Tuesday, February 21, 2012

I Watched A Golf Tournament

Look at me go...

Another feat I have accomplished here in Africa... something I thought (and basically swore to myself) that I would never do... I watched a golf tournament, in real life. It turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise! I had SO much fun. I came away with a new appreciation for the game of golf, and a super awesome sunburn complete with sunglass tan.

Who's Your Caddy?

Last week I accompanied my wonderful caddy of a fiance and one of my favorite South African buddies, Mr. Andrew Georgiou, up to Fancourt Golf Resort in George. I kept myself busy and beebopped around between the 3 golf courses all week, and then walked a far share of them during the tournament, and I had a surprisingly lovely time! The weather was gorgeous, so gorgeous that I forgot that I am, in fact, a caucasian girl.

White girl - sunscreen - hat - umbrella + African sun = One heck of a sunburn

Fortunately, I only sizzled myself on Friday, so I only had to endure the ridicule for Saturday and Sunday.

I learned so much about a game that I had unfairly placed on my Top 10 Most Boring Sports On Earth, and it really is not that boring! I have to say though, the chances of me watching it on television and enjoying it are about a 3 out of 10, but I had a really nice time watching it in real life. I could feel the stress and tension of the golfers, and get yelled at by other bystanders when I was talking too loud (typical American) jeesh!

Fancourt is an absolutely breathtaking course. With pretty little ponds and flowers upon flowers upon flowers, it really set the stage for a banner-week for me! The Links at Fancourt is number 59 on the World's Top 100 Golf Courses. Cool beans!


Quack

Another thing I didn't realize is that "Pro-Am" translated into layman's terms means "FREE STUFF". Free food, free booze, free music, free mimes...

Don't mime me
We took full advantage of this "free spirit" (chuckkkkle) and ate and drank to our heart's content (which ended up with me sleeping on the bathroom floor Sunday evening with food poisoning, but thats beside the point!) We were entertained with a lovely show of South Africa's Got Talent that showcased all sorts of entertainment from amazing beatboxing to mind blowing Township Jump-ropers. Friday evening we were treated to a picnic under the stars while watching Watershed perform.

Professionals + Amateurs = Pro-Am... Get it
Jorg & Andrew were quite tickled to find out that they would be playing in a group with Joel Stransky. (All of the Americans are like 'whooooo?') Apparently he was South Africa's rugby hero back in 1995 and had some amazing dropkick goal. Neato.

While he may not have done as well as he hoped last week, Andrew and his good-looking caddy are currently up in Joberg for the Telkom Tournament playing for a big win! Wooo!



Fore!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Monkeyface!

Attention world! This girl has overcome one of her greatest fears in life...

Monkeys.




I know it seems stupid, but monkey are scary! They're like humans but you have no idea what they're thinking and when they might pounce on you and kill you! They have tiny little hands and beady little eyes, and all in all, I don't trust them. So as part of becoming less of a wimp my friends and I ventured to Monkeyland just outside of Plettenberg Bay last week.



To say I was scared for my life might be a bit of an exaggeration... but I was close to that haha. They jump around and try to steal your things! They tried to steal a woman's backpack! THIEVES!



We were taken on a guided tour through the monkey forrest. The guide gave us all sorts of fun monkey information, but me with the attention span of a hummingbird didn't exactly listen much, but here is what I do remember!

Fun Monkey Facts

1. The Capuchin monkey, as seen in the first picture, is the monkey that film makers use in almost every monkey film. This is because they have a sense of memory unlike any other monkey. They can remember a sequence of 14 numbers. For this reason as well in the United States hospitals were using these monkeys to assist paraplegics in their homes, like seeing eye dogs for the paralyzed. When the paraplegic would show the monkey a card with a certain picture it would know to call the doctor, call 911, and all sorts of other tricks.

2. Our favorite coffee drink, the Cappuccino, is named after this furry Capuchin because the froth of foam on top is like the froth of hair on the top of their heads. Random.

3. The orangey-yellow monkey in the picture above who's real name I can't remember, is called the pirana of the forest because it bites hahaha. Someone really clever must have come up with that hahaah.

4. This pirana monkey gives birth to the largest baby relative to the size of the mother. If a human was going to give birth to a baby at the same relative size of this monkey it would be like giving birth to an 8 year old! NO THANK YOU.


5. In real life there is apparently no King Julian. WHAT A LET DOWN! Apparently it is the women who run the lemur world. Also, when lemurs mate each she-lemur has five males, of whom she is in complete control, sounds fabulous.



6. Each lemur has 13 rings on their tails and no lemurs tale is the same as the other. Even babies have t13 little rings, cute!

Eh... that seems to be about all folks! At least I learned a few things right!



Saturday, February 18, 2012

Ernie Els

Dear Ernie Els,

Before coming to South Africa I had no idea who you were. Even now that I'm in South Africa I still couldn't tell you from a box of soap, but I as I understand it, you are a great golfer and a swell and charitable guy. I cannot attest to that though, because I've never seen you golf, but what I can tell you is your wine... is the bomb.

Yours truly,
Samantha


Ernie provides us with great wine and lovely afternoons at his wine farm.





Thanks Ernie! :)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Full Moon Hike

I honestly give this particular excursion about 12 thumbs up... what a night. Me and my fellow adventurers (and about 40 billion other people) took to Lion's Head in Cape Town to watch the sun set and the full moon rise. What an experience!!! 

The 12 Apostles
Although we planned on climbing up ohhh about 2 hours earlier than we did and we were a bit late I actually think that our dilly dallying (or faffing as South Africans say it harhar) worked in our favor. We were able to climb up the Camp's Bay side just as the sun was setting.

Lion's Head
Camp's Bay
There were all types of people on the mountain last night... young Stellies students getting drunk and singing their hearts out, tourists upon tourists chatting in all sorts of languages, and even a few Americans woop woop! 



And for the million dollar picture of the evening...


I just don't see how it can get better than this. 
Happy 97th Birthday to my Great Grandpa, I hiked this one for you! <3

Chef Amy

Some might have breakfast at Tiffany's... but I just don't think it compares to dinner at Amy's. My wonderful friend Amy was kind enough to host a delicious dinner party this past weekend and let me tell you folks, the rumors are true... it was the gosh darned best food that has ever been prepared by any human I know. It was almost too beautiful to eat! She puts Miss Martha Stewart to shame!
Photos by yours truly <3


Honestly pictures can't do the food justice...


Creme Brulee, Pavlova, and Chocolate Mousse <3
What an indulgent evening! There was also a nice group of squirrely friends to throw into the mix.





Full tummy = Happy <3
Thank you Chef Amy xx



Sunday, February 5, 2012

Big Red Bus

Hola hola hola!

Now that the excitement of the past few weeks has subsided I've been able to relax and sort of get back to "real life", a braai here, some work there, the normal things. Since I am technically still a tourist in the country I decided to hop on to the big red tour bus with my new American friend Kelsey for a day of trolling Cape Town.



For a mere 140R (currently about $18) we were able to take in all that Cape Town has to offer. The tour included 17 stops, some of which were not so interesting but hey you take what you can get.


We hopped off in Green Market Square for some lunch and shopping. We had some amazing lunch time entertainment in the form of acrobatic street performers, they were insane!!!


We also hopped off for a bottle of wine in Camps Bay. Those street performers sure know where the find a bunch of tourists. I felt like we were getting a real ethnic African performance, it was so cool!




Sometimes I cannot believe that this place is real, it is so beautiful it seems fake. I had such a nice day doing as the tourists do in Cape Town. I drove back to Somerset West with a smile on my face and a sunburn on my shoulders.