The vacation in retrospect

Ruralness. Villages. Convenient stores and gas stations.

I'm baaack :)

It feels good to be back "home" for all of us from our 8-day cultural excursion along the Eastern Cape. Despite some of our multiple-hour drives, the scenery along the way was breathtaking - I've never seen so many different kinds of trees in one place before. We almost hit some cows a few times on the way, and ostriches would poke their heads out to check us out. We were stuffed into 3 combies (mini buses, also a popular mode of public transit) and stayed for one or two nights in different towns, cities, and sites. Some things I recall doing include:

1. Hiking through a Xhosa village - Crossing small rivers with our shoes off, drinking homemade beer out of an old paint bucket and passing it around with a local, and meeting the village chief in a hut.
2. Indian ocean beaches. Mmm. Warm and wavy. The sand was powdery soft. We are all dark from the sun, and some people are still peeling from their sunburns. It's worth it. Yum.
3. Safari game reserve. Rhinos, ostriches, lions and cheetahs. Wine and authentic African cuisine. Meaty and delicious.
4. Visiting the Steve Biko Foundation and seeing the kinds of social services they offer to the surrounding communities.
5. Bungee jumping! Yes, the Guiness Book of World Records recognized the 700+ ft. bungee jump to be the world's largest commercial bungee. Dude, it freakin' rocked!

Alrighty, I feel like I have tons to say, but I'll just post the pictures up now :) Here is that link you guys have been waiting for: http://www.curiouscat.smugmug.com . I'll try to update my photos at least weekly. Feel free to leave comments there too.