Adventures of the Dread Pirate Emmeline May

My plane took off from Cape Town at 8pm GMT+1 and landed 7am GMT in London, Heathrow. I shed a few tears as I left, as I've had such an amazing time, and I miss shackers terribly - even more so now I've seen the beautiful country she calls home.

I sat next to 'Overly Friendly Elderly With No Sense Of Where His Elbows Are' Man but i still managed to get some sleep and see 'Night At The Museum' which I thought wasn't quite as dire as I'd been led to believe - but that was possibly because I was expecting it to be dire...Ricky Gervais made me laugh in it, and that's a first.

So, the photos are finally up, and i can finish the updates of my adventures with my final day in Swellendam, a day in Simons Town, and my last day in South Africa in Cape Town.



( big dogs, a perfect farm and being a gooner having benefits; a very famous dog and penguins on the beach; learning more about apartheid, a storm closes a mountain and waving good-bye )

full photo gallery

Today's my last day at Impangele in Swellendam - tomorrow we head off to Cape Town for the night, and i fly home Tuesday night. As you can probably gather, I've had an amazing time here, and fit so much in. We're hoping to cram as much in today too - once the day is over I'll upload the photos and do a proper update. So far we;ve been back to the Fairy Sanctuary, with my money this time, so i could 'adopt' my goth fairy (I've been told she's a party fairy, the fairy that likes to go round and make everyone else do fun things. And Minky told me she looked like me, and that 'fairies always know their mummy when they visit us. Ok.) I also bought a present for alabastamasta and angel_emma, so there's something for them to look forward to...

peacockpunk charged me to buy him the nastiest, most awful tacky fairy I possibly could, for the cheapest price. All the truly dreadful ones were pretty expensive, but mum and I found one that could be said to be pretty DAMN awful for the equivalent of about 70p. I'm sure he'll treasure it.

Proper update and photos of today later - but for now here are some pictures of me ( quad biking... )

So, yesterday i went quad biking.

( not dying )

I'm finally catching up with myself, as I've reached yesterday!

( Beauty's baby, Swellendam 'beach', god's little folk, and i go pony riding )

So now we're up to date! More soon!

full gallery here

Mum and I had a whole day to kill in Port Elizabeth, the transport from Amakhala arriving there at 12, and our bus not due to depart until 7pm. Enter Malcolm, the transport driver, and possibly the friendliest man in the world - although I have to say pretty much everyone I've met so far has been so friendly, it honestly puts London to shame.

Malcolm is quite happy to drop us at the beach for a few hours, point out the nice places to hang about, and pick us up again at 4 and take us back tot he guest house he and his wife run so we can meet her, and rest in one of their suites until 6, and then Malcolm will drive us to the Spar for food for the journey, and then to the bus station. And he'll take not a penny for it!

( the afternoon in Port Elizabeth, the story of the Worst Meal Ever, The Coral Tree and the Journey home )

So we're almost up to date - Yesterday we crossed the mountains, swan in hot springs and saw a weird hotel, and today i went pony riding. Yes, me, on a horse.

I will update about yesterday and today as soon as i can, but mum and dave have just had a booking for the cottage and need the computer, and we are off to the pub to watch South Africa beat England in the Cricket and hopefully have some chips.

full photo gallery so far

So off we set for the afternoon game drive in Amakhala - the plan is to try and find the lions again, hoping to see the whole family, go on a boat trip to maybe see some rare birds, and perhaps the buffalo.

It started so well...

( lions, boats, buffalo, and the true meaning of an 'African Roadblock' and how a succession of unexpected elephants made us late for dinner )

full photo gallery so far

So as soon as we've lunched and before we've barely had a chance to look round the stunning lodge rooms, we head off for our first game drive.

( lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and more... )

the full photo gallery so far...

Here I am, Chez shackers

The flight was textbook perfect, left on time, hardly any turbluence, arrived on time, and i even got my vegan meal. Watched Casino Royal - and remembered why i don't really like James Bond films- i NEVER understand the plot. I'll have to get one of you to explain it to me at some point. I was alright with the whole poker game thing, but the stuff after that with the girl just confused me!

I do not understand Rand very well, but so far Dave has had a pint of beer for 70p and i bought a pink shirt with skulls and crossbones on it for about £2.

I haven't taken many photos yet as the plane got in at 8am and i'm still a bit whaaaa?? as i can't really sleep on planes!

It was really sunny in Cape Town, but now we're in Swellendam it's a bit overcast. Boo.

Have seen some ostriches, but no monkeys or horrible insects yet.

Mum and Dave have done WONDERS with the place - when they first showed me the photos of the house they intended to buy i was like WTF? are you INSANE? But it looks really gorgeous. I'll take some photos soon! The garden is also lovely - but will be much better when they've built a plunge pool ;)

Renovations have ceased at the mo as they've not had many bookings in and as such have no money - if you know ANYONE coming to south africa, or who could be pursueded to come, reccomend Impangele please!!

Going to safari tomorrow, by bus! It's about a 7 hour overnight bus ride!! o_O