27 January 2015 ~ From Cape Town to Sabi Sands

Listening to: The Avener ~ To Let Myself Go


Note: the video of the koala has been fixed. If you tried earlier and could not view it, please try again.


We tried to end our time in Cape Town with a big night on the town, but the restaurant we tried to go to was busy, so we sat downstairs waiting (with drinks of course).

And a little dancing.

But everyone kept their shirts on.

We left the next morning to catch a flight to Sabi Sands, near Kruger National Park. Here we are leaving the airport.

 At the entrance to the park.

Lots of color along the roadsides.

Even before we got to our lodge, we saw Warthogs, Impalas and Zebras!

26 January 2015 ~ Australia Day and the Soren Larson

Listening to: Above & Beyond ~ Quieter is Louder

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip.

I took a harbor cruise on the Tall Ship the Soren Larson. It was built in 1949.

 At noon, Russell Crowe over a loudspeaker, announced the beginning of festivities, with a 21 gun salute and flyover. This navy ship was a big spectacle.

What a view from the top of the bridge!

Our ship took part in the Tall Ships race. Here is  one of our opponents, the Southern Swan.

Thanks to Captain Marty, we won the race by a huge margin.

Despite the rain, it was a fun afternoon. Champagne, wine and beer were served along with bbq and potato salad.

24 January 2015 ~ Australian Open & The Bush

Listening to:  George Ezra ~ Cassy O'


I had to go to Melbourne this week for work. It was the start of the Australian Open, so after work on Wednesday we went for general admission seats.

We didn't get into any match as the longs were too long, but we did sit in the lawn area and watch on the big screen. We watched the 2 Aussies play, and Groth won. Then we watched the Nadal match. Hearing the crowd reactions and just being in the setting provided a good vibe.

So if you were watching on tv and thought you saw me in the crowd, it was possible due to this airplane overhead cam.

Melbourne seems to have a mellower, more "hippy" scene going on than Sydney. They even give the trees sweaters, despite the high temperatures and humidity.

I tried a new beer, Fat Yak Pale Ale.

Yesterday I took a 4WD trip to the bush, approximately 1 1/2 hours drive to the southern highlands area. We were on the lookout for the Aussie Big 5: kangaroo, emu, wombat, platypus, koala.

Kangaroos just stop to watch us and then hop away.

This mum has a joey in her pouch. Early explorers described them as two-headed animals.

Emus snacking on the grass.

A wombat came out early from its tunnel for a snack.

We barely found a koala, and this was the only video/picture I could get, hiding between the leaves. This is a koala I took at a refuge center last weekend.

http://youtu.be/TxJ2Vx5lDi0

The platypus alluded us at the river bank. In the dark we saw opossum, owl and wallaby.

19 January 1015 ~ Hermanus

Listening to: Yellowman ~ Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt

After the penguins we stopped at Hermanus for lunch.

Quite the sense of humor.

The view was spectacular.

The restaurant is built around an old cave and is named Bientang Cave Restaurant.

And yes! Whales did come and hang out offshore during our lunch in order to calf.

http://youtu.be/4akTSXaFiiA

18 January 2015 ~ Penguins

Listening to:  Nick Drake ~ Pink Moon

For those who may remember, when I went to New Zealand last year I went on a quest to see penguins at Doubtful Sound, but they eluded me.

But now I've been fortunate to see penguins in both South Africa and Australia!

Yesterday I went on a tour in the Blue Mountains (more on that in a future post), but one stop was an animal refuge. One pond had

These are Little Penguins.

But it was so much more exciting to see them in their natural habitat.

Young penguins were hatching and staying close to their parents.

 African Penguins were formerly known as jackass penguins because they bray like donkeys.

I hope you enjoy the videos as much as I loved seeing them. It was a windy day, which you will hear, so you may want to mute your volume.

http://youtu.be/XD-ddmWna8g

http://youtu.be/H0j3eoVH2Ss

http://youtu.be/r7j34s6rCd0

http://youtu.be/vAF5EH3krxg

http://youtu.be/lTvY8nAqDyQ

17 January 2015 ~ Cheetah Reserve

Listening to: The Heads ~ Only The Lonely


After Table Mountain daytrip we went out for dinner at Burrata.

Everyone smile!

Had to try a Cape Brewing Company Pilsner.

The next day we were off the Cheetah Reserve.

Here they take in several animals, including cheetahs of course. They also raise Anatolian Shepherds. The shepherds are then given to farmers, so the shepherds can protect the farmers herds in hopes that they will keep away the animals. This has proven quite effective, and fewer wild animals are being killed.

This is Malaika the caracal. Malaika means "Angel" in Swahili. A caracal is a wild cat, also known as a desert lynx.

Here is a black-backed jackal.

 An adult cheetah.

Kathy and I chose to visit the cheetah cubs.

11 January 2015 ~ Table Mountain

Listening to: Trey Anastasio Band ~ Sand (5-11-1999. 9:30 Club, Washington, DC)


Day four of our Cape Town adventure was a trip to Table Mountain, one of the "new" 7 wonders of the world.

My friends decided to hike up the mountain, whereas I chose the cable car.

This is the view from the cable car as we are heading up to the top.

This is a dassie or rock hyrax. The closest living relatives to hyraxes are the modern-day elephants!

The weather was cloudy and windy, but cleared up for an opportunity to get a few pictures.