So basically the past few weeks have been the same. Deborah and Anna going to school, me teaching Music classes, piano, recorders, handbells and Ray still commuting back and forth to the ship.
But what is going on with the ship you may wonder? Well, there is a blog telling you all about what is going on including great pictures, so take a look at what is going on with the Africa Mercy.
Power the Vision
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Rest of the Safari Adventure
After supper we let the girls swim in the pool. It was freezing but they had fun!
The next morning I looked out the bathroom window at 6:30a just to see where we were since it had been dark when we got there the night before. I was astonished to see a giraffe staring at me 20 feet away!!!!! He was just beautiful and I woke up the girls to see him and his friends!
There were six giraffes altogether just taking an early morning stroll.
Then we were off to the 3rd part of our adventure. A 2 hour river ride at St. Lucia where we saw crocs.
Tons of hippos!
Here's a closer view of two hippos.
The next morning I looked out the bathroom window at 6:30a just to see where we were since it had been dark when we got there the night before. I was astonished to see a giraffe staring at me 20 feet away!!!!! He was just beautiful and I woke up the girls to see him and his friends!
There were six giraffes altogether just taking an early morning stroll.
Then we were off to the 3rd part of our adventure. A 2 hour river ride at St. Lucia where we saw crocs.
Tons of hippos!
Here's a closer view of two hippos.
The Meerkat
So, after the Zulu village and the Safari we were taken to the Lodge on the reserve to spend the night. Our driver went in to make sure they were ready for us and came out to tell us they had a meerkat for a pet and that he had almost stepped on it. Well, all I heard was CAT and I got all excited. Now when I first saw the meerkat I knew it didn't look like a cat but I was thinking maybe it was a different kind of a cat. Anyways, I miss my cats and so I decided to love on this little guy. Isn't he cute?
So we pet and loved on this little guy. He sat in my arms and in my lap. During dinner he slept at my feet. Later that night we brought him into our room but kicked him out when it was time to sleep. He scratched at our door after we kicked him out because he wanted to come back in. He also scratched at every other door too! He dug lots of little holes all over the ground looking for bugs to eat. Doesn't that sound cat-like to you?
Eventually I figured out that there was nothing 'cat' about this little guy. He was simply adorable but apparently he is a mongoose, good to have around to keep the snakes away. I really enjoyed him. Oh, get this, his name is......Meerkat.
So we pet and loved on this little guy. He sat in my arms and in my lap. During dinner he slept at my feet. Later that night we brought him into our room but kicked him out when it was time to sleep. He scratched at our door after we kicked him out because he wanted to come back in. He also scratched at every other door too! He dug lots of little holes all over the ground looking for bugs to eat. Doesn't that sound cat-like to you?
Eventually I figured out that there was nothing 'cat' about this little guy. He was simply adorable but apparently he is a mongoose, good to have around to keep the snakes away. I really enjoyed him. Oh, get this, his name is......Meerkat.
Safari!!!
We had the opportunity to go on a Safari the first weekend in October. It was actually a package deal that offered three different things along with an overnight at a lodge in a game reserve. The first part was going to a Zulu village where we were shown how the Zulu people make different things like shields and clothing. Then they danced for us.
The second part was the Safari! We climbed into the Safari vehicle, I am in the back with the girls. Anna is there but was not making an effort to be seen. Be assured, she is there and enjoyed seeing the animals as much as the rest of us. Ray is in the first row of seats behind the driver's seat. Our Safari driver is standing off to the side getting ready.
We saw so many animals but here are a few. The zebras were just inside the gate of the reserve.
We saw many giraffes but this one was walking right down the road toward us and came right up to us before turning to go towards the trees.
We saw Cape Buffaloes galore but this old fellow was stubborn and didn't want to move out of the way for us to pass. I think we were sitting there for at least 15 minutes talking to him. Finally another Safari vehicle came from the opposite direction and he decided to go somewhere else.
The second part was the Safari! We climbed into the Safari vehicle, I am in the back with the girls. Anna is there but was not making an effort to be seen. Be assured, she is there and enjoyed seeing the animals as much as the rest of us. Ray is in the first row of seats behind the driver's seat. Our Safari driver is standing off to the side getting ready.
We saw so many animals but here are a few. The zebras were just inside the gate of the reserve.
We saw many giraffes but this one was walking right down the road toward us and came right up to us before turning to go towards the trees.
We saw Cape Buffaloes galore but this old fellow was stubborn and didn't want to move out of the way for us to pass. I think we were sitting there for at least 15 minutes talking to him. Finally another Safari vehicle came from the opposite direction and he decided to go somewhere else.
Our Dorm Rooms and the Music Room
These are the four rooms we have to use while we are in Appelsbosch.
This is one side of our living room/dining room.
This is the other side. I made a couch out of one bed and another foam mattress as a back.
Girls' room
Play room with toys everywhere
The Music Room in the Academy. Don't look too closely at the ceiling.
This is one side of our living room/dining room.
This is the other side. I made a couch out of one bed and another foam mattress as a back.
Girls' room
Play room with toys everywhere
The Music Room in the Academy. Don't look too closely at the ceiling.
Indian Ocean and the way to Appelsbosch
The last Sunday in September we were able to go to church in Ballito which is on the coast. After church we went to the beach and had a chance to swim (or dip your toes) in the Indian Ocean. What a thrill! The kids enjoyed swimming in one of the Tidal Pools here on the beach. The water is not that warm but the sun is.
Deborah looking out over the Tidal Pool.
The weather changes as we go back up into the mountains to Appelsbosch. It becomes overcast and sometimes the fog is so thick you can't see beyond our compound. This picture was taken in early spring so already a month later it is much greener here.
The houses are built on the sides of the mountains.
And it looks terraced in some places.
Deborah looking out over the Tidal Pool.
The weather changes as we go back up into the mountains to Appelsbosch. It becomes overcast and sometimes the fog is so thick you can't see beyond our compound. This picture was taken in early spring so already a month later it is much greener here.
The houses are built on the sides of the mountains.
And it looks terraced in some places.
A wedding and another day trip
The girls and I had the privilege of being present for Alex and Sharon's wedding on September 14th (Ray was on the ship). Alex and Sharon met through Mercy Ships and decided to have their wedding here at Appelsbosch. It was a joyous occasion and a lot of fun for all of us. Here is the beautiful Sharon walking across the ampitheatre to her groom.
Another view of where we are staying. The gym is on the right and our dorm is on the left. Each dorm has four wings. The wing you can see has a small apartment on the ground floor for one of the workers and the floors above are both lounges where you can have Bible Studies or watch tv or just hang out.
Another weekend we were able to go to Howick Falls, another waterfall that doesn't have as much water as usual due to the drought but magnificent still the same. I had Ray and the girls pose by this sign because it tells how far away other waterfalls in the world are. Do you see Niagara Falls? Anna isn't happy because it was hot out that day.
Howick Falls
Howick Falls with the Szareks!
Another view of where we are staying. The gym is on the right and our dorm is on the left. Each dorm has four wings. The wing you can see has a small apartment on the ground floor for one of the workers and the floors above are both lounges where you can have Bible Studies or watch tv or just hang out.
Another weekend we were able to go to Howick Falls, another waterfall that doesn't have as much water as usual due to the drought but magnificent still the same. I had Ray and the girls pose by this sign because it tells how far away other waterfalls in the world are. Do you see Niagara Falls? Anna isn't happy because it was hot out that day.
Howick Falls
Howick Falls with the Szareks!
First Days in Appelsbosch
The view from our dorm looking towards the west.
Looking out towards the sunset from the hill above our dorm. You can see my bedroom windows on the ground floor of the dorm on the right.
One of the first weekends here we were able to go to Albert Falls for the day. The waterfalls are supposed to cover this whole area but because of the drought the reservoir was low and that meant not much water coming over the falls. We had a lot of fun climbing up the rocks. Here Deborah is up at the top with our friend Gray. We had all been up there but Ray, Anna and I had come back down already.
The other side of the rocks we climbed had a smaller waterfall. Deborah is up there with friends.
Anna posed for me in front of the smaller falls.
Looking out towards the sunset from the hill above our dorm. You can see my bedroom windows on the ground floor of the dorm on the right.
One of the first weekends here we were able to go to Albert Falls for the day. The waterfalls are supposed to cover this whole area but because of the drought the reservoir was low and that meant not much water coming over the falls. We had a lot of fun climbing up the rocks. Here Deborah is up at the top with our friend Gray. We had all been up there but Ray, Anna and I had come back down already.
The other side of the rocks we climbed had a smaller waterfall. Deborah is up there with friends.
Anna posed for me in front of the smaller falls.
We have arrived in South Africa!
Deborah and her friends as we sail into port.
Our welcome from the Mercy Ships' team who had gone ahead of us to have everything ready for us.
One of two tug boats who were pushing us sideways (from port to starboard) gently to the dock.
We spent one last night on the ship and enjoyed the beautiful lights of Durban's port.
The next morning the moving vans arrived along with two buses to move 150 of us out to Appelsbosch (we also took some of our Land Rovers with us). Everyone pitched in. Each person would take a piece of luggage and carry it down the main gangway and set the luggage down in front of the van then walk down the dock to the secondary gangway come back into the ship and back to get more luggage. I was watching kids on Deck 7 while Ray was helping with the luggage.
Our welcome from the Mercy Ships' team who had gone ahead of us to have everything ready for us.
One of two tug boats who were pushing us sideways (from port to starboard) gently to the dock.
We spent one last night on the ship and enjoyed the beautiful lights of Durban's port.
The next morning the moving vans arrived along with two buses to move 150 of us out to Appelsbosch (we also took some of our Land Rovers with us). Everyone pitched in. Each person would take a piece of luggage and carry it down the main gangway and set the luggage down in front of the van then walk down the dock to the secondary gangway come back into the ship and back to get more luggage. I was watching kids on Deck 7 while Ray was helping with the luggage.
End of Sail and Arrival in Durban
We saw some beautiful sunsets on our 17 day sail.
But finally we arrived in Durban and we started to sail into the port.
One of the tugboats that came to help us into the port.
Deborah and Anna on our non-functional pool deck which we call Deck 9. It was a great view for us as we sailed into port!
Looking straight ahead as we sail into port.
But finally we arrived in Durban and we started to sail into the port.
One of the tugboats that came to help us into the port.
Deborah and Anna on our non-functional pool deck which we call Deck 9. It was a great view for us as we sailed into port!
Looking straight ahead as we sail into port.
More of the Sail
Anna is showing you the strap that helps hold her in place in bed. Most of the kids use side rails or nothing but we just used the straps that were built into the bunks. Ray and I had side boards that we could pull up at night on our bed but we never did. I was on the inside next to the wall so I would roll into Ray and Ray decided he'ld take his chances of not rolling out of bed!
Deborah showing her strap.
We celebrated Anna's birthday on the sail! She turned 6 on August 31st but we celebrated a few days before that because we weren't sure which day we would arrive in Durban. She had a party with her classmates and sister in the Queen's Lounge after school the Friday before her actual birthday.
The gorgeous Deborah on Deck 7 port side looking forward.
The gorgeous Anna on Deck 7 port side looking aft.
Deborah showing her strap.
We celebrated Anna's birthday on the sail! She turned 6 on August 31st but we celebrated a few days before that because we weren't sure which day we would arrive in Durban. She had a party with her classmates and sister in the Queen's Lounge after school the Friday before her actual birthday.
The gorgeous Deborah on Deck 7 port side looking forward.
The gorgeous Anna on Deck 7 port side looking aft.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)