Sunny Saturday at Gorgeous Oribi Gorge

About a week before Christmas my family and I decided to head out to Oribi Gorge and Nature Conservancy. We didn't see much of the conservancy but we certainly had a great time at the gorge. It was my first time visiting the gorge and I was utterly surprised and shocked that I had not visited this awesome place before, especially since it's only 20 minutes from my home (30 minutes from central Port Shepstone).

It really is a beautiful getaway, whether for a day or weekend trip. It offers a variety of activities and picnic sights, perfect for those glorious sunny days. We got there at about 9am and spent a good couple of hours. What drove us away (literally) was that there was no real place to swim or have a bit of a water frolic. After 4 hours of walking in bush and wobbly bridges (in 30 degree heat) you work up a sweat and a good dip is what you want. The Umzimkulwana River is the main river that runs along the gorge however, you're not allowed to swim in it because of the risk of contracting bilharzia. According to the website, there is a 'reservoir swimming pool' with a sundeck inside the camp but it's reserved for residents only. That was a little disappointing. 

Anyway we didn't go there to swim, we went there to see the gorgeous gorge. And gorgeous is exactly what is was. 

First sightings of the gorge and conservancy. 

This is a photographer and nature lover's paradise. Perfect weather, lush vegetation, great views and the incredible rolling hills make for spectacular photo opportunities. The website gives more information on the wildlife that can be seen and which time of the day you can see it.

View of the Umzimkulwana River running alongside the gorge. 

THE WILD 5

If you're an adrenaline junkie and you like to get your adventure on then this is the perfect place for you!! 5 extreme sports/ activities to get your heart pumping in less than 5 seconds. At the heart of the gorge is the Lehr's waterfall which forms the main attraction. The first of the wild 5 activities is situated  at the top of the waterfall. The largest gorge swing in the world. At first you might mistake this for bungee jumping but after closer inspection you see it's a swing and not  just a jump. It's pretty awesome, I've never seen a gorge swing before.

Wild Bridge: Not part of the Wild 5, but still pretty awesome!! 

For the other Wild 5 activities check out their website

Reverse culture shock

As mentioned in my previous post Four months too long, I've had a hard time readjusting to life post-travel. As such, I've had to find ways and means of trying to adjust and make the most of my time back in South Africa.

Here are some suggestions which I've been using to help me:

1). Be a tourist in your own city or country

For me this means exploring places you've never been to before within your country or within your city.  Below is a picture from a recent visit to Johannesburg. It was my first visit to the City of Gold ^^ Planning the trip will give you the same high you'd get if you were planning a trip abroad. 

The Nelson Mandela statue outside Nelson
Mandela Square, Johannesburg.: June 2012. 

 

2). Enjoy the simple life with new appreciation

I was never a fan of going to the beach until I traveled abroad and discovered how much I really loved it. With summer fast approaching, I make it a duty of mine to visit the beautiful coastal cities as often as I can just to bake in the sun and and enjoy the sea breeze. Doing this transports me to a completely different world. Rarely do I ever swim :) 

Lookin' fly on Durban Beachfront: July 2012. 

3). Discover the culture your city has to offer

When we travel to new places we love learning interesting things about that country or city. These facts can be learned from locals or visiting local sights. It's the reason we go to museums, cathedrals or any other place of importance. This can also be done in our home country/city. Whether its visiting a museum or going for a theater show I think this is really important. Not only does it satisfy the hunger to learn but it also makes us more aware of what is happening around us. This weekend I am going to Durban for a body painting festival. I think it will be so cool- will post about it next week! 

4).  Keep in touch with friends you made during your travels

These friends could still be in the country where you met them, or they could also have returned to their home country. I try my best to keep in touch with friends and at the very least I chat to close friends on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis. Fortunately, modern technology makes it very easy for us to communicate, with the likes of Facebook, skype, whatsapp, BBM and Kakao talk easing the convenience. In this way you won't feel like you left them behind and they won't feel like you disappeared. 

5). Remember the reason(s) you decided to go back home

For me this was two fold: 1) Get a job related to my major and 2) Enjoy the benefits of being back home. The latter includes:-

• Family- I dont have much to say about this. When you're abroad you miss out on family functions and important family events such as birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas. Since I've been back I've been able to enjoy all of these special times with my family.
• Food- Home-cooked food, South African food and meals from favourite local restaurants. Eating those yummy dishes certainly make up for all the nostalgia I experience.
• Weather- Not having 4 seasons is a bonus at the best of times. I've had enough of the winter and snow in Korea. The flip side is that I'm not able to use all my jackets and coats here because even in winter the temperature ranges between 10 and 15 degrees celcius. I miss the snow but I'll take a sunny day any day. 
• Communication - The ease of communication in your home country is definitely a plus. Not having to omit articles and use 'broken' English is incredibly satisfying. Living abroad can get so frustrating sometimes and the language barrier just makes it worse. Another plus of being back home. 
• Personal growth - The truth is that you can't really grow as a person when living in Korea. You're restricted to teaching English (unless you strike it lucky and land any other kind of job on the merit of your foreignness or your English speaking abilities). You're restricted to a routine which becomes your life. Teaching English is fun and exciting but it's really not mentally stimulating. Even having a conversation with a non-native speaker can prove to tiring.  Being back home means you're open to a lot more opportunities and intellectual stimulation. I'm quite looking forward to start studying again next year. 

6). Do fun, exciting things to keep busy: 

Life post-travel may seem to be boring. As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent 4 months at home and hardly did anything and even with my current 8-4 job I still find life pretty standard and sometimes boring. Of course this depends on who you are where you're living. An exciting life starts with YOU. I would suggest signing up for classes (cooking, learning a new language) signing up for a sport or even volunteering in your free time. If travel is your thing then make a plan to travel out of your city sometime. I treat myself to a weekend in Durban once a month and I really make the most of it. 


Your memories will be with you for life so take comfort in that. 

Goodluck!!