Frankies Travels - RB day 5

It has been a quiet few days - but for the lack of blog posts - it has been an interwebs deprived few days.

On day 2 after sleeping for at least 12 hours we had a very slow day spent mostly in front of the TV. MrT's mum put together a smashing dinner of pork chops and wors for us - the guests.

On Monday morning we were woken up by the arrival of MrT's brother for a small wedding related family indaba (MrT's brother is getting married on Friday.. and on Saturday) This degenerated into a family indaba and I was left to first sit and listen to a lively not too friendly argument in Afrikaans and then, as each member stormed, out the room I was left with the African grey parrot to talk to.

Anyhow, we left shortly after that and drove to the Richards Bay harbour for some sight seeing and then towards Mtunzini - which is a tinny little village 50km southwards down the coast from Richards Bay - through the sugar fields..

We arrived before book in time for our B&B so we stopped off at The Fat Cat restaurant for pizza - mushroom, bacon and slices of chipolata - mmmmm good post-travelling food.

Our B&B was very very nice - not only chocolates and biscuits with the coffee tray but two cold beers and a bottle of wine in the fridge, ribbons on the towels and fancy soaps in the bathroom (which I scaled when we left hee hee hee). As well as a ridiculously friendly golden retriever to greet us at the door.

The day that we arrived in Mtunzini was not a very friendly weather day. So we pretty much chilled - read some beaded some and listened to the rain some. By the time we were peckish for some dinner it was close to 8pm and we ventured out to the four different restaurant locations only discover that (A) restaurants are usually closed on Mondays there and (B) the restaurants that were open, usually closed their kitchens at 8pm on a Monday. We stoped off finally at The Fat Cat again and the kind owner quickly whipped up some food for us (it helps tipping well the first time to get good service the second time)

On Tuesday we were given a splendid breakfast of fresh strawberries, coffee, bacon. eggs. sausage, tomato and garlic mushrooms. We then ventured down to the Mtunzini beach which was on the other side of a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.

We saw dassie, red duiker, zebra, kingfisher, weavers and robins. The beach was expansive and cold but we had some good exercise walking and playing in the waves. We also wandered up to the estuary but did not spy any hippo or crocodiles.

Again the weather turned inclement by afternoon and we made holiday-like for the remainder of the day.

This morning dawned sunny and warm but still windy. We decided to pop a further 100km down the coast to Ballito which is one of my favourite places on the KZN coast. (many happy family holiday memories there)

We shopped for some beach curios, walked the promenade, and then stopped off at the Spar for ice creams and juice. (Just like a Real Beach Holiday…)

We then turned towards (MrT’s) home and returned to Richards Bay.

We finished off the holiday vibe with slap chips on the beach and exploring the ‘burbs by sunset…. Which leads now finally to another bedtime well earned (well in fact MrT just remembered he needs to write a speech for Saturdays’s element of the wedding so he is stressing and typing a little like a fiend first)

What’s Afrikaans for a Grooms Best Man? A Strroijonker sounds a little… well.. uumm.. old school…

Frankie's Travels - RB day 2

We arrived in MrT's home town an hour later than scheduled because we had to wait for some road works ... In 11 different places!

Surprisingly Richards Bay was cold and cloudy and windy. (Everyone said it would be hot here)

I was introduced to MrT's mum then we freshened up then suited up for the Wedding.

We were ready a little early so we stopped off at McDonalds in our pretty wedding attire for a spot of lunch. Hey, who doesn't like being stared at?

Now before I talk about the wedding ceremony and reception, let's remember that I was the my own brothers wedding only 24 hours before.

The wedding ceremony was simple and short. As in less then 40 minutes in total short. (My brother's ceremony was easily over an hour long)

Then we drove up the road and round the corner to the Protea Hotel for the reception.

As we were guests and thus free of any responsibilities other than having a good time... We had plenty of liberty to stand around while photos were taken and gossip about the other guests. The skirts too short and the large persons and the funny hair colours.

The reception itself was remarkably similar to my brothers with the exception to all the speeches being in Afrikaans and the wedding specific traditions.

We left early for being exhausted and went on a drive around the city.

Nothing quite as thrilling as the night lights off an aluminium smelter and the smoke stacks of a chemical factory :)

Frankies Travels - Richards Bay

On a non-travelling note first....

I have had the most insane busy week.
1. I am at present travelling and thus will be on leave for a whole week so I was tying up loose ends at work. In addition the pace of some of the projects at work at the moment is between insane and I-Need-It-Yesterday-Already.

2. My brother got married yesterday.

3. I had a visitor from "The Motherland" at work. I recruited a chap from our UK office and he came to visit this week to decide if Jozi life would suit him. As I was the primary recruiter (And good chums) I was appointed as the head tour guide. (This should be a separate post of it's own)

4. Other normal week busy-ness stuff.

Anyhow it all adds up to a lotta tiredness and I really need this week off! I'm going the beach - Coolness!!

What added to this pot of crazy is that my brothers wedding ended around 11pm last night and MrT's best friend is kicking off at 3pm today in Richards Bay - A 7 hour drive away...

So we're on the road at 3:30am driving having a slightly insane road trip on 3 hours sleep. (Hmmmm seems to be a lot of 3's there)

Then we're spending a week chillaxing enjoying the beachness and then attending MrT's brothers wedding next weekend also in Richards Bay.

So Good Times ahead! Right after this long 7 hour zoom cross-country!

(meeting MrT's family for the first time too :/ Little nervous on that note.)