Arrived in Cape Town

Took the Gautrain from Standton to the OR'Tambo airport. It's very modern and clean after only being finished two days before the world cup started last year. It uses a similar system to the Oyster card in London in that you have to have a card with credit which is swiped to let you in and out. Costs R100 to get from Standton to the airport.Standton is a suburb of J'burg. The platform I needed was 9 stories down. At least I assume it's 9 as the button said B9 on it. A lot of escalators were in evidence out the lift window as well.

Kulala airlines are my kind of budget airline. They're apparently an offshoot of BA but nowhere near as stuffy. The normally practical and boring safety card (in the pocket in front of you) has hints on not trying to set world records for slides and letting you know that in the case of an emergency the O2 is free!.

On the outside of the plane it gets even better. The cockpit has an arrow pointing to the 'Big cheese

Arrived in Cape Town. Very windy. Got the bag from the carousel and headed for the transport options. Charter buses were R160 to get me to the hostel or it was R50 to the bus terminal. I took the cheap option. When we got to the bus station the bus was being rocked from side to side by the extreme wind. I estimate at least 50knots. My roller bag was nearly ripped out of my hand as I walked to find a taxi to the hostel.

I was assisted in finding a taxi by a guy who came up to me. I got in and then asked the driver to put the meter on as we pulled up to a set of traffice lights near by. He refused and said the fee would be R50. I wasn't happy and said I'd walk for that price. He said fine. I got out and retrieved my bags from the boot. Walked back to the taxi rank and asked for a vehicle with a working meter. Eventually got into a very old Chevrolet. We drove past the original driver who had returned to his spot and was a bit gob-smacked to see me in another taxi.

Got to Ashanti. (http://www.ashanti.co.za/index_ashanti_lodge.htm) There is a coded entry system. The speaker didn't seem to work. I was let in by another guest?

I had only arranged to stay 2 nights and paid up front for both. I also had to give a R50 deposit for the bed tag. This was used to indicate that the bed I chose was already taken. Under the lower bunk they have two cages for storing your bags (if they fit) and stuff. I had forgotten my padlocks  in J'burg. Doh! Oh well I thought c'est la vie.The dorm consisted on myself and three women of varying nationalities. I still find that a little odd, despite coming across the same thing in NZ.The older Japanese woman had a bag the size of Tokyo and couldn't find anything she was looking for. Spent ages shuffling stuff in plastic bags. No idea how the girl in the bunk below me stayed a sleep.

Went to the bar/cafe for a salad lunch. Don't each too much when hot. During lunch some guysgot talking about the new security features which were added in the last upgrade. I decided I needed a padlock. Went down to reception to see if I could buy one. Luckily I could have one for a R20 deposit, again refundable on checkout if all the keys etc were present.

Decided on not doing too much during the first afternoon and went off for a small walk around town. Saw a very colourful market, but didn't buy anything due to full bags already. Shame really as I would've liked a large giraffe or hippo for the garden to hide in the bamboo.

I really shouldn't have walked around so soon as the heat and sun really were too much for me. Should have used the time to go on a tour bus to see what to do the next day or so. Oh well, got back to the hostel around 1700hrs. Booked a tour to Cape Point in the morning. Had a shower and then went out in search of food and wine.

I had heard that CT was good for seafood and set off in search of a recommended place. Got in, chose a platter to get a feel for more all at once. Chose a bottle of KWV CabSauv. Again I was still out of sorts and didn't really enjoy it. I finished the food, paid and left with the remaining 2/3 of a bottle.

Walked back to the hostel to finish the bottle. Needless to say it went straight to my head. No matter. Off to the bar for more booze. Got chatting to a girl from Manchester who was in the same dorm as me. Got a little too inebriated and went off to bed. Did not really have a good sleep due to stiff neck. This might have been due to heavy camera bag or just sleeping on air bed in Rich's. No idea but it is a pain in the neck.