Grafitti

Today we explored the grafitti zone of the city. I have been keen to go here for weeks, and it didn't disappoint!

Enjoy some pictures! I think it makes the city look really gritty and edgy!

I love the big lips on this one

Oral hygiene Brazilian style

At a staff meeting last week when we were discussing the routines of the day, the head told us that after lunch the Brazilian children would all want to brush their teeth. Sure enough they do, and I have spotted my TA a few times with her toothbrush in hand. It seems to pay off though, they do all have very good teeth! I thought that was that, but the Brazilians take it further...at a bar on Friday night we did have a good giggle at a discovery in the bathrooms! There was mouthwash in a soap dispenser type container with little plastic cups next to it. I have now seen this a few times and am actually a new convert, it is awesome! No excuses for bad breath here!

First impressions of Sao Paulo

So, the trunk returned in true last minute fashion and frantic packing over, the journey began. I think that I have cried enough over the last few months to not cry for a while so surprisingly the goodbyes came and went and on my way I went. Finding lots of lush sweet treats helped too! I was doing well until on day 2 I found a cute card from my niece. She didn’t even have to draw a picture of me crying to make me shed a tear! The last few days have been so busy there hasn’t been much chance to think which has actually been a good thing. 

Sao Paulo…..first impressions? Hmmm: tall! It really is so built up. There are skyscrapers everywhere. The highways are huge, and the people very friendly. I need to learn Portuguese desperately. But for now, instead of irritation, there are lots of giggles. Buying a sim card was hilarious for all of us involved. I am very appreciative of their patience! I had a lil wander today and saw a lot of cool graffiti.

Excuse the over exposure

This one made me smile

I definitely know that I am not in Africa, but am yet to really feel like I’m really in South America. I am sure it will soon come. Brazilian beer and steak definitely live up to their reputation. I am not at all disappointed, nor tempted to go back to my veggie ways!

I keep being told about how bad the traffic and driving is. I am yet to experience either, though compared  to Nairobi, it better be horrific for all the talk it receives! Beautiful Brazilians is something else I sadly haven’t been bombarded with! A lot of topless men though which was a bit surprising, and loads of dogs! 

My apartment is nice and in a lovely area. I live on the 13^th floor, in an 18 storey building. The views are cool, though we do live on a flight path……I am hoping I will get used to it! Still, I do prefer hearing traffic and planes to cockerels and barking dogs which was the bane of my life sometimes in Nairobi! Thank goodness for ear plugs. The apartment is modern and nicely done. I have started buying frames and things to personalize it, and it is feeling more like mine. 5 other teachers live in the building which is fab. We are all on different floors (I am the highest which I love, as was hoping to be up high) but we see each other a lot which is cool. We have spent rather a lot of time by the pool which is lush.

View from my apartment

Night shot

The school is impressive. It is not yet totally finished, and I think we will all need to be patient over the next few weeks, but it looks great. It is all so modern and swanky. The old campus (2 years old is old here!) has its playground on the roof! It is so random but this is city living in Sao Paulo! 

Today we went for a walk in the park near us. It is beautiful and really big. I was amazed by all we saw. It was a real cross section of Brazilian recreation. Some of the highlights had to be a dog on a skateboard and tight rope walkers! I am so surprised to see so many tattoos too-nearly everyone seems to have one or several!

Over the last few days I have been thinking about what to call this blog, but I have come to the conclusion that for now, I am not ready to end African Adventures. I am hoping to return, maybe it won’t happen, a lot can change, but for now, Sao Paulo and my South American adventures, will stay here!

The end....for now

Where to start? 3 years have passed and so much has changed. Many changes are tangible; I am more confident, less fearful and more willing to try out new things and adventures. Yet, I also feel in many ways that my time in Africa was healing. I was so blessed with the people I met, the friendships I forged and the protection I experienced. So many memories were almost un-did-they ran out almost identically yet the outcome was so different-one of love and compassion. 

Leaving, once again has been hard and painful. Yes, the next move is exciting and I have experienced nothing but positivity when telling people about my plans, yet it is one that I currently feel overwhelmed by. Perhaps that will change when all is re packed and I am on my way. I still have some rather big visa and work permit hurdles to cross and then the whole settling in, finding my feet etc which after getting nicely sorted in Kenya just feels like a real faff!!

Kenya is a vast and stunning place. Though the thing I will miss the most is not the safari opportunities or the great outdoors. Who knows what the future has in store. I am not writing off another African adventure.

What to take from my current experiences in Kenya? Hmmmm…..

Cars are unbelievably strong and sturdy!

Bad toilet opportunities last just 30 seconds…..hold your nose and be quick! Squatty potties……oh dear.

Don’t be scared, just do it. Climb that mountain, do that sky dive, build memories.

Schools should be such happy places-they are full of children.

Take every opportunity to ride on the roof of cars, seats are for Europe!

Celine Dion is popular with every Kenyan I have met.

Mosquitoes are the most irritating creature ever.

Being outdoors is awesome!

South Africa: Garden route

We had a looooooong journey onwards from Durbs, but finally got onto the coastal route I was most excited by. En route I managed to sprain my foot...I wish I knew how, I stood up funny and it simply went crunch! It got huge and rather colourful but amazingly I found a great stick, Mick, who was a very faithful and helpful companion for a few days.

After a couple of coastal stops, Mossel Bay was great fun. We stayed in a converted train which was hilarious, but actually awesome as was right on the beach and cute and comfy!

Kelly and I took the opportunity to go sand boarding. This was something I have always wanted to do and was planning on getting into in the Middle East (how things can change, ha!). It was absolutely beautiful. We went to a private reserve and had gorgeous views of dunes and coast.

We started off on our bottoms, like going down a slide! I was, as always scared! I didn't want to polish up my board with wax but peer pressure made me! And it was well worth it!



This was a race...and amazingly, I am winning!

We then graduated onto standing, where we were using snow boards, and finished with slaying the dragon! Going down 350m on our tummies! The walk back up the dunes after made us only do it once. My foot, which I had decided would cope with painkillers for the day was clicking on every step and had an ever expanding bruise! So much fun though, def wanna do it again.

Our next stop was Cape Town! I was worried that my expectations were too high....let's just say, Cape Town more than delivered. When everyone says how awesome it is, they are right.

We started off with a trip to Robben Island. Well, as if you couldn't love Nelson more......



Entrance

Nelson's cell

The trip was harrowing. After learning a lot in Jo'burg about various political prisoners and the undignified treatment and torture that they were subjected to, Robben Island was again a fascinating but very sad experience. An ex political prisoner gave us a tour and told us a few stories, but his focus was very much on today and the future of SA as opposed to dwelling on the injustice of the past. Seeing a couple of penguins waddling around was very cool and lifted all our moods.



A courtyard (the cross I lined up, but it seemed fitting)

Views of Table Mountain from the island

We spent the next few days exploring the city and the surrounding area. The restaurants in Cape Town are great and we kept returning to a certain food market which was a huge favourite with us 3 girls! As always in SA, we met some v interesting characters. The taxi driver who took us to City Hall below, described it as a car park....we persisted in going, and when we saw it, loved it! It's where Nelson gave his first speech as a free man and is very impressive.

V&A Waterfront

Nobel Square-statues of the 4 South African Nobel Peace Prize winners with amazing Lego statue in the background!



City Hall

Siana and I did a Cape Tour which was great. The best part was the penguins on Boulder's Bay. Unbelievably sweet, and totally surreal to see them on the beach!

Too Cute!!!!!!!!!

We continued our tour and saw some amazing scenery. South Africa is stunningly beautiful. The mountains and the coast are just gorgeous.We did some cycling and then some walking (my poor foot!) to the Cape of Good Hope....a bit strange really, as not the most Southern or Western part of Africa but still something to see!

 

Siana and I

 Of course, an absolute must in South Africa is to go on a wine tour....... this was fantastic. We went to four vineyards and sampled so much wine, (even a sparkling red, very strange!), cheese and olives, Amazing! I think I went to bed at 8pm that night!

View of the valley

Garden in one of the vineyards

Stellenbosch, is stunning. Very quaint, lots of sweet buildings and surrounded by these gorgeous mountains. It has to be one of the most picturesque drives I've ever done. 

This is the view everywhere!

Stellenbosch!

 

Table Mountain is beautiful. Sadly I was not up to climbing it, so we took the cable car. The views down are gorgeous. David took me up on his motorbike on my last day too which was even more fun! Highly recommended! Was a great prequel to the ostrich braai he and Sarah had planned.

Robben Island is on the left in the distance

An amazing 3 weeks in South Africa!

South Africa-Jozi to Durbs

I had really mixed expectations about SA. Friends here had told me that it was like an African America which intrigued me! It really is beautiful. The landscape is stunning, the people friendly (though so difficult to understand!) and the history both shocking and fascinating.

We started off in Johannesburg which was amazing. It was very built up, with lots of very distinct areas.


View from Top of Africa

We did a tour and travelling through certain areas were warned that these were areas you keep driving through, especially at night. The vibe was quite unsettled at times, but then we were able to walk in the early evening in the area where we were staying which we can't do in NBO!

The apartheid museum was a definite highlight. You could literally spend all day there. It was fascinating. As you went in you were assigned a race, and that was the entrance you went through-Whites or Non-Whites. It was very powerful.


Entrance to the Apartheid museum

We went to Soweto, which was a very bizarre tour! Awful tour guide-I learnt a lot about bricks when I wasn't snoozing! It was a very interesting township though. Massive wealth divide, but a cool, funky vibe. I'd def like to have spent more time there. We went to Vilakazi street where Mandela and Tutu both lived which was cool. The towers on the skyline were fantastic! I wasn't tempted to do a bungee between them though...was already terrified at every thought of the looming sky dive!

Soweto towers-can you tell it is about to rain?!

Our next stop was to go hiking in the Drachensburg. The scenery was phenomenal. The mountains were just gorgeous and it was great to have a few days out of the city.

Travelling around, football fever, and the legacy of the World Cup was still very evident all over the country! It is making me rather excited about Brazil!



Vuvuzelas on the roadside

We spent the Easter weekend in Durban. Hmm..what to say. This city made little sense, our new phrase was, "Durbs says no!" This pic sums up our confusion.

Siana and Kelly rather confused and lost

 However, food wise, Durbs came up tops! We hunted and eventually found Bunny Chows (v fitting for Easter!) which is curry served in a loaf of bread, eaten on the beach. Unbelievably delicious! An absolute must do for Durban!

Pure YUM

Durban was a pretty city. The stadium and beach front were lovely. Kelly and I hired a tandem which was great fun! We did get a lot of bemused glances but spent a very happy afternoon giggling and cycling along the seafront.

Many attempts to actually go inside....none achieved....Durbs said no!

We went to a Revolving restaurant which I was very excited to do. The views were gorgeous, but maybe it is my increasing age......the movement made me nauseous, lame!!!

For my birthday we went to a restaurant that was a mock ship with an aquarium. Very cool!!


First SA shark sighting!

Life post elections

So...the elections came and went. It was an interesting couple of weeks, high drama but fortunately little violence and unrest. We are all slowly getting through our election supplies, of mainly noodles and alcohol!

There are huge billboards across the city now thanking Kenyan for keeping the peace. The queues to vote were so long, and many Kenyans stood in line for at least 5 hours. I admired the patience, and wondered if I would give up a holiday to wait in line for so much of the day! Kenyatta seems very popular although perhaps still a little controversial but more so on the international scene.

Of course, security measures remain tight but sometimes dubious. Yesterday I popped into a supermarket quickly before going to meet a friend who is kindly taking a suitcase back to the UK for me. I was stopped at security for my car to be checked as per usual. The askari returned and asked me, "What is in the suitcase. Clothes?"
"Yes," I said, "and a few household items".
His next question, "Are you a terrorist? No, you can't be a terrorist, not with that face!" And through I went.

In school we no longer have to practice our evacuation drills. The children still ask to do it though-they loved locking the doors and hiding under the tables! We called it the lion drill as they do keep escaping so it is maybe not an impossibility that we would have to use it one day!