I’m writing this, sitting outside in (surprisingly!) sunny Hastings, listening to Goldfish; one of the Pepper bands who we got to see play at Joe Cools (a pretty cool beachside bar in Durban). It was weird waking up this morning for the first time in 3 months without the Pepper group discussing what to have for breakfast/complaining of hangovers/ trying to wake up the boys etc!
Thinking back to our first week getting to know each other feels like such a long time ago but it has gone so quickly. Cape Town was an INCREDIBLE place to begin the trip! It’s definitely not a place that can only be visited once. I can’t wait for another chance to go back and visit our old hang outs; drinking ‘Mules with extra cherries’ in Caprice, chilling on Clifton Beach and trying out surfing and kite-surfing in water that is claimed to be colder than in England (it’s not, Vince). Learning to surf in Cape Town was pretty schweet (ay?). One of the most memorable sessions was on the evening of George’s birthday. It was raining, the beach was completely empty and I couldn’t feel my feet but it was awesome to just sit out back with everyone and the instructors, paddling for the odd cheeky wave and just generally chilling. When we left Cape Town for wakeboarding, we all agreed that it felt like we were leaving our home, but, wakeboarding was QUALITY! I started off the week as a beginner and by the end of the week I was seriously hooked. I'd like to carry on with the sport but I’m certain that no other wakeboard session will ever live up to those experienced at Misverstand!
One of the many highlights of the 1st road trip was the night we slept outside in Vic Bay. Apart from the constantly deflating mattress, it was PERFECT. We then woke up to watch the sun rise and then headed down to the beach for a surf with our new boards which was probably one of my bests. I seem to remember catching a few ‘James’s’ (a giant peach (a big, nice wave (well, big for me anyway which actually is pretty small))) as Enzo would say! Getting into warm water was AMAZING after 3weeks in a wetsuit.
So then, on to Durban! What I miss about Durban most is the Secret Spot. It’s a beautiful place and is run by the friendliest people and had some friendly other guests too (hahahahaha!………what?)
Diving in Durban was very cool, we saw sharks! On the last day the visibility was OBSCENELY good! I remember swimming along being able to see the ocean floor clearly 20m down, very, very cool.
The best moments of the trip have definitely been when the whole group has been together. Whether we were hiking through RIDICULOUSLY beautiful scenery in Hogsback or the Drakensberg, tracking rhino in the game reserves or just chilling telling horrific jokes. I think we were all quite surprised at how well everyone got on with each other. It was fun watching everyone come out of their shells and pick up each others phrases and quirks. Mainly Johnny’s to be honest. i.e. talking in that strange high pitched voice, saying what you see in the tone of offering it to someone (ostrich?) and fitting in 2 or 3 ‘amazing’s’ into each sentence! Oh Johnny, you’re a freak. And Vince is a child. In a good way. You have done extremely well though! It really was a truly incredible experience and I’m very jealous of the next Pepper group! Although they won’t be as good as us originals, right?
If you’re reading this considering whether or not to sign up to a Pepper trip then DO IT! It is probably the best decision you will make! I’ve met some AMAZING people, made some AMAZING friends and have developed a huge passion for South Africa. It’s a pretty chilled little country!
Gen Xx xxxxx AMAZING
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Miss Annie heads for Australia!
So what to tell you about the last three months...the pepper trip's been incredible! There are so many good bits to talk about, I could litterally write an essay, as Vince and Jonson (aka Johnny..he gave me a nickname so I had to give him one) well know, but for you guys ill just mention a few of my favourites! Going right back to the beginning the first night was amazing! After a long flight nervously waiting to meet everyone Jonson and Vince took us to Camps bay to see our first African sunset thoughtfully accompanied with champagne and nibbles (Good work Jonson!)...it was beautiful and such a nice welcome to pepper and South Africa! From there the good times continued, Breede river was a ball, rafting, or rather relaxing whilst Enzo built up his muscles! In Cape town we took in all the sights (even if it meant walking up a massive mountian...which by the way Vince is most definitely NOT flat at the top!) and had surf lessons with the lovely Liam (Hattie's husband to be!), kite surfing...or rather body dragging (which is THE MOST FUN) and some memorable or perhaps not so memorable nights in Caprice seeing a few more of cape towns best sights! The wakeboarding beats anywhere I've done it before..riding behind a boat at sunset on mirror like water with the spekaers pumping out the tunes..it doesn't get much better! Up the coast we slept under the stars at Vic Bay, played ring of fire at Plett, did an awesome ski dive, and laughed fear in the face doing the bungee jump...(my advice drink wine before hand..even if it is nine in the morning!) Hogsbac or lord of the rings land only sought to show us more beautiful parts of one astounding country!
Up in Durban we discovered The Secret Spot; you won't find a more homely backpackers! I also won't forget the look of pure joy and satisfaction on jonsons face as we reclined in the lovely armchairs at our new found empire (a colonial style hotel just outside the city with earl grey tea (twinnings of course) and great G & T's! After all of that the two safaris were brilliant, coming face to face with 10 elephants is an unforgetable experience as were the antics of the mule! The hot choccclut and jokes were excellent (Chinny you can't deny my joke telling did make you laugh even if it was for the wrong reasons) and my birthday in the bush was the best I couldve had...thanks to the whole group for making it such a great day! Now were back in jo'burg looking at old piccies and hoping somehow theres another week of the trip that jonson and vince have kept secret so that we don't have to leave tomorrow! I think ive written too much already so ill jut finish by saying that I couldn't have pictured a better trip to do on my gap year, and thank you soo much Jonson and Vince...you guys have been awesome! Bye for now, I'm looking forward to our pepper meet up in August!
Much love
Annie
XXX
Up in Durban we discovered The Secret Spot; you won't find a more homely backpackers! I also won't forget the look of pure joy and satisfaction on jonsons face as we reclined in the lovely armchairs at our new found empire (a colonial style hotel just outside the city with earl grey tea (twinnings of course) and great G & T's! After all of that the two safaris were brilliant, coming face to face with 10 elephants is an unforgetable experience as were the antics of the mule! The hot choccclut and jokes were excellent (Chinny you can't deny my joke telling did make you laugh even if it was for the wrong reasons) and my birthday in the bush was the best I couldve had...thanks to the whole group for making it such a great day! Now were back in jo'burg looking at old piccies and hoping somehow theres another week of the trip that jonson and vince have kept secret so that we don't have to leave tomorrow! I think ive written too much already so ill jut finish by saying that I couldn't have pictured a better trip to do on my gap year, and thank you soo much Jonson and Vince...you guys have been awesome! Bye for now, I'm looking forward to our pepper meet up in August!
Much love
Annie
XXX
Harriet goes home!
The end has come around way too quickly and I can't believe I actually have to leave this incredible country. But I've got some memories from the last three months that will literally stay with me forever. Last night the boys took us all out for a goodbye dinner which involved a lot of laughs and tears (not just on the girls part) and Vince and johnny gave us each framed photos of our amazing time here. Looking at them I really can't believe all the things we've done. Table montain, wakeboarding camp, surfing, sky diving, bungee, kitesurfing and so much that I really don't have room to mention. We've done more in the last three months than most people will ever do in their lifetime. But probably the best thing about this trip is the friends I've made. We've literally become like a family abd had some fantastic times together. I honestly have never laughed as much as I have with this lot. So basically I really have had some nights i'll never remember with the friends i'll never forget. Thanks vince and johnny for an unforgetful three months!
Hattie x
Hattie x
Jo'burg and Goodbyes
I'm sitting in the backpackers in Jo'burg, all alone, it's a bit surreal that everyone else has left, I keep expecting George to walk in with some very useful advice or a "hello, miss madeleine" from Johnny. There were some very tearful goodbyes at the airport yesterday, and believe everyone, at some point in the last couple of days, has shed a tear? The last few days in Jo'burg have been awesome, although there has constantly been a little black cloud hanging over us all when we realised it was nearly over. Annie's birthday celebration was a very good night, with an amazing meal and some very amusing memories... Sunday was our last full day in South Africa and included a picnic for Vince and Johnny, where we presented them with the Pepper survival kit, including a mouse trap for Johnny, to keep the rodents away, and a whistle for Vince, which he said he wished he had been given 3 months ago. In the evening we all walked to Spur for an evening of prize-giving, speaches and tears, we were each given photo frames with some of the highlights of the trip, which will definitely be kept forever, thank you so much Johnny and Vince. It must have been hard selecting the photos out of the 8000+ photos of the trip!
I arrived in Cape Town 3 months ago, thinking I was just going to stay for a month. Little did I know I would still be here now after the most incredible 12 weeks ever! I have so many amazing memories of the trip, and to list even the best bits would basically be writting out everything we've done in the last 3 months, but I have to mention the game reserves, which was so unlike anything any of us have ever done before, with, of course, the elephants being the highlight, but I know both George and Enzo have written about them in their posts. The other highlight of the trip I'm going to mention is the surfing, because although I wouldn't exactly call myself a natural, I can't even stand up after 2 months(!) and I usually came out of the water saying: "I actually nearly died" (possibly a tiny bit meodramatic?), I really enjoyed either practicing my 'pop' on the beach, i.e sunbathing, attempting to stand up in the white-water with Hattie i.e. swimming, or paddling out behind the break, if I could, and just chilling (unfortunately this usually ended with me being attacked by a massive wave and "I nearly died"!). I have to thank Johnny and Vince for their patience when trying to teach me to surf! Maybe I'll get the hang of it one day...
Anyway I have to go now as I have 3 planes to catch to get home, somehow I managed to arrange the most round-about route possible, but this truely has been the most AMAZING experience of my life and I'm going to miss everyone sooooooo much! (I already miss you all and it's only been a day!) Thanks everyone for putting up with me and see you soon.
Lots of Love
Maddy
xxxxx
I arrived in Cape Town 3 months ago, thinking I was just going to stay for a month. Little did I know I would still be here now after the most incredible 12 weeks ever! I have so many amazing memories of the trip, and to list even the best bits would basically be writting out everything we've done in the last 3 months, but I have to mention the game reserves, which was so unlike anything any of us have ever done before, with, of course, the elephants being the highlight, but I know both George and Enzo have written about them in their posts. The other highlight of the trip I'm going to mention is the surfing, because although I wouldn't exactly call myself a natural, I can't even stand up after 2 months(!) and I usually came out of the water saying: "I actually nearly died" (possibly a tiny bit meodramatic?), I really enjoyed either practicing my 'pop' on the beach, i.e sunbathing, attempting to stand up in the white-water with Hattie i.e. swimming, or paddling out behind the break, if I could, and just chilling (unfortunately this usually ended with me being attacked by a massive wave and "I nearly died"!). I have to thank Johnny and Vince for their patience when trying to teach me to surf! Maybe I'll get the hang of it one day...
Anyway I have to go now as I have 3 planes to catch to get home, somehow I managed to arrange the most round-about route possible, but this truely has been the most AMAZING experience of my life and I'm going to miss everyone sooooooo much! (I already miss you all and it's only been a day!) Thanks everyone for putting up with me and see you soon.
Lots of Love
Maddy
xxxxx
Monday, April 21, 2008
Week 10 & 11 - Game Reserves
Hi Everyone,
Im sitting in Johannesburg writing this on our last full day in South Africa. I've had some of the best times of my life, and the last two weeks have been a fantastic end to the best holiday ever!
Our first stay was in a nature reserve called Loskop. Its very deserted so there are almost no cars driving the trails, this means seeing game is rare. But we still managed to see hippo, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, lots of antelope, and a black mamba! The days were dedecated to various tasks including a photography course, and learning how to track animals. We stayed in permanent tents, and the place had electricity a couple of hours a day and a bar! So it was luxury compared to our second stop!
After a week there, we moved to Mabula. This reserve is a lot more touristy so more cars and more game sightings! I say its more touristy...but we saw none of that. We stayed in the heart of the bush in tents with broken zips! No electricity...NO BAR...and a spider in your tent each night! There we saw lion, croc, rhino, and loads of zebra and giraffe.
But the best moment of the trip had to be seeing elephants! The guy who looked after them took us with him on a feed, which they do about every 2 weeks just to keep them used to humans. When you lay the food, they run straight past it and surround the car to check you out. These actual orphan elephants have killed 19 rhino and 3 humans, so when the trunks of a 4 ton monster is an inch away from your face, its one of the most scary things i have ever experienced!!
During the week we also did: A course in dangerous animals where we approached rhino on foot.
A survival course, run by an ex-paratrooper. The final exam was to build a shelter with just a survival backpack in 3 hours.
And rifle handling, which was just 2 days of shooting!
Back in jo'burg, its nice to have a proper shower and electricity, but i think everyone actually misses the peace of being in the middle of nowhere!
Flying at 8pm, and dreading the 12 hour flight once again,
Enzo.xxx
Pics are up from the reserves, but jo'burg will be a few days.
Im sitting in Johannesburg writing this on our last full day in South Africa. I've had some of the best times of my life, and the last two weeks have been a fantastic end to the best holiday ever!
Our first stay was in a nature reserve called Loskop. Its very deserted so there are almost no cars driving the trails, this means seeing game is rare. But we still managed to see hippo, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, lots of antelope, and a black mamba! The days were dedecated to various tasks including a photography course, and learning how to track animals. We stayed in permanent tents, and the place had electricity a couple of hours a day and a bar! So it was luxury compared to our second stop!
After a week there, we moved to Mabula. This reserve is a lot more touristy so more cars and more game sightings! I say its more touristy...but we saw none of that. We stayed in the heart of the bush in tents with broken zips! No electricity...NO BAR...and a spider in your tent each night! There we saw lion, croc, rhino, and loads of zebra and giraffe.
But the best moment of the trip had to be seeing elephants! The guy who looked after them took us with him on a feed, which they do about every 2 weeks just to keep them used to humans. When you lay the food, they run straight past it and surround the car to check you out. These actual orphan elephants have killed 19 rhino and 3 humans, so when the trunks of a 4 ton monster is an inch away from your face, its one of the most scary things i have ever experienced!!
During the week we also did: A course in dangerous animals where we approached rhino on foot.
A survival course, run by an ex-paratrooper. The final exam was to build a shelter with just a survival backpack in 3 hours.
And rifle handling, which was just 2 days of shooting!
Back in jo'burg, its nice to have a proper shower and electricity, but i think everyone actually misses the peace of being in the middle of nowhere!
Flying at 8pm, and dreading the 12 hour flight once again,
Enzo.xxx
Pics are up from the reserves, but jo'burg will be a few days.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Goodbye South Africa!
Its been about 3 months since we we arrived in cape town, and about 3 months since I last wrote anything. Sitting in what can only be descibed as a garden shed in jo-burg after a fairly die hard night of tennis, braai and John Deare (which is not to be trusted) in the Colony Arms probably isn't the right place to do the last few months justice, but anyway.
Everything that has happened throughout the duration of the trip has been phenominal, wether it be relaxing watching one of the countless sunsets (with beer in hand), cruzing across Loorskop dam wake surfing at night with Andy, having an evening surf with PERFECT waves at Warner Beach while lightning is striking everywhere and Sammy the shark decides to join the party, or being completely isolated at Coffee Bay with yet more perfect waves followed by being mugged by a one legged 60 year old cruch bound cripple, or partaking in another "debate" with Maddy, I mean we really have not had one bad moment, except perhaps for accidentally driving into the most dangerous suburb in Jo-Burg in a bus that screams mug me I'm an English tourist.
Recently, however, was of the highlights, where we were taken out with an elephant keeper called Jock to check on the elephants on the Mabula game reserve. We had been driving across the reserve looking for them for hours, then out of nowhere a herd of elephants came running out of the bush, we sped away with the elephants following and put down some food. We then sat in the back of the bukkie while the elephants herded around us. It was amazing but also scarier than the bungy jump as there was absolutely nothing in between us and a herd of elephants from a group of orphans notorious for having killed 19 Rhino and 3 people.
Anyway, as I have spent the last 2 hours trying to write this on Johnnys pda, I'm going to have to give up and go back to the tough life that involves reclining by the pool. And just to sum up, South Africa is in all honesty the best place in the world, most of the best experiences of my life have been had here in the last few months. Even Jo-Burg, where you hear a pretty unfair selction of dodgy stories, is without doubt the coolest, most happening and pretty citys I've ever seen, it actually puts London to shame. For anyone thinking of going anywhere else in the world, put yourselves out of your misery and don't, come to South Africa and I promise you'll love every second.
Anyway the pool is calling.
cheers
George
Everything that has happened throughout the duration of the trip has been phenominal, wether it be relaxing watching one of the countless sunsets (with beer in hand), cruzing across Loorskop dam wake surfing at night with Andy, having an evening surf with PERFECT waves at Warner Beach while lightning is striking everywhere and Sammy the shark decides to join the party, or being completely isolated at Coffee Bay with yet more perfect waves followed by being mugged by a one legged 60 year old cruch bound cripple, or partaking in another "debate" with Maddy, I mean we really have not had one bad moment, except perhaps for accidentally driving into the most dangerous suburb in Jo-Burg in a bus that screams mug me I'm an English tourist.
Recently, however, was of the highlights, where we were taken out with an elephant keeper called Jock to check on the elephants on the Mabula game reserve. We had been driving across the reserve looking for them for hours, then out of nowhere a herd of elephants came running out of the bush, we sped away with the elephants following and put down some food. We then sat in the back of the bukkie while the elephants herded around us. It was amazing but also scarier than the bungy jump as there was absolutely nothing in between us and a herd of elephants from a group of orphans notorious for having killed 19 Rhino and 3 people.
Anyway, as I have spent the last 2 hours trying to write this on Johnnys pda, I'm going to have to give up and go back to the tough life that involves reclining by the pool. And just to sum up, South Africa is in all honesty the best place in the world, most of the best experiences of my life have been had here in the last few months. Even Jo-Burg, where you hear a pretty unfair selction of dodgy stories, is without doubt the coolest, most happening and pretty citys I've ever seen, it actually puts London to shame. For anyone thinking of going anywhere else in the world, put yourselves out of your misery and don't, come to South Africa and I promise you'll love every second.
Anyway the pool is calling.
cheers
George
Monday, March 31, 2008
Week 7, 8 & 9
Hi All,
We're now into the final three weeks of our trip and the girls are getting the last minute worries about not having enough of a tan to show off back in England. But the last three weeks have been amazing...as usual!
We started out by staying just outside Durban for a week and starting our open water diving course. A couple of pool dives, 5 ocean dives and an exam later and we all are able to dive around the world. The place is called the Aliwal shoal and its in the top 10 places to dive in the world, and you can tell; On our dives we saw loads of underwater life, including eels, rays, and huge (3m) sharks circling in front of us!
Our next spot was the 'secret spot' surf camp in a place called Ballito just north of Durban. The aim of this place was 2 weeks hardcore surfing as it was our last chance before moving inland. We woke up for lots of dawnys which were painful and pretty much surfed twice a day if conditions let us. By the last day we were all paddling out to the backline on monster days and catching some peaches!
The second week we were there we surfed in the morning, and visited Gozololo for the rest of the day. This is a shelter for 2-14 year olds that have either lost their parents or have a bad time at home. They have about 150 kids that go there everyday and have limited staff, so have no time to fix anything. In 4 days we managed to clear up the library (which took 2 days on its own!), buy and replace/fix: 3 windows, 7 doors, garage door, urinal, a tap and coat hooks. We also donated lots of art materials and the girls taught the kids how to get messy with paint!
We've now driven into the Drakensberg mountains on our way towards Jo'burg. Today we went for a horse ride up the mountains and a sunny fishing/swimming trip...i caught a metre long Bass, but obviously there's no pictures as we thought it would be cruel to keep it out the water for too long!
More pics uploaded,
Enzo. xxx
We're now into the final three weeks of our trip and the girls are getting the last minute worries about not having enough of a tan to show off back in England. But the last three weeks have been amazing...as usual!
We started out by staying just outside Durban for a week and starting our open water diving course. A couple of pool dives, 5 ocean dives and an exam later and we all are able to dive around the world. The place is called the Aliwal shoal and its in the top 10 places to dive in the world, and you can tell; On our dives we saw loads of underwater life, including eels, rays, and huge (3m) sharks circling in front of us!
Our next spot was the 'secret spot' surf camp in a place called Ballito just north of Durban. The aim of this place was 2 weeks hardcore surfing as it was our last chance before moving inland. We woke up for lots of dawnys which were painful and pretty much surfed twice a day if conditions let us. By the last day we were all paddling out to the backline on monster days and catching some peaches!
The second week we were there we surfed in the morning, and visited Gozololo for the rest of the day. This is a shelter for 2-14 year olds that have either lost their parents or have a bad time at home. They have about 150 kids that go there everyday and have limited staff, so have no time to fix anything. In 4 days we managed to clear up the library (which took 2 days on its own!), buy and replace/fix: 3 windows, 7 doors, garage door, urinal, a tap and coat hooks. We also donated lots of art materials and the girls taught the kids how to get messy with paint!
We've now driven into the Drakensberg mountains on our way towards Jo'burg. Today we went for a horse ride up the mountains and a sunny fishing/swimming trip...i caught a metre long Bass, but obviously there's no pictures as we thought it would be cruel to keep it out the water for too long!
More pics uploaded,
Enzo. xxx
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Finally at DURBAN!!!!
Alright everyone!!
Greetings from Durban! It's pretty incredible here even though the weather's pretty dreary. We've just arrived at the tekweni backpackers and in the infamous words of vincent, "it's a pretty chilled spot". The road trip has been UNBELIEVABLE!!! i literally have to pinch myself when i think about all the things we're experiencing. Hogsback was honestly the most beautiful place i've ever been to with an amazing party vibe, especially for such a remote spot. it took me a while to get used to topless ten thirty, the racist jack russell and the hysterical cleaner who basically screamed the place down after someone suggested she'd stolen some socks...intense stuff. oh and i'm extremely proud to announce that i broke the record for most spent on a bar tab in one night! so well done me! The Buccaneers was awesome. It was so beautiful and seeing as i was pretty much broke from the night before, i thouroughly enjoyed taking advantage of freewine and volleyball (more the free wine than the volleyball). The raves in our dorm became legendary, with random strangers walking to join the fun - slightly odd.
I think i have to agree with Vince about Coffee Shack. You have to go there to really understand what its like but chilled doesn't begin to describe this place. The pizza place was pretty legendary. There was one table next to a bedroom and a bed in the kitchen which also doubled as a bar but it had a great atmosphere and i'll never forget johnny's face as he desperately tried to escape the mother of all moths!!!
We're all missing Marisa so much. Maris, you really are such a special, if insane, person. I would reminisce about all the hilarious moments we've had together but somehow i don't think anyone back home would approve of our antics. I can't describe how much we'll miss you, i've really made a friend for life. Love you sushi girl.
So here i am, sitting in Durban and all i can say is - it's a tough life.
Big kiss
Hattie xxxx
p.s. if you haven't skydived - DO IT!!! i really feel like i know how to fly now. And to the King and Gwynn clan - i miss you all so much and hope you know that i'm thinking of you all the time
Greetings from Durban! It's pretty incredible here even though the weather's pretty dreary. We've just arrived at the tekweni backpackers and in the infamous words of vincent, "it's a pretty chilled spot". The road trip has been UNBELIEVABLE!!! i literally have to pinch myself when i think about all the things we're experiencing. Hogsback was honestly the most beautiful place i've ever been to with an amazing party vibe, especially for such a remote spot. it took me a while to get used to topless ten thirty, the racist jack russell and the hysterical cleaner who basically screamed the place down after someone suggested she'd stolen some socks...intense stuff. oh and i'm extremely proud to announce that i broke the record for most spent on a bar tab in one night! so well done me! The Buccaneers was awesome. It was so beautiful and seeing as i was pretty much broke from the night before, i thouroughly enjoyed taking advantage of freewine and volleyball (more the free wine than the volleyball). The raves in our dorm became legendary, with random strangers walking to join the fun - slightly odd.
I think i have to agree with Vince about Coffee Shack. You have to go there to really understand what its like but chilled doesn't begin to describe this place. The pizza place was pretty legendary. There was one table next to a bedroom and a bed in the kitchen which also doubled as a bar but it had a great atmosphere and i'll never forget johnny's face as he desperately tried to escape the mother of all moths!!!
We're all missing Marisa so much. Maris, you really are such a special, if insane, person. I would reminisce about all the hilarious moments we've had together but somehow i don't think anyone back home would approve of our antics. I can't describe how much we'll miss you, i've really made a friend for life. Love you sushi girl.
So here i am, sitting in Durban and all i can say is - it's a tough life.
Big kiss
Hattie xxxx
p.s. if you haven't skydived - DO IT!!! i really feel like i know how to fly now. And to the King and Gwynn clan - i miss you all so much and hope you know that i'm thinking of you all the time
Monday, March 10, 2008
Marisa's farewell Pepper blog
Well here I am, back at base camp in Cape Town where the fun began.........."The Pepper experience". I'm badly suffering from Pepper withdrawal symptoms, as yet again I've just been reminded that the Pepper gang are not with me. I just opened the cupboard door of what was "our" cupboard for storing our food. Not only to find George's bottle of spice gold rum, it was no surprise to find only a tablespoon worth of rum left in the bottle. I go to the fridge and cheekily rummage through everyones bags to seem if I can find any pesto sauce for lunch as I'm also suffering from pesto withdrawal symptoms, (Maddi Genna and Annie know what I mean) I get to the bottom of the fridge and find a Spar bag with Enzo's Vienna packet and a moldy roll smothered in tuna juice. I couldn't atchually believe it was still there!
I couldn't think of anything better then ending my Pepper experience on the Road trip, the past two weeks have been as Jonny would say "insane and incredible" This is all down to Jonny and Vince's organization of ensuring we got to see all the best spots in South Africa, I could really tell they had laboured long and hard over making sure we didn't miss out on a thing, which for sure we didn't as every hostel had something extremley beautiful and individual about it. I think Hogsback breaks the record.....that doesn't mean Hatty's bar tab but the unforgetable scenery that Away with the faries was surrounded by! It was like Lord of the rings all over, waking up to a view of lapping green mountains and the sounds of waterfalls below the forest was deffinatly a nice wake up call, not forgetting the toadstool and wizzards artwork on the walls as George would say " There not toadstools there magic mushrooms."
Whenever we packed up the van and moved onto the next spot I always felt intrigued and excited to know where Vince and Jonny were next taking us. I felt in safe hands and had every bit of faith in them that it was going to be another spectacular location! Although Vince's description of "Its a chilled little spot" was starting to become a little tiresome as there's only so much chilling i can take! We always knew that if we arrive in the morning at hostel then it was time for a cheeky surf, or if it was a evening arrival it was gin and tonic o'clock which means its about 5 o'clock somewhere in the empire!
Jonny and Vince have deffinatly tailored this trip to perfection, what i have done and seen in 7 weeks, I didn't think was possible to do in a year! What i also thought was impossible was to form such a special relationship and bond with the fellow Pepper travelers, I don't even have that kind of relationship with my friends who I have known all my life as I said to Maddie on my last night we have deffinatly made friends for life! Jonny and Vince are very lucky to share there next month and a half traveling with these amazing people.
The last day had to end with a few practical jokes played upon the Pepper tour guides Jonny and Vince, Yes Jonny that was me that put that wet and sticky object in your pocket that I atchually found on the floor probably left over from some giant stick insect rampage, oh and Vince it was pure sweet revenge watching you break into sweat about the loss of your chocolate bar............so long suckers as unfortunatly you cant get me back.......both of you DIE!!! (For those of you not part of the Pepper crew, you have to say DIE really quickly!)
Thanks guys for all making me extremley happy over this past month and a half, miss you all!
Love Marisa
P.s Im on the computer second in from the right, ha ha ha ha if only they knew I've been on it all day without paying a bean.......whoops!
I couldn't think of anything better then ending my Pepper experience on the Road trip, the past two weeks have been as Jonny would say "insane and incredible" This is all down to Jonny and Vince's organization of ensuring we got to see all the best spots in South Africa, I could really tell they had laboured long and hard over making sure we didn't miss out on a thing, which for sure we didn't as every hostel had something extremley beautiful and individual about it. I think Hogsback breaks the record.....that doesn't mean Hatty's bar tab but the unforgetable scenery that Away with the faries was surrounded by! It was like Lord of the rings all over, waking up to a view of lapping green mountains and the sounds of waterfalls below the forest was deffinatly a nice wake up call, not forgetting the toadstool and wizzards artwork on the walls as George would say " There not toadstools there magic mushrooms."
Whenever we packed up the van and moved onto the next spot I always felt intrigued and excited to know where Vince and Jonny were next taking us. I felt in safe hands and had every bit of faith in them that it was going to be another spectacular location! Although Vince's description of "Its a chilled little spot" was starting to become a little tiresome as there's only so much chilling i can take! We always knew that if we arrive in the morning at hostel then it was time for a cheeky surf, or if it was a evening arrival it was gin and tonic o'clock which means its about 5 o'clock somewhere in the empire!
Jonny and Vince have deffinatly tailored this trip to perfection, what i have done and seen in 7 weeks, I didn't think was possible to do in a year! What i also thought was impossible was to form such a special relationship and bond with the fellow Pepper travelers, I don't even have that kind of relationship with my friends who I have known all my life as I said to Maddie on my last night we have deffinatly made friends for life! Jonny and Vince are very lucky to share there next month and a half traveling with these amazing people.
The last day had to end with a few practical jokes played upon the Pepper tour guides Jonny and Vince, Yes Jonny that was me that put that wet and sticky object in your pocket that I atchually found on the floor probably left over from some giant stick insect rampage, oh and Vince it was pure sweet revenge watching you break into sweat about the loss of your chocolate bar............so long suckers as unfortunatly you cant get me back.......both of you DIE!!! (For those of you not part of the Pepper crew, you have to say DIE really quickly!)
Thanks guys for all making me extremley happy over this past month and a half, miss you all!
Love Marisa
P.s Im on the computer second in from the right, ha ha ha ha if only they knew I've been on it all day without paying a bean.......whoops!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Week 4, 5 & 6
Hi All,
I've had to group these three weeks together, as during the road trip from Cape Town to Durban we come across a computer rarely, and when we do its an ancient one. Lots has happened since then though!:
We left Cape town and headed 2 hours north to a place called Misverstand Dam. We had 5 days here with a sponsored SA pro wake-boarder and a house 20m from the glassy water. He had one of the best wake boats you can get and we could go out whenever we wanted day or night...we went moonlit boarding way into the morning most nights! Tried pretty much everything you can do, and realised that wake-surfing is easily the most fun you can have behind a boat!
After an incredible time, and a drastic change in water temp, we headed east on the start of the road trip. Our first stop was Vic Bay, a famous surf spot in SA. We were camping right on the edge of a cliff overlooking the bay, and surfed and BBQed all day and night.
The second stop was plettenberg bay, and this time we had a house!! Everything seemed like a huge luxury after a month, like a washing machine and a proper bed! Two days here. On the first we went for a 32 degree mountain bike ride and the second we went skydiving! As it was my second one we did a few acrobatics and he let me fly us down...only one more needed before a solo one!!
We were on the road again and had a 7 hour drive that was interrupted by the worlds biggest bungee jump...the most amazing feelings ever! Kind of feels like falling to your death, like in one of those falling dreams! All but three did the jump...although two of the girls needed a couple of large glasses of wine downed at the bar 10 minutes before to secure their nerves!
On the road again and the next stop was Hogsback. This is deep in the mountains, and the place that Tolkein was born, so apparently the inspiration for lord of the rings. I can believe that as the scenery was unbelievable. No surfing here, just hikes to the most amazing waterfalls that you can swim to and stand directly under!
The next place was a couple of hours away, at a place called Chinsa. The backpackers was like a tropical paradise, and basically lots of surfing and a bit of sand surfing!
5 hours to the Transkei. This is one of the old homelands of SA, and during the apartheid, black people weren't allowed to leave the area without a special passport. The hills are covered in coloured shacks that are about 3m by 3m and home to lots of families. This was the first time we have experienced '3rd world' Africa. We took a trip to a local school to give the kids a football and cricket set which was an amazing experience! Most of them were about 8 or 9 and the kids would chase us around and line up to be lifted up and swung around! Other that that we surfed a lot and everyone is improving rapidly! This place had the best surf that i have experienced so far.
We're now in a place called Port Shepston, about two hours from Durban just for a night to break up the drive. The first good computer is a relief but costing me a fortune (well, by these standards!) I have just uploaded 300 photos to http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/enzocav , so check them out.
Love to everyone, Enzo.xxx
I've had to group these three weeks together, as during the road trip from Cape Town to Durban we come across a computer rarely, and when we do its an ancient one. Lots has happened since then though!:
We left Cape town and headed 2 hours north to a place called Misverstand Dam. We had 5 days here with a sponsored SA pro wake-boarder and a house 20m from the glassy water. He had one of the best wake boats you can get and we could go out whenever we wanted day or night...we went moonlit boarding way into the morning most nights! Tried pretty much everything you can do, and realised that wake-surfing is easily the most fun you can have behind a boat!
After an incredible time, and a drastic change in water temp, we headed east on the start of the road trip. Our first stop was Vic Bay, a famous surf spot in SA. We were camping right on the edge of a cliff overlooking the bay, and surfed and BBQed all day and night.
The second stop was plettenberg bay, and this time we had a house!! Everything seemed like a huge luxury after a month, like a washing machine and a proper bed! Two days here. On the first we went for a 32 degree mountain bike ride and the second we went skydiving! As it was my second one we did a few acrobatics and he let me fly us down...only one more needed before a solo one!!
We were on the road again and had a 7 hour drive that was interrupted by the worlds biggest bungee jump...the most amazing feelings ever! Kind of feels like falling to your death, like in one of those falling dreams! All but three did the jump...although two of the girls needed a couple of large glasses of wine downed at the bar 10 minutes before to secure their nerves!
On the road again and the next stop was Hogsback. This is deep in the mountains, and the place that Tolkein was born, so apparently the inspiration for lord of the rings. I can believe that as the scenery was unbelievable. No surfing here, just hikes to the most amazing waterfalls that you can swim to and stand directly under!
The next place was a couple of hours away, at a place called Chinsa. The backpackers was like a tropical paradise, and basically lots of surfing and a bit of sand surfing!
5 hours to the Transkei. This is one of the old homelands of SA, and during the apartheid, black people weren't allowed to leave the area without a special passport. The hills are covered in coloured shacks that are about 3m by 3m and home to lots of families. This was the first time we have experienced '3rd world' Africa. We took a trip to a local school to give the kids a football and cricket set which was an amazing experience! Most of them were about 8 or 9 and the kids would chase us around and line up to be lifted up and swung around! Other that that we surfed a lot and everyone is improving rapidly! This place had the best surf that i have experienced so far.
We're now in a place called Port Shepston, about two hours from Durban just for a night to break up the drive. The first good computer is a relief but costing me a fortune (well, by these standards!) I have just uploaded 300 photos to http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/enzocav , so check them out.
Love to everyone, Enzo.xxx
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Wakeboard camp
We left Cape town Monday week 4, for a 90min drive north to the Misverstand dam. Everyone was sad to leave as it had become our home for the last 3 weeks, but we've all promised to go back sometime. The dam is an incredible loctation, in the middle of nowhere, such a contrast to Cape town. We were greeted by Andrew Bourne, our wakeboard instructor and South African pro, and his gentle giant friend Mike. We went straight out on the water in his AMAZING boat with the loudest sound system in the western cape! George started off by intimidating us all with his wakeboard talents, and Annie, Enzo, Vince and Marisa followed suit. Andrew took us beginners (Maddy, Hattie, Genna) out for an evening session to introduce us the sport without the pressure of 10 pairs of watchful eyes! We all soon got the hang of it and caught the wakeboarding bug.
Our days were spent chilling on the boat, or the party/love island (more about that later!), and taking it in turns to wakeboard/wakeskate along to awesome tunes which have now become anthems of the trip. We would have love to see Andrew wakeboard, and for him to coach us whilst riding beside us, but unfortunately he injured his knee a couple of months ago and wouldn't be back on his board for 6 months. It must be torture for him to watch us without being able to do it himself.
As mentioned above time was spent on the party island, which doubles as a chilling venue when theres too much weight on the boat, and a back breaking adrenaline fuelled activity when being dragged at high speeds behind the boat, and occasionally taking off into the air! IT's like a big inflatable pancake, and I think George is still having nightmares about being thrown off it from 5 metres up and doing a few backflips before hitting the water head first. He still asks Maddy for a daily massage. Another reason George, Enzo and Johnny aren't big fans of the party island is due to their horrific ordeal on thurs afternoon, when they were stranded in 40 degree heat with nothing but each other and some inquisitive sheep for company. Somehow they were still alive after 6 hours (2 hours) while the girls were wakeboarding and Marisa and Annie were pulling off some seriously impressive tricks, wake to wake and olly 180 respectively. The boys were found drifting halfway down the river by the girls who were unaware of the afternoons events, which of course had nothing to do with them stealing our chocolate the day before. They still guilt-tripping us about it now. Hypocondriacts.
The evenings were spent Braaiing on the terrace of our riverside abode and chilling on the boat watching the stars. On friday we went for midnight wakesurf, where we surfed the floodlit wake of the boat on Enzos surfboard. Altogether another pretty awesome week.
After getting up at 4 on saturday morning we are ow on our first leg of the road trip at Vic bay, doing the highest bridge swing in the world was a good way for Enzo, Annie and Maddy to wake up after 3 hours sleep and a good way to nearly pass out for those left watching!
**Maddy and Genna**
Our days were spent chilling on the boat, or the party/love island (more about that later!), and taking it in turns to wakeboard/wakeskate along to awesome tunes which have now become anthems of the trip. We would have love to see Andrew wakeboard, and for him to coach us whilst riding beside us, but unfortunately he injured his knee a couple of months ago and wouldn't be back on his board for 6 months. It must be torture for him to watch us without being able to do it himself.
As mentioned above time was spent on the party island, which doubles as a chilling venue when theres too much weight on the boat, and a back breaking adrenaline fuelled activity when being dragged at high speeds behind the boat, and occasionally taking off into the air! IT's like a big inflatable pancake, and I think George is still having nightmares about being thrown off it from 5 metres up and doing a few backflips before hitting the water head first. He still asks Maddy for a daily massage. Another reason George, Enzo and Johnny aren't big fans of the party island is due to their horrific ordeal on thurs afternoon, when they were stranded in 40 degree heat with nothing but each other and some inquisitive sheep for company. Somehow they were still alive after 6 hours (2 hours) while the girls were wakeboarding and Marisa and Annie were pulling off some seriously impressive tricks, wake to wake and olly 180 respectively. The boys were found drifting halfway down the river by the girls who were unaware of the afternoons events, which of course had nothing to do with them stealing our chocolate the day before. They still guilt-tripping us about it now. Hypocondriacts.
The evenings were spent Braaiing on the terrace of our riverside abode and chilling on the boat watching the stars. On friday we went for midnight wakesurf, where we surfed the floodlit wake of the boat on Enzos surfboard. Altogether another pretty awesome week.
After getting up at 4 on saturday morning we are ow on our first leg of the road trip at Vic bay, doing the highest bridge swing in the world was a good way for Enzo, Annie and Maddy to wake up after 3 hours sleep and a good way to nearly pass out for those left watching!
**Maddy and Genna**
Monday, February 18, 2008
mehh
Day 20
Location: Braai at Lodge
Person: George
"Does it scare you that I'm really rather turned on by this marshmallow?"
(yes it does)
Day 21
Location: Steers
Person: Genna
"Oh god, we still have to buy surf boards, go surfing AND go out" (group sigh) its a hard life
Day 21
Location: Lodge bar
Person: Maddy
"Yay, we get to buy lunch at a service station tomorrow!"
Day 19
Location: Supermarket
Person: Maddy to George
"I was looking for rice and i found you and got excited!"
Day 21
Location: Lodge bar
Person: Hattie
"Right. I'm off to find a condom." (Mr + Mrs King don't worry, it was for an unconventional use!)
Day 22
Location: Breakfast bar
Person: Annie
"Look, I'm shaking!" (holds out hand) "Oh no I'm not" (takes hand away)
Location: Braai at Lodge
Person: George
"Does it scare you that I'm really rather turned on by this marshmallow?"
(yes it does)
Day 21
Location: Steers
Person: Genna
"Oh god, we still have to buy surf boards, go surfing AND go out" (group sigh) its a hard life
Day 21
Location: Lodge bar
Person: Maddy
"Yay, we get to buy lunch at a service station tomorrow!"
Day 19
Location: Supermarket
Person: Maddy to George
"I was looking for rice and i found you and got excited!"
Day 21
Location: Lodge bar
Person: Hattie
"Right. I'm off to find a condom." (Mr + Mrs King don't worry, it was for an unconventional use!)
Day 22
Location: Breakfast bar
Person: Annie
"Look, I'm shaking!" (holds out hand) "Oh no I'm not" (takes hand away)
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Week 2&3
Last time i wrote we were just about to climb table mountain with incredible conditions. It took 4 hours and near the top there are reservoirs that we swam in to cool down. From the top i saw some of the most amazing views I've ever seen, and you can see them on some of the pictures i took from the top. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/enzocav
I decided to group these two weeks together as surfing and kite-surfing both depend on the weather, so we just take each day as it comes. The wind in Cape town is so crazy, so the conditions for both are quite good. In fact, 1 mile down the beach from where we've been surfing, the biggest wave ever ridden...got ridden - 80 foot! I can't even imagine that as the biggest we're on are about 4/5. But I've improved loads and even bought my own board! It turns out that Kite surfing isn't as hard as it looks, we all got up on boards for a while. But when it goes wrong its not fun, i got drifted a mile down stream and had to get rescued by the instructor!
As both the activities are out of our control, when the weather's bad we get a few days off so we've been doing lots of other things as well. One day we went up to the vineyard country to sample some wine. We went to three and in all of them they sit you down, explain all about the wines then give you as many bottles as you want! And the best thing...you don't pay anything to do it!!! Our Saturday night was sorted! On another day we went to an African flea market. There were so many amazing things crafted there, and all these family's of children dancing around everywhere, but as soon as any of the stall owners see a foreign person coming they never stop harassing you! We also drove to a cable wake-boarding place. I've never done this before and its so different to behind a boat, nowhere near as good. On one of our nights off we went to a festival that was on, and another night we went to another but it was more like a party on the beach! And on all our other days off we make the most of the beaches here and get very competitive at bat and ball!
Today is our last in Cape Town and everyone is so sad to leave. Its definitely one of the nicest places I've been, and it would be an amazing place to live. But we're also excited to be moving on, this week we stay in a house at a wake-boarding camp which sounds fun, especially as the water is supposed to be warm-anythings got to be better than this water though, its colder that England's sea in winter here!
Remember to look at the blog and the pictures!
xxxEnzoxxx
I decided to group these two weeks together as surfing and kite-surfing both depend on the weather, so we just take each day as it comes. The wind in Cape town is so crazy, so the conditions for both are quite good. In fact, 1 mile down the beach from where we've been surfing, the biggest wave ever ridden...got ridden - 80 foot! I can't even imagine that as the biggest we're on are about 4/5. But I've improved loads and even bought my own board! It turns out that Kite surfing isn't as hard as it looks, we all got up on boards for a while. But when it goes wrong its not fun, i got drifted a mile down stream and had to get rescued by the instructor!
As both the activities are out of our control, when the weather's bad we get a few days off so we've been doing lots of other things as well. One day we went up to the vineyard country to sample some wine. We went to three and in all of them they sit you down, explain all about the wines then give you as many bottles as you want! And the best thing...you don't pay anything to do it!!! Our Saturday night was sorted! On another day we went to an African flea market. There were so many amazing things crafted there, and all these family's of children dancing around everywhere, but as soon as any of the stall owners see a foreign person coming they never stop harassing you! We also drove to a cable wake-boarding place. I've never done this before and its so different to behind a boat, nowhere near as good. On one of our nights off we went to a festival that was on, and another night we went to another but it was more like a party on the beach! And on all our other days off we make the most of the beaches here and get very competitive at bat and ball!
Today is our last in Cape Town and everyone is so sad to leave. Its definitely one of the nicest places I've been, and it would be an amazing place to live. But we're also excited to be moving on, this week we stay in a house at a wake-boarding camp which sounds fun, especially as the water is supposed to be warm-anythings got to be better than this water though, its colder that England's sea in winter here!
Remember to look at the blog and the pictures!
xxxEnzoxxx
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
More quotes!
Day 10
Location: beach
Person: Enzo
"That seal is pretending to be a shark"
Day 11
Location: Windsurfing
Person: Johnny
"Bananas are the key to success" (Vince should be worried)
Day 15
Location: Pepper van
Person: Vince (re: valentines day)
"I have a mule to spoon with, no girl can beat that." (Johnny (aka The Mule) should be worried)
Day 15
Location: Pepper van
Person: Vince
"Crikey, moses!"
Day 10
Location: Kitchen
Person: George and Enzo
George: "I'm worried about what the girls in the strip club will be like"
Enzo: "Errrr, Hot...... and....... naked"
Day 16
Location: Caprice
Person: George (about Johnny's chest hair) and Johnny
"That's his sexy man bush"
"It needs a little trim"
Day 18
Location: Caprice
Person: George (about Vince)
"He's the kind of guy you feel really comfortable around because his jokes are so crap"
Day 19
Location: Backpackers
Person: Marisa
" (tbc)
Location: beach
Person: Enzo
"That seal is pretending to be a shark"
Day 11
Location: Windsurfing
Person: Johnny
"Bananas are the key to success" (Vince should be worried)
Day 15
Location: Pepper van
Person: Vince (re: valentines day)
"I have a mule to spoon with, no girl can beat that." (Johnny (aka The Mule) should be worried)
Day 15
Location: Pepper van
Person: Vince
"Crikey, moses!"
Day 10
Location: Kitchen
Person: George and Enzo
George: "I'm worried about what the girls in the strip club will be like"
Enzo: "Errrr, Hot...... and....... naked"
Day 16
Location: Caprice
Person: George (about Johnny's chest hair) and Johnny
"That's his sexy man bush"
"It needs a little trim"
Day 18
Location: Caprice
Person: George (about Vince)
"He's the kind of guy you feel really comfortable around because his jokes are so crap"
Day 19
Location: Backpackers
Person: Marisa
" (tbc)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
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