South Africa

sorry this is all I could out on right now my camera is acting up I have a ton more I will put up when I an. heading to Bali on Sunday!! Can’t wait.

What a great day again!! I ended up moving out of the backpackers and am staying at the couple’s house whom I met yesterday. They are really cool, very laid back and are travel journalist who work out of home. It is in the middle of the woods and there are actually monkeys in the yard and on the house. I went sand boarding today down huge sand dunes. It was so cool just like snowboarding but allot hotter and not a building or person in sight for miles. I actually encountered a first yesterday in my surfing life. I was called out of the water by life guards whistling and running up and down the beach with a huge flag with a shark on it. I don’t think I have ever gotten out of the water so fast. It was the same spot where the person (Shannon whom I stayed with in j bay for a night) was attacked by two great whites at once and was all over TV and the internet in the states. At the moment this computer won’t let me put up pics with my camera so within the next few days they should be up.

It has been a while on here mainly because I have been on the move for the most part of the past 4 days. I left Sunday night from j-bay to pt. Elizabeth. Got a ride from a doctor I met who was going back that way. Stayed in backpackers Sunday night with a reservation for the safari the next day. The town of pt. Elizabeth is pretty lame, mostly just a stopover for traveling up the coast. On Monday I finally went on a safari, a real one not animal kingdom at Disney. What am amazing day!!! I was picked up around 2pm by the game park and driven about an hour to the reserve. The tour was done in an open range rover that you would expect of something like that in Africa. I saw all of the animals I was looking forward to seeing except a cheetah. The giraffes were amazing and the lions were the most breathtaking animal I have ever encountered, watching something so powerful and in control of every situation right in front of you is an amazing thing that I think every person should experience and that doesn’t mean jump in your car and go to animal kingdom. We then went back to the camp and had tea before setting of on the nocturnal safari to see the nocturnal deer and crocs and what not. Ended the night beautifully by a fire and then a superb dinner. Returned last night about 10 pm and was up early this morning at 7 for the bus up to east London where I am now. I just finished having dinner at a very nice couple’s house whom I met here. It is so amazing how much every person in this country knows about their own history and that of their country. It seems u would never find that in the U.S. which brings up great conversations everywhere. I miss everyone and hope all is well in civilization as I am moving up to more untouched parts of the Dark Continent and into the Transkei. No paved roads or street signs. I will put up pics from the safari ASAP cheers nick

Great day today. Got about 3 hours of sleep last night because of a big going away party for someone in town. Had a good day of surf and actually broke one of my boards in half on my last wave. Oh well its life i will buy one tomorrow. Tonight we are having a brai- aka BBQ on the brick grill outside. Also thought i would throw some local slang at you. Allot of stuff is mixed with Afrikaans which is the second language here brought by the Dutch.
Braai-barbeque
lacka-"right on"
Ahoy-"hello" haha my favorite. i always think of pirates.
howzit?
Bru- bro
shot-"thanks"
dankie-thank you
jorl-party
kif-good
dop-brink

Moving up the coast by Sunday or Monday. And going to see the BIG 5 on the safari. Can’t wait so stay tuned for pics of that and i will be putting pics up of some surfing. Waves have been really good lately which is why i haven’t written in the past few days. I live off everyone’s comments they are awesome the email is nick_fairman@yahoo.com if anyone wants to send me one. Hope everything is good back in the sates. Looks like i will be in Bali by Sep 5 or so but as of now none of my plans are in concrete. Being in the house is awesome. I am the youngest of about 10 guys and have been labeled as the apprentice or grommet. Doing dishes regularly for everyone and learning more than i would be if i was in college ha-ha .i know Ma didn’t want to hear that. It also looks like i might be able to last the entire year. All of the travelers say i am cheating my self if i don’t go ATLEAST a year. We will see. Tonight is a big party at a local establishment so the whole house looks to be going. I am starting to get a peak into the local scene around here and it is kind of odd. There are so many houses here that are not inhabited most of the year because they are all vacation houses. Also i have never been haggled for money as much as i have by the poor people here. There are tons up and down the streets and at night there is a supposed gang of about 20 kids between 10 and 15 years old. This town is said to be unlike most of the rest of s.a. because they say this country is one of the most dangerous countries in the world and practicing good safety is a must. This fact makes me kind of nervous to travel up to east London which is a few hours up the coast. I guess that’s when i will get in real traveling mode. Wish me luck!!! CHEERS!!!!