so...yesterday...
Yesterday we went back over to the other side of the mountains, but this time by a different route. We went via the incredible Kogmans Kloof Pass, which was built by the same guy that built Tradouw Pass. It's equally spectacular, but from the other way round. Tradouw Pass is sepctacular from high up looking down, and Kogmans Kloof Pass is spectacular from the bottom looking up, if you see what i mean!
If you look to the top right of the picture, you'll see an old fort on top of the mountain. I wanted to climb up to see it, but was wearing unsuitable shoes and really, when it comes down to it, i am not actually that crazy. I'd love to try though ;)
Our next stop was Montagu dried fruit shop. All the fruit in the world you can think of that you can dry, some you wouldn't think can be dried, and some fruit you didn't even know existed, perfectly dried and unbelievably YUM. I've bought LOADS and don't want to eat it, as once i've eaten it, it will be gone :(
Then onto the Montagu Hot Springs. Well, this was just about paradise. It was mid-week, and nearly deserted. The place was stunning, set right at the base of the mountains and the water was so warm.
I'm not much of a swimmer, but this is my sort of swimming. Mostly i sat in the warmest pool up to my neck and read. I've finished Sense and Sensibility, and have moved on to a book mum lent me - Born on a Blue Day - which is fascinating. I saw th documentary on this guy this time last year when i was on a plane going to visit misfitroxy, and i like synchronicity like that. Even if i can't spell it.
There's a whole colony of Dassies living here, who are wild but not that scared of people, and they graze happily while people wander past them.
Dassies (aka Rock Hyrax) are possibly the cutest things EVER - and even better, they are INTERESTING. They aren't rodents - in fact they are the closest relative to the elephant!! Can you believe it? Anyway, i wanted to take one home, but you aren't allowed...
On the way home we saw some more native wildlife - BABOONS!!! I love anything monkey-like so was super happy to have seen some, although i couldn't get very good photos.
Baboons are called 'bobbejaan' in afrikaans, which is a much better word. They live in HUGE groups - we say LOADS streaming up the mountainside - and have really complex group dynamics.
In the evening, i was invited out with Mum's Friend Colleen's Daughter, Amy. She picked me up alogn with her friend, and we hung out at the two 'young people's' bars here in Swellendam along with their boyfriends, and a mate of theirs. The guys barely said a word to me all night, not even making eye contact! Am i that scary?? The two girls were really friendly though, and made me feel eally at ease and we chatted all night about the difference between the UK and SA, and about growing up, and you know, stuff that girls chat about. I was introduced to jaegerbomb (yuk) and some blue shot that tasted like rainbow sherbet crystals. I liked that. Also, Spiced Gold (a type of rum) with diet coke tastes EXACTLY like diet vanilla coke. I think this is the latest Drink Obsession in the Emmeline May camp. Also, a weird purple shot which i was told was an alcoholic energy drink with gurana and caffeine. After previous 'problems' with drinks like this, i avoided. Particularly when we were were offered a free shot of that with tequila. Yeah, i can do stupid things, but i do have a line y'know. Having said that, if i'd been with close friends and knew how to get home, i probably would have...
Drinks here are really cheap - about 70p for a spirit and mixer, and even cheaper when you keep getting free shots!!
I didn't get that drunk, as i guess i was in unfamiliar company and so on - and it wasn't a l;ate night. I did discover the drink/drive problem over here is pretty bad though - everyone just drives home, no matter how half cut they are!! Bit scary, especially when you are bit nervous in cars like i am ever since the accident...
I slept like the dead once again, and woke up at about half 8, hangover free, and the weather was beautiful! ready for our trip to the bottom of Africa...