Two taxis, two buses, two trains and two planes later and I've arrived in the big Cape, or CapAYS as it's affectionately known by some of the locals. I'm spending a day here before embarking on the epic twelve hour coach journey over to Jeffer's Bay.
My first impressions of South Africa are positive ones - the sun was shining as I stepped off the plane and I briefly had time to admire the shimmering oceans with the mountainous (sp) backdrop before the sun set on my first day here. The hostel I'm staying in has won the highly sought after 'Dingiest Accomodation In Cape Town' accolade for 07, 08 and 09 - it's just hanging in the balance as to whether they can clinch it for the fourth year running. If my opinion's worth anything they've got it in the bag. Nevertheless, it's cheap and it's central and I get to share a room with three rather attractive blondes amongst others so there's to be no complaining really.
The large number of beggars is something that I couldn't help noticing almost as soon as i left the hostel this evening. Although it wasn't so much the large quantity as the begging techniques that surprised me - they pounce on you and refuse to take no for an answer! They just walk with you and don't leave you alone no matter what you say. I did do a clothing analysis and decided that my attire of hat, sunnys, flip-flops and satchell probably didn't help me pull off the I'm-a-poor-African-boy-leave-me-alone look that I should have been going for. Hmmm, that's something to work on me thinks. I was even approached while I was eating my meal in KFC though (I've tucked straight into the local cuisine) and asked for change so that some guy could buy himself a coke! Outrageous... there's just no shame in it for them. The shanty towns (used literally in this instance) were something that shocked me too - obviously I've seen photos before or seen them in films but just to see a huge shanty town village by the side of the road that we were driving down hit home the awful reality of it all. Not nice in the slightest.
The time-difference means it's past my bedtime now. Just note though that Film Of The Plane Journey was awarded to The Blind Side (Sandra Bullock) - very good film and beat such reputable titles as Fantastic Mr Fox and 500 Days of Summer to the award so must be worth a watch. Do it.
Alright, what's goodbye in Africaans? Well whatever it is.... that's what im saying. Ciao.
