Winding Down.
So my trip is winding down here and it’s been fantastic. This country is absolutely gorgeous and I definitely recommend it to all. Along the way I abseiled (fast roping, rappelling) off a 1000m peak, I’ve swam with Great White Sharks, tracked lions through the African Bush, Jumped the highest bungee jump in the world, paddled out into the world famous Supertubes, and I’ve experienced a little of the culture here. Overall not a particularly relaxing vacation but enjoyable all the same.
Fear is Temporary, Regret is Forever
The bridge I jumped off
- Me Falling
Bad Ass Jump
township.
Oh internet. Sweet internet. How I’ve missed thee. For the very frist time on my journey I finally have internet. Over the next few days I’ll be recapping my adventures through the African wilderness. First up. Cape Town.
I had an opportunity to explore some of the “townships” Surrounding Cape Town proper. It’s incredible the degree of poverty these people still live in to this day.
A picture of children playing in front of a handbuilt “shack”
Our guide was a gentleman that was born and raised in the township and he knew everyone there it seemed. Also along the way we had an opportunity to stop into the local “pub” which was a stark black shack (due to the fires lit inside during the winter) with a few benches lining the walls. At the pub I tasted some of the beer that the old woman brewed there and it actually wasn’t as bad as I had expected. The beer was a little gritty with a sour aftertaste but not too bad. There they drink according to tradition. There is a large bucket in the center of the room and you pay a fee which enables you to drink as much as you want from the bucket all day. No glasses, no tables, no problem. Fun times. Before we left we visited a local elementary school where as soon as the children saw us they came running to hug us. Well all except the ones behind bars..
and the box boy..
anyways it was all very cute. The townships are a difficult problem to solve but with the stopping of new shacks that can be built and more government funded construction hopefully these children won’t have to endure this for too much longer.
On Cape Town
I’m currently in Stellenbosh sitting in front of a computer that looks like it’s from the 80′s. The place I’m staying, while coming highly recommended feels like somewhere my grandma would love. Luckily I’ll only be here the night and I’m on my way.
This place is simply amazing. Coming to Cape Town and getting a car straight away was a little overwhelming. Coming from podunk Iraq into metropolitan Cape Town was a little bit of a culture shock. Driving on the other side of the road is still really odd and I catch myself every once in a while wanting to go the wrong way down the road. Also the roads are way to narrow. They say its similar to european driving but eff that. It’s a little stressful at times. I keep seeing cars and thinking “..no he’s not going to make it..hey wow he actually did.” Because of this craziness though my car got hit.. Yea my rental has a big scratch on the side and the mirror has a little paint from the other car. It was parked and I guess someone sideswiped it driving by. No worries though. I’m sure it’ll all work out. Right? Oh just in case you’re interested, first gear is toward the left still and reverse is the last (or first) gear all the way to the left. .weird.
So what I’ve done so far. Actually not a whole lot. I’ve just been taking it slow and relaxing. I did go to the famed Table Mountain for a bit. I’ll try to post pictures when I can. It’s breathtaking up there. You ride a cable car up to the top and you can see over Cape Town and down the coast a bit. Being the adrenaline junkie that I am I just had to jump off the side, and jump I did (well repel actually). Here it’s called abseiling and it was supremely invigorating. At first it was a little unsettling because there was really no demo. The guy just hooked me up to the harness, said don’t ever let go of this rope, and down I went. The drop was about 112m or about 367 feet and about half way down the cliff I was bouncing off cut in sharply and I just fast roped to the bottom. Crazy times. What they didn’t tell me though was getting back to the top involved a 30 minute hike. Now when I say hike I really mean climb. Pulling myself over boulders and the like all one step to my right was an impressive fall to the base of the mountain. Are they effing crazy? I do admit though it was pretty sweet. After playing on the mountain and becoming a tomato I went and explored some shops.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to explore some of the townships (read, ghettos) around Cape Town 2/3 of the population live in these “shanty towns” surrounding the city centre (see I’m adapting already). It’s incredible the poverty and conditions these people are forced to live in. I’ll share more on this later when I have some time. I’m on a shared computer but despite the antique furniture and smell of death in the air I hear there’s WIFI so I may get on later and post pictures.
Cheers,
-m.scott
p.s. Shout out to my people in Iraq and beautiful VA. PEACE!
..the pit of dispair
I have literally been awake since 0530 on the 3rd. I effing hate this place. Much of my pre trip buzz has all but fizzled out. This a pointless post but for the time being I’m just Kuwait..ing.
From the Crescent to the Cradle
Yesterday I began my odyssey from the once Fertile Crescent to the Cradle of Civilization [whether or not these places are historically collocated is beside the point..at least it sounds poetic.] This arduous 4 to 5 day journey, should everything go smoothly (which is rare in the Army), will terminate in the beautiful vistas of South Africa. I’ve got big plans for my 2 week convalescence in the Mother Land (it’s where we all came from right?). In any case, I am excited to say the least and even a little bit nervous with some of the challenges that await me. For one, I’ve never driven a manual right hand drive car on the left side of the road. Weird. Is first gear still toward your knee? Also, the prospect of launching myself 15 stories off the highest single span arch bridge in the world gives me pause for mild trepidation. Or perhaps I wil find the limit of my derring-do in submerging myself in chummed waters awaiting a rare visit from a great white shark. We’ll see how the cojones hold up to those and more adventures soon to come. I’ll be sure to keep you updated, my avid and attentive readers, pending the discovery of broadband internet or wifi-hotspots in this wild and ancient land.
Stay Classy San Diego,
SGT Michael L. Scott
M.I. Do or Die. Hooah!
