The Adventures of the Ostrich Wranglers

This is the holiday blog of Rickey, Claud and H in South Africa, from the 3rd to the 17th of June, 2006. Here are some pictures we took showing what we did. The pictures are back-dated so you guys can just scroll down to see the posts according to chronological order.

first day in cape town, south africa - 4th June

We arrived in Cape Town, South Africa after a longish flight from home. We flew from Singapore on the 3rd and arrived on the 4th. We and checked into Longstreet Backpackers, a hostel along, guess what, Longstreet, and then we left to see the Waterfront . Bought tickets for Robben Island on which Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a long period of time, as with many other political dissenters in that maximum security prison.

Images of the Waterfront.

View of the mainland of Capetown from Robben Island.

A prison cell.

Us listening to the guide, who was a former prisoner on that island.

The Kramat found on Robben Island silhoutted in the sun.

Ostrich eggs with designs carved out of them, and resold for a hefty price, easily found in souvenir stores.

5th June - Table Mountain

On the second day, we went up to Table Mountain to take in a panoramic view of the city, and took a short walk around up on the plateau. After that, the two girls just went walking down along Long Street, and Rickey 'abandoned' us in the meantime, not wanting to be tormented by our shopping endeavors.

The cable car which brought us to the top of the mountain.

The peak on the left of the picture is Lion's Head, and that is Cape Town.

We were quite a long ways away from the Czech Republic, but the fine Pilsner Urquell is still there for our consumption.

We went down to Bo Kaap, the area occupiedly mostly by the Cape Malays community. We hoped to visit the museum there, but guess what? There were closed for the week. Bummer.

But at least we got to see the lovely buildings in the area. Reminds me of a Nippon paint ad.

6th June - VOC castle, museums

City Hall

Edward VII statue in front of City Hall

At the entrance of the VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or Dutch East Indies Company) castle grounds. Technically it's more of a fort, but as a fort, it never really came under attack.

Castle gateway

The inner courtyard, with Table Mountain as a backdrop.

This sundial was used by people to know when to gather for events. I think. I can't remember much of what the guide said.

The veranda on which the governor would welcome his guests, or make announcements.

Fountain on the grounds.

Some messages etched into the doors by prisoners in the cells.


There is a message on this door that basically says this "In the 61st regiment there is a man who robs poor prisoners when'er he can. PAUL SPENCER is his name... I know him well. He robbed me of a dollar." Hilarious. But poor sod.

On the way down to a dark and dingy dungeon.

Soldiers recreating a march pass when the noon gun is fired.

District Six Museum

St. George Cathedral

Some random abstract art piece I saw at the state art museum.

Examples of San rock art at the museum. It was a great museum visit.

Some gigantic skeleton of a blue whale (or something to that effect. I can't remember exactly what whale it was.)

7th June - Peaks, Point, and Penguins

On the 7th of June, we left the city of Cape Town to start our drive through the rest along the famous Garden Route. We aimed to get to Hermanus by the end of the day.

This the view of Long Street from the balcony of the hostel.

We stopped every now and then at places to get a view of the coast and the ocean. And this is da man with our car.

Yay. We were at Chapman's Peak.

View of the coast from the road.

We stopped at Hout Bay to take a look. When we were there, the weather was absolutely fantastic, instead of raining all the time, so it was great for sightseeing.



Then, we got to the Cape Point National Park, where we went to the most southwesterly point in Africa at Cape Point. This is us walking up to the lighthouse on the top of the peak.

The meeting of two oceans.

The most southwesterly tip of South Africa.
At the end where the cliff is, there is a second lighthouse that was built in 1919 at Dias Point because the first lighthouse was so high up that it was constantly obscured by the fog and mist , resulting in many accidents at Bellows Rock and Albatross Rock.

We then drove to Boulders Bay where there is a rather large penguin colony.
Aww.

And then we were off again, and left for Hermanus where we would stay for the night at Hermanus Backpackers.