Log 35

I have fallen in love with South Africa. It is so beautiful. Yesterday I went to Seal Island, which is an island of seals, just in case you didn’t quite get that, and to see the penguin colony. First the seals. We took a speed boat out to the island. There must have been at least 100 seals hanging around this rock island. Some were playing in the water, probably showing off, and others were actually on the rocks. We got a really great picture of this one seal popping his head up, we named him Steve. We hovered there for a while just hanging with the seals. Then we headed back to get ready for the penguin colony. Upon picture analysis, we noticed that some of the seals had wounds. We guessed that the one’s wounds were from other seals. But the other one was unmistakable, Great White bite. South Africa is one other the most populated Great White locations. This is where Discover comes to film shark week. The wounds looked recent but not fresh. The seal probably got attach a few hours before when the group went out to eat.

Next was the penguin colony. They are African penguins, originating in Antarctica and then migrating to South Africa. I suspect that the Amigos from happy feet are supposed to be African penguins. Anyway, there is this wooden boardwalk that they made to take you around the penguin colony. Obviously, we were not allowed to touch the penguins, even though I really wanted to. The beginning of the walk started off calm. You would see a penguin here, and another there. As you kept walking eventually, you would come across the rest of them, just chilling out, basking in the sun. Some went for a swim. So of them were finishing off shedding their baby fur and growing into their adult fur. January is when mating starts and February to April is breeding time. So we were there are the perfect time. Some of the penguins were still incubating their eggs.

The only downside to this day was getting attacked by sand. While we were at the penguin colony, as you made your way to the majority of the colony, at the end of the boardwalk, the winds picked up, whipping the sand at us. It is like standing outside while it is hailing. It hurt. The only difference is that hail doesn’t get stuck in eyes, and skin crevices, and in your mouth, and in your ears, and anywhere else you can think of. That being said, it was still a great day. We got some ice cream on our way back to the bus. And I showered when I got back.

But that is not the end of the adventure. On our way back to the ship, we got stuck in a lot of traffic. You see, to visit the penguins, you must go to Simon’s Town. Lovely place. And Simon’s Town, is South Africa’s naval base. And yesterday just happened to be their Navy celebration. There was a parade and everything. So, the traffic was virtually a parking lot the entire time. We finally got out of traffic around 4:20 pm. Which is about an hour late. Oh yeah, and in the beginning, we tried to take a different route back, but had to turn around because there was a fire that way. All is well though, and the day was great.

I started this blog saying that I have fallen in love with South Africa. I mean this to the fullest extent. I would seriously consider living her for a year or so. Maybe doing a semester from graduate school here. Everyone is so nice. And the place is just amazing. There are no words to describe it. I found the Marine Research Aquarium. Kind of want to check that out. I’m not sure that I am allowed though. Everyone is exercising all the time. No matter where I was, there was someone walking, running, biking, and at the public workout park. It is basically a park for adults with workout equipment. But right next to that is the kids’ park. How convenient! Anyway, it is amazing.

Today I am going to the Aquila Game Reserve, which is a safari. I will let you know how that goes later.