My close friend, Bronwyn and I were travelling through South Africa, well backpacking was more like it, trying out every kind of South African Accommodation before we eventually arrived in Cape Town.
Where it all began...
Our trip started off as a bet really. Two of our guy friends said that Bronwyn and I won’t be able to go as far as Bloemfontein without wanting to go back home to our home in Pretoria. So we took it as a dare.
Three weeks later and we had reached our final destination, Cape Town. By this time we had been staying in a variety of bed and breakfast accommodations, backpackers, hotels and even at a friend’s place before arriving in Cape Town.
We were tired, but somehow determined to show the guys that girls are not as fragile as they think, was inspiration enough to continue our journey. What started as a dare, turned out to be one of my best experiences.
The deal was that we had to go without our usual female things, such as make-up, hairdryers, the usual amount of shoes and clothing we usually take for just in case. We were only allowed to stay at most affordable places without booking in advance. If Bronwyn and I could make it to Cape Town, Justin and Shaun were going to have to join us in Cape Town and hand over their part of the deal, which was a fully paid week to London for a holiday shopping spree.
Yes, the bets where high, so I really liked rubbing it in that they had lost! Shaun was moaning like a little girl when he arrived at the Mountain Manor Backpackers, but a deal was a deal.
Mountain Manor Backpackers...
When the staff at the backpackers heard about our story they organised a bottle of champagne in celebration of our victory and oh sweet it was. So after popping our bottle of bubbly we headed of to Cape Town’s infamous Long Street for dinner. Thank goodness our backpackers’ was in walking distance, because I was absolutely starving.
The food at Mama Africa’s was awesome, but it was the vibe that captured our attention at first. There were live bands beating on big African drums, with some local talent sharing their songs until late that night, but by 10 o’clock that night Bronwyn and I were dead tired. The three weeks of touring, although extremely fun, was starting to show their effects. I agreed with her when she said that you would need more time to really enjoy all that South Africa had to offer, since it’s a country of great diversity. But in all honesty, this was the first time I saw so much of my own country. I think people tend to take for granted what they’ve got, always seeking somewhere else to see and experience, while missing everything their own country has to offer.
So back at the backpackers we were sharing a dorm with bungalow beds. What I liked about staying at backpacker accommodations is that most of them had that kind of “welcome home” kind of feeling. Mountain Manor was no different. It had this cool vibe, everybody was friendly and although exhausted after our journey, we were happy to be here. Just hope the guys learned their lesson. Never underestimate the endurance and determination of women when there’s a paid-for shopping trip hanging in the balance.
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