Durban

So it has been a really long time since I have updated this so let me just start with Durban. Emilie and I left on Tuesday February 10th and returned February 15th. We had an absolute blast. We stayed at this backpacker’s hostel called the Happy Hippo which was adorable. The rooms were nice, the staff was great, there was a bar on the roof which was fun (great bartender), and it was right next to the ocean. The first couple of days we were there it was raining so we decided to do all of the tourist type stuff during those days. We visited the largest mosque in the Southern hemisphere which was beautiful, walked around the Victoria Street Market which was really neat (bought some earrings); we visited an art gallery and a museum and then ate some of the best Indian food I have ever had. Durban has a really large Indian population so good Indian food is not hard to find. That night we went out to eat at a seafood place called Fish Café. We were both dying for good seafood. We had a nice glass of white wine, some fish cakes with lemon-dill mashed potatoes; we shared a trio of chocolate mousses for dessert, and had a cup of coffee. It was the best meal I have had since I came here. And thanks to the rand it only technically cost us $21 USD!!! The next day we went to spend the day at a traditional Zulu village in the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Seriously, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in my life!!!! We went a walk through the village with our guide Tommy, we spent some time with a traditional healer, we were served a traditional meal at this woman’s house and her little girls danced for us, and they sold us some of they bead work which is beautiful. It was a really great day. The next day we spent on the beach just relaxing which was nice. That evening we went out dancing with some other guests at the Happy Hippo and some other people which was fun. The following day was Valentines Day so Emilie and I just relaxed for most of the morning. Then we went out to a nice lunch and then we learned how to surf. Emilie was much more successful than I was though. She actually got up on the board multiple times. I came home with bruises and a fat lip. Oh well…at least I tried. That night we just hung out at the lodge and the next morning we made the long journey back to Gabs.

The next week was hectic. Tests, school, papers…it was nice though since we haven’t really had any of that so far. We didn’t really get out much. And that is about it.