SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURES

PLETTENBERG BAY 

The first stop on my way up to Johannesburg is Plettenberg Bay to see Saskia Hopff and meet her family.  Saskia and I met in 2008 at the White Lion Preservation Trust where we took an Animal Communication Workshop along with 5 others.  This took place the first week of the month I spent as a volunteer.  We hit it off and have stayed in touch all these years through emails and the magic (?) of Facebook.  

I arrived at Bitou River Ranch Lodge, my “home” for the next three nights, in the late afternoon. 

View From My Patio

The lodge is spectacular and right on a slow moving part of the Bitou River.  My room is spacious with small touches such as a sprig of rosemary on the pile of towels on the foot of my bed and is beautifully decorated in soothing colors.  There is covered patio overlooking the river.  Sue, the owner, could not have been more welcoming.

The ceiling in the room slopes upwards from front to back and has open whitewashed beams.  The the top of the wall in the back contains three windows.  My first night was clear with bright stars and an almost full moon.  I was awakened sometime in the night by the full moon light bathing me from the window above.  Magical.

On The Main Patio

The next morning Saskia came to the lodge which is right down the road from her home and we fell into conversation as though we had seen each other only last week!  Later that day we met up with her husband Chris, daughter Zarah (who is 2 and calls herself ZaZa) and son Ollie (10) to go have lunch with Chris’ parents, niece and nephew.  Lunch was delicious and the conversation interesting and lively.

Back at Saskia and Chris’ home on lush acreage I got to meet the 6 dogs and various numbers of cats.  Saskia has finished her animal communication courses and is a professional communicator as well as a shop owner, fragrance and creams maker and jewelry maker.  She also rescues chickens when the egg farmers are selling them.  These chickens have never been free, can hardly walk, no nothing about scratching around for food, etc.  

She has 10 new additions to her growing family of chickens.  The difference between the ones she has had for a while and the new ones is startling.  The new ones are virtually featherless, combs down over their eyes, but have been there long enough they are walking.  The others are plump, combs standing straight up and are running around and scratching like normal chickens.  It won’t take long until the new 10 will be in the same shape.  And they are still laying eggs albeit not in enough quantity for the egg farmer.

Saskia makes a wonderful vegetarian stew that she and I share while we chat late into the evening.

The next day we meet Chris and Ollie at 3 for an afternoon boat ride up the river to the town of Plettenberg Bay nestled up on a hillside overlooking the river and the ocean.  When approaching the town from the river it looks like San Francisco used to when it was called Bagdad By The Bay before all the tall buildings and the Embarcadero were built.  In Plett no buildings can be higher than 2 stories!!!

The views along the river and into the bay are stunning.  We see two Fish Eagles that greet us and then fly away probably back to the nest close to where the family lives.

Back to Saskia and Chris’ where Chris makes a delicious dinner of pork belly and cracklins and fabulous sides.  Saskia makes a flourless, sugarless chocolate cake that is unbelievably rich and delicious.  Again she and I chat the night away.  We may have been strong acquaintances when I arrived, but we are now friends we both agree.

The next morning I am scheduled to leave for Graff-Reinett on my way to Blomfentein, but before I do I stop by to pick up Saskia and we go into town to see Chris’ restaurant called The Table and Saskia’s shop called The Shop.  The two are right next door to each other.

The restaurant is an open architecture with a warm friendly atmosphere right down to a special room for just kids with a blackboard, various toys and child size tables and chairs.  The restaurant boasts a wood burning pizza oven where gourmet pizzas are made. The rest of the menu is varied with something for everyone.  I would be hard put to decide what to eat - it all sounds delicious!

The shop is full of wonderful things.  What Saskia doesn’t make she buys from artisans in the area and her taste is exquisite.  I did buy a face cream (which I adore), fragrance pencils in hand made wood tubes that are sharpened with a pencil sharpener as the perfume is used, a hand printed silk scarf where the artist uses flowers and leaves to imprint the silk.  This results in soft muted colors of mauve, grey and peach.  Then a little

Box Open

box made out of the bottom of a plastic bottle painted and embossed with a design and cut in such a way the top snaps down in sections.  Last but not least is a jersey “top” that can even be a scarf or head covering.  The sweetest ending was when Saskia said Ollie wanted to buy me something from the shop as a present.  I chose an eye pillow with lavender to use when meditating.

Box Closed

We said a fond so long and a plan to convince Wynter, our teacher of animal communication, to do a workshop next May at the White Lion place.

Next blog about Blomfentien and my volunteer day at the Cheetah Experience to follow very soon.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURES

GOOD-BYE KALK BAY

After two months in Kalk Bay it is time to move on.  But before I do I wish to fill you in on the last of my adventures there.

Shaheed and his family live in the other half of the cottage duplex I have been calling my home for most of the past two months.  Shaheed has a taxi service and also hires himself out for tours around the area.  While Bob and I were here in 2000, we did not see everything so I hired him on two occasions to take me around. 

He gave me a lot of insight as to how Apartheid formed and when and what happened to the “colored” and blacks.  Colored is anyone not white or black.  It is interesting to note that the non-whites were displaced from their homes and land in South Africa at about the same time Martin Luther King and others were mobilizing for civil rights in the USA.

He also took me to beaches and other sites around Capetown I had not seen before. This beach is in a very upscale neighborhood on the Atlantic Ocean side.

He invited me to join him and his family on April 27 which is Freedom Day; the day of the end of Apartheid.  We took a picnic lunch and headed for around the bend to the Atlantic (Kalk Bay is on the Indian Ocean) where we walked the beach and watched surfers. 

Waves & Surfers

The water here is COLD.  But I still put my feet in the water because I knew up the west coast lies Sierra Leone and my energy could flow up from where I was to there.  Too woo-woo for you???

On our adventure that day we ran into a baboon in the middle of the road.  You can see from

So Check Me Out!!!

his collar and ear tabs he is being monitored by the wildlife rangers.  Penguins on the rocks above the ocean was another special sight.

Yes, Warmish Water Penguins

Joanna and I attended a documentary about Heart Math.  It is something I am very familiar with, but she was not.  At that documentary I met a sparkly being by the name of Cheryl Reum.  We clicked immediately and I had the great pleasure, at her invitation, of getting together with her on four other occasions.  We are of the same mind and I know I will be in contact with her in the future.

In 2011 on my journey up the west coast of Africa there was a naturalist on board named Marius Burger.  He was a riot, full of life and loads of fun.  We became friends so I contacted him by email saying I would be in the area and the dates.  Low and behold he emailed me back and then called inviting me to accompany him to see his wife Belinda perform as a solo singer with background music.

It was so good to see him again and to meet his lovely and talented wife.  I was blessed to go to two more venues where she also performed with two different bands.  I quickly fell in love with this spirited and devine being.  She is truly very special.  I had a blast meeting their friends and joining in the fun.  It is never dull with Marius around so I laughed and laughed - felt good.

The last day on the beach I was feeling nostalgic and looking down at my feet was this 1/2 crab shell. 

Sad Face Crab Shell Bidding Me Good-bye

I guess the beach would miss me too!!!  Later that afternoon Clare Burgess (a Morocco companion from 2005) and I were able to carve out time to have tea and a chat.

Shaheed took me to the airport on 2 May to pick up my rental.  Cape Town airport, it turns out, is a very easy place to rent a car as far as accessibility is concerned, so I was in and out in quick order.  Wished Shaheed well, got behind the wheel and proceeded to drive away - on the left hand side.  To my surprise it took me no time to adjust.  I guess I am now officially a left side of the road driving aficionado.  My drive north to Plettenberg Bay was a breeze.  Stories of my adventures there in my next blog.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

More Beach And Area Pictures:

Mountains Above Cape Town

This duck was swimming around in a lake located in a newly built park at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.  Note the white face and red balls on top of the head.

This piece of Kelp is covered with what appears to be an anemone type of animal with "shell" ends that open and close as it sticks out a black "tongue"

Close up of the shell ends.  When touched they are not hard like shells but feel more like a soft finger nail.

Who cannot love a rainbow. It brings such promise and joy to the heart. 

 Rock at low tide covered with a type of anemone .

Close up of the creatures on the rock.

SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURES 2015 VIGNETTES

When last I wrote I mentioned a dinner party to take place at my cottage.  It was a blast!  Ady helped me with tips on how to cook the pork leg and extra crackling the way he does.  The night of the “do” he took over in the kitchen to finish it all up and carve the meat.  Everyone else brought a dish and wine.  After dinner we all sat around and talked and talked with much laughter.  At some point I got the brainy idea to introduce them to a game Bob made up around a campfire in Canada back in 2003.  Someone starts by giving three unrelated words like “brains, lettuce & cars” to the person on the left.  That person must make a story of at least several sentences out of those words.  The longer the story the better.  The game goes on around the circle until everyone gives words, receives words, and tells a story.  It was a huge success.

Life here in South Africa has been tranquil and replenishing for my spirit as well as an exercise in truly allowing the future to unfold as it will even though it is unfolding differently than my heart’s desire.  I have met several new people who have contributed to my spiritual growth and off loading of past karmic “baggage”.  I suppose this is why I am here in this space and time instead of Sierra Leone.  

Almost everyday I start my day with a walk on the beach and each day that walk is different in some way.  I think I have discovered why this beach is so special to me.  It is a curved beach

One End

that has mountains on the two ends with houses backed by the mountains and fronted by the sea.  A perfect Feng Shui configuration so the chi energy is flowing in a positive way and direction at all times.  Not to

The Other End

mention the connection to Mother Earth  as I walk barefooted through the sand and water and Father Sky with my face lifted to the wind and sun.

Houses Fronting the Sea At Low Tide

Since I committed to staying at Ady and Joanna’s for the month of March only, I have needed to vacate the cottage , due to other bookings, on two separate weekends in April.  Easter and this one (10 -13).  Both times I found an AirBNB replacement very close by.  

My Easter weekend was very lively with a Braii (bar b q but better, much better) on Thursday and a drinks party on Saturday at the first AirBNB location hosted by Michelle and her Mom, Patrica.  The Braii was to celebrate Paul’s early return for a visit from his project in Nigeria.  He arrived home to surprise his wife, Patricia, for her birthday and to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary (second marriage for both). 

Somebody Just Spied The Dog

One by one the grown children straggled in.  Excuses and reasons to entice them to come over were different for each and they were very surprised and pleased when Paul popped up from behind the outside bar by the Braii in the swimming pool area.

The drinks party was to celebrate the anniversary and the birthday.  I made deviled eggs and babaganoush.  It was such fun I didn’t get to bed until 1AM!!!!  They are wonderful people warm, welcoming and full of fun as are all their friends and family.   

 I was invited by Sandy, a woman I met wine tasting, to a drinks party at a friend of hers that took place on Easter Sunday.  That morning I walked to the beach restaurant where she and her husband and three children picked me up.  There at a house up on the mountain overlooking the sea I met many other very interesting people from all walks of life resulting in great conversations.  All in all a lively and wonderful Easter weekend.

Let me explain the Braii.  It is a long slow way to cook over a fire outside.  Wood is essential and is burned first for a long time to create hot coals, then the charcoal is added.  The meat is placed on racks that get raised and lowered for slow cooking and allowing the wood smoke to permeate the meat.  Absolutely hands down the best way to cook meat EVER!  A drinks party is one where appetizers and other food and drinks are served without having a Braii.

Joanna and I have been going to the movies each week.  I have seen more movies in the past month than I probably have in the whole year before.  We started off with Mordecai, then The Best Erotic Marigold Hotel 2, The Theory of Everything,The Gambler, Danny Collins, & Cinderella.  Loved them all with the exception of The Gambler.  We have gone to a “Flea” which takes place each Sunday and is an outdoor market carrying lots of stuff at very good prices.  Yesterday we went to the Excess Mall a TRUE outlet mall meaning these stores carry the left overs, last years fashions, etc unlike ours that have morphed, for the most part, into name brand stores carrying merchandise of lesser quality purchased especially for the the “outlets”.

I will stay here until May 2 when I am renting a car and wending my way up to Johannesburg airport where I will meet up with Overseas Adventure Travel for an Ultimate Safari into Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Sandra Breaum is flying in to meet me for this adventure as well as a visit to Dick and Dolores in Tanzania and a stop in Scotland to see Edinburgh and explore the Orkney Islands.

On my way to Jo’Burg I am stopping to visit Saskia Hopf who lives in the area of the Garden Route and Nikkie and Clive Ravenhill who live close to Kruger Park.  All of whom I met at the White Lion Preservation Trust in 2008.   I am also taking a weeks safari in Zulu Natal and spending a day volunteering at a Cheetah Conserve. Those adventures will make it to the blog as they happen.  

In the meantime I will be staying here.  I have been invited to give a talk on Restorative Justice, and Forgiveness the Fambul Tok way on the 21st to a woman’s group who supports underprivileged women and children in mostly Southern Africa.  They are called Linked To Grow.  It is always my privilege to give these presentations as it is a way to remain connected to Fambul Tok and expose the world to the concept of restorative justice and the power of forgiveness.

Of course I will continue walking the beach, going to the movies, having pedicures, hair done, etc.  until Joanna leaves on April 28 to take her group to Cuba.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

More Beach Scenes:

Angel wings???  No, but it sure looks like it.

Perfectly preserved real roses washed up by the sea.  From a bouquet for a wedding? birthday? ????

Baby Stingray.  I am told this is very unusual to see.

My very favorite critter- the sea snail.  I never tire of their activities.  X marks the spot.  If I dig will I find treasure???

This came pinwheeling across the beach and out of sight.  I followed. It appears to be the stem/s from a very full flowering plant.  A center piece???

Here comes the metro whose tracks I cross to get on the beach.

The path from the beach.  Very colorful graffiti that decorates almost every train car.

SIERRA LEONE STATUS FOR 2015

Just Off The Beach; Hair Styled By The Wind and Face Kissed By The Sun

Those of you who were less than pleased about the possibility of my going to Sierra Leone in April/May will be happy that it has become not possible.  Even though Kenya Airways will resume flying into Salone from Johannesburg late this month, the South African government is making it almost impossible to leave and come back into the country.  On top of declaring the travel must be ESSENTIAL in their judgement, they are requiring an official letter from the Sierra Leone Health Minister stating I am not on any Ebola Contact List (meaning I have not been in contact with any Ebola victims), and then I must undergo a 21 day quarantine upon my return to SA.  I can understand the caution, but am sorely disappointed.

As most of you know I believe that thoughts become things and words have power, so I want to ask a big favor of you all.  When you think of me traveling picture me well, whole, happy and filled with joy, amazement, and peace.  That way I will surely stay “safe”.

My visa to Salone is over in June this year and my passport needs renewing.  After those things have been taken care of, and after my yearly “grandma trip”to see all my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a stop in Egypt,  I will make the journey to Salone in mid-November staying until mid-May; as long as the visa allows!  

Will drive to the east coast, leave my car there and fly from DC.  Then I will drive back across to the west upon my return visiting again and including family and friends I did not see on the way over.  So much for a Fuzzy Future!!!!  But within these plans is a great deal of flexibility as I am always looking all around me to capture any opportunities out there.

Remember life is a mystery wherein all possibilities exist; embrace the mystery.

Much Love To You All,

Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara

SOUTH AFRICA ADVENTURES

WALKS ON THE BEACH

Almost everyday I go for a walk on the beach. 

Tide is Out

And every time I go I see something different or unusual.  This beach is also an off-leash dog beach for most of the walk.  One day I saw a man with two Newfoundlands (BIG dogs) coming towards me.  One of them locked eyes with me and made a beeline.  I steeled myself for a jump up, but he just wanted me to pet him.  One my way back I decided to sit on the dune for a little meditation.  All of a sudden a big head landed in my lap.  Yep the same Newfie.

The variety of dogs is astounding and most owners have more than one.  The cutest combo is this one:

Note The Tiny White Fluff Ball

I spoke with the owner asking the type of breed the tiny white fluff ball was and she is a maltese puppy.  One rogue wave and she's a goner!!!

The ocean in front of the beach is famous for sharks - Great Whites!!!!  One afternoon I heard a siren.  Joanna called me and said that is the shark siren and means get the HXXX out of the water!!!  Of course I had to immediately head to the beach to see if I could see it and NO I did not go into the water even a toe’s depth. 

Bringing In The Catch

But I did watch fishermen bring in a whole load of yellow tail tuna.  As I was videoing the men up to their waist in the water I prayed it would not turn into a grizzly shark attack!!  

Rather than say too much about the beach, I will now share photos and a video of my observations and experiences:

Massive Amounts Of Seaweed One Morning

She Has This Ball By A Tiny String

Shark status flag.  There are four:

Green means clear viewing, Black means viewing not clear, Red means high alert and White means get your butt out of the water.  Have decided the white as the most urgent flag is due to the Great Whites that swim here.  Today while I was on the bach the shark siren blew twice - in a row and the flag changed to white!!!  I looked and looked for the shark, but did not see anything.  Then as I was approaching the other end of the beach where I leave it I spied what I thought was a fin!  It turned out to be a surfer and I couldn't believe he was in the water after the TWO shark sirens.  All of a sudden he came out of the water and I shouted didn't you hear the shark sirens?  He said no but I looked down and saw a shark swimming under me which is why I came out.

Massive numbers of Blue Bottle Jellyfish

One day there were 10's of thousands of Blue Bottle Jellyfish all over the beach. They sting if you are in the water with them, but are harmless once they wash up.  If you step on the they pop really loud!

Other Critters:

Sea Urchin

Sponge

Jellyfish

Don't Know!!!!

Another Jellyfish

Cormorant Surfing

Sand Snails Feasting On Blue Bottle

Another Buffet

They Come In Many Colors And Sizes

Blue Bottle Jellyfish

Much Love To You All,
Mom/Grandma Syrup/Sara