Captains Log - End

This is a group family photo of the larger Njeru family which I offer as an apology and teaser for not posting as regularly as I should have.

From 2011Dec_Africa

As you can all tell, I had a major lapse in blogging due to various reasons.  I could easily point a finger at the scant access to the Internet but that would not be true.  The truth is, once the Kinoti's arrived, our nights extended into mornings and days rolled into nights faster and faster.  Before we knew it, our vacation was over.

Yes, we are now back in Los Angeles and have struggled with jetlag and the reality of being back.  Smita and I are as readjusted as can be but the kids are still waking up at 4am and sometimes 5am.

Her are some notes I took that should have been Day 15.

Last night, we all hang out in Nairobi and had an awesome time.
Today, London got baptized at Consolata Shrine.
The extended family joined us for a lunch reception at the Muthaiga Golf club.
We ate some deliciously good Bhajia's and Smita witnessed Samosa's being made from scratch.

Captains Log - Day 14

After another double breakfast (Karegi's and Mum's), I drove with Dad to marvel at the work he has done with Foresight Institute in Athi River.  We then drove to Kitengela to buy more goat meat to feed the large family and look at land..lots of land.

Power rationing in Nairobi provided the kids an opportunity to play outside instead of playing PlayStation which Greg and Luke absolutely love.  Karegi and Doreen had whipped up an awesome dinner and soon enough the kids were sound asleep.

With the Kinoti's arriving later in the evening, we made our way towards the airport where we waited for a full hour before they finally found their baggage.  Now the full Njeru family is finally together for the first time in a long time.

Thank God!

Captains Log - Day 13

After a leisurely breakfast at the Njeru's, my Dad dropped us off at Karegi's my eldest sister who lives 15 minutes away.  Karegi and Doreen, my youngest sister, had prepared enough Farmers Choice sausages, bacon, eggs and pancakes to feed a battalion.  So I called upon my troops and we wiped it all out like we hadn't eaten at the Njeru's 15 minutes ago.

We lounged around, played with Ian and Greg and then made our way to 'For You Chinese Restaurant' which is set in a lush green fenced corner with a trampoline, see-saw, slides and many other things that make kids giggle with delight.  The food was awesome as was the service and based on how the kids wiped out their plates, we will be back.

Petting and hand feeding a giraffe wasn't on my bucket list but I added it and crossed it off this afternoon when we drove to Karen to do just that.  We made another stop at Dagoretti to buy meats which Karegi and Doreen prepared for dinner and we obliterated them..yes obliterated!

I am so happy, full, content and thankful for the blessing of today.

Captains Log - Day 12

I have honestly lost track of what day it is so bear with me as I try to spin myself out of this time warp.

Boxing day had us pretty boxed with a wake up time of 3:30am to get ready to catch a 1 hour flight from East London to Johannesburg.  Our flight to Kenya was cancelled and we ended up waiting 5 hours to take the 1:30pm flight.  We were pretty sad to leave the Alexanders especially after we found Grandpa Alexander's DVD remote control in Laila's backpack!

The flight wasn't too bad except for Laila's attempts to enter the Guinness Book of World records for the new category of 'Loudest Child on a Plane'.  It was soon over with a s soon as we landed.  We made our way through immigration, customs and baggage quickly with Luke leading the way to the large waiting entourage formally known as my family.  Hugs, kisses and more hugs later, we were soon at the Njeru's where more hugs, gifts and more hugs were exchanged.  

We all retired for the night later than we should have with very lofty breakfast plans.

It's good to be home.

Captains Log - Day 11

It's Christmas day and also our last day in South Africa since we head for Nairobi, Kenya tomorrow. Since I am a huge proponent of the here and now, we won't focus on anything but today, today.

We all attended an 8am Christmas church service which was very well prepared and delivered by Brian Von Der Decken. This was followed by delightful gift opening, more pigging out, lounging poolside and more food comas. One particular food coma was courtesy of Marcel's everything-on-it-but-the-kitchen-sink-peppermint-something-or-the-other dessert. Deliciousiously decadent but beware.

By evening, the scorching sun retreated and was replaced by a surprise thunder and lighting rain storm.

I suppose if it isn't a white Christmas, it is a wet one. Merry Christmas to you all again.

Captains Log - Day 10

With Auntie Deepa and Uncle Marcel here, it now feels like a real Christmas! 

There is lovely chatter, joy and the occasional screams from the kids that have filled the Alexander household and it is clear that this is 'Family Time'.  I cannot imagine NOT doing this again every year.

Grandpa Alexander had arranged for a family photo shoot that was done by the same veteran that shot our wedding and both Smita and Deepa's high school matric dance (prom)! Can you spell longevity?

In the evening, Marcel proceeded to enthrall us with a firewood barbecue that will stand the taste test of time for eons according to my taste buds.

After dinner and once the younglings were in bed, Santa made his rounds and left a heap under the tree.

Tomorrow will be delightful. 

Merry Christmas!

Captains Log - Day 9

I never anticipated what the effects of being 'disconnected' would be like until yesterday or is it today?

Let me explain.  We went more than 3 days without the kids asking to watch TV which you all knows is a feat for my 'big city rats'.  They have learnt to improvise and play with each other albeit too rough for Laila's liking sometimes. As for Smita and I, we have literally lost track of time.  I couldn't tell you what day of the week it was without looking at a calendar....and that is a sign of content disconnection.  

Having said that, I did activate a cellphone SIM card and upload a ton of photos which I will be sharing soon. Be sure to go back to  previous posts where I have added a clickable sideshow. I will be updating each album with more so check the albums often.

On a more somber note,  do remember to pray for Sara, Dennis, London and most of all Janet who lost her Mother, Sara's grandmother and London's great-grand mother.

Captains Log - Day 8

After a restful night, we slowly packed up for our drive back to King Williams Town (KWT) while a herd of Buffalo splashed around at the watering hole closest to our Chalet. 

I rediscovered new ways to use my camera and did some practice shoots on flora, fauna and my impish offspring!  Be sure to check them out and leave comments when I post them.  

On our drive back, we couldn't help but notice that the kids had changed or grown ever so slightly but noticeably so.  Koi fish in a larger pond is the only apt analogy. 

We were weary and lazy on arrival in KWT, so we lazed around some more, had dinner and retired for the night.  

Captains Log - Day 7

4:30am and Smita and I were awakened by the calls of a jackal.  So we sat on the stoop (porch) sipping coffee as the morning African sun cast it's first light on the rolling hills of Addo.  Idyllic?  Yes! 

As soon as the kids woke up from their slumber, we were off on a morning game drive by 7am. We saw Elephant, Red Harte-beest, Burchelis Zebra, Warthog, Eland, Kudu, Buffalo and the Black backed jackal that woke us up.  Once more, the passion and knowledge of wildlife by Grandpa and Grandma Alexander was immediately demonstrable and clearly not restricted to birds. 

The kids behaved themselves for the most part and were mostly in awe of the elephants whenever we came across them.  When we finished our game drive, we gobbled down brunch at the local restaurant and headed back to our Chalet, where the kids entertained their Grandparents while I fell in and out of a perfect siesta. 

We did another evening game drive hunting for a pride of Lions that chose to remain elusive.  We had another idyllic sundowner dinner of perfect lamb curry prepared by Grandma Rita and called it a night by 8:00pm. 

I could get used to this. 

2011Dec_Addo

Captains Log - Day 6

Last night I crashed by 8am so it should come as no surprise that I was up today at 3:30am.  I literally watched the sun rise out of the east like a huge orange orb behind the ocean. 

I had a very interesting chat with Douglas, a Jeffrey's Bay local before I paddled out at Super Tubes. It was way smaller than yesterday but still lots of fun. On my walk back, I decided to do a second session at Boneyards where I met more locals and one Yank. 

By the time I got back to Pinnaquin, everyone was raring to go.  So the first pit stop was at Sea View Lion Park where we got to see and pet Lions!  Next stop was Addo Elephant Park where our very first afternoon game drive was immediately rewarded with the sighting of a huge herd of Elephant amongst other wildlife. 

After a noisy dinner (the kids were exceptionally unruly) we retired to our perfect accomodations and in exactly 5 minutes...the kids were snoring...and so were we.

2011Dec_LionPark

Captains Log - Day 5

I woke up at 4am again. This time, the kids had nothing to do with it.  I was just too excited to sleep. As soon as I slid the French doors open, I could hear and smell the ocean. 

I took a walk along the beach to do some reconnaissance work on where I wanted to paddle out.  I soon discovered Super Tubes and The Point and made my decision. A short walk back to Pinnaquin to pickup my gear and I was back at the point.  

I stuffed my bag into the bushes, skipped gingerly across the razor sharp lava rocks that guard the perfect peaks at The Point and heaved myself onto my first real good wave at approximately 6am!   What a session! 

When I returned, giddy from my session, we hit the road and headed to Tsitsikama to do some bird watching.  Grandpa Alexander has an unmistakable passion for birds and it was great to have such a knowledgable guide. Luke wasn't too keen at the beginning but towards the end he had even mastered the calls of a beautiful peacock that bid us adieu.  Laila's attempts to mimick the calls had us cracking up too. 

We drove back to Jeffriesbaai, threw some scrumptious chicken skewers on the braai and after indulging ourselves, retired for the night. 

What a day!

2011Dec_JayBay

Captains Log - Day 4

It's 4am  and we are all wide awake.  I really don't get this!  There has to be a documented paradoxical effect on children and time zone travel to the Southern hemisphere.  If there isn't, I can provide valuable statistics and observations based on how Luke and Laila's sleep patterns have been disrupted. 

We are in no hurry, so we had an early breakfast, packed for a short trip to J-bay and were on the road by 9am.  The road trip was fun with a pit-stop at M & J where we had some authentic South African pies, Appletizers and Luke signed their visitors wall. 

Jeffrey's Bay!  Why didn't I stop here before?  Smita and I couldn't help but notice how it felt no different than San Diego or any small coastal town in the US but still very authentically South African. 

The beach was crowded with holiday revelers of all hues, shapes and sizes. Luke had his first encounter with a jellyfish.  Nothing a little vinegar couldn't fix.  I paddled out after chatting with the lifeguards and caught a few good lefts. 

Another highlight was bumping into Antoinette Joubert at Dolphin Beach with her family. The probability of this occurrence was easily one in one hundred thousand based on the crowds but it happened!  

I can't say enough about our room and the views.  The Pinnaquin is literally two blocks from the beach..not just any beach but SuperTubes which is the surfing Mecca.  

Need I say more. 

Captains Log - Day 3

Lazy Saturday sums up today.

The kids refused to sleep for more than 1 hour last night. Laila had a mystery mild fever that had to be monitored closely so nobody got a full nights sleep. I was bright eyed by 3am and watched the darkness give way to light.

We spent the day lazing about the pool, touching thorny plants, feeding birds, kicking a ball around...usual vacation stuff. Can you tell I'm loving this? It's nice to not have to rush anywhere for anything. I might as well introduce my watch to a hammer.

Later in the afternoon Grandpa Aexander started a charcoal barbecue and threw on some of Grandma Rita's uniquely marinaded cuts of lamb chicken and various types of sausages. The kids loved it and Laila was back to her bubbly boisterous loud self! We stuffed our faces (greed) dozed of into deep slumber (sloth), woke up and did it again (malice).

Tomorrow we embark on a short road trip. What more could one want?

Captains Log - Day 2

So it's day two and I'm still blogging so that's a good thing right?

Today was awesome. After the usual early morning routines, I took my walk this time in the opposite direction and ended up at the Dale College swimming pool which was all set up for water polo. They must have quite a team, I thought to myself. I passed a few locals whom I greeted in Xhosa correctly assuming I blended in perfectly. 'Moolweni!'

As soon as got back, we were on the road to East London shortly thereafter where we went on a short but successful hunt for Smitas longtime friend Shereen. Shereen is so important....let me put it this way, if it wasn't for Shereen and the circle of friends around her, Smita and I would never have met and so on and so forth...you do the math.

After that heart warming episode, we went to the Gonubie open market/show which is held annually around this time of the year. I met a SUP surfer there and he proceeded to give me some tips on where to go and where to buy my gear; so we headed there. There in this case was Nahoon where I did my first paddle out in MY continent, in MY ocean. Suffice it to say that it was emotional, fun, fulfilling and worth it.

The kids had fun and were thoroughly exhausted by the time we got home.

More story Ngomso...as they would say.

Captains Log - Day 1

What an ordeal it is to get here but we are here at last.  

Two +10 hour flights, a 5 hour layover in JNB' a 1 hour flight to ELS and another 1 hour drive to KWT! The younglings did well but started melting down towards the end with whimpers, whining, crying and the screaming.  Night número uno was absolutely relaxing but we were all up at 4am, breakfast by 6am and fading again by 8am. 

I took a leisurely walk on Queens Weg (road in Afrikaans) to scout out the area.  I was taken aback by the breathtaking mountain views and defeaning silence occasionally broken by the sounds of various birds and most of all, air that my lungs reasonably identified as smog-free.

I crashed again from 12pm to 5pm.   This jet lag thing is no joke.  Hopefully by tomorrow I'm all over it. 

A lovely start indeed. 

Award for most efficient government agency

It is rare for me to give accolades to any organization so this is already uncomfortable. 

However, after we applied for our passports on Wednesday and picked them up yesterday(Friday),  I have to award the US passport agency the award for most efficient government agency.

Granted, we had to pay expedite fees and wait in line but it was all worth it.

The photos below have nothing to do with passports.  I just thought they were cute. :-)

See y'all soon!