Aug 31 2009

Cape Town

Posted in ->South Africa

We left Brisbane with just under 20 kilos each in our packs and spent a quiet day in Singapore where we were lucky enough to be there at Ramadan and in the evening sample the street food only available at this time of the year.

In Cape Town we stayed close to the Waterfront where around the harbour are many shops and restaurants with Table Mountain in the background.  It was pleasant sitting in the open air listening to South African music while everyone around moved to the beat.

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We took a mini bus into the city with lovely music blaring away and even the driver was dancing.

After a morning of strolling and admiring the old Dutch buildings, we visited the very interesting slave museum.

We  climbed the hill to Malay Town where the flat roofed houses are all painted a different colour.  Here we sampled Cape Malay food.  YUM.

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By suburban train we headed off to False Bay, getting off at the surf beach of Muizenberg.  From there we began walking passing colourful old changing cottages.

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As we continued along the coast we spotted 2 Southern Right Whales frollicking some 50 metres from the shore.  We were so excited to see such gigantic animals so close that we stopped to watch.  They were camera shy.

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We hopped back on the train at the fishing village of Kalk Bay where the fishing boats were returning with the night’s catch.

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The last stop for the train was Simon’s Town from where we walked to Boulder Beach to see a large African penguin colony, most of them were nesting in scrub high up above the beach.

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We couldn’t leave Cape Town without climbing Table Mountain.  It was a glorious day and we had a great walk up the steep gorge.

The view back to Cape Town magnificent.

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