My journey to the end of world: Cape Town Part 3.

My journey to the end of world: Cape Town Part 3

Although I was not in South Africa during the World Cup in football, (yes Americans, its called football to the rest of the world, not soccer. Take the hint!)  I did however arrive a short time after the cup ended....Despite of that I was lucky enough to watch a match between The US versus South Africa's Bafana Bafana which was played on Green Point Stadium. A stadium that can easily have 60.000 people as an audience, but the night I was at the stadium one of the workers there told me that there were 85000 people there. ....! 

The US sadly won, but it was quite the experience to see (and hear!) so many vuvuzelas at once...They're illegal in many other parts of the world, but at that stadium, they were loud and proud! I was nearly deaf by the time the match was over...

The stadium is located between Signal Hill and the Ocean (basically the Waterfront) and although some argue that the stadium is quite the eyesore for the aesthetics of Cape Town, the Green Point Stadium itself  is truly a piece of beautiful architecture.

If its possible, try and go see a match. Tickets are around R100-200 for decent seats, but remember to order at least a few days in advance...And of course...you have to root for Bafana Bafana!!! ;) And if you're a true fan, you'll use facepaint like we did! ;)

                                      My Beautiful friend Avi decked out with the South African flag!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


My friend Gosia had been to Cape Town before as she had visited her South African boyfriend there a couple of months before....She introduced me to this place in Long Street where they make the absolute best burgers in the world....

The restaurant is called The Royale Eatery and is located right below the Waiting Room. Although the decoration is kinda weird and very random, it just works. Every new room you enter, has its own decor.

The Atmosphere is just so relaxed and cozy that you don't really wanna leave again....If you need a day where you just have an easy but delicious dinner, Royale eatery can definitely be recommended. You can order some delicious food and then have a few drinks, before going upstairs to the Waiting room where you can continue to hang out or party the night away..... I gained at least 3 kilo in Burger weight alone from this place! But then again, when food is that good and delicious I have no control.


One of the good things about the food at the Eatery is that they have no problem working around your problems; such as being a vegetarian, being lactose intolerant, a specific food that you despise with a passion unknown to mankind or allergic to gluten, the food will still taste nothing less than amazing. A friend and I went there one day and he has a problem with several kinds of meat, but the Chef didn't mind making two special patties just for him.... I love when a staff can be that flexible! :D
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The National Botanical Garden Kirstenbosch was something I've always wanted to see. My grandparents have always had a big influence on my life and they've always loved gardening. Although I didn't inherit the green thumbs, I did inherit a big love for nature which is why the Kirstenbosch Garden was an absolute must to see for me!
Gosia and I jumped on a bus and traveled to the Garden, but as we both had significantly big hangovers  from the night before, and the bumpy bus ride made us both nauseous. So the first half an hour was spent with lying on the grass, taking a small nap in the sun by a nearby creek...The ultimate hangover cure...


Now Im making it sound as though I did nothing, but party all the time in Cape Town which wasn't the case. But South African alcohol is significantly stronger than that found in Europe and Northern America and we learned that the hard way!


Anyways....Gosia and I went exploring the Garden and discovered another little piece of Eden filled with beautiful flowers, smaller animals and rare trees...It truly is a sight that cannot and must not be missed!

During the summer months there are concerts and plays that you can enjoy in the Garden as well as your own picnic. Its def. worth going and I regretted it that I didn't go more than I did.

-------------------------------------------------------------

If you're an Ocean person as I am, you would appreciate any kind of ocean. The beaches surrounding South Africa varies quite a bit from freezing cold to the Mediterranean temperatures, from almost still water to perfect surfing water, from Clifton Beach-one of the most popular beaches in Cape Town when you wanna work on your tan, to Muizenberg Beach- ideal for surfing. And just like with Woodstuck, its cheap to take the train to Muizenberg.

And surfing is a ton of fun. I didn't need lessons as I already knew how to surf, but my friends informed me that the instructors were very friendly and nice (and some of them, apperently extremely hot as well!).

However, if you do decide to spend the day at the amazing beach I would recommend that you take the flag warning system very seriously. The flags are there for a reason, not just for decoration. There aren't sharks near that often, but they do drop by every and then...you know, just to say hi and remind us that we might rule on land, but THEY rule the ocean.... 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be continued in Part 4

My Journey to the end of the world: Cape Town, Part 2

Journey to the end of the world: Cape Town, Part 2


Cape Town was a turning point in my life. Even though I've lived abroad before, I've never learned so much about myself as I did during those summer days. I met some wonderful people from all over the world and I met some not so wonderful people as well. I got some of the prejudice, my father installed in me as a child, killed (though he still claims he's merely being a realist!) and others confirmed. But thats a story for another time...Some of the things that changed for me, was how some of things I saw and experienced affected me.


I was lucky enough to have a sort of mentor in South Africa who recommended attractions to see, who introduced me to the local norms and traditions and warned where not to go. Melanie, a charming young Irish woman in her prime, had been living in Cape Town herself for a number of years with her family, so i  used her knowlegde quite a bit. She recommended that I go see The Old Biscuit Mill Marked that takes place every Saturday in  Woodstuck (no, dont think festival, think small part of Cape Town) where local people, store owners, vendors and generally just people get together and create this amazing atmosphere.

The Mill is home for day and night markets where you can find everything from designer stores, to delicious food stalls to workshops to cozy cafe's. They literally have everything the heart desires and it is such an amazing experience. However! Its also a very popylar event, so it is often very crowded.

One of the first time I went,  we took the train. Its not exactly recommended by many people, but the locals I asked told me that it was perfectly safe to take the train as long as you buy a 1st class ticket and as you can see, they're not very expensive...

This is the first class. Very...decorated....but nevertheless. The seats are clean and the windows open easily. 

-------------------------------------------------
The first time I was at the market, I went with a bunch of Americans who had been out the night before, but I quickly discovered that people with hangovers really are quite the bores at such events.  I happened to run into my favorite Canadian friend Avishka, who was just as game for exploring everything as I was, and then we were off!


The market had everything! At some point, our bodies demanded a break and nourishment, so we bought some nice and 'freshly squeezed and blended!' fruit juice (as the vendor kept yelling) as well as some delicious crepes!

You have to bring cash as ATMs are very limited and some of the stalls dont accept creditcards. I think I used every single dime on me, but I was a very happy, although admitted broke, woman by the end of the day! :) We elebrated the day with some delicious Rooibos Icetea with mint in it...Im drooling just thinking about that drink! It was the perfect way to end the day. If you happened to have nothing to do on a saturday in Cape Town, GO! Take a cab! Or the Train! Or walk! You wont regret the experience! I went many saturdays!


---------------------------------------------------------------


Another tressure Melanie recommended was a cafe/restaurant which quickly became my favorite one! Rick's Cafe is decorated as Rick's cafe from the movie 'Casablanca' from 1942 and if you haven't seen that movie yet, you and I have nothing more to talk about! Go see it! There's something for both gender, Go rent or even better, buy it! Gogogogogo!!!!


Casablanca being a city in Morocco, the Cafe is of course Moroccan inspired and specializes in Moroccan food. (But many other delicious dishes as well) The Cafe has this brilliant terrace outside with an amazing view  where you can sit outside and work on your tan while enjoying a drink, and the atmosphere is just lovely. I went there many times with a colleague, friends, even on several dates. It quickly became my favorite hangout place.

My friend Gosia and I went there for a 'quick drink' but ended up quite hammered because the drinks were simply that good and that cheap! I also had my favorite dish I've had in life there.


The dish was named 'Seafood Tagine "Zarzuela style" ' which consisted of prawns, limefish, calmari, mussels, olives, peppers, tomatoes, safron, almonds, white wine, served with brilliant Seederberg Sauvignon Blanc from Paarl. Heck, im geting hungry just thinking about that dish! I've tried to make it myself, but it never quite meassures up to the first time I had it! :)


I truly to miss Rick's Cafe and when I go back to Cape Town, Im definately going back there!!!


So thank you Melanie whereever you are now, for giving me the best meal I've ever had!


To be continued in Part 3

My journey to the end of the world; Cape Town-South Africa, Part 1

My First Meeting With Cape Town.


The year 2010 was a year of self-discovery for me. Part of my Master Degree required me interning abroad. I got an internship with an environmental group in Honduras. Very exciting work, but sadly I got Tropical Fewer and could not shake it off again. After a 1.5 month of being sick, several Doctors recommended me to leave the continent. Being a Dane whose used to crappy weather 8 months of the year had shown that the Tropic were just to harsh on me in my condition. And the fact that people were a little bit too tricker happy with the guns there were also good indicators to leave. 


Instead of going home, (which would have put me very much behind with my studies, I decided to risk it and find another internship) my wanderlust gene kicked in and I travelled quite a bit for the right internship and by sheer luck (and help from the brilliant Melanie at Connect123) ended up in South Africa. I managed to get an internship with a regional NGO, know as the Democracy Development Program (DDP), right in the middle of Cape Town. 


I traveled from La Ceiba-San Pedro Sula, San Pedro Sula-Miami, Miami-London and then London-Cape Town...60 hours of direct traveling....But I finally made it across the world....and then slept for a week!


Having never been to Africa before, I had no idea what to expect when I stepped off the plane...But when the sun light hit my face along with a nice cool breeze, I knew I had made the right choice.


The internship was interesting enough though but it was the city, the nature that surrounded it and the local people I met there that made the entire experience worthy. 


The South Africa that we know today is a very young country, but it is developing rapidly and evolving so fast. It was quite fascinating to see the contrast between the rural areas where many poor people lived in Townships and the highly developed areas like the Western cape that looked very much like any Western cosmopolitan city.  I happened to live in the western Cape  and shared an apartment with two other girls. Although the rent was ridiculous high,  our view made it all worth it!

Our Beautiful view of the famous Table Mountain from our apartment on the 11th. floor. 

There is a myth to this mountain that  tells the story of Captain Van Hunks who lived in the shadows of Table Mountain.  For many years he had sailed the seven seas, but now he was old and loved nothing more than taking a walk up the beautiful slopes of the mountain.  He would walk up to his favourite spot, under an ancient tree at the top of the mountain.  Once there he would settle himself on a large rock, take out his old pipe, light it, lean back against the trunk of the tree and gaze down at the beauty of Table Bay below him.  Van Hunks loved the peacefulness of this place – nobody else ever came this high up the mountain.

One day, as Van Hunks walked the last few paces towards his usual position, he was startled to see someone else sitting exactly where he normally sat.  It was a strange looking man, dressed all in black, with a large hat pulled down over most of his face.

Van Hunks was even more astonished when the man greeted him by his name.  However, not wishing to appear impolite, he sat down next to him and they began to talk.  Van Hunks started boasting about his tobacco and the fact that he was the only man who could smoke as much of it as he did.  The other man replied that he could easily smoke as much as Van Hunks.  Van Hunks was angry at this and challenged the man to a smoking contest.  He placed a huge pile of his tobacco between the two of them and they filled their pipes and lit them.

All day the two men sat, smoking the whole time and the clouds of smoke around them grew and grew.  People down below looked up and marvelled at the huge clouds of smoke that had started billowing around the Table Mountain.  As the day progressed the clouds grew bigger and bigger until the whole top of the mountain was covered.

Van Hunks was growing tired and hot and he noticed that the man with him was not looking too happy himself.  But still they continued to smoke. Then suddenly the man leaned forward, unable to continue and his hat fell off revealing who he really was.  Van Hunks staggered back in fright.….. it was the devil himself!  He realised what he had achieved – he had beaten the devil in the contest.  But the devil was not pleased at being beaten by a human and in an instant, with a loud clap of thunder, both men vanished in a puff of smoke.

The legend goes that, when the south-easter wind blows and the cloud covers the mountain, Van Hunks and the Devil are smoking again.

Another view from our apartment. 

We were quite privileged in that way. :)

I was lucky in the sense that I only had to work from 8-12 and then I had the entire afternoon, evening and night off, so I had plenty of time to explore the city and find all its secrets! 

______________________________________

I felt as though I had found the Garden of Eden in Cape Town, and I loved how I found so many things I would have taken for grated back home...

For example; I love books...And I adore book stores....but I do not usually spend that much time in them...until I came to Cape Town and met my Soul Mate Store known as The Book Lounge.

 A small bookstore at the corner of the street I lived on (Roeland St.), which had so many different books in every single genre. I was in heaven! I came into that store at least three times a week just to check out the latest bash of new books! Once or twice a week the store would have arrangements where an author or a politician or someone famous at something would come and have a lecture about their book.

In the beginning, I had to attend one of these lectures due to a work related matter, so the other intern of the NGO and I went and saw what it was about. We didn't really want to go, but to our surprise and delight they had snacks in the form of delicious finger food and platters as well as wine and soda...For poor students like us, a free meal is always a hit...and when the author and the lecture turned out to be extremely interesting, we returned whenever someone interesting would come along.

                                        

I think I attended around 15 of these arrangements in my months there...I learned so many interesting things about so many different subject that I never knew anything about. I kinda miss such arrangements here in DK. I haven't come across any events like those, in DK.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Another little treasure I came across was this little shop where I bought my lunch almost every day.

The small cafe 'Bread, Milk & Honey' on Spin St. is a family owned business with absolutely brilliant food. They had everything from a variety of homemade sandwiches to hot, homemade stews to a mean shepard's pie to delicious Cheesecakes or Carrot cakes. They simply had everything the heart could possible desire of food during daytime. Indulgence is a most here! Although you might have to walk there. Getting a parking space on Spin St. is like experiencing snow in Hell....not gonna happen anytime soon. But thats okay...if you overindulge, you know you're gonna walk it off anyways.

This little spot is opened during the week and serve breakfast, lunch and tea.

Its a small cafe with a minimum of room both inside and outside, so you might end up fighting for a table but its worth it. Its such a relaxed atmosphere and you really feel all your problems float away. However if you're in a hurry, they do takeaway and update their menu everyday at twitter @breadmilkhoney, so you can just run in there and get your lunch and continue on with your day. The friendly staff are more than willing to tell you exactly what is in each dish, should you be allergic or on a diet, and they make good recommendations if you're in doubt about what to get.
My biggest problem there was always whether or not I deserved to have a slice of cake as well as lunch. 
You just can't help yourself! They're so good! Indulgence really is a must here!

And I'm not kidding when I say that everything is homemade....
Furthermore, this fine little establishment know their coffee blends and their tea blends...
They really do pride themselves in their involvement in Relationship coffee where the path of the bean can be traced from tree to cup....and it really shows in each and every cup...even to a I-rarely-drink-coffee- drinker like me. :)
Please check this place out if you're ever near Spin St. in Cape town.


Bread, milk & Honey can be found at 10. Spin St., Western Cape, Cape Town 8000.
_________________________________

Thats all for this blog entry, but I will continue to share all my little wonders and treasures I found in the lovely Cape Town soon.


-Wanderlustaddiction

A wish for my future

Human Rights and the struggle for equality.

I’ve always wondered what exactly I was going to be doing with my life. Was I gonna be a doctor? A lawyer? A cook like my mother? A big shot CEO for some fancy company? I simply did not know…And it has caused me quite a bit of stress throughout my life. What did I actually want to do job-wise with my life besides trying to be happy?

But….while doing my Masters degree I STILL did not know what I actually wanted to do….other than the one thing I’ve always wanted, but mainly just took for granted the everyone wanted to do that as well…I’ve always wanted to help people.

People who has every odds against them…the underdogs….the resistance….people who go against the norms found in society in order for them to be themselves….Those are the people I wanna help get to the top.

While doing an Internship in Cape Town last fall, I worked for an NGO who did a lot of civic society work and promoted democracy in South Africa. I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Heinrich Bôhll Stiftung’s conference titled “Struggle for equality: Sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights in Africa”. http://www.boell.org.za/web/lgbti-593.html

….
….
….
….
and I loved it!

Such an eyeopener…

I know quite a few people in Europe who are struggling with being accepted with the more conservative views on homosexuality. Comparing the (at times) very conservative European views with the African views, I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be gay in Sub-saharan Africa!

As one soon figures out after arriving in Cape Town, the city is the Mekka for homosexuals in Africa! This is because South Africa is one of the few countries – if not the only one – where homosexuality is protected in SA’s constitution. This could not be right. Surely, with the African (Banjul) Charter, every race, gender, sex, political attitude and religion was secured within the charter. Naturally every country’s constitution had to protect everyone’s right when the Charter clearly states that everyone is protected…

Surely, I had to be mistaken or I must have misunderstood something. Homosexuality is a difficult subject all over the world, but to hear how in certain parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, you can get stoned for getting caught in the act of ‘having fun’ with someone of your own gender. In certain places you can get away with a large fine (and if you can’t pay, prison time or removal of a limb) if you’re mere accused of acting inappropriately by someone.

At the conference I was told countless stories; of how a gay man  had come out to his family and their reaction was to call the government, who came arrested him. He was sentenced 75 years prison time! A woman was tortured and scarred all over her body because she was caught kissing an other woman. Another woman had her children removed and then her husband beat her within a inch of death, when the neighbor had told him that his wife was a lesbian and had kissed another woman on the street.  These stories horrified me and yet I was deeply fascinated by how different and intolerant some people can be, because it is so far from my own life that I can’t relate in anyway.

Growing up in Denmark in a working class family, I always worked hard to reach my goals. Well….mostly…I hit an extremely lazy period during my teen years  ….I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, so me and my siblings quickly learned some of the corner stones of life:

• If you want to be the best, you have to work at it.
• Treat people the same way you would want to be treated by them.
• Do not be afraid to make mistakes-its the way you learn in life.
• No matter how much you screw up, your family will always have your back.
• The shit Life throws at you, does not define you. You define yourself.
• Be yourself and you’ll have better chances of being happy.

During my time in Cape Town I quickly realized that even though I’ve never been rich, I’m still privileged in the sense that I have no doubt that my family and friends would accept for who I am no matter what.  A lot of other people are not as privileged…Many people are struggling to have the equality that I’ve always had and clearly taken for granted…so the conference was a lesson learned not to take my life for granted and now I have a clear view of what I want to work with in the future…

I enjoy my life, so why should I not help others try and enjoy theirs? One way to do this would be to work with human rights with a special focus on minorities such as homosexuals, woman and children’s’ rights.  

I really think I could make quite the difference within that field.

If only someone would actually give me a job....