Ocean View Hotel Umtata

Hi guys! Zuerst moechte ich mich herzlich fuer die netten und witzigen Gaestebucheintraege bedanken. Es ist schoen zu sehen, wenn man nicht in Vergessenheit geraten ist. Freude herrscht! Verbrachte zwei gemuetliche Tage in Jeffrey's Bay (von den einheimischen J-Bay genannt). Waere eigentlich ein Paradies fuer Surfer, bevorzuge jedoch lieber die weisse, kuehle Materie und habe mich daher lediglich auf das Zuschauen beschraenkt. Sah faszinierend aus ...

I arrived in coffee bay last Thursday and was pleased to arrive in such a chilled out lovely place. As soon as i arrived at the hostel I was wisked off in the car for sundowners on the hill and a free beer pushed into my hand, my kind of place!! The next couple of days were spent chatting to other travellers by the fire, having surf lessons and abseiling down a 50 foot cliff!! Surf lessons were so much fun, I was a little dubious as I ...

Breakfast with Joey means you need a shower afterwards. We had paw paw this morning and half of what I gave him landed on my skirt. But he doesn't mind my hands anymore. He flies, too, which surprised me given he's a captive parrot! I picked him off the laundry line this morning ...

... I had to time-budget. I'm staying here until Saturday, then spending about four days in Bulungula. It would all work out nicely except the cast should come off on the fourth already... in Bulungula!! Made friends with the fluffy cute green parrot named Joey who fell asleep on my shoulder, ate rice from my mouth and doesn't like fingers: he'll bite unless there's food attached to them. I can cuddle him with my cheek, though.

... out. There are plenty of showers, each with its own boiler, which means there is always hot water, what a relief. Staff are fun and friendly and the place has an OK kitchen (semi-outdoor, roofed but no windows, clean), the right amount of guests, not too packed, not too busy, and good food at the restaurant. Xhosa bread is delicious and they will even teach you how to make your own. I brought plenty of groceries and there is enough ...

After leaving Betty's Bay I traveled to Kynsna and Port Elizabeth before arriving in Coffee Bay where I originally planned to stay for 4 nights. It's a great place to go walking and I started learning to surf and play the bongo drums. I hope you like the pics, I've been looking forward to sharing them.

... warned about the road conditions and its many potholes. You also have to watch out the entire way for goats. You will come along a bend and a whole bunch of them will be lying down right in the middle of the road. This town is very secluded as it is surrounded by high mountains that drop straight down to the sea. The landscape here is very lush and green. It has 3 beaches, the middle one being the ...

'Happy Box Day' You too man, you too! It seemed strange to be wandering the final part of my journey through some of the rural villages, but still have people say 'Happy Box Day' Louann spoke to the group this morning, about enjoying this last day of being together. She was lovely to listen to. It's something I've not really grown up doing - saying things about feelings out loud. I say thank you and mean it, but it's different sharing more of yourself with a ...

Yes, they are definitely leopard prints. Cool! Well, it was a lovely, lovely, hanging cave. Let's sleep here! And so it was decided. Today was our 'rest day' - which in best hiking terms, doesn't mean you actually get a rest, but just that you try and have more time for using up your energy on activities other than walking. We had a leisurely start as the forest had kept the early morning sun out for a while - which today was a welcome thing ...

Next we stopped in the Transkei. This felt much more like Botswana or Namibia as there where a lot of Xhosa people and not very many white people. We stayed with a bunch of hippies in a commune(a hostel really) all the stray dogs of the world were there too. Our room had the bed built into the wall and was made of mud! We did some more hiking, some more drinking and some kayaking. (Its funny how the only 2 times we've met Irish people on our way they got us drunk!) We stopped ...