Uncle and Nephew 2

Uncle is on the left and Nephew is on the left. Both 3 years old.

Clubbing in Cape Town

Went clubbing in Cape Town is Saturday. Start off in an Irish Pub and a couple of guys there. I we had a great chat about Southern African politcs - some people here are enlighten!

The meet a Scottish guy who could get back to the UK because of the volcano ash. He visited Charlotte and I to have dinner in an Indian resturant with him and his two daughters. The resturant was so posh and lovely and the other guys from the pub joined us too.

Then charlotte and I went for a quick nap (as we had been drinking since 1pm) and then back out on Long Street at 12:30am. The place was buzzying full of bars and clubs. Made lots of friends; could not believe how friendly everyone was. I had a really good time. Its still not Africa, more like Maimi but a good night out, is a good night out!

HIV/AIDS

It was my turn to present yesterday. Each week a group member chooses a global issues to discuss. There are 12 Millennium goals that the UN are trying to reach.

I choose HIV/AIDS because it is such a global problem that is crippling Africa, with the highest rate infection in South Africa. It is preventable and treatable, however having HIV in a developing country is far worse than having it in a developed country. I wont get into all the figures but 15,000 people a day worldwide are infected.

Knowing your status is key. But if don't have any testing facilities nearby and you can't afford to travel its not going to be a priority. Then if you can afford the life- saving drugs then why bother with testing? Also if you will be stigmatised and made to feel ashamed why would you tell people your status. All this is due to a lack of education and poverty, so being born poor means your more likely to have HIV/AIDS. Poverty is not just about a lack of money it takes away your choice too. Its not fair that just because you missed out on the birth lottery you should suffer more.

We must all be compassionate toward people who are living with this illness. HIV has no face - old, young, black, white, Straight, Gay, faithful, promiscuous. Lets all do our bit to stay safe and show love and support other with HIV and AIDS.

Robben Island

Went to Robben Island on Saturday.

Very rough sea there and back. I can't say it was good because its really not appropriate.

We had an ex- political prisoner show us around. He spent 11 years on Robben and we saw the very floor he spent on with 60 other prisoners.

Everyone thinks of Nelson Mandela and what he went through, but there were many others just as strong and inspiring. Robert Sobukwe was the only prisoner to be held in solitary confinement. The government thought he so influential that they made a new law just so they could keep him from other prisoners.

Most of the prisoners were black and some were coloured. Blacks received less food and worse treatment then the coloureds. Only one white person was ever sent to Robben Island. The authorities thought his mental capacity to be that of a black person, he was later sent to a mental hospital.

Crazy Country.

Weird things about South Africa

Young guys pull out their front teeth because it makes them look "Gangster"! They get false ones put in instead and take them out to show they are hard. It also apparently make them good kissers.

Coloured people here refer to Blacks as Africans.

There are still white only communities.

The fact that Coloured people even exist.

Very strange place.

Easter Sunday

Easter is a big deal here. My family is part of the morvian church. On Easter Sunday we woke very early and got to the church at 6am. We then all walked to graveyard where they had a service of rememberance for the past dead and the newly dead.

Then about 40 members of family came over at 10am and didn't leave till 10pm that night. It was fun, got to meet lots of my new cosins and had a good family party. I think they are getting over me being black lol!

Table Mountain - The Journey

Charlotte got cabin fever on Friday so we decided to go to Cape Town on our own by bus on Saturday. We missed the last bus of the day which was at 7:20am so had to get the mini bus to the next town Atlantis.

Atlantis is one of the list of rules - we must only go there with a local. I figured since we were just changing buses it would be ok. As soon as we step out of the mini buses I felt like a tourist and everyone could see we weren't from there. Everyone we spoke to before was unanimous that Atlantis was very dangerous. The previous group of volunteers were allowed to go, but two of them got robbed one day. They had their bags, phones and even shoes stolen.

We asked a Community Officer where to go and get the buses and then started walking in that direction. He then started following us I was very weary of him, but he escorted us to the bus stop and told us to be careful while we waited for the next bus which could be hours. I felt uncomfortable and asked him if it was safer to get another mini bus taxi to Cape Town (we had been told not to use them as the bus was safer)but right now it seemed like the best option.

He walked us back to station we had came from and on the way a man welding a club was coming towards us. I was so glad he had come with us and thanked him profusely. We got the mini bus taxi which was fine and felt very safe. In true African style we had to wait till it was full and am sure the bus would have never passed and MOT in the UK. It felt great!

Didn't plan on climbing table mountain but we wanted something to do and when we got to the base there were so many people climbing up. It was a cool, cloudy day which was great for climbing. I didn't realise how hard it was - so many huge rocks. It took 2 hours and I really straggled since I had just recovered from flu and had no breakfast that day. When we finally got to the top it was another 15min walk to shops. I had the biggest meal ever and we took the cable car back down as it had started to rain. Nice View. Glad I did it!