Big Thinkers

Elephants are amongst the world's most intelligent species. With a mass just over 5 kg (11 lb), elephant brains are larger than those of any other land animal. A wide variety of behaviors, including those associated with grief, learning, mimicry, art, play, a sense of humor, altruism, use of tools, compassion, self-awareness, memory and possibly language.

Well,Tanja and I had the opportunity to visit the the National Addo Elephant Park for a day. This will be a day, that I will never forget. While traveling through this park with our personal guide Etta, a conservationist that owned the Dung Beetle B&B. The education of this outstanding land mass, of a park started with our breakfast. Etta encouraged us to eat the little shrubs that she had cut from her garden and adorned our plates of eggs and kudo sausages.

As we munched, she told us how this "speck boom" what we call "jade plant," is used by the elephants and the local people when they have trouble producing breast milk. Very cool eh?

We thought the same.

Tanja wanted to know why elephants were so fat, being that they are truly only vegetarians.? Well, of course what other answer seems fitting is that they are not fat at all, "They are just Big Boned."

At times, we saw scores of them in little family units and bachelor pods as well. Most impressively we saw a big male in heat that deemed the road his for some 15-20 mins.
Because elephants are so closely knit and highly matriarchal, a family can be devastated by the death of another (especially a matriarch) and some groups never recover their organization. We got a chance to see that at this park... What a special day it turned out to be.

I hope these pics do the gentleness of these animals some justice.

Lets Talk Soccer

We have been planning for over 4 years to travel to Africa. Soccer was the first and foremost thing to do while here originally. Later we had dicussions about what kind of other activities we wanted to take advantage of... Nervously, we had visions of dirt roads and people walking barefoot and possibly even seeing the natives carry items on their heads. Well we were right to some extent, but wrong on so many other levels.

The Fifa President, Joseph Blatter, ordered that all of the stadiums were to be completed by
Dec 09. Let me tell you, that they[football venues] are absolutely spectacular! So far, we have been to 2 matches and we have cheered and jeered amongst the best fans from around the world.

Really quickly, I would like to touch upon the infastructure in S.A. >>>>>

The highways are actually smoother than a lot of the roads we have in Chicago land area. There are dangers associated with driving besides being on the opposite side of the car such as: watching out for baboon crossings; in addition to being mindful of the local township people who are constantly walking right on the paved driving surface with no reflector tape...[wearing dark clothes at night] Scary!!! Some on them even have their young babies strapped to them while crossing 4 and 6 lane highways.

The Internet is hit or miss but, it is like the land of milk and honey once we get it back all is forgotten that it was array.

A quick review for the non-soccer fan reading this blog.

A soccer match last about 90 minutes in length. There are 11 players on each side, with 13 back-up players to be precisely used as if, in a chess match. Every 4 years, the World Cup is a culmination of some 140 countries battling it out, on the pitch. The final month of the tournament pits the best 32 teams in a random playoff. This is when the fun begins in my opinion. The true soccer purist watch and stay tuned for every qualifier and knock out phase match, but we are here in S.A. just for the main course only.

The Africans have done a superb job making this month long celebration a wonderful time for visitors. The atmosphere seems to have just the right amount of tribal influence, mixed in with the modern facilities of the west. The quality of the food has been outstanding. I must say that it is a bit difficult though, if you are a vegetarian. Nothing appears forced or overbearing [ you know like visiting Mexico] and the people all seem to want to invite us into their homes to meet their relatives. Their genuine spirit and pride of how their country has changed is apparent everywhere...

The world wide fans were hesitant and sometimes afraid from the press reports leading up to the games seemed to be the story on the foreigners minds. In the last week and a half, I must add that we have not seen or been in any uncomfortable situations of security. [I feel like we are prepared just in case]

Back to the football (soccer)...

A few days ago, we got the opportunity to witness the best game of the tournament, being displayed from just 16 rows away on the 40 yard line. The Samba style of the Brazilian nation team fought it out with the Flying Dutchman of the Netherlands. Besides the fans from their respective countries, Vuvuleazas and local South Africans filled the small 46,000 seat stadium in Port Elizabeth. After all of the twist and turns, and a few penalty cards had been given, the Dutch team came out on top... It was a very special feeling to not only see the worlds' favorite[Brazil] get upset, but to see them actually preform live.

Tanja and I arrived at the end of the the 1 round, of the 4 segments. We attended a really crucial match involving Spain and Portugal. (See post labeled- Vuvuzealas). The passionate fans, adorned in their country flag colors, dressed up like we do at home for Halloween; hoping to get a treat of staying alive, in this "lose and go home phase." Meanwhile, the USA was playing in this same sudden death phase at last week. Unfortunately, England sent them packing.

Here is a taste of how loud it was in the stadium...

Arriving in P.E.

Africa's own " windy city," a.k.a. Port Elizabeth is the 2nd largest city in S.A. . Located on the Eastern Cape, It has also been deemed the "friendliest city".

The temps are a 10 degrees warmer than our last location. This active port and and popular seaside getaway lies directly on the Indian ocean. We flew here on June 30; approx. 500 miles from Capetown. So far, we have partaken in a variety of adventure activities just within the first 4 days. First up were the the Safari Parks. I would say it was a little dangerous, as we were in Lion country until 10 pm at night without a gun seeking out the king of the jungle; to shoot with a Cannon EZ Shot...

*** Notice how we are reacting when a Rhino decides to check us out.

Schotcia Game Reserve

It was a bit scary from time to time as we acted like Steve Irwin ... [***Messing around with nature.] Enjoy the White Rhino...

No words just pics.......

Capetown and surrounding areas on the Western Cape

Along the way ... Kindness is shared

We have been blessed to have met the most sincere and wonderful people since arriving in country. So many great stories have been passed along, by the "locals" to us ,in both the Western and Eastern Capes. I thought it would be nice to share one of them, from along the way.

The following is a story of a hostess who works in a medium scale restaurant. This gal has 2 children and is a single woman. Her name is Susan.

We listened, as her monologue tells how she lives a very humble life in a local township near Capetown's downtown center. " My nickname in the neighborhood is Mama," she says, because I also financially tend for 3 young girls, that live next door to me.

Our wait staff hostess, pays approximately 200 Rand/<$30 USD a month x 3 for their education and school uniforms, in addition to her own children (and her rent,living expenses, ect, ect......) "We all know that education is the key to breaking poverty..."

Gosh, little things sure mean alot here in Africa. {These thoughts flooded my mind, while she spoke in a gentle voice.}

I encouraged her to continue to speak.

"Although, the neighborhood children have a mother and a grandmother of their own," She remarks, I happen to be fortunate to be apart of the new emerging black working class and the childrens mother is still stuck behind, with her thinking and position in life. She adds that, " education is not the focus for most people[black] here, still of this changing class system".

For the last 10 years, Susan was as a nanny in Durbin. "I always knew, that I was good with people and I thought I needed more growth" ..." I also felt like, I have to help others even if I only had little to do so ..." Hearing this anecdote, we left that cafe wiping our eyes and saying >>>>HOLY Shit!

By the way, she would not let us leave until she gave us her account about her 2nd happiest day in life. It was watching on television the election of a fellow African brother from Illinois; Barack Obama! This was nudged out only by the release date of Madiba [Nelson Mandela] on Feb 11 1990. Susan was asked to go home from work on that day due to her inconsolable riggers of excitement.

We have learned that it really does not take much to help. I hope she stays in touch.