Nelson Mandela

Whilst I am away from the computer here are
five quotes from Nelson Mandela

"Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world"

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear"

"It always seems impossible until it's done"

"Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again"

and finally

"No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite" 

 This huge bronze statue of a young Nelson Mandela stands in the gardens of the Union Building, Pretoria - seat of government, and the building where he was sworn into office in 1994 - the first black president. The statue was dedicated one day after the former president was buried in his ancestral village of Qunu, following 10 days of mourning.

Cape Town

We landed in Cape Town at lunch time and two hours later found ourselves travelling to the top of Table Mountain in a cable car, and we hadn't even upacked.

Table Mountain is mercurial - even if the skies are blue the summit can still have a white layer of cloud lying across the top like a fluffy duvet - it was totally clear, so we made the most of the opportunity, and up we went.

 Table Mountain is 1067 metres high, and I was surprised at just how exotic the area was as we stepped from the cable car.

I was excited to see these exquisite tiny Orange Breasted Sunbirds feeding on nectar from the Aloe flowers. They were totally unconcerned that I was within touching distance - for me it was magical just watching them and seeing how their iridescent feathers glistened in the sunlight.

We took a stroll around this colourful Malay area of Cape Town before unpacking at the hotel and going for an evening meal down on the lively waterfront. Malay slaves were brought to the Cape Colony from Java in the late 1600s and carried with them an intimate knowledge of spices that was to have a profound influence on Cape cooking.
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We were, however, shocked at the shantytowns that we had seen on our way into the city near the airport, and the way in which so many black people still live today. Gradually some of the shantytowns are giving way to new townships built with what are known as 'Mandela' houses. 'Mandela' houses are made from brick, a big improvement from the chaotic corrugated iron shacks and wooden huts, but still very basic. They have only one small living room and two bedrooms in which eight people or more may reside. I did not take any photos of the shantytowns as I thought it too intrusive, but I will never forget what I saw.

We gazed out to sea through these giant sculptured glasses and could just make out Robben Island lying on the horizon - the spot where Nelson Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in prison.

The ocean that pounds the coast around Cape Town is our own familiar Atlantic, but very soon it will be meeting and mingling with the Indian Ocean, and that is where part of our journey eventually takes us.