Gabarone

is the capital of Botswana and the border is only a 20 min drive from the lodge. We didn't get into Gabarone itself and went to visit one of loren's clients, an indian muslim guy, whose wife made the best meal, I am salivating just thinking about the curry chicken and mango hot hot chilli, especially as we are now on our vege and fruit cleanse.

For those who know I go around in a white hat, well I think I lost it in Durban :( This substitute one is already falling apart! That white hat is one of my best buys ever.

Ike on the safari truck.... the rocking motion puts him to sleep.

I like the govt logo of Botswana, its two giraffes and a shield, but I didn't get to any image where I could take a picture. It seems safer than joburg, people were walking around like there is a pedestrian life. Though the family we visited had also wire fencing. I did not get to go on the tour of the number 1 ladies detective agency. My impression of Botswanian's are unfortunately not great. Here the people who serve you think they are doing you a favour, no smile, quite rude. Even the immigration people. Guess the tourist dollars will head to Asia.

Tuningi Lodge

which advertises itself as being child friendly was quite good, they made food for the kids and catered to them as much as they could. The guide was quite good at finding kid interesting things and the kids have videos about safaris.

They also destroyed the peace of the other guests that wanted to just lounge by the pool. One night they stayed up late to join the Boma but they were not that interested. Its hard to get them to sleep in the same room and they wake each other up alot, wonder how we will survive KL... the initial plan is to all cram into my brothers house... tho there is the back up of a service apartment nearby. We'll try it for a week and if its just too many people in too small a space, we'll move out. Otherwise the idea is a good one, the cousins all playing together.

So here is the night moth that insisted on drinking our wine. We brought our own bottles and are trying very hard to consume them all before leaving. I think the moths are a good indicator of the quality of the wine, forget Parker Jr and the wine ratings!

My favourite pic of the trip, a dung beetle making a tennis ball sized wedding present for his beloved.

Sun City, Madikwe and Botswana...

in three days! Well its about a 3 hour drive to Madikwe Game Reserve and Sun City is half way so we head out early and go to the water park. Not as nice as uShaka in Durban but not bad, here is ike hungry and munching popcorn and Nate and Mabo up the rock slide. Loren managed to get a massage and a haircut, but the day visitors make the place really crowded.

The boys then napped in the car and when they woke up we were in Madikwe! Am not sure why Ike really likes this shirt with the tie, I guess many people must comment on it?

The boys did not get to go on the normal safari rides that can be 3 to 4 hours long. Instead they got their own mini drive after breakfast about 1.5 hours, seeing the less ferocious animals like chameleons, dung beetles... zebras, giraffes, bokkies, our last day the elephant even came over to say good bye and graciously had a mud bath at our watering hole.

Pics before the shave and Xmas eve

Hanging out at christines house... the boys like picking fresh cucumbers off the vines and eating them. Christine has lent us her golf cart while they are away on holiday and we are having a great time zipping all over dainfern in it, discovering little paths and bridges, its been really fun and a good way to get the kids out of the house.

Yesterday we were invited to Cedric and Jenn's place for Xmas eve dinner. Very civilised! and very yummy, maybe I should do shabbats on a fancier scale? bread baskets? name tags?

Shaolin Temple Kungfu Disciple or Convict look?

Nate has wanted to "ti guang tou" (go bald) for some time now... finally I took him to the barber. They advised not to do total bald as the ingrown hairs could be a problem so we went for number 1 shave. The result... well I am still getting used to his look, its been 2 days now and he just looks like he broke out of jail. Somehow he could look like a kungfu disciple but... it feels like a glimpse into his future where he could be up to no good. Needs a bid tattoo tho. Maybe if I get him to watch Shaolin Temple he may want the 6 dots on his head as well?

His kippa stays on alot easier with his short hair.

A few more pics

Ike and his Nike's

We went to the circus before going to Durbs, really reminded me of the case study on Cirque de Soleil vs the traditional circus in a Blue Ocean vs a Red Ocean strategy.

The boys in the pool in Durbs.

And Pomodoro an italian restaurant in joburg with a big tomato... ok that's for the gardeners who read this blog.

Hanuka day 1

la la la la la la la hanuka... ok I have this one head going on and on in my head.

nate has been anticipating this day for a long time and we did the candle lighting in the morning as he could not wait... we then made latkes and home made apple sauce. The boys got to open present 1... and have been very good at waiting for the other presents.

Ike knows Thomas and Elmo and could not decide which Kippa to wear.

In the afternoon, we went swimming at Sean's place, they ran around alot, played alot and ate alot. Ike also discovered how to use the nozzle to spray everyone... the taste of POWER...

We also decided not to ship our wine back and drink it all here... 48 bottles to go...

Kites

Ok this is a stacked up version of a greek salad, I will try this at home some day. Speaking of which my basil is coming nicely, tomatoes are also giving a big crop but the clear winner are the green peppers in my garden.

Umami the restaurant is really really good and worth a visit if ever in Durbs.

We packed our kites along and had some kite fun... I am now in search of a big kite bag, maybe I should rebuild our kite collection.

Mabo took a bit tub of sea water back for her family and sand as well. hmm. We're off to Madikwe on the 26 of dec and will also head up to Gabarone, capital of Botswana, I wonder if I will recognise any of the places mentioned in "the number 1 lady's detective agency". We'll also stop into sun city on the way to Madikwe. We're going to a game lodge that is supposed to be very children friendly, ie shorter game drives and more suited for them, I hope to see a dung beetle, tis the season!

uShaka Waterpark

I was hoping that there would be a museum dedicated to the history of King Shaka, the great Zulu King that forged the Zulu nation and redefined spear warfare but there was none... instead there is the waterpark.

The boys really enjoyed zipping down the slides, they swam everyday usually twice and are becoming quite good, nate goes without floaties and ike would like to as well but still sinks to the bottom of the pool. He likes jumping and does a backward step in to the pool, one day that will come in handy when he goes deep sea diving with a big tank strapped on.

The tall middle slide is Mabo... fulfilling yet another dream... so far she has done the paragliding and now this... she is quite keen to do the bungee as well.

This is a great park for kids. Can't remember if there are waterparks in singapore?

Gateway

is the largest mall there and it is pretty big but all the shops are the same as in Joburg and everywhere else in this country. Overall not very exciting shopping but this one had a science center, they should definitely build more science centers and in malls.

We also hit a few toy stores to "look". Ike was quite attached to this pig and likes soft toys as well. Nate is up to 120 piece puzzles and I think it may be time to get him 3-D ones.

We took them out for a steak dinner at a place called butcher boys one night and they enjoyed that experience, its the only night ike broke his vege and fruit fast.

Durban city

Here are some pictures of the buildings there, I only took pictures of the nice old buildings, the city itself is not "great", its run down in many parts and just seems old, tho the roads were block on the main beach strip so maybe that is an unfair statement.

We went to check out the Natural History Museum. As Ike wakes up with the sun... he is up at 4 sometimes and if we are lucky at 5. At about 9 he takes his first nap and by noon another one. A lack of sleep child with a terrible two tantrum is not an amusing child. he is learning alot of words now, once in a while a 4 sentence word like "gege bit me here".

The football stadium being built for the 2010 games...

We drove north as well but didn't stop at any beaches as it was a cloudy, windy day. Zimbali area is like a dainfern on the beach.

What to do on a cloudy day...

Well going to the aquarium is a good idea... this one is really well done, the Ushaka Marine World. The aquarium is built like a shipwreck and the theme carries throughout the whole place.

We got to watch a dolphin show as well. Ike now refuses to walk and especially loves his stroller. Nate is a good trooper and walks everywhere. Had a good yummy lunch at Mojo after the aquarium.

I can't decide whether that one big fish that stuck its head in the pot was sleeping, depressed or dead.