Craven : South Africa 2019 TR #4

[craven morehead]

Somehow we ended up at the Thirsty Whale again nice enough setting. So we're about 20km South of Durban


We been there!

Yep! I remembered that and thought of you guys when I was there I know it's nothing flash it just seems to be the place I catch up with friends.

 

[craven morehead]

Wow !! I don't think I've been without WiFi or decent signal this long since it was invented I did get out of High Flats for day trips but we tended to drive in a direction for 2 hours visit friends do lunch etc so I couldn't very well pull my lappy out and hotspot from phone while lunching with people I haven't seen for 4 years. Up by High Flats the signal was so weak hotspotting from phone was not an option. Anyway I'm back

 

[craven morehead]

Ok so let me show you High Flats. It is not what you would call a village as such, more a collection of businesses. Groceries, fuel and all sorts of market produce for sale as well as a funeral parlour, car wash, tyres & mechanics etc There are no townships so to speak (except for a small group of buildings right next to the bottle shop) that are visible from this commercial hub. They all seem to be a little further out of town.













Die drankwinkel or Liquor store



This restaurant could probably seat 6



One of about 3 grocery outlets. This SPAR actually had a very good range for where we were.



The ubiquitous Taxi van. Literally thousands of them and predominantly Toyota :

 

[craven morehead]

High Flats cont :

Coming into town and this is where we turn off to go to farmhouse at the St Faiths sign.



Coming back into town from the other direction :







KFC is massive over here. The locals love their chicken! So far I have seen bugger all McDonalds and maybe one Burger King.







No hurry around here



Approaching the local car wash





Well that's about it for High Flats KZN. Without obstacles, human, animal or otherwise you would drive through this place in 60 seconds.

 

[drross]

Noticed KFC every where we went. Rare to see a maccas

 

[Flying mermaid]

Wimpy is where you went for Burgers - they still seem to be around.

 

[craven morehead]

Wimpy is where you went for Burgers - they still seem to be around.

@Flying mermaid yep, definitely still a Wimpy's in most decent sized towns and I notice quite a few Steers this trip.

 

[craven morehead]

Ixopo is the nearest town to High Flats and is about 22kms away. We ended up going in for fuel on what was Pension day. People everywhere!









Had to duck into the pharmac_ ( Apteek ) for some cough mixture








Finally made it to to the filling station


The ZAR / AUD conversion was close enough to 10:1 for the whole trip

It appears the VAT has increased from 10% up to 15% since my last visit and the fuel has gone up from ~R9 up to R16 per litre

 

[craven morehead]

Ixopo cont :








Tight turn required !






Locations just on the fringe of town





Only in Africa the chickens having a rest before they go to work

 

[craven morehead]

Time to head down from DUR to CPT (BA6312) and meet up with the Bride :


King Shaka is a very decent airport



As my mate had driven me in fro High Flats and the journey took about 1h 45m I couldn't very well just get him to drop me kerbside so I go and be a lounge lizard. So we did coffee at Mugg & Bean. This meant however that I only had time for 1 quick beer in the SLOW Lounge before boarding and no real time to take any photos whatsoever







The usual Euro J style seating : I had the window seat with no one in 2C


Bye bye Durban for a week.






A very basic beef & tomato pasta. Not particularly tasty but washed down with a Shiraz or three.

 

[craven morehead]

First ever glimpses of the Western Cape :















Made it down in about 2h 16mins. Nice and relaxing flight.



Only about 15 minute wait for bag.

 

[craven morehead]

Landed safely in Capetown. As I was rushed in the SLOW lounge I hadn't quite finished my hire car booking through Avis. No problem I'll just go and grab one from rental counter. Ask for a car for a week and the lady says I'll see what I have left. Oh I have a manual Corolla for R3500 + VAT for 7 days. I said on your website I can get a BMW 3 series for that price, yes she says but only online. So I pull my laptop out, hotspot signal and book a frigging BMW for R3500/wk how hard is it ??



Now I have booked a suite at the Capetown Lodge as a friend of mine had stayed last year and said it was good and well located. Suite was R950 per night. Very decent turnout the Wife arrives tomorrow and I'm sure she will be thrilled.



Very happy with the location it's probably a nice 30 minute walk down to the V & A Waterfront















The Dunny !

 

[craven morehead]

Capetown Lodge cont : Plenty of room











Outside where I turn into secure parking @ R100 per night



Guarding the front door


Reception area


Near lifts


All over the hotel on the walls in different places

 

[craven morehead]

Look what's right across the road from our hotel : Bo-Kaap

So off we go for a quick lap around Bo-Kaap to check out the colourful houses The Bo-Kaap is an area of Cape Town formerly known as the Malay Quarter. It is a former township, situated on the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre. Well worth a walk. Looking back at our hotel top left and Table Mountain covered in cloud.





















We spent an enjoyable hour wandering around having a gander.

 

[juddles]

Craven,

I just read this TR - I gave up putting "likes" after the first couple of posts as really I like all of them Absolutely fantastic - I have been jaded recently and not travelling but this has re-lit the "fuse"

Apart from stop-overs I haven't been to South Africa for about 20 years. And never to the beautiful parts shown in your photos.

Thank you!

 

[craven morehead]

Craven,

I just read this TR - I gave up putting "likes" after the first couple of posts as really I like all of them Absolutely fantastic - I have been jaded recently and not travelling but this has re-lit the "fuse"

Apart from stop-overs I haven't been to South Africa for about 20 years. And never to the beautiful parts shown in your photos.

Thank you!

@juddles a pleasure mate, more to come brother!

 

[henleybeach]

Yes keep up the good work @craven morehead.
Love seeing off the beaten track pixtures. I’m Looking forward to seeing Cape Town, A place I’m really interested in going to.

 

[craven morehead]

Yes keep up the good work @craven morehead.
Love seeing off the beaten track pixtures. I’m Looking forward to seeing Cape Town, A place I’m really interested in going to.

@henleybeach : Busting my b@!!s to catch up on TR now after having bugger all WiFi. You will love Capetown and the Western Cape. I'm thinking it's my new favourite place I hope it gives you the incentive to go visit.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Are you going to the wine areas? If so Babylonstoren in Franschhoek is worth a visit. It’s all organic and they have a herd of ducks for controlling the snails. They hire the ducks (complete with herder), to other wineries

 

[craven morehead]

Are you going to the wine areas? If so Babylonstoren in Franschhoek is worth a visit. It’s all organic and they have a herd of ducks for controlling the snails. They hire the ducks (complete with herder), to other wineries

Meeting up with a mate (ex-SA) who used to live in my small CQ town. He still works at the nearby mine but now does the FIFO thing out of the Gold Coast and will be visiting family by Bloubergstrand. We have arranged to meet up in Paarl and I will also try and get across to Stellenbosch. Have to moderate my wine intake as the wife will not drive over here she reckons every time we go out on the road it's like a Formula 1 practice session The duck thing sounds awesome!