World of Beer-South Africa's number 1 tourist attraction in 2009. It was a great tour and not just about brewing beer but about it's importance in all the different tribes in SA and through the Apartheid era. I really enjoyed it and we were all able to enjoy our chose of an SAB drink at the end. I have a wild berry brutal fruit :)
Down town Jo-Berg Surprisingly it didn't look too different from home at a distance
Gold Reef City-not what we expected because it was an amusement park, but a blast! It was themed after mining towns. The picture of that tall thing is a ride I went on. It took a 90degree turn straight for the ground it was intense. From the top we could see the world cup stadium! This was also cool because there were tons of school groups and it was interesting to see all the uniforms and so much diversity such as a group of Muslim students praying.
This is a real brick of gold! We saw a gold pouring exhibit at Gold Reef City, it was incredible to see the gold brick formed... it was so hot they had the gold in a oven thing that was over 1000 degrees Celsius! The other picture is the view from the house we stayed in on our way to Swaziland... it was beautiful these were taken right after we got back from our morning jog... perfect morning!
A gold mining city... the clouds were so low over the mountains it was beautiful
A beautiful view on our drive right after crossing the boarder!
View of the sunset from the hut we stayed at on a wild life game park in Mlilwane in Swaziland... it was breathtaking, the pictures don't do it justice.
Acting a tiny bit over excited about our huts that looked cool on the outside but had bugs! We were a little weary at first but ended up loving it, it felt more cultural!
Friday night we went to a popular place called the "House of Fire" for performances by local Swazi artists and it was insane. The place was decorated like nothing I've ever seen and I loved it and it was all pretty much outside. The group went on an hour late and did what we would call 'freestyling' and too be honest I think these people were a little bit loopy and high above the clouds but it was so cool and they were really good! It was an experience that I can't even explain but we had some good laughs and really enjoyed ourselves!
One of my new favorite animals, impalas, they have M's on their reer ends so they are the McDonalds buck! They run and jump so quickly and were everywhere on the park we stayed along with, zebra, spring bok, kudu, and wildabeasts!
A shot of the Swazi candle store. The candles were so beautiful and the store was huge, Swaziland is well known for this specific store and the beautiful crafts the people of the country make, I loved getting to go to all the markets and finally seeing these so highly talked of candles!
One of the markets we went to was just a long row of shop after shop. The Swazi people were unlike many of the people at markets here in PE. They were so kind and not so pushy. I was fully embraced by some for simply taking a look in their shop and was overwhelmed by the gratitude I experienced for offering a piece of gum to two ladies after I made a purchase. These people really have so little but are so grateful when you buy something, plus things were much more reasonable here. I could have shopped and shopped. One of the girls we were with from Switzerland teased me that I was terrible at shopping there because I was so slow and interested to have a conversation with everyone! Needless to say I loved this market and could have looked and looked! My Grammy would have loved it but I think she would have had trouble not buying lots and lots!
The name of the tour company we went on is called "kick ass adventures!" We got tee-shirts... this is before the most kick butt adventure we had... caving!!!
It was a 45min hike to get to the so called caves and it was intense. The trees and all the landscape was so different from anything I've ever seen it was beautiful. We went on what was one of the very first roads in Swaziland that some of the royalty has actually traveled on, it was so cool!
That pile of rocks is the top of the 'cave' we went into. It was not like a cave we know of at home. It was very enclosed spaces and to get around we had to squeeze and literally crawl through spaces. We had headlights to guide us since we were in complete darkness. We went 100m below the ground and under this mountain is a river and we saw the water rushing beneath us at one point after maneuvering ourselves down lower. Truthfully I can't believe they allow people to go in those caves, it was probably one of the most thrilling things I've done! I'm so glad I did it, but man it was scary!
This is only after getting into the cave. We were filthy at the end we had to slither through so many spaces in this damp dirty cave! Bats were even running into us, it was hectic!
The pictures aren't clear and look weird but this is an example of a tiny space we slide through, you can see how tiny and steep it was
That is the river rushing beneath the mountain. It is so weird that there was a river underground like that!
Our view when we woke up and an ostrich that joined us at breakfast!
View from the swimming pool! So relaxing!
So there is a synapses of my few days in Swaziland. The country side and the people were so beautiful. There is clearly poverty but it's much different then SA since there were no forced removals. People are confined to the same small area, however like SA there are always people out everywhere waving and greeting you! I'm so thankful I was able to do so much. I'm missing pictures of our last day. The big adventure that day was mountain biking and seeing animals. I'm still sore!
I am so glad I got to see more of Africa. Verdict is in and now I do not only love South Africa but all of Africa from what I've seen. I'm so blessed to have been able to go on this trip. I could go on and on about it but I'll save some stories. One of the very best parts was the relationships I formed. I went with different people than I'm normally with on a nightly basis and it was a blast. Our tour guides daughter and a girl they have staying with them from Switzerland both came along which added so much. They were our age and I got along with them so, so well. I'm excited to continue to get to know them. It is really comforting to have formed a relationship with a family from South Africa. You learn so much more from talking to people who live here and have experienced things! Plus after talking to Noemi I'm ready to go to Europe next! All the kids we meet at backpackers and around seem to do this thing called a "gap year" to travel and experience things I think the US needs to start that up!
Ok that's enough for now. I really could put up pages of pictures and write and write about how great Swaziland is and how happy I am with my weekend! Homesickness hit again on the drive home because it actually rained and seeing the raindrops race across the car window made me think of driving with my parents and Michael to visit Illinois and Indiana! It was almost comforting to think of those memories even though it made me miss my family! How cool that I'm in Swaziland and so happy yet still have so many great memories of the midwest and my family!? I sure am blessed!
Miss and love you all,
Megan
wonderful Megan, thank you for sharing
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Megan!!! You're blog is beautiful! And it makes me sooo excited and happy for youu!! :) It's so neat we get to both experience something new at the same time.. when we get back we will have to have a sleepover and swap stories all night long! :) I would love to hear more! :) Australia students take a "gap year" too!!!!! i totally think its the most amazing idea! Get out and have experiences before school takes over your life again... i think we should get this started in the states! :) i loveee youu! Praying for you! :)
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