Travelling around South Africa!

Eish i havent updated this in sooo long. So much has happened!!
Travelling around South Africa has been sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun. Whilst in theory i am travelling by myself there has only been half a day where i was actually alone (which was needed to give me voice a rest! haha). I have met the most amazing people from all over the world. Staying at Backpackers is the best! Not too good for the liver though...
After leaving Jo'burg I went to Swaziland and had a brilliant 5 days. Was only supposed to stay for 3 but found the best hostel and met a great group of people so stayed longer. Swaziland is the most beautiful little country with extraordinary mountains and landscape. I highly recommend anyone going to Swazi to stay at Sonzela in the Mlilwane Nature reserve. It is about 3km off the main road but is in the best location. The hostel looks out onto vast grasslands and mountains where zebra, buffalo, impala, kudu and various other wild animals roam freely [including the resident pumba's (warthogs) and ostrich]. Went on a great hike up the mountains, visited waterfalls, traditional villages, spent about an hour in the Sangoma's hut (traditional medicine man) talking and learning about his natural medicine and did little trips into the cute city of Mbabane. Went up into the mountains for the day to visit a rural village. The local children danced for us and we sat and ate a traditional meal cooked my the ladies in the huts. We played games with the kids and watched numerous songs and dancing. Our visit was as a fundraiser for them to build another hut to make a classroom for the preschool kiddies. It was such an amazing day and with our money going to a well deserved cause. Met such a great group of people and i dont think i stopped laughing for about 4 days straight. After Swazi I caught the Baz Bus to Durban and had a brief overnight stop over there before heading into the Drakensburg the next morning. I stayed in an 'interesting' hostel in Durban. Right in the city, above a possible redlight district with some unusual fellow backpackers, however the guy who worked there was from Limpopo so he spoke Sepedi and we got chatting so all was fine. Had 3 days in the Northern Drakensburg. Again i got talking to another great bunch of people also staying at the same place in the Berg. We went for a hike up the massive mountains that border Lesotho to the highest waterfall in Africa, the second highest waterfall in the world!! At one stage we were standing on this ledge that was approx 3100m above sea level. Yo! it was awesome! Watched the sunset over the mountains and had a fun night at the bar giving the pool table and our livers a hiding and chatting to people from all over the world. At one stage i was in a conversation with 2 guys from germany, one guy from the czech republic, 2 girls from london, 2 girls from ireland, one guy from america,and one girl crazily enough from alstonville!! After leaving the Berg had another overnight stopover in Durban then flew out the next morning at 9:30am to Port Elizabeth. I just dont have time to see everything so i had to skip that stretch of coast but Im certain in the future ill b back. Had a great 2 nights in P.E. Very relaxed and beautiful city. Lungile Backpackers was brilliant. Gorgeous place, in an awesome location and run by a really great group of guys. Relaxed at the beach and went for a stroll with Suzy (great friend from England). The locals are soo lovely. we were lying on the beach and this young guy came up to us and introduced himself and asked to be our friend. So polite and sweet. We got chatting, played in the surf and built sandcastles for ages. If only more people had such an open and gentle nature, we would all have so much more fun and certainly more friends!! Had an awesome night with Suzy, Lyle, Olly, Leigh and the guys playing pool etc. Didnt sleep until 4am and then got on the bus at 6:30am. The driver let me put my CD on so we sang and danced most of the way to Jeffreys bay. Picked up 3 of the craziest people i have ever met! Instant friends...Garry, Emma and Sarah from England. They were also still drunk from the night before so joined the party on the bus. It was Gaz's birthday so before we had even got our bags into our rooms at Island Vibe in J Bay we were hitting the bar for Garry's "birthday breakfast". I never thought i would be lining up shots at 10am but what i keep telling myself is.....'when in Rome!!!'. hahaha. That pretty much sums up the next 3 days in J Bay. Such a funky and crazy backpackers. Everyone was definately feeling festive! Checked out the surf factory outlets and lazed on the beach but most of the time was spent dancing with the Hat Club! ...long story and shouldnt really be posted to such a wide audience. This side of South Africa is very different to what i have been experiencing over the past 5 months. It is very much the tourist route and feels a lot like Australia or the Western world. The 'tourist route' as such doesnt extend into Limpopo and therefore a lot of people miss out on what i believe is a very special and inspiring side of South Africa. Thats why i feel so blessed and lucky to have been immersed in that culture and the rural side of South Africa. It has certainly left a much deeper and more profound impact on my life. Dont get me wrong, i am totally loving this side of South Africa as well but i if only more people got to experience the truly rural areas as well I think they would have a much greater understanding and appreciation for the country.
I am currently in a beautiful little area called Gordons Bay staying with the most amazing woman i have ever met! Val is seriously my role model. Having Christmas with her and her family and then will be in Cape town for New Years eve. I am soo soo grateful to have such beautiful people to spend Christmas with. God is truly watching over me!
My experiences in this country have been nothing but positive. A lot of what is projected in the media can give people the wrong impression about this country. Whilst the aids and crime and certain situations here are terrible there is so much more to South Africa than that! Unless you have experienced it yourself it is really hard to explain but I am going to try and do all i can to
paint a much more realistic and positive picture of this amazing country! I think I am totally addicted to the culture, vibe and beat of Africa!! I was warned that it was very contagious and that is certainly true!
Well as u can see all is still great here in S.A! I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope Santa finds you and all ur wishes come true. Christmas for me is all about family and whilst I am missing being at home with my immediate family, I have been adopted into so many families overhere that this years Christmas is certainly still going to be a special one.
Lots and lots and lots of love and God Bless
xoxxooxoxoxox