Girly Stuff

Christmas 2009

South Africa Day 11 and 12 and 13

Day 11 was Saturday and we started the long drive back to Cape Town. On our way we stopped at the World's Highest Bungy. I would have done it, but we didn't have time. Okay, not really, but I was tempted to do it, but I don't think that I could actually jump.
Saturday night we stayed in a town called George. Went to dinner then Karen and I went to see the movie "Invictus". It was extra awesome because it's about South Africa and we were in South Africa.
On Sunday we went to church at the George Branch. They were having there branch conference and the Mission President and his wife were there. They were very nice. The branch president has two little girls that are 3 and 4 years old. They are adorable. I wanted to take them home with me.
After Church we went to Knysna Elephant Park where we got to feed the elephants and pet them and even kiss them. It was very cool!
Then we finished the drive back to Cape Town, went to dinner then went to the place where Rey and Marillyn were going to stay and finished packing. We played one last game of cards then headed to the airport. Our flight left at 12:55 am Monday morning.

Day 13 was spent traveling home I only mention it so I can tell about my experience going through customs in Minnesota. before we left South Africa we went to the store to get snacks for the flight and treats to bring home for our families. Rey told me to bring home some "Bil Tong", beef jerky, for Sam. On the plane we filled out customs forms that ask if we have any fruit, vegetables, of meat, along with a list of other things. Totally forgetting about the beef jerky, I marked no on all of them. I made it through one check point and went on to the next where the man ask me specifically if I had any bil tong. I knew the word sounded familiar but I couldn't remember what it was, so I asked him what's that. He said beef jerky. My heart sunk. I just got of the most miserable flight ever and I just wanted to go home, but I said yes actually I do have bil tong. I had to go back and have my bags searched. I didn't know which bag it was in so we had to empty all of them, and of course it was in the last bag we went through. After that we went and rechecked our large bags and went through security with our carry ons. One of my bag was suspicious so I got pulled aside to have it searched. They found my liquid facial wash which was too big to fit in a zip lock. They told me I could go back and check that bag so I did. Then with my final bag I went through security again. You should know that the bag I had with me had successfully made it through security five different times in three different countries, including once five minutes earlier, but this time it got pulled out to be searched. It had a portable dvd player in it that needed to be put through the machine separately. What ever. By this time I was about in tears. Stinkin' beef jerky, and facial wash, and portable dvd player and stinkin' airport security. But finally I made it through and caught my flight to Denver, got to see my awesome family.
It truly was the trip of a lifetime, and I feel so blessed to have been able to go. I'm so grateful to my husband and my mom for holding down the fort and for Rey and Marillyn, my amazing in-laws for showing me South Africa and making it such an amazing trip.

South Africa Day 9 and 10

On day 9 we went to lunch with Elder and Sister Miller, another missionary couple in the area. The we went and sat on the beach for a couple of hours. We were told the the Indian Ocean would be warmer than the Atlantic Ocean, but it really wasn't. We got in the water for a little bit then found lots of great sea shells and sat in the sun and read. It was a great day. We came home and played cards then started watching "Out of Africa" then the power went out, so we read by lantern then went to bed.
On day 10 we drove a couple of hours east of Port Elizabeth along the coast to Port Alfred. On our way we say these giraffes on the side of the road.

We also stopped in Kenton By The Sea. We went to this great area on the river right before it flows into the ocean. It was so pretty there.
Once we got to Port Alfred we had lunch with another missionary couple and then sat on the beach for a few more hours and played in the ocean for the last time on our trip. Another amazing day!! Then we drove back to Port Elizabeth and finished watching "Out of Africa"

South Africa Day 8- Addo Elephant Park

Addo Elephant Park started 1931 with only 11 elephants it now is home to over 450 elephants, Cape Buffalo, Black Rino, Zebra, lots of different type of antelope and a very unique flightless dung beetle found almost exclusively in Addo. Of course we were most exited about seeing the elephants so we started to get a bit anxious when our guide pulled over and spent 5 minutes telling us about this guy (below- flightless dung beetle). Can you see it? The large black beetle on the elephant dung. So exiting!!! Then we came across this guy, a male kudu. He really was beautiful. Next we saw a tortuous and a lizard, but still no elephants. Until...

we came to this watering hole where over 40 elephants had come to drink and play and cool off. It was awesome. The youngest elephant in this group was about 3 months old. Baby elephants do not have control over there trunks until they are about 18 mo. to 3 years old. It was so fun to watch the little ones flinging their trunks around. While we sat there watching them more groups of elephants from all around us were walking to the watering hole. We saw over 100 elephants that day. It was amazing!

Unconquered

Invictus
(Latin for "unconquered")

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley-

Merry Christmas mom and dad. I love you!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

a few of my favorite pictures from South Africa.

I'm so glad to be home. I'll finish posting about my trip soon.

McKay's new favorite saying "You are crazy like a fox!"

South Africa Day 7

Today was a busy day. We started by going with Rey and Marillyn to inspect missionary apartments. 5 of the 6 elders we met are from Africa. All different countries in Africa. Only one from South Africa and one missionary from Oregon. The elder from South Africa gave us my favorite new saying from the whole trip. He was talking about the World Cup, which is being held in South Africa in a few months, and the South African team, Bafana Bafana, which means "The Boys". Apparently Bafana Bafana has not been doing well and because they are hosting the World Cups the South Africans are really hoping they make improve and represent their country well. The elder said what they need to do is "pull up their socks" and make a good showing. I love it! I'm going to use that on my kids. We they complain about doing chores or homework I'll tell them "pull up your socks" and get to work. After the inspections were over we picked up a lady from one of the branches who lives in a township a little ways away. She was coming to clean Rey and Marillyn's apartment. Her name is Nosizwe. She brought with her, her sister-in-law, Nombongo, and her 2 month old baby , Akhile. He was so sweet.

Next we went to the Boardwalk to do some more shopping. I saw these great African outfits that I wanted to get for Abby and Gracie. The girl selling them went down a bit on the price but I didn't have enough cash I asked if she would take a credit card and she said yes but she couldn't give me the discount. I told her I would go to an ATM and get cash and I would come back later. She said, "Oh, I will take you to the ATM right now". They will do about anything to make a sale. She walked me to the ATM, waited, and walked me back to her shop.

After shopping we went to Kragga Kamma. It is a game reserve that you drive your own car through. We got to see giraffes up close this time. We sat in our car only 10 to 20 ft from them. We drove less than 10 feet away from two cheetahs. They were so pretty. We had our windows down, but they didn't pay us much attention. We saw lots of animals today. Including lots of Vervet monkeys in the trees. I was another great day.

South Africa Day 5 and 6

Sunday we went to church in a town ship called Michell's Plain. It was fast and testimony meeting, and the people there have such great testimonies. The branch has a Bran new meeting house and you can see how proud they are of it. They are all so warm and loving. Everyone wanted to meet us and shake hands or hug us. Such good people.

After church we started the 5 hour drive to Knysna-pronounced nysna. We stopped on the way in Hermanas for lunch. We ate out an outdoor cafe' and across the sidewalk by the beach were two boys taking turns singing opera. One of the boy was younger, only about 11 or 12. They were singing for money. After we ate I went and dropped 5 rand in his hat, about 75 cents in American money. As I got closer to him I noticed that he was sweating his guts out. I went back and gave him 20 more rand. He waved and kept singing. Later I walked by him again while he was taking a break. His face lite up when he saw me. He waved again and smiled ear to ear. So sweet. I can't imagine my kids having to do that to survive.

Next we went to the B&B we were staying at in Knysna. So pretty, and right across the street from the ocean. They had a beautiful yard in the back with so many flowers.

That night we went to the water front and had dinner and watched another awesome sunset.

The next day, Monday, we went to a game reserve in Plattenbergbaai (Plattenberg bay). We rode in a large jeep with open sides. It rained the whole time and we got pretty soaked, but it was still fun. We saw lions and lots of zebras and wildebeest and Impala and Springbok and some hippos in the water and some crocodiles but because of the rain we couldn't find any giraffes. I was so sad until we were on our way back and in the far distance in the fog I spotted a giraffe. They are amazing. I learned that they have the largest hearts of all animals and they cry if they loose a baby. The guide said that he once saw a mother giraffe go back 3 days after her baby died to the spot that it died he he say tears coming out of her eyes. I love giraffes.

South Africa Day 3 and 4

On Friday we slept in then spent the day doing a lot of shopping. We went to the mall then to a town called Strand, which means beach, and went to a pottery shop called fenix. I got some great Christmas stuff. On our way home we drove through a town ship. There are a wide range of townships. Some look like older somewhat rundown towns, they have regular houses with running water and plumbing and electricity. Some are literal shacks made out of whatever scraps the people could find. Some of these shack town have water and electricity and some do not. Then there are the small government houses that have been built to replace shacks in some areas.

Here are some examples of shack townships. Many of the people who live in these shacks have come to So. Africa from other countries to find work and set up a shack where ever they could. Some of the people are afraid to leave their shacks to go to work because when they get home someone else may have moved into their shack. It really is so sad but so interesting. There are hundreds of thousands of these shacks throughout the area.

Saturday we spent laying on this beach, looking out on Table Mountain. It was a beautiful day and we got very sun burnt.

On windy days, which is most days there are dozens of kite surfers on the water it is so fun to watch and the kites are so pretty.This was our last night in Cape Town and there was a gorgeous sunset. The is the view from our balcony. The island in the distance is Robben Island, where Neilson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.