This Is Africa

Our sojourn through continent number two began after a turbulent flight from Sao Paulo to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, customs officials took it upon themselves to thoroughly remove and search all contents of our backpacks, including our personal pharmacy and feminine products. "What do I do with this?" asks the clueless inspector. Devon: "YOU don't do anything with that." Anjali, on death bed: "It's a feminine product." The inspector continued to open a capsule of white powder (looks like coke, actually acidophilous) and dumps its contents uncerimoniously onto the table next to our underwear and six months of first aid supplies. After retrieving our bags, we waited for our airport pickup, uncertainly standing on a curb waiting for a white car. Turns out all cars in South Africa are white. During the flight, Anjali was hit with the nausea and intenstinal problems that would define her next few days. Needless to say, waiting on the curb was a testiment to her will power: Will I get sick now or can I wait until I safely make it to a bathroom? Ironically, a bird decided that this was the perfect moment to relieve himself on poor Anjali's unsuspecting head. Barely mustering a "Little help?" plea to Devon, Anj lets Devon deal with it and was then bedridden for two days. Though a rocky start, our time in South Africa improved dramatically over the next three weeks.



Best of Jo'burg:



1. The Apartheid Museum - two hours was not enough time to soak in all the information and history this incredible museum has to offer.



2. Tour of Soweto Township with our guide, Mandla, who grew up there. A reality check in terms of how far South Africa has come and how far it still has to go.



3. The Lion and Rhino Park, better known to us as the Lhino and Ryan Park. Once you say it this way, you can never say it correctly again. Highlights include playing with lion cubs (Devon sustains injury. Has scar as proof.), the Vultures Restaurant (a smelling pile of bones) and being introduced to the Professor of Ugly, the hideous Maribou Stork.



After our disasterous flight into Africa, our next trip to Cape Town was uneventful. We had the pleasure of staying with the family of a friend of a friend, Nazerine, who treated us like royalty and accepted as family. After weeks of hostel-jumping, staying in a real home was a welcome change. Nazerine, her sister, Atoofa, and their friends Brando and York showed us the best of Cape life: sights, nightlife and food. Due to their hospitality and fun-loving nature, our initial 10 days in Cape Town turned into 3 weeks.



Best of Cape Town:



1. Climbing Table Mountain and taking in the 360 view of the entire region.



2. Biking through the winelands - Stellenbosch and Franshhoek. Cape Town's winelands give Napa Valley a run for its money.



3. Seeing African penguins in Simon's Town. No snow in sight.



4. Being official tourists and taking the Red Bus City Tour of Cape Town. Sitting atop an open air, double decker bus, visiting such sights as the District 6 Museum, Castle of Good Hope, Camps Bay beach and driving along the lovely coastline.



5. Spending an afternoon at Clifton Beach, baking in the sun, surrounded by beautiful Capetonians.



6. Climbing Lion's Head on Christmas Eve, enjoying a picnic at the top and listening to Christmas carols on the Blackberry.



7. Treating ourselves to high tea at the uber swanky Mount Nelson hostel on Christmas Day. Then pretending we're guests and spending the entire afternoon by the pool. Turns out we stayed in Room 207.



8. Drinks at Neighbourhood or Cubana. Clubbing at Hemisphere or Tiger Tiger.



9. Having a braai (South Africa's version of the barbeque).

10. Sailing to Robben Island and having historical tour led by ex-inmates.

Highlights Reel:



1. After spending our first 2 days in Jo'burg in bed, we thought our first days in Cape Town we'd be up and at 'em. Our friends made it a point of showing us a great time our first night...We didn't emerge from our room until 2pm the next day. And ate brunch a 4.

2. Eating the game platter at our favorite haunt, Arnold's. We sampled crocodile, springbok, ostrich and our favorite, warthog ribs. We dined their so many times we started receiving complementary bottles of wine.

3. Going to the swanky club, Hemisphere, in the best of our backpacker's attire. Bouncer asks Naz why she couldn't get her friends better shoes. Random man to Anjali: "Where are you from? I can tell you're not from Cape Town." Anj: "What, the shoes? I've heard this line before."

4. Looking so comfortable at Arnold's that we were mistaken as hostesses. Results in meeting the cousins John and Jon Pierre, who regaled us with stories from their home countries, England and France, and bought us dinner.

5. After our free dinner, we met Brando for cosmo's at posh bar, Asoka. Quote of the night goes to Brando: "Three rounds of cosmos: 360 rand. One round of chocolate cake shots: 60 rand. Drinks at Asoka: Priceless." Next morning at brunch, "Dev, how much was the bill last night?" Devon: "How would I know?" Brando and Anj: "You said, and I quote, 'I got it guys!'"

6. Devon wakes up on Christmas morning to a large photo of Taylor Lautner hung from the bunk above her, setting the tone of the day. Chistmas dinner at Cape Town Backpackers with fellow hostel guests sporting outrageous hats. Devon as a pirate, Anj in a Pamela Anderson-esque, porn star hat.

7. New Year's at Brando's. Devon records music video unbeknownst to participants, Anj, Brando and York. Coming soon to Youtube. Next morning, stuffed in a truck, in the same clothes, for a night in the beachside town, Hermanus. Persuading woman to do our laundry in exchange for a dinner bell from San Francisco. Hitting up a club named Bojangles, frequented by the 18 and younger. Devon, mistaken as a "colored girl," was a hit with the male crowd.

8. Spending 3 hours to upload 17 photos at Geek Cafe. Check them out at www.photobucket.com/devon87
Out of severe boredom, Anj changes her profile status to "touring the world's worst computers." Is then promptly friended by the internet cafe attendent.

9. Suicidal Blackberry leads to change of pace in our lives appropriate for Africa.

10. Leaving Cape Town on a truck called Frank. Spending the nex 26 days on Frank.