Sorry for the lack of blogging for the past while. Things at work have been hectic and the weather has left something to be desired, so we haven't been particularly busy during our time off. However, this weekend we had visitors - yeah!!!! So, weekend post first, work post next. Thursday was Ellie's birthday. She has now caught up to me in age. There were grand ideas of what we would do that day, but what we actually ended up doing was picking up some souvenirs, going to dinner at one of our regular spots (with our favourite waiter Ruben) and then waiting for Joseph. Joseph was arriving from Johannesburg and we picked him up from the airport. Back at our place, we celebrated Ellie's birthday with a South African favourite - milk tart. Yum yum yum.
Friday morning we picked Mathieu up at the bus station and headed over to Diakonia. I had a few things I needed to get down before we went on our market tour. I've written about the markets before, but this time I took my camera. We also went to two markets that I missed last time - the Victoria Street Market (Indian market) and the Bead Market. This is Victoria Street Market...
The Bead Market was wonderful and certain people may be getting gifts from here for Christmas.
These ladies were quite funny. Apparently negotiating on the beading is not really done. Joseph tried to convince the lady on the left to take 5 Rand off each of our pieces (and we had a few), she took 2 Rand off each (25 cents).
This is the Muti market - the traditional healers market. You can only take photos at some stalls and with permission (there are issues regarding the legality of some of their merchandise I do believe). It's a pretty interesting place. I didn't take pictures of any of the animal skins and such, mainly because anywhere there were animal skins, there were snake skins and snakes (dead or alive) give me the creepy crawlies. Although I do prefer snakes dead to alive.
I tried crushing some of the traditional medicines. The guy said I was pretty good for a girl.
We also experienced something that we didn't last time at the Bovine Head Market. This time we actually tried some of the bovine head. Interesting.
It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Really it just tasted like really fatty beef.
But there is something about seeing right where your food came from that grosses me out. That part of me is definitely city girl.
This is the Early Morning Market. They are clients of ours. It's a neat place. Kinda like Grandville Island, but South Africa style.
After leaving the market, we were off to Wilson's Wharf to introduce the boys to some of what Durban is famous for - Bunny Chows. Basically a bunny is a loaf of bread, made into a bowl, full of curry. Now, don't think beautiful bread bowl. Thing loaf of white bread, cut in half, with some of the insides cut out and placed on the side of the plate. It was an invention of necessity when, under apartheid, restaurarts were restricted in who they could serve. So the ultimate take-away was born - the Bunny Chow. I must say, the bunny chow is pretty good, but I prefer my curry with naan or roti. After lunch I had to go back to work, everybody else went to tour a bit more.
Friday night we went up to Florida Road for dinner. We were joined by my friend Awa who I met in Italy in the summer of 2010. Awa is in town for COP17. She is on a journalism program, and you can see some of her stuff on Speak Your Mind
http://www.symnews.org/. It was a lovely dinner and really food to catch up with Awa (Sorry - no photos). Saturday we picked Sabrina up from the bus station and dropped her off for a market tour. The four of us headed to Umhlanga to the beach. Shockingly this was actually my first time swimming in the ocean since arriving two and a half months ago. I know. Terrible. The afternoon was spent shopping and such and then we all got ready to go out for Ellie's birthday. It was quite the night. Yummy dinner at my favourite Durban restaurant and a great night out dancing. Unfortunately I have no photos as we forgot Mat's camera on the kitchen table. Oops. Sunday we got up, some of us more easily than others. We all got ready and were off to our surfing lessons. We found the place we were supposed to meet our instructor, and were then informed that no surfing would be happening as the blue bottles had made their way into shore and it was just too dangerous to get in the water with the jellys. And with my experience in Capri last summer, I have no desire to swim with jellys ever again. So new plan.
We ended up spending the day around the beach front, although couldn't go in the water. We also headed over to Moses Mabhida Stadium for a little adventure. We got the harnesses on and headed to the top of the stadium. 550 steps to the top. It was pretty cool and I was very proud of Sabrina for facing a fear and coming up with us.
Great views of the city, even if it was super windy.
In the afternoon we went over to uShaka, the local aquarium. Apparently this aquarium is the largest in Africa. I wasn't super impressed, but it wasn't bad.
I got to be a volunteer for the dolphin show, but that was a bit of a dud. Meh.
Anyways, it was a great weekend with our fellow interns visiting and I am excited for the next visit, whenever and wherever that might be. Thanks Ellie, Mat, Sabrina and Joseph for a great weekend.
Friday morning we picked Mathieu up at the bus station and headed over to Diakonia. I had a few things I needed to get down before we went on our market tour. I've written about the markets before, but this time I took my camera. We also went to two markets that I missed last time - the Victoria Street Market (Indian market) and the Bead Market. This is Victoria Street Market...
These ladies were quite funny. Apparently negotiating on the beading is not really done. Joseph tried to convince the lady on the left to take 5 Rand off each of our pieces (and we had a few), she took 2 Rand off each (25 cents). 
This is the Muti market - the traditional healers market. You can only take photos at some stalls and with permission (there are issues regarding the legality of some of their merchandise I do believe). It's a pretty interesting place. I didn't take pictures of any of the animal skins and such, mainly because anywhere there were animal skins, there were snake skins and snakes (dead or alive) give me the creepy crawlies. Although I do prefer snakes dead to alive. 
I tried crushing some of the traditional medicines. The guy said I was pretty good for a girl. 
We also experienced something that we didn't last time at the Bovine Head Market. This time we actually tried some of the bovine head. Interesting. 
It wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Really it just tasted like really fatty beef. 
But there is something about seeing right where your food came from that grosses me out. That part of me is definitely city girl. 
This is the Early Morning Market. They are clients of ours. It's a neat place. Kinda like Grandville Island, but South Africa style. 
After leaving the market, we were off to Wilson's Wharf to introduce the boys to some of what Durban is famous for - Bunny Chows. Basically a bunny is a loaf of bread, made into a bowl, full of curry. Now, don't think beautiful bread bowl. Thing loaf of white bread, cut in half, with some of the insides cut out and placed on the side of the plate. It was an invention of necessity when, under apartheid, restaurarts were restricted in who they could serve. So the ultimate take-away was born - the Bunny Chow. I must say, the bunny chow is pretty good, but I prefer my curry with naan or roti. After lunch I had to go back to work, everybody else went to tour a bit more. 
Friday night we went up to Florida Road for dinner. We were joined by my friend Awa who I met in Italy in the summer of 2010. Awa is in town for COP17. She is on a journalism program, and you can see some of her stuff on Speak Your Mind http://www.symnews.org/. It was a lovely dinner and really food to catch up with Awa (Sorry - no photos). Saturday we picked Sabrina up from the bus station and dropped her off for a market tour. The four of us headed to Umhlanga to the beach. Shockingly this was actually my first time swimming in the ocean since arriving two and a half months ago. I know. Terrible. The afternoon was spent shopping and such and then we all got ready to go out for Ellie's birthday. It was quite the night. Yummy dinner at my favourite Durban restaurant and a great night out dancing. Unfortunately I have no photos as we forgot Mat's camera on the kitchen table. Oops. Sunday we got up, some of us more easily than others. We all got ready and were off to our surfing lessons. We found the place we were supposed to meet our instructor, and were then informed that no surfing would be happening as the blue bottles had made their way into shore and it was just too dangerous to get in the water with the jellys. And with my experience in Capri last summer, I have no desire to swim with jellys ever again. So new plan. 
We ended up spending the day around the beach front, although couldn't go in the water. We also headed over to Moses Mabhida Stadium for a little adventure. We got the harnesses on and headed to the top of the stadium. 550 steps to the top. It was pretty cool and I was very proud of Sabrina for facing a fear and coming up with us. 
Great views of the city, even if it was super windy. 
In the afternoon we went over to uShaka, the local aquarium. Apparently this aquarium is the largest in Africa. I wasn't super impressed, but it wasn't bad. 
I got to be a volunteer for the dolphin show, but that was a bit of a dud. Meh. 
Anyways, it was a great weekend with our fellow interns visiting and I am excited for the next visit, whenever and wherever that might be. Thanks Ellie, Mat, Sabrina and Joseph for a great weekend.
1 comment:
Hey Ali! I was wondering if you guys had tried Bunny Chow!! It was one of my favourites in SA! Sounds like you're having lots of great adventures, say hi to everyone for me!! tot siens, Allison
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