Sunday 27 April 2008

Sleepy blog

Hello!

This is just another short and unexciting message to say that I haven't seen a computer with a USB port for more than a week now... Hence the absence of photos on my blog.

But the trip is still fantastic and so is the landscape :-)

Thursday 17 April 2008

Une tuile automnale

Des poussieres sur le capteur de mon Lumix, a la rigueur, on fait avec.

Un objectif Nikkor 18-135mm dont le diaphragme est casse, ca, en revanche, on peut toujours essayer de faire avec, on ira pas bien loin, sauf de nuit, peut-etre.


J'ai, par consequent, le regret de vous annoncer la fin de mes prouesses photographiques (ca fait du bien de se jeter des fleurs, ca et la) jusqu'a mon retour en terre gauloise. Ensuite, ce sera au tour du SAV Nikon de faire des prouesses, et a quel prix... Ouille ouille ouille...


Evidemment, quand le sac-photo sert de coussin amortisseur entre mon corps qui tombe et un rocher, on doit bien s'attendre a quelques dommages "collateraux". Je prends ca avec philosophie. Un peu de perspective me montre qu'apres tout, c'est un souci bien derisoire.


Sur ce, bon vent, ami lecteur ou amie lectrice :-).

Wednesday 16 April 2008

Wilderness

This is a town which couldn't be better named. It's set in the trees, between the mountain and the sea, and it's simply beautiful. Actually, what made me like Wilderness was the place where I slept. It's called Fairy Knowe Hotel and Backpackers and it's fantastic! Thanks to Chris, Monica and the rest of the staff for such a warm welcome.



















The photo below shows the view from my bedroom window... I've seen worse.



















An unidentified flying animal.




A few pictures taken at the lodge.




The 1874 homestead where my dorm was.




Mossel Bay

I've chosen the English spelling, although here it's officially known as Mosselbaai. But Afrikaans isn't exactly sexy, in my opinion.

So Mossel Bay it is. Another little resort on the coast, with nice houses, crazy surfers and beautiful waves. It is also the start of the Oystercatcher trail, a rocky hiking trail that goes along the cliff for 30km.

No more words, just pictures.





















































Tuesday 15 April 2008

Hermanus

Hermanus is a tiny seaside town not far from Cape Town. It is a famous whale-watching location. However, in April, you're more likely to see pigeons and flies. You can also go cage-diving with sharks, the sharks being outside the cage, just in case you had any doubts. I thought one ought to leave those wild animals alone after all. So I decided against cage-diving, despite its being a popular activity.
By the way, if you happen to stop by, don't go to Hermanus Backpackers. I owe them this one. I have rarely seen such disinterested, if not rude, staff. And it was ashame because the hostel itself is beautiful and finely decorated. Sans rancune...

Here are a few pictures of the rocky coast.



















Ou est l'Afrique?

I really wish I could upload pictures more often but it's hard to find cheap and fast internet in those small, and yet terrific, hostels. So I'll do my best to show you what Hermanus, Mossel Bay, Wilderness and other places look like, in the next few days.
A bientot and bon vent!

Monday 14 April 2008

Curly matter

Just so you know what I look like.





Tuesday 8 April 2008

A day-hike in Cape Town

Cape Town's Table Mountain is a fantastic place to go hiking on a sunny day. With Narmin and Anesh, two fellow backpackers from my hostel, I went to Kirstenbosch Gardens, where one of the many trails starts. My little Lumix, despite its technical problems, did a relatively good job in capturing this beautiful day.

Kirstenbosch Gardens are renowned around the world for their impressive botanical collection. Obviously autumn isn't the best time of the year to admire its floral beauty. However, it was a beautiful place, set at the bottom of the majestic Table Mountain.

























Narmin and Anesh, my fellow adventurers...




























La serie qui suit est dediee au Sud-Africain de Nantes, j'ai nomme mister Ronan!




Camps Bay.




Camps Bay and 2 crazy abseilers...




And another crazy abseiler...Narmin!







Aerial views of Cape Town. On the first picture, you can see Lion's Head on the left-hand side.