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

African Wedding

Hi all,

We drove from Tzaneen thru Pretoria and on past Jo'burg for the wedding. It was a 5 hour drive through savannah, mountain and arid settlements. Everything in SA is a long drive. It was a gorgeous day and we stopped at Charlene's house near Pretoria. She is Marie's sister and a stunning 6'2'' blond.

The wedding chapel was strewn with white rose petals the length of the pews as the bride and groom exchanged vows, rings and kisses.

As the newlyweds exited, people threw feathers and cheered their nuptials.

Marie and Pepe, the handsome couple!

Marie, her mom and sister Charlene posing for the camera.

The lakes and river where so tranquil that I was transported to another time and place. Oh, right, I am in another time and place!

A covered bridge over the river made for an exquisite site.

The walkways were filled with flowers as well as river stones.

After the wedding, cocktails, fruit and cheeses were served on the patio. Quite lovely! The cheeese was in three tiers to represent a wedding cake, and then dismantled so it could be served. Many waiters walked around serving platters of billtong (a sort of beef jerky), quiches, fruit on skewers and dried fruit.

The wedding was fairly traditional, but the reception was different. The couple entered with smoke billowing as much as the bride's skirt. When the dancing commenced, all the couples were performing ballroom dances. It was interesting to see them twirling around on the floor. Sort of like Dancing with the Stars! When it was time for the speeches, the groom spoke while all his bachelor friends gathered their chairs around him and sprayed him with silly string! They razzed him while he thanked his parents and of course his new wife.

The food was a buffet of lovely simple meals. Salads with prawns, beef, chicken and fish dishes, rice, small, roasted white and sweet potatoes and roasted veggies. They have a veggie garden on the premises. Dessert was tiramisu, brownies and more fruit and cheese. Delicious.

We drove home afterwards and arrived at 1 AM. Exhausted, but happy.

Today we are just chilling but tomorrow possibly another bike ride. A special smile out to HM.

Love,

Kerry

Garden Party in the sky!

Hi everyone! Today was a spectacular day. We went to a garden party that was held at a friend's nursery and it was literally in the sky. This house was on the top of a mountain road, rutted and red dust from lack of rain. This is the view from the top!

Liza, the grower, had thousands and thousands of day lilies in so many varities of colors and hues. These are only a few of them. Her gardens were so exquisite. Marie purchased many plants to go along with her thousands of plants. People in So. Africa are obsessed with having plants in this lush green environment. Every morning, I go out and cut flowers for the many vases everywhere. It is truly a paradise.

Of course every dog must have his day and Simba is no exception. Though this 10 month old pup has long since outgrown this tub with the rest of the pups, he can't help climbing in and sleeping where he knows best and feels comfortable.

Tomorrow Pepe and I may take the bike to Grasskop, a town on the top of the Georges Valley to see the sights. The weather has been fairly nice, but today it was extremely hot and I went swimming in the pool. Cooled me right off.

Night all. Love to all.

Kerry

Kruger National Park Part 1

Hopefully, pictures are worth a thousand words!

Love, Kerry