8 April (Day 23)

We went to an ostrich farm and got to see a “feather palace.” Back in the day ostrich feathers were really valuable, so ostrich farmers built big, beautiful houses. We didn’t get to go in, though, because someone lives there currently. As obnoxious as this will sound, I have seen much bigger houses in GP, so the fact that was called a “palace” seemed a bit extreme, but it was a nice house.

We got to see two ostriches named Jack and Susie who were 28 years old. I let Susie bite me to see how it felt. We stood on ostrich eggs, because they’re really strong. The only really cool thing I did at the ostrich farm was ride an ostrich. Yep, I rode one. We all got to sit on the ostriches, but only four people could ride them. It’s a good thing we got weighed for bungee jumping, because there was a weight limit for riding and I wouldn’t have known mine if I hadn’t just been weighed. Heather, Anna, Jess, and I were the four who got to ride. Don’t worry guys, I have a video.

After ostriches we drove to Cango Caves. We were supposed to all go adventure caving. Yeah, that didn’t happen. Caves scare me really badly, and I didn’t psych myself up enough for caving to actually do it. There were signs in the front that showed exactly how small the spaces are that you have to go through and I totally chickened out. I decided to go on the standard tour, and so did Kristina, Emily, Sara, and Carrie.

It sucked. We only got to see five chambers, and the group was like 50 people. 50 people in a cave? Not even remotely enjoyable. We couldn’t hear the guide because people wouldn’t shut up and there were little kids on the tour that were being obnoxious and a crying baby. It wasn’t fun. Poor Carrie almost passed out in the second chamber and had to be taken back out. I wish I would have done the adventure caving, but when I saw the posters I almost started to cry right then and there, so I think it’s best that I didn’t. Besides, there are caves in the States that I can go to if I so choose, I don’t feel like I missed out specifically on Cango Caves.

I had worn jeans, a tee shirt, and sneakers to the cave because I planned on adventure caving. After caving we were going to the KKNK Festival, so I brought a dress to change into so I that I wouldn’t bake. The forecast called for 34 degrees Celsius, ick! Well, I packed my dress but not SHOES! So I had a little strappy dress and then sneakers and socks. When we got to Oudtshoorn I left my shoes and socks on the bus, set out barefoot and bought shoes first thing. That’s one thing I couldn’t have done in the states: I walked into the store barefoot and got to walk out with shoes. I do enjoy being barefoot, though.

After I got my new shoes, Kristina and I met up with Alex, Anna, Emily, Jess, Heather, and Carrie. We stopped into a restaurant to eat and then parted ways again. Kristina thought that she left her wallet on the bus, so Anna and I walked back with her to meet Sandy and get her wallet. Then Sandy walked us into the festival. KKNK is an Afrikaans festival with music, art, and food. Kristina and I headed for the craft tents while Anna went for music.

At the tents I picked up a gift for Mom and Hayley, as well as a small drum with the flag of South Africa. I think it will be a cool thing to have in my classroom in the future, and I think I might actually buy a few more little instruments like that back in Stellenbosch. I spent the bulk of my money on myself, though. I spoke to a husband and wife who make beautiful jewelry. I couldn’t afford most of their stuff, but I was really enjoying a ring that had an emerald cut green stone with three small pearls. It was more than I thought I wanted to spend, so I walked away from it. Right before closing, though, I changed my mind. We walked back to their tent and I ended up getting it. It was less expensive than some of their other pieces because it hadn’t been bought yet. I absolutely love it, but I haven’t been wearing it for fear of losing it before I even get home.

The craft tents closed at 6, so Kristina and I went to check out food options. One of the big festival foods here was “chip spirals.” It’s a spiral-cut potato, skewered and deep-fried, then sprinkled with seasoning. Kristina wanted to try one, so we started chatting with the woman running the booth while the chip spiral cooked. We found out that her son is a student and he’s living in Chicago right now to go to school. After handing over the cooked potato, the woman refused to take our money for it! She said that we should tell all of our American friends if we liked it. So we got a free chutney-flavored chip spiral. It was really good!

We walked around while we ate the chip spiral, Kristina got a henna tattoo, and we started to look around for our group. We didn’t have a cell phone, so it was pure luck that we ran into Carrie, and Anna. They got a phone call to meet up with Sandy, and so all of us headed to a music tent. We met up with most of the group there, and spent the next couple of hours listening to a really fun Afrikaans band and dancing. We didn’t like the performer for the next set as much, so everyone headed out for one last run around the festival before we had to meet up at the bus at ten. Anna, Alex, Heather, and I headed for a random bar/club. We only had enough time to stay for one song, so we ran past the tables right up to the front of the stage, where no one else was. We were just in time to catch some random Aaron Carter wannabe named Luhann. We danced our little hearts out for his first song and then sprinted out of the bar and back to the bus.

Perhaps if we had more time I would have stopped at a toilet on our way, but we didn’t. This meant that after a couple of beers I was unable to make it the whole ride home without stopping. Sadly, the ride from Oudtshoorn to Mossel Bay was entirely rural, with no hope of a gas station. So Pierre pulled over for me, and Jake and Anna both decided that they needed to get out as well. I really had to go, so I scoped out the best spot and did my business, and Jake is a boy so he needs less privacy than Anna or I. Poor Anna was not as lucky as I, though. I had taken the best spot, and the moon was almost full; even though we were nowhere near city lights, it was quite bright. So Jake broke out the mini-drum that I had purchased earlier in the evening. He played and we danced so that people driving by would see us, instead of Anna. Tragically I am pathetically uncoordinated, and ended up stumbling and cutting my foot on a piece of glass. It was probably the best road-side bathroom break of my life, though.

Upon our return to Mossel Bay, some of us were still ready to go. So Jake, Jeff, Anna, Heather, and I headed down the street to find a bar. We were sorely disappointed, though. Being the middle of the week in a small town, the only open bar was pretty dead. We stayed for one drink and talked with another woman who was staying at our hostel, and then we all headed back for the night.