Our adventure began this morning at 10 a.m. Joseph took us to the airport so we could rent a car. The "getting the car" was uneventful. A very smooth process and everyone very helpful, much to our surprise. We inspected the car and took pictures of it so we won't be accused of damage we did not do. We also got a GPS to go with the car. It's always helpful to have local roads on a GPS. The rental is a stick shift. There is nothing wrong with that, but keep in mind the driver is on the right side, so you have shift with your left hand. Since they drive on the left side of the road here, we have to talk out loud to ourselves, "Remember, when we turn right up here, swing way out and make sure you go on the other side of the median into the far left lane. And, when you turn left, remember to yield to the traffic coming from the right and don't forget to hug the left when you turn left." It takes two (or 3) of us to drive here, but so far we are managing. We just keep thinking, if we can survive a Nanjing taxi driver, we can manage this. Well, only this time we ARE the Nanjing taxi driver and we are in Africa. This is the place where people are running in front of you to cross the road when the speed limit is 120 km, others are just walking in the middle of the road, and if you are stopped in traffic or at an intersection, they are in your face, won't move from in front of your car, trying to sell everything from horse whips, to picture frames, to hats, to sunglasses. (Sorry for the poor sentence structure tonight). You name it, you can buy it in traffic. We kept the doors locked and just kept driving.
It is a holiday weekend here (Youth Day) and there are lots of people out and about so crime is at a maximum. Must take extra precautions and always be alert for hijackers. Today, we managed to make it to a grocery store. They have these guys in the lot with shirts on that say, "CAR GUARD." It is their job to watch the cars in the parking lot. They take your cart from you and load your stuff into your trunk. They also help you back out of your parking spot and direct you out of the lot. Since the crime rate is so high, they watch the cars and keep order in the lot. No wrecks in the parking lot!
There is NO place in this area of this country to purchase an electrical adapter. We went to several places to locate one without any success. Our staff here has really come through and now we can charge more than one thing at a time.
Speaking of electricity, here's a story for you. Isaiah and I decided to get our showers out of the way before dinner so that it wouldn't be so cold. Isaiah finished up and then it was my turn. I was actually in the shower and guess what. Those darn boys turned the light off on me. It was pitch black dark and I couldn't even see my hand right in front of my face. I turned off the shower and yelled, "Isaiah Sullivan Dial, you turn that light back on right now." I got NO response. It was silent. No giggling or anything. Then I hollered for Dax to handle it. Again, no response. So, I yelled again, "You guys better turn that light back on right now, 1, 2, 3." No response. So, then they both explained to me (through the door) that the power had gone out. I swear I thought for sure they were playing around and lying. Well, they weren't. So much for shaving my underarms tonight! I told Isaiah and Dax to open the blinds on the back side of our room and also by the sliding glass door to see if any light could come in from anywhere. Nothing. So, I stepped out of the bathroom to try to reach my clothes which were on the floor outside of the door, and BAM! We had power. I was standing there stark naked. Of course, I screamed, tried to cover and ran back into the bathroom. Thank goodness no one was in the veranda area outside of our door. LOL. The boys got a big laugh out of it and they didn't even cause it. It was like they were taking credit for it. Too funny.
Here is Joseph driving us to the airport to rent a car. Funny thing happened. Joseph said we could go ahead and get in the van. Dax started to get in on the driver's side. Oh my! Isaiah and I shook our heads thinking the same thing, "And Dax is going to be driving us in Africa?" :) No matter how many times you tell yourself the driver is on the right, it just doesn't feel right after all these years of driving.
Bread at the grocery store covered with a net.
We went to the store and what was the first thing Isaiah placed in the cart?
Yep, you got it! Dog treats for his 4 new friends.
I couldn't get my camera out fast enough since I was holding the GPS and helping drive, but this was a car wreck that we were NOT in, thankfully. You can't see it in this picture, but we saw HUGE rolling flames and black, black smoke. Terrible!
So, we were concerned about finding a place to do our own laundry. We found some places that do it for you, but no coin operated laundry could be located. We saw one of the staff washing his clothes out by hand and hanging them on the line where our towels and sheets are hung, so we figured it's worth asking the staff's input. I found the lady who gets us towels and asked, "Do you know where we can go to do our laundry?" She said, "Yes, you give me laundry, I do it." Problem solved! So, when we got back from our outing today at the store, finding maps to buy, and looking for electrical adapters, we pulled into our place and saw
all of our clothes hanging out on the lines. Too funny.
This is our "lodge" -- it has 8 rooms. And this lodge has CEMENT floors. No dirt floors here! The houses beside us and across the dirt road have them, but we have cement. So fortunate.
Just hanging out.
This is "Momi"-- one of the staff. Love her!
Tomorrow we are driving to the Dundee, Zwa Zulu-Natal area in the valley of the Biggarsberg mountains. We want to see where the Battle of Isandlwana took place back on January 22, 1879. It was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. It is still the single greatest defeat
for the British Army at the hands of a native army. I'm sure we will see many other things, but that is our primary goal. We hope to leave by 6 a.m. We will NOT drive after dark. We've told the staff we are leaving before breakfast and where we are heading. They know if we aren't back by dark to worry (and pray). We have a trunk full of water and some food, a full tank of gas, etc. We are ready to roll. Can't wait for another fun and adventurous day together. Once again, if we have power and time tomorrow night, we will try to update again.
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