All good things must come to an end!!
Trip Start
Aug 24, 2007
1
24
Trip End
Apr 08, 2008
Cape Town, South Africa
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Here goes.........
Last time I wrote I was in Jeffreys Bay, just about to move on to Knysna. Well, when we got there the weather was MUCH better and we got to have a few days on the beach and just chilling out. We also got to spend some time with Sarah and Rachel who we met in Jo'burg so that was really nice too! :) We had a nice Easter Sunday at the beach, and then on Monday we were picked up by the Pelser family (who we stayed with in Pretoria). It was SO nice to see them all again and we had a fun day in Plettenburg Bay and at Monkey-Land!!
We then drove to Carlien's house, which is between George and Mossel Bay and situated right on the beach. All I can say is, OH MY GOSH! The house was so lovely, I had my own room with a sea view, and at times I could see dolphins frolicking from my bed! It was brilliant! It was so nice to be with the Pelsers again as well, they're all so nice, and even Stitch (their dog) was there!! It was a great week! So great in fact, that although we had planned to go to Stellenbosch for a wine-tasting tour and Hermanus to do shark diving, in the end we were having such a good time we just stayed at the house and then got the bus direct to Cape Town!
While we were staying at the house, I got to try the famous Spurs (Max was right, best onion rings IN THE WORLD), ride in a helicopter (which was so much more fun than I expected, I really felt like James Bond, although it made me miss Tony LOTS!) and best of all, go shark diving in Mossel Bay. The first time we went (myself, Carlien and Chene) we saw a great white but didn't have time to get in the cage before it had disappeared, and I felt AWFUL from being so long at sea. The next day I went again by myself, and..............WOW!!
We saw three great whites, and I got to spend about 45 minutes in the water. Now, I will say this once, and I promise I am NOT exageratting (and despite this happening on April 1st, it is NOT an April Fools Joke!!)............one of the sharks (approx 4 metres in length!) completely freaked out and attacked the cage!! I was literally face to face with a great white, jaws wide open, teeth bared!! It was literally inches away from me!! Even the captain of the boat couldn't believe it! After ramming the cage a few times and shaking us all about a bit, he swam away. All five of us came up for air, and every single one of us - including the three fully grown men in the cage - started screaming!! Absolutely brilliant!! It was one of the highlights of the whole trip!! Sharks ROCK :)
Anyway...........!! After being at the house a while we said a final goodbye to the Pelsers (SOB) and headed to Cape Town. Since being here, we have been to Stellenbosch for the wine-tasting tour (beautiful views and an all-round good day.......although I'm sure the wine helped!!) and also visited the Cape Peninsular where I saw possibly the nicest view EVER. We have also seen the pretty impressive sight of Table Mountain. We had planned to get a cable car up it today but probably can't now because the weather's not great. We'll see if it clears up before our flight later today!! Yes, TODAY!! Argh!!!!
So, as you can see, this is the last day of the trip! Well, what can I say? It's been fantastic, I've seen and done so many amazing things, and experienced things I never imagined. One of my best friends sent me a message recently saying, "I hope you haven't gone and found yourslef while you've been away and come back a completely different person?!" And I got to wondering if I have changed?? And I don't think I have really......although I think I may have learnt a few things along the way.........
I've come to realise that nothing is set in stone, and the world is full of opportunities, if only we are brave enough to take them! We don't have to do the things that other people expect us to do!! We're here for a good time, not a long time - make the most of it!! I've realised that facing your fears is a good thing - even if you don't enjoy the experience, boy do you feel proud afterwards!!
I've realised that although there are bad people in the world, and sometimes things go wrong, for every bad egg, there are tons more good people who are willing to help you, even if they get nothing out of it. I've realised that when things DO get tough, "he who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger." Nothing is ever as bad as it first appears, and we are responsible for our own happiness, so if you want something, MAKE IT HAPPEN!
I've realised more than ever before that people all over the world are the same, no matter where they are from or what their circumstances are. At the same time, I have realised that I am very lucky to live where I do, to have freedom of speech and to have a world of opportunities before me in a way that so many other people just like me around the world don't have. I 'm very lucky to have had these opportunities, not just on this trip, but my whole life. I'm lucky to have friends who will call me up just because on my last email I didn't sound as happy as they think I should be, and even friends who will fly out to see me because they don't want me to be by myself :)
But most of all, the thing that makes me the luckiest girl in the world, is the fact that when I go home, I'll have people waiting for me at the airport, and I know that those people would do anything for me, and can't wait to see me as much as I can't wait to see them. And that even though I know some of these people didn't want me to leave and go on this trip, they stood behind me every step of the way, and supported me more than I ever thought possible. It is because of these people that I am who I am, and every good thing I have ever done is because of them. Every time I was scared or sad or worried or angry, I thought of them..............and everything was better. These people are the reason I live such a happy existence......the only tears I cried this whole trip were at Heathrow Airport, when I left them, although I'm sure there will be more tomorrow at Heathrow Airport when I see them again.
So.........have I changed?! I don't think so, not really. I've just seen and done a bit more than I had before. And I'm glad I have :) I will never forget this trip for as long as I live, some of the things I've been able to do really were dreams come true for me. And when I get on the plane in a few hours, I'll be pleased in the knowledge that I did everything and tried everything that I wanted to. But most of all, I'll just be really excited about seeing my family and friends! And even those who won't be at the airport, (that's you, big sis!!) I don't mind, I'll just be at Heathrow waiting for YOU when you come home. I'm counting down the days :)
So, as they say, all good things moust come to an end. That's a wrap guys!! Till next time....................!! ;)
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