Cape Town 2

Next morning, started with a peculiar problem. I started missing Water Jet in toilet 'sore'ly! But before that let me crack a joke.

A lady was complaining to launderer, "Why don’t you use more soap to wash my panties, they are still not clean!”

Launderer retorts, “Why don’t you rather use more toilet papers?”

I was in soup for using more toilet papers! Never used to get clean feeling with one or two so I used more than 4 to 5 papers. More friction more soreness! Even then I was far away from being happy so started coinciding it with immediate shower. Problem used to arise when I had to use the loo outside the hotel. So desperate I was to return to Mumbai only for water jet. I was so happy in Japan; ah their toilet seats are out of this world!

Okay let it be.

Marathon’s track was going through the square near ‘Jewel of India’. We all gathered there to cheer the runners and other participants. While we were walking down to the square, a police officer, mind you Police Officer on patrolling duty, after looking at Shubha’s diamond Mangal Sutra, cautions, ‘ Please hide that, it’s dangerous!’ It’s said that crime rate in both Cape Town and Johannesburg is alarmingly high! It’s such a shortcoming for such a beautiful continent, because whichever nation you go to  story is the same!

 It was three times ‘Hurray’ for the first participant who was on the wheel chair! It seemed that handicapped people too could participate in the race. We amongst ourselves too had a smallish running race between the two traffic signals of the square. It was really a spirit lifting endeavor.

Next on the agenda was Cape Town’s fascinating botanical garden at the base of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch, again a Dutch name.

It’s located on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain which gives it fascinating backdrop. It is very well spread over may be over 500 hectors and has many theme based sub gardens. The tree canopy walkway is just out of fantasy land that snakes through having thick forest canopy above and not so deep trench below. It's known 'Boomslang,[ Tree Snake in Afrikaans]. We in Mumbai have one, now at Malabar hills.It has camphor Avenue lined by Camphor trees , type of Cinnamon from China. It has fragrance garden, Medicinal garden and it is home to more than 7000 plant species.

Nice Curio shop with reasonably priced Knick knacks. Bought tee shirt for my grandson with all African animals printed on it. Just outside the curio shop there was this sculpture, African sculpture, GOK what it meant. It looked like voodoo mumbo jumbo, a head pierced with needles of various sizes, nonetheless it was worth a snap, so here I am!  

It was the day for Marathon and practically all the city was
closed for it, traffics diverted roads closed, so moving around in the city was difficult and we could not visit few places on the itinerary. 

Even then Swapnil managed to take us on the city tour. We roamed in the city, saw cricket stadium Newlands Cricket Ground, Mecca of South African cricket; albeit from outside. There was a visit to Diamond cutting and polishing workshop which looked absolutely like any shop from outside. Was it Gem Lab I don’t remember?

Next was visit to Parliament House. And General Library.

It was/is situated in a small lane peculiarly sans any security, no police, and no guards! Any Tom Dick and Harry could have reached the main gate without being interrogated!

All  political administrative decisions are taken from here. Rest two capitals are at Pretoria and Johannesburg. Just next to it is St. Mary’s Cathedral.

It’s the oldest Catholic cathedral in South Africa. Just next to is statue of Colonel Botha, or was it some James Prime Minister in 19th century,  I am not sure.[I forget it].

We visited a curio shop thereafter; its specialty was that it was run by African Women’s group. Bought magnets for fridge which has become must for middle class homes that travel abroad! The street was marked for Marathon so we could see many participants; maybe it was the last leg so some of them were running as if were taking a stroll! 

While crisscrossing Cape Town we passed through an area where houses were brightly painted, rather garishly gaudy would be more correct. It was one of the Muslim areas of Cape Town, Bo-Kaap. Houses were built for Indonesian, Malaysian Indians slaves brought by the Dutch. They were all white when they were still slaves but once they were freed every one painted his house in bright colors to symbolize freedom.  After homework it was evident that it was quite old and is cultural heart of cape Malay community. It houses first mosque of South Africa, Auwal Mosque.

Had lunch at Vichare’s Vintage India again. Food was really good this time again!

Evening was the time for sunset cruise   on the Atlantic Ocean

from Victoria wharf marina. Air was crisp and cool and the ambiance upwardly mobile. Table Mountain in the background accentuated the beauty in twilight. Ferry wheel was not far behind.

Sparkling wine was on the house, no doubt everybody was in high spirits and that showed in their dancing skills. The cruise was actually for sighting the whales as harbor has them but we could not see them, may be because everybody was high on spirits and ambiance. We could see some seals perched on buoys but due to poor light they were hardly visible Everybody danced to their heart’s, content sang full throated leaving the age far behind and enjoyed the present moment!