The Latest from the Red-Nosed Brigade...

No, it’s nothing to do with Comic Relief, it’s just that we’re all sunburned and are glowing brightly, we could probably heat about 10 houses! We were out and about all day with the sun shining down on us, though the breeze made us feel a good bit cooler (and probably filled us with a false sense of security when it came to the old suncream application!)

We decided to do a bus tour which took us through the city centre, round the back of Table Mountain and then along the coast before coming back to the harbour area and waterfront of Cape Town.

One of the highlights of the day for me was the Imizamo Yethu township tour though it was hard to get my head around what life must be like for the 20,000-odd people squeezed into 18-odd hectares. I don’t think I’m meant to get my head around that one actually, there would be something wrong if I thought that that was ok...question is, what am I going to do about it? ...the cool thing was hearing the story of how an Irish businessman has forged connections with this community and numerous teams of Irish people have come over to help build houses for the locals. At the start it felt kind of weird, like we were voyeurs or something peering into the lives of “poor people”, but the thing I liked about this tour was that all of the money we paid for it goes straight to the community. Our guide (above) was a really nice guy and explained to me that he’s one of 5 guides from the township and they give these tours 7 days a week – a pretty full-on job but it’s great that they’re able to gain employment to help support their community.

Must go moisturise my red nose...Debs

Today was a big day seems like what we did today could have been 2. There was the tour itself which was lacking in the personal touch of a human talking but made up for it in interesting facts. The scenery, although at times the mountains were obstucted by cloud-cover, was still outstanding, the views of the coast, gardens, vinyards and mountain-sides definitely worth it. The bird garden which was our first stop was great, the birds were good but I didnt really like seeing the birds of prey hemmed in but their conditions were very good. The best part of the park was the monkeys, they were some characters. There was one who looked kind of grumpy but I liked him the most he just had that look like ‘damn you people leave me alone’, but at the same time like he was just having a bad day. On a couple of occasions they were climbing on me which was such an awesome experience. I think they liked me, well they are friendly folks, they like everyone will almost. From there we stopped at a township which was a bit of a shock to the system, the people were in bad poverty but they didnt look down, they looked kinda happy and grateful. Just made me realise how more doesnt mean more happiness necessarily. Also from there we drove to the bay which was strange, there was these people living in really bad poverty then just 2 minutes down the road were loads of houses owned by rich people. Made me think that maybe some social reform is needed, it kinda rout out the marxist in me and how that if the wealth was just a bit more spread around how these people would be not as well of but still comfortable and how the township would be a lot better than it is. I definitely think the goverment of South Africa needs to pull the finger out and start getting its priorities, they’re spending god knows how many millions on the world cup which don’t get me wrong will help the people of South Africa but how more the people at the top the most and little if at all the working class people. Maybe the government should look at the welfare of its own people more instead of how we as outsiders see South Africa. But anyway it was a great day and a strange day, but a great day.

Nathan AKA shiv

OK, Where do I start..? Today was an event fill day!! The bus tour of cape town was really interesting and and enjoyable – except for the sunburn I now have ☹. the first stop we made was at an aviary place (which had monkeys!). It was really good fun...I loved being able to touch the monkeys and have them climb all over you ☺ (You dont get that at Belfast Zoo!!). The township township tour was also really good but hard hitting. I didnt realise that so many people had to live in such a small area...but the Irish connection was a bit ironic and funny!

I also now have a red nose (well half because of my sunglasses) which is pretty funny. I actually look like Rudolph...but at least I’ll be feastive for coming home!! ☺
Una


Bus Tour of the Cape - excellent way to get around, seen so much I could go back to the places again and also visit the places we didn't have time to see.

MONKEYS at the Bird and small animal Zoo were amazing... they jump all around the show!

The Township was crazy with the amount of people living in one area, overcrowded is not the word for it sadly. However, changes are being made so I really hope they continue and the people of the township continue to empower themselves! - as for the Irish house, its not something you expect in Cape Town eh... and with a photo of Mary McAleese haha

Not forgetting our brief visit to a beautiful beach. What did I learn?... 'Ice Cream, You Scream, I Bring!' - And thats how you get your ice cream on the beaches of the Cape! Fancy eh, I'm thinking it would go down well in the Belfast city centre :)

Good Times,

Caoimhe x

Until the next time we will leave you with...
Cape Town's answer to Take That?!