll, not 'chilled', more like melted) whilst the boys played frisbee and football with the hardest football they'd ever had and then later on we went for a meal - the place we went to looked too nice for the likes of us walking in with our beach gear, a frisbee and a football but nevertheless they let us in and are we glad they did......it was the nicest meal EVER!! And proper cheap - we all had gorgeous meals, few drinks and desserts and it only came to about 36 quid for all four of us!! I know I've been chatting on about the prices here but it really is so cheap!!!

The Aquarium was ace - those sharks were pretty scary looking!! We were acting all brave trying to torment them, but there was a massive wall between us so we're cowards really!

I've so much to say still but time's running out...the random Zulu dancers on the road at Camps Bay were ace! Me and Nathan ran up to watch them and video them but then I was kneed in the stomach by a random pyscho woman (there's a lot of those round here!) and nathan was pooed on by a passing seagull!!! Ha ha the laughs!!

We're all loving it - it's weird seeing the difference in wealth just on the same street - there's some very scary looking characters about that you don't wanna look in the eye, and some so poor, yet ext to those driving around in Mercs and BMWs - on the taxi ride this morning there was a random woman crossing the street in a long nightie and swigging out of a brown paper bag.....I definitely wouldn't walk around here on my own, even in the day - which is annoying if I just want to nip to the shop or I want to go on the internet but the others don't need to etc...But I guess that's one of the main reasons we're doing this - to see the different cultures and experience their living......

Anyway, time's ticking and I've not even said a third of what I want to but gotta go......Will update again soon.......Byeeeeee xx