Isa in Knysna

Sorry it has been a while since I last wrote. We have been so busy and it has not been easy to connect to the internet. BUT I have been able to write everything in my journal…
Our last night in Cape Town was fun but mostly relaxing. Mimi and I woke up and had breakfast as usual, but then fell back asleep for a while. We had not slept much and it caught up to us quickly. After a long nap we went shopping for a little and then got ready for dinner. We went to dinner at a place right on the water. There were seals right below us as we were eating. Dinner was good and uneventful until a man fell in the water! They threw him a lifesaver but he could not swim! A man that was eating a few tables across from us had to dive in and save him! The next day we woke up early and left for Port Elizabeth. We had some trouble with our luggage at the airport but luckily everything made it to Port Elizabeth. We were picked up by a nice lady who drove us to our safari lodge, Hlosi (shlosy). The lodge was AMAZING!! When we arrived we were shown around and taken to our own little bungalow. After we unpacked for a little, we met all of the other guests (only 6 others) for high tea at 3:00. They were our ranger, Deane’s family. Deane’s family had all been on other safaris o they were able to tell us all sorts of interesting facts and stories. We saw so many animals, but the best of the day was definitely the cheetahs. We saw the mom and her five cubs relaxing under a tree. We were lucky to do the safari at this time of year because almost all of the animals we saw had small babies that were so cute! I was able to take some really awesome pictures. When we got back we had an amazing dinner. The food at Holsi was the best I have ever had. For the rest of our time at the lodge, we followed a pretty strict schedule.
5:00 AM – Wakeup call
5:30 AM – Light breakfast
6:00 AM – SAFARI
10:00 AM – Brunch
3:00 PM – Hight tea
3:30 PM – SAFARI
8:00 PM – Dinner
Our rooms were cleaned three times a day and when we returned from the safaris the staff would be waiting for us with hot towels and a cocktail! They had a pool that overlooked the reserve and one day you could see the giraffe in the backyard. Since there weren’t any fences around the lodge, we had to be walked to our rooms after dark by one of the staff members. We saw a ton of different kinds of animals and our guide, Deane, was the best!
Although it was sad to leave I was excited to get to Knysna. After we dropped Mimi off at the Port Elizabeth airport, the driver drove me three and a half hours to my new home for the next two and a half months! On the way we passed a lot of really cool things that I would like to visit while I am here including bungee jumping!! Also on the way in I would able to see a lot of "matchbox cities." We saw some in Cape Town but there were thousands more in Knysna. Not long after we passed them I arrived at the house where I will be staying. I was greeted by three huge dogs that were so nice. (Betsy – one of the dogs is a German Sheppard. It is seriously so pretty. You need one, but not until I get home!) The family I am staying with is so nice. I have my own space above the garage with its own door to the outside and key which is convenient. There are bars over each door and window for protection which is a little odd but Sharon assures me everything will be safe. Yes, mom I have hidden my passport and extra cash. Dad, I will figure out the internet situation at home ASAP and skype you soon. I MISS EVERYONE!!
Maggie – I saw a baby CHI CHI on the safari! I wanted to catch him and bring him home. It was seriously so cute.
MSJ – On the long car ride from Port Elizabeth to Knysna the drivers phone rang like six times with the "Bedrock" ringtone. They looove that song here almost as much as you love pink.
Once I got to my room I unpacked all of my stuff and organized everything. I have not met Sharon’s husband’s son. I want to meet him though simply because I will be living with him. I took a shower after I unpacked and right when I got out Sharon was knocking on my door saying our ride had arrived for her book club. I got dressed quickly and was out the door! It was actually really fun. I got to meet Sharon’s friends hear some of their stories. They are really funny and nice. They do book club differently here than they do at home. It is more like a library. They share their own personal books. They even have a secretary that signs out the books for everyone. There were many books I recognized as some that mom and read and even House Rules which is what I have been reading. The ladies decided that since I will be here for the next two months I could be a part of the book club. They recommended Thirteen Hours which is a South African book about an American girl who gets kidnapped in Cape Town. Hopefully it won’t freak me out.
Yesterday was kind of low key. I woke up and read in my room for a little while. I went to the kitchen to make some breakfast and I finally met Danie’s son, Michael. He is really nice and funny. Since it was still early, I went back to my room and read some more when Sharon’s daughter invited me to go into town with her for a little. The town is very small but it has a lot of cool shops. They have docks and restaurants on the water that are really pretty. When we got back I went to my room for while again. I took a shower and blew up my hair dryer! It literally caught on fire and I was freaking out for a second. Sharon is out of town for the night so I had dinner with Danie and Michael. Danie made a great dinner and after dinner he showed me a bunch of pictures. He also showed me how to work the computer and everything.
Today I woke up pretty early on accident and had breakfast with Danie. He helped me to make sure I wouldn’t blow up my computer like I did to my hair dryer which was nice. He said that today he would show me around some more and take me into town. Hopefully I will be able to go to the grocery or something to buy a new hair dryer!

Cape Town Pictures

kitten's nightgowns???

Jordan I have a feeling I messed that up somehow ;-). 

Yesterday we went to Table Mountain.  The views were unreal and we could see where the world cup was held last year.  We took a taxi to the mountain where our guide told us all the information about the town on the way.  When we got there, we took a cart to the top.  The floor moved in a circle so everyone got to see all of the views on the way up.  It was so awesome!! We took a ton of pictures at the top.  They are a little dark because I am still trying to figure out how my camera works.  When we got back to our hotel we decided to do some shopping.  There are a ton of shops and restaurants within walking distance of our hotel.  When we got back we showered and dressed for dinner. We went to the waterfront for dinner.  I ate ostrich for dinner! We were right on the water and could see seals swimming in the water.  There were pirate ships and party boats docking in front of our restaurant.  When we got back we were informed that we would be picked up at 4:25 AM to go to the shark diving.  We got a 3:45 wake up call, lathered on some lotion and were off to shark diving!  It was seriously so fun! We were driven to a lodge where we were given breakfast and a debriefing on the day’s events. There was a family and a few people our age on the boat.  Mimi and I were veery scared that we were going to get sea sick, but they said the water was the calmest it had been all season.  We were the first boat out to sea.  The guides said that they tried to be the first ones out so that they can pick their spot and so that they can put their chum lines in before anyone else.  Before the guide could finish telling us about how to put on the wetsuits and everything, someone had already spotted a shark jump out of the water and eat a bird! The guides told us this was very rare for the season.  They told us that it could be difficult to see the sharks because the water was very murky and cold.  We were very nervous we were not going to be able to see any sharks or that we wouldn’t be able to see them under water.  Mimi and I were in the second group in the water. There had been a great white shark circling the boat so I took pictures of it above the water.  Once we were in our wetsuits we were thrown right into the water! They said that the water was 11 degrees Celsius.  Once you were in the cage the guides would yell “Down in front!!”  We would hold our breath, grab on to the cage and see the shark swim in front of us!  It was one of the coolest things I have ever done! At one point the shark was so close to the cage and it changed directions to Mimi and I and it showed its teeth! When we got off we met a couple that was from Cincinnati!  Mimi bought the video of our trip and I bought t-shirts! When we got back we stayed by the pool for a little and took at nap.  We got up around 7 and ate at one of the best seafood restaurants in the city.  Tomorrow we are going to take a bus ride around the city and maybe do a sunset cruise!