While the weather in Cape town was often cold and rainy during my parents' visit, there was always enough of a clearing that they were able to experience all of the most popualar tourist attractions, especially the cable car up Table Mountain and the tour of Robben Island. I was quite moved by Robben Island, and I will save an explanation of my thoughts and feelings regarding the tour for a later post.
After leaving Cape Town, my parents and I did some wine tastings out in the Francschoek/Stellenbosch/Paarl area. Of course, it was very fun (read: drunk). We left the winelands on Monday morning on a relatively small plane to a town called Nelspruit, which is located near Kruger National Park in the northeastern part of the country near the South Africa/Mozambique border. Then we took a light plane from the airport to an airstrip made of dirt in the middle of the Manuleti (the provincial area adjacent to Kruger proper). The two days my family spent on safari were filled with game drives, bush walks, and relaxation at the beautiful tented camp that boasts absolutely no connection with the world - a truly memorable experience! I left my parents on Wednesday morning to return to Cape Town, where I have been for only one fully day. Now you know why I haven't posted!
As I write this post, I am preparing to embark on the most exciting, but also one of the most terrifying journeys of my life thus far. I have been writing about my imminent Mt. Kilimanjaro climb for some time, and now it has finally arrived. I am looking forward to pushing myself a little bit (Mom, I said "a little bit," so don't worry!), but I also know that this reaching the summit is a huge accomplishment that not every climber who attempts it can achieve. That said, I feel that however far I make it up the mountain will be an accomplishment for me. I'll be sure to write all about the experience when I return. For now, wish me luck!
1 comment:
I have no great words of wisdom and no standard "Dad" philosophical thoughts....other than to say we had an amazing time experiencing South Africa: and most especially sharing special time with you.
I still think you were a bit hard on our tour guide. And... ok....here comes my thoughts (can't help myself :))
While I know his views had a slant, as all of "history" does based on who tells the story. As an individual who I am sure was drastically affected by the end of apartheid and its affects on the last vestiges of white supremacy in his country, I still applaud the fact that despite the effects on his life (no I am not giving a "boo hoo to him as I am sure he is still doing fine), he was not asking for anyone to bear sympathy for his life's new burdens, and especially the affect affirmative action has had directly on him. On the contrary, he quite candidly stated that despite the exodus of a majority of his contemporaries, he has and will remain behind in his motherland.
To me, his concerns were projected as a hope that his country will ultimately allow the pendulum to swing more toward the middle, allowing for jobs to go to the most qualified individual as opposed to being protected for the blacks....not so different than affirmative action programs we experience here in the good old USA.
Having just filled out an application to do business leasing space to our government, I can assure you that if I were a minority or a woman, I would potentially have a better chance of procuring the lease we are trying to get the government to sign. As it is, because our property is owned by an Limited Liability Company whose sole purpose is the ownership of a single piece of real estate, I was able to complete the application as a "small business owner" despite the fact that the LLC is controlled by our fairly large company, and have been told that the government will now look more favorably on our application as a "small business owner".
Not to belabor the issue and I do wish we had the time to visit some of the townships. There are no simple answers when trying to obtain a Utopian situation in societies that have been infected with tremendous prejudices. It is an enormous if not impossible task.
Just listening to you and the driver banter about where the "quick" money should be spent....Housing for the people, or education for the young so they can afford there own housing was a clear indication of how daunting the task is. It reminds me of the dilemma of "what comes first the chicken or the egg" - ultimately you need both to keep chickens alive as a species.
Anyway...enough of that. Most importantly, I look forward to your next blog, and the tales of your ascent on "Kili".
Again, thank you for our amazing visit....lots of love
Dad
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