Cheerio Gardens and the Misty valley

Well Everyone,

Here is the last day of my trip. I will be home soon on a long jet plane ride. It was an amazing trip and I hope that you have enjoyed following me on this journey to So. Africa.

The day was misty and the mountains were shrouded in fog. Even rain and fog can't deter me when I want to see the sights, like the postman. LOL Marie and I decided to go to Cheerio Gardens which has an azalea forest during Sept. There are trails leading through them and I was hoping that since it had stayed cooler than normal, that some might still be blooming. We drove on some clay roads which were slick, compliments of the wet weather, but we went up the mountains to Cheerio. The views were gorgeous!










This is one of the views across one of the many ponds. There were still some azaleas still blooming!








Old paths went across old bridges with the lush green foliage.









This shot looks so serene that I call it "Meditation Meadow.










After we hiked, got totally misted we drove down the mountain to the Pot 'n Plow for lunch. This is a landmark restaurant in the area. Everyone goes for Pizza! It is homemade and has a thin, crispy crust.









This is the parting shot for this trip. Hoped I would see one cross the road.

What a wonderful, wonderful trip. The sights, sounds, smells and tastes of this land were more than I could have dreamed about. The people were friendly and my hosts were absolutely amazing. Baie dankie Africa, which in Africaaner means, Thank you. Till next time...

Love,
Kerry

Mosaic, a step back in time to Bollywood and Hollywood

Hi everyone! I have had some internet issues, but now that I am back home I can post the last two days and all the fun I had. We hung out most of the day as it was a bit drizzly. Then we got dressed up for the Mosaic dinner and dance. It was held on the top of a mountain where I met "Omar, the camel trader" and he agreed to pose for a picture with me. It was dusk and the views of the mountains were gorgeous hues of blue and red.










Olan, the spiritual organization that hosts and lives on site is a like minded group of artisans and trades people, average age, 32. It is sort of like a kibbutz and the people are very talented. Some work in town and some work on the land. They have built their own community with a restaurant and a few times a year they put on spectacular musical shows complete with costumes. lighting and dinner. The theme was Hollywood, Bollywood and many people dressed up in authentic costumes.








There was a fabulous group of versatile musicians that provided music before, during and after dinner.










There was a tree house with water flowing harmoniously down the various pipes and waterfalls and parts of the tree provided posts for the restaurant. There were chairs and benches to sit on with wine and appetizers










Marie and even Pepe, bless his motorcycle riding heart, got dressed up for the occasion.









This is the lobby of the restaurant, named Mosaic.










This was an appetizer which was a work of art! filo dough with some yummy veggies inside.








Marie ordered the trout in a ginger sauce. Looked diving!











During dinner, Jessica, the star of the show sang and the band played music from jazz to blues, to rock and roll.










These girls sang I will survive in their aprons, feather dusters and their 20's style costumes. Great voices and terrific entertainment.









One group danced with traditional Bollywood costumes. They were fabulous!










Of course, even Elvis rocked the house! Then spoke with an Indian accident.










The desserts were beautifully prepared and tasted even better, if that is possible.









I don't know how Pepe was still hungry after all that luscious food, but he was ready to eat the chocolate mousse without a spoon!

What a wonderful evening, one I won't soon forget.

Grasskop and the Blyde River

Hi everyone! What a gorgeous day for a bike ride. Here is Marie, getting ready for her ride and Pepe and I were on the other bike. Both Suzuki 650's, for all your motorcycle enthusiasts. We left around 8 for about a 3 hour ride to Grasskop, up in the mountains.











Along the way, we saw lichen on mountains in shades of green and yellow. It made a spectacular view. Then we went through a tunnel that went into a mountain and out the other side. The scenery changed from hot and steamy to cooler. There were fertile valleys growing lemon and orange trees, tobacco and pine in the higher elevation.

The mountains were very craggy with blue skies above.

Then we came to the Blyde River. It was an enormous site with blue water transversing the mountains on both sides.

The three rondalvos, or three round mountains, were eroded by the wind and rain. Millions of years ago, these mountains were tall and the river ran through at the top.

The next stop was called the Potholes. They are a natural formation with water pouring through sandstone. The resulting features are waterfalls and smooth round areas with water gushing through. It is an awesome site.

Here you can see the bridges and water at least 300' below.

We rode back at 100 miles an hour to beat the rain. The roads were a bit slick at the end, so we slowed down and got wet! We arrived home, hot, tired and with achy butts! We went swimming which felt wonderful and had a glass of wine to top off the evening. Great day!

Love,

Kerry

The storm and the phenomenal house

Hi everyone!

There was a massive storm last night. We had pea-sized hail, but closer to Tzaneen, the hail was golf ball sized and caused widespread damage to the banana and eucalyptus crops. The eucalyptus trees were stripped of leaves and bent over. Many were snapped off and lay on the ground nearby.

Then Marie and I went to pick up her newly hatched chicks. They weren't quite ready, but the woman who ran the place had a Bed and Breakfast with 7 units complete with a pool and lovely gardens. She showed us some of the apartments. There are many B and B's in the surrounding areas as it is right in the mountains and has lovely weather and spectacular views.

However, the hi-lite of the day was when we went to this phenomenal house down the road. Two sisters, decided to build a house for each of them. They did ALL the work from the concrete to the roof. Neither knew a lick about any of it, so they just built by trial and error. It took 9 yrs. to build this one and it is amazing. They poured concrete floors, then painted cracks on it. The cabinets were all antique wood and they cut, stained, bleached and installed all of it. They have pocket doors in all the rooms, even the bars on the doors! Many of the woodwork came from around the world, like Vietnam and Bali. One sister, is a graphic designer, and she painted beautiful screens and paintings on the walls of the bath, living and dining rooms and the bedrooms. All are done in muted colors with Japanese gardens and a Japanese style roof. The ceilings, 20' high, are woven bamboo, that they cut from their trees and wove themselves. It was a labor intensive job and a labor of love. Women can do anything!

This is the front of the house.

The garage. Notice the roof line, like a Japanese temple.

This is the living room with a fireplace.

The bath with paintings on both side that can be removed if you move!

Dining room with a table made from railroad ties and again the painting.

Today was a rainy, cloudy day, so, more tomorrow.

Love,

K

Modajagi Cycad Nature Reserve

Hi all,
Today, Marie and I saw some of the local sites. Funny how locals never visit the local places when visitors come. They just go to the popular ones. It was another beautiful day in the neighborhood.

This is purported to be the largest baobab tree in the world. Well, who could dispute the claim? It was humonguous! These are very sacred trees in Africa. Some are big enough to climb into while others, like this one are large enough to house a full bar!

May I take your order please?

This is one of the local street vendors selling eggs

This is a typical African house, called a rondalvo which has a thatched roof. Mostly, poor blacks live in them and it is a step up from the tin huts or lean to's.

While at the cycad forest, we saw a verot monkey troop. The faces are black with an eyebrow line of white. The males have blue balls. Guess they are frustrated!

The Modajagi cycads are very rare and found only in this part of the world. You must have a permit to own one and some are a thousand years old! Oh, if these cycads could talk..

They grow with multiple trunks. We walked down a path with hundreds of them and could see more on the mountainside facing us. The reserve has an armed guard at the entry gate and I wonder what they are protecting them from??!

The termite mounds are fantastic! You can see that this one is taller than me!

Many African women carry their bundles on their heads. You see them everywhere walking on the streets with bags of potatoes or grasses. It is an amazing sight!

Well, that is it for today. Stay tuned.

Love,

Kerry

Debengeni Falls

Hi all!

Today Marie and I went to lunch at a place called the Wheelbarrow and it was among plants and ponds with animals, birds and a nursery. Lovely place.
















This is one of the ponds at the Wheelbarrow.

Next we went to Debengeni Falls toward the end of the day. The light was wonderful!

The rocks were like glass as the water tumbled over, w inding its way toward the river.

Here I am just before the water goes toward the river over massive granite rock.

This is Debengeni falls in all its splendor. Quite spectacular rumbling over the rocks.

What a wonderful day.

Love,

K