And so it begins: November 2012

Capetown, South Africa

Capetown, South Africa

January-February 2012

V & A Waterfront

Prince Alfred second son of Queen Victoria began construction of the harbour in 1860. The first basin was named after himself, the second after his mother, hence the name.

In June 1858 serious winter storms wrecked over 30 vessels, as a consequence, Lloyds of London refused to cover ships wintering in the Bay. On a sunny September 17, 1860 Midshipman HRH Prince Alfred, tipped the first load of stone to start construction of the breakwater for Cape Town’s first harbour

The discovery of gold and diamonds in South Africa meant that the first section of harbour, the Alfred Basin, had to be added to and the Victoria Basin was built. The construction of the two harbour basins took place between 1860 and 1920, and the area is notable for its outstanding heritage building.

In November 1988, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront (Pty) Ltd (“V&AW”) was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary by Transnet Ltd to redevelop the historic docklands around Victoria and Alfred Basins as a mixed-use area with a focus on retail, tourism and residential development, with the continued operation of a working harbour

An absolute beautiful view of Table Top Mountain from the V & A Waterfront. Lots of shopping, resturants and sightseeing.

We took a catamaran out to Robben Island. Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Capre Town. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5 km. It is flat and only a few metres above sea level, as a result of an ancient erosion event. It is of particular note that it was here that Nobel Laureate and former Presidents of South Africa Nelson Mandela and Kgalema Motlanthe, alongside many other political prisoners, spent 27 years imprisoned during the apartheid era. Among those political prisoners was current President of South Africa Jacob Zuma who was imprisoned there for ten years.

TableTop Mountain

The main feature of Table Mountain is the level plateau approximately 3 kilometres from side to side, edged by impressive cliffs. The plateau, flanked by Devil's Peak to the east and by Lion's Head to the west, forms a dramatic backdrop to Cape Town. The highest point on the mountain is 1,086 metres (3,563 ft) above sea level, about 19 metres higher than the cable station at the western end of the plateau.
The flat top of the mountain is often covered by clouds, formed when a south-easterly wind is directed up the mountain's slopes into colder air, where the moisture condenses to form the so-called "table cloth" of cloud. Legend attributes this phenomenon to a smoking contest between the Devil and a local pirate called Van Hunks. When the table cloth is seen, it symbolizes the contest.
Table Mountain is at the northern end of a sandstone mountain range that forms the spine of the Cape Peninsula. To the south of the main plateau is a lower part of the range called the Back Table. On the Atlantic coast of the peninsula, the range is known as the Twelve Apostles. The range continues southwards to Cape Point.

The Table Mountain Cable car^] takes passengers from the lower cable station on Tafelberg Road, about 302 m above sea level, to the plateau at the top of the mountain. The upper cable station offers views overlooking Cape Town, Table Bay and Robben Island to the north, and the Atlantic seaboard to the west and south. Construction of the cableway was first started in 1926, and the cableway was officially opened in 1929. In 1997, the cableway was extensively upgraded, and new cars were introduced carrying 65 instead of 25 passengers. The new cars give a faster journey to the summit, and rotate through 360 degrees during the ascent or descent, giving a panoramic view over the city.

I'm not getting to close to the edge-it's a long way down.

It's 6 degrees colder up here, and so windy, you feel it's going to throw you off the edge

Boulders, South Aftica

Boulders Beach is situated south of Cape Town on the outskirts Of Simons Town, and is famous for being home to a thriving colony of African penguins.- approx 2500
We were surprised to think an Antarctic bird living so successfully in South Africa's temperate climate. The area is protected and is part of the Table Mountain National Park.

These penquins have common nicknames, one being the Jackass penguin, as their call resembles a donkey’s bray, another being the Black-footed penguin. African penguins have a black back and a white belly with a black chin and face patch separated from the crown by a broad white band. They have a narrow black band across the chest and down the flanks towards their legs. They measure about 60cm in length, and weigh between 2.4 and 3.6 kilogram's. Males tend to be a little larger than females and have heavier bills, but these differences are minor and so it can be difficult to tell them apart. The juveniles have blue-grey backs and a light belly and they lack the white face markings and black breast band of the adults. They have red bare patches above of the eyes, and a few randomly placed black spots on the chest and belly.

African Penguins are monogamous, and will generally return to the same colony, and often the same nest site. The vast majority pair off and remain together for consecutive breeding seasons. Some pairs have been known to have remained together for over 10 years. Usually two eggs are laid, with an incubation period is about 40 days, with both male and female participating equally in the incubation process.

They didn't like us getting too close to them, although Rick had one screaming at him. (I think he thought Rick was after his girl...)

Took a drive farther out to see the Baboons. Lots of them running around

We were advised to lock our car doors, as they've been know to open the doors, and steal purses, etc. If this happens, let them take it, as they have razor sharp teeth and will rip you apart in a flash

They are basically a nuisance, and are very mischevious

The Big Red Bus, a must! 17 stops around Cape Town. The ClockTower, Convention Center,St. George's Cathedral, South Africa Museum, Mount Nelson Hotel, South Africa Jewish Museum, District area (Apartheid), Castke of Good Hope, Cableway, President Hotel, Wincheter Mansions Hotel, Wine Tour and so many more stops

Grapes, rows and rows

Township in Cape Town in area of Cape Flats, east of Table Mountain. These were created as living areas for non-whites under the old political system of Apartheid. (didn't feel very comfortable walking through there, as Rick and I were the only ones that got off the bus to view the Township)

Following a Mr. Peter Purschke in Cape Town (as the writing on his shirt)

Just a beautiful view on our drive back to the B & B

The meeting point of the two great oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian, is a key point in world naval strategy: it is a focal point of maritime trade between East and West. Many ships have sunk in this area

The Waldon House, where we stayed

Our room in the corner, beautiful place

Medicare in Madagascar

Medicare in Madgascar

Hospital in Tamatave

All medical services in Madagascar are free. Each province has a central hospital and local clinics, dispensaries, and maternity-care centers are supplemented by mobile health units. As of 1999, total health care expenditure was estimated at 2.1% of GDP. As of 1999, there were an estimated 0.1 physicians and 0.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people.

Malaria remains one of the major health problems. The current reorganization of the health service in Madagascar is an opportunity to
establish new anti-malaria programs. The strategies of the fight against malaria consist of early care of malaria cases, drug interaction for pregnant women, and eradication of adult insects in the central highlands where malaria is common.

Entrance to hospital

The major endemic diseases are malaria, leprosy, and schistosomiasis. Tuberculosis is also prevalent. In 1995, there were 5,915 leprosy cases. In 2000, 47% of the population had access to safe drinking water and 42% had adequate sanitation.

Additional factors contributing to health problems include overcrowding (in some areas five to eight persons live in a room fourteen meters square), contagious diseases such as the plague, and inadequate garbage disposal facilities. Infant mortality has risen from sixty-eight per 1,000 births in 1975 to 109 per 1,000 in 1980 and 150 per 1,000 in 1990. Malnutrition, diarrheal diseases, respiratory infections, and malaria are major causes of infant deaths. Madagascar had a serious malaria epidemic in 1990 causing the death of tens of thousands; efforts are underway for annual antimalarial campaigns, especially in the Hauts Plateaux

The average life expectancy was 55 years in 2000.

At the end of 2001, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was estimated at 22,000 (including 0.3% of the adult population). Deaths from AIDS in 1999 were estimated at 870. In the same year HIV prevalence was 0.14 per 100 adults.

A new hospital is being built in Tamatave, with Ambatovy sponsoring the burn unit. Burns in Madagascar are quite high, as all cooking is done on the ground, and with children around, you can imagine how easily it is for them to get burned.

Homes of Madagascar

Homes of Madagascar

Homes in coastal regions are often built on a raised platform in areas with high rainfall and on the ground in drier areas. These homes tend to be much smaller with one or two rooms and are made of bamboo-like materials. The type of materials used signifies a past or present economic status. In most cases, manmade materials such as corrugated metal or cement are more desirable than natural materials as they last longer and signify greater prestige.

The situational aspect of homes and important buildings are considered very important. The most desirable direction for the primary roof line is north-south.

Homes, cattle pens, family tombs, and the village are aligned in relation to this orientation.

Interior furnishings of homes arranged in a traditional fashion in keeping with the Malagasy cosmological conception of the world being square and horizontal. For example, the bed was located in the northeast, the greeting place for guests in the northwest corner, and the cooking hearth in the middle of the western side of the house. Although some people still follow traditional customs of the placement of objects, the practice is in decline. Those in coastal regions that can afford to buy furniture tend to acquire a bed frame or sofa and wooden table. A single room serves multiple functions.

The frame

Erecting the roof, made of ravanela leaves. These are completely water proof. The rain here is massive, and the ravanela leaves keeps the home dry

A typical finished home. This costs approximately 80,000 airey airey, which is equivilant to $40.00 canadian dollars.

A slightly different style of home

The countryside in this region (Tana, the capital) has homes enclosed by ancient mud walls and newly constructed brick walls.
Typical house in Tana The style of homes built on the high plateau differs markedly from homes found elsewhere due to a heavy reliance on local materials. Homes on the high plateau tend to be multistoried and are constructed of mud bricks that are plastered with a hard drying mud coat that is then painted. Verandas are often made of elaborate scrolled woodwork

Home owners fencing off their properties just outside our compound

Homes of all shapes and sizes

Homes built where ever there is land. These homes are built just outside the plantsite (which you can see in the background)

Tidbits of Madgascar

Tidbits of Madgascar

Flag of Madagascar

National Flower of Madagascar is the Pointsetta

Most animals and plants in Madagascar can't be found anywhere else. Lemurs are one of the animals that only live in Madagascar. We have tenrecs that are like hedgehogs and other animals like shrews.

Elephant birds are extinct now but 1,000 years ago they lived only on Madagascar. These birds couldn't fly because they were 10 feet tall and weighed 1,000 pounds.

1000's of kinds of orchids grow in the wet forests in the eastern part of Madagascar.

Pirates liked to make their base on Madagascar in the 1600's and 1700's. The famous Captain William Kidd even came.

Madagascar is actually a huge island off the southeast coast of Africa. It is also made up of many small islands. The biggest island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest in the entire world. The capital of my country is Antananarivo, and it is also the

largest city.

Malagasy is the main language of Madagascar, but they also speak French. It is also what the people who live in this country are called. By the way, Berivotra means "lots of wind" in Malagasy.
Like most of the people who live here, most families are farmers and Zebu

herders. They raise rice in irrigated fields and herd cattle, most of which are zebus. Zebus are ox-like animals that live in the hills. Here in Madagascar they don't measure their wealth by how many cars or fancy houses they have. They measure wealth by how many cattle they own! In this country, there are nearly as many zebus as cattle. They also grow bananas, sweet potatoes, and cassava.
Like most of the people here, they are of mixed black African and Indonesian descent. . There are also many Muslims and people who practice local African religions.

Madagascar is sandy and grassy in some areas like Berivotra. There are mountains in the north. In the west there are wide plains and some river valleys. In the southern part of the country it is a desert, and it is hot. It is cool in the central highland area of our country.
They spend a lot of time caring for the graveyards. Some tombs looks just like a painted house, and other tombs hav a beautifully cared wooden ornament, called a staff, on top. Africans sacrifice with cattle at their family's tomb. It's interesting having so many different religions within one country.

Vendors of Madagascar

Vendors of Madagascar

The unit of money is the ariary. 1 € is about 2900 ariary and $1.00 cdn is about 2000 ariary as of 2010. The value of the ariary has been rather stable for a few years. The currency system was overhauled in 2006. Prior to 2006 the unit of currency was the Malagasy Franc (Franc Malgache) and was worth 1/5 of an ariary, for example, 10,000 Francs = 2000 Ariary. However, old banknotes in Francs are still legal tender. Whenever negotiating a price, always confirm the amount in ariary. Unscrupulous merchants have been known to state the amount due without specifying the currency so that buyers are duped into paying 5 times the amount due because of Franc/Ariary confusion. You can withdraw money from ATM's in the cities, using a Visa or Visa Electron card. Mastercard can be used with ATM's of the BNI bank. Vanilla and other spices are cheap in Madagascar compared to Europe or elsewhere, and the quality (especially of vanilla) is very good. (Vanilla is about 2 € for 10 pods in Mada, compared to 3 € for 2 pods in France.)

Tire Shop

Bike repair shop

7-11 Corner Convienene Store

Beauty Salon

Upholstery Shop-despite the "front window display", the workmanship is very professional

Another Beauty Parlor

Tire Shop

Mechanics

Wooden framed mirrors and leather belts

Fruit Stand - Oranges are in season, and of course Bananas are always in season

Aluminum Pots and Pans

Furniture Store

Butcher Shop- this one mostly chickens

Motorcycle Parts Shop

Photocopy Store

Hair Salon-there seem to be one every 4th store

another meat market

Another Butcher, this one sells sausages

Bike Tire Repair Shop

Score, one of the 2 grocery stores

Score is French owned and run

Bazar Kelly Kelly (small market, maily local shoppers)

Plastics Store

Rice, lentils

More rice and lentils

A mixture of everything

Bike shop

Restuarant

Bank, guards on duty

music, CD's, etc

Misc stuff

Java Hotel, when your sitting outside on the patio having cafe au lait, the locals always have something for you to buy! They actually have a security guard on the patio to contain the sellers from bothering you

The window of a ladies dress shop

More Bananas

These jugs are fruit that is fermenting in the sun, which turns to alcohol

One of the local Petrol stations. Very modern

Foam for matresses

A local store that sells soup to nuts. Usually only 1 or 2 items of everything. Some of these stores are so small you wouldn't think of entering them.

Shoe Store. Notice only 1 shoe is hung, if you want to buy them, then they get the other shoe for you. This eliminates theft. (no good with only one shoe!)