Saturday, May 21, 2011

EPILOGUE

And here is an overview of the 2010 Trip
written with a difference
Written by Steve "Alias - 'Genis'"






Dag,

Hiers ekke weer, na ‘n personelike opdrag, “assignment”van die HKGK Kamp Kommandant / Boelie.

Kry vir julle ‘n stoel, sit nou af die prentjiebox en relax (drink iets stadig – as julle nou rerig moet), soes in rustig en konsentreer – ek gaan dit net eenkeer doen.

Ja! Ek het lang laas geskrywe – was so ‘n bietjie weg gewees, sien! – van die plaas Skoorsoekfontein na Juicy Lucy, Swaziland, Mpumalanga en weer terug na Skoorsoekfontein.

Het gahoor soe langs die druiwe tros dat almal weer goed en veilig teruggekom het – nogal verbasend daaroor, want op die toer het hulle maar gesukkel om selfs in ‘n reguit lyn agtermekaar te ry – as jy omkyk was iemand weg, soes in ver weg, gone, nowhere to be seen – Ja! - missing.

Nee! As julle maskien wonner, die minse se karre het nie gebreek nie en hulle het ook nie verkeerd gery nie – Hulle het ewenskielik besluit nou word hulle dors, of soek ‘n hamburger en ook die ander verskoning dat hulle ‘n Moela Masjien gesoek het – wou nie personelik gawees het en vra hoeveel kere hulle moes badskamer besoek van al die drinke en eet goete nie.

Nou! hoe seg die Ingelse “how bad is that?”

Ja! – toe ekke die eerste dag, soe die laaaaaang tafel by die Dros in Ermelo bekyk, toe dag ekke nog – hier kom weer ‘n ding – vandaar nou die naam “HKGKKKG”.

Dit staan nou vir “HIER KOM GENIS, KOM KYKE KYKE GOU” – ek dinke!, of is ek nou verkeerd?.

In elke gevalle - Soe ‘n klein terugkykie op die bogenoemde toer.

Welgedaan aan die organiseerders (Kamp Kommandant / Boelie ingesluit) – julle het ons geldjies goed bestee en regte waarde vir geld gereel.

Wonner net oor die emmerjies wat ons gekry het – Ja! Wat moes ekke nou met die emmerjie maak?. In die see gaan speel, sand kastele bou of wat? “I don’t think so!”.

Die see was flippen een en dertig myle (vyftig kilometer in julle taal) van die kampeer plek af – Ja! Mins jaag see toe, maak emmerjie ‘n kwart vol sand (daar’s nie genoeg tyd gewees om vol te maak nie), bou ‘n half toring vir die kasteel, jaag terug vyyyyfffttiiiggg kilometers sodat ‘n mins darem voor sononder by die kamp kan kom om darem soe ietsie te eet. Daar was nie eens ‘n graafie by nie, maar ekke moet darem toegee die koeldrankie (dit was ook nie OROS nie) was lekker en die “T” hempies was menere! – soe ‘n bloue en soe ‘n gele met mooie prentjies op.

Krismis Dag – “Happy Krismis to you!!!” - Baie slaai – drie! – Ja! drie, aanmekaar se dae - alhoewel dit kersfees was, het ekke soes ‘n Paashaas gevoel met al die slaai – inderwaarheid meer hoenners (shame!) en slaai as persente.

Maar eigentlik was daar oek baie soentjies en “huggies” – soe ‘n mooi gesamentlikheid – Ja! – van die kenders het nogal te veel gesoentjies en gehuggies – Ja! Sug – was oek al daar gewees, moet nou eigentlik op my ouderdom ‘n bestelling plaas.



Van die minse het allerhande goete gedoen op die toer om hulle besig te hou, van Mikro vliegtuig vlieg, tjoebing, riverrafting, interaksie met Olliefante en krokolille en ander goete – die kamp boelie en soe ‘n paar ander minse wou later wegkom van ons almal af (genoeg gehad, sien) en spring toe sommer by Graskop van die berg af met ‘n rek – ‘n rek Ja! – hulle kon nie die tou kry nie.

Oek maar lekker dom!, want toe hulle weer kyk – woepie doepie, toe staan hulle weer by ons en toe ry ons almal weer saam.

Die Ollies was vir jou ‘n ding – die meeste minse het met die Ollies gaan speel – ook maar lekker Ollie snot in hul gesiggies gekry – oek maar weer lekker dom! - Laat ek julle nou meer van Ollie snot vertel.

Ollie-Snollie! – Ollies loop gewogentlik baie naby in ‘n ry agtermekaar in die natuur en mins weet nie waar hulle snorkels orals was nie – Ag! Kommaan – you know what I mean. Dink ‘n bietjie daaraan – as Ollie se foefievalve jik, hoe? – Ja hoe! Gaan hy dit krap? – hy vra sy maaitjie natuurlik en daar laat julle die eigenste snorkels met julle gesiggies karfoefel.

Nou ! - dit is die rede hoekom die du Plessis’s liewer na Sywurms gaan kyk het – Ja!, julle moet soe ‘n bietjie by hulle hoor hoe interressant ‘n Sywurm is – dit is nou wraggies wonderbaar. Die enigste ding is die mannetjie sywurm is darrem vir jou oek maar vol bollie as hy die die dag wil.

Ja! – Genis laat nie enig iemand of Ollie met sy gesiggie karfoefel nie – “finish en klaar!”.

Dan was daar oek beserings – Ria wat proebeer grasbaan gly het, waar daar eigentlik geen baan was nie (gelukkig is alles nou weer reg), die Landy wat die boem by Pezulu in reverse gesoen het en dan die Malfa poeding wat Chris “Pastoor” bestel het en toe skoon skeef uitgekom het (moet ok noem, hy het darrem vir jou lekka oegies gemaak vir die meisiekind van Pezulu, oek nie by haar gekla dat die Malfa poeding ‘n flop was nie) mwha! mwha! – sy het selfs persogentlik vir hom laat weet dat sy ongelukkig nie sy ander kous kon kry wat hy kammastag by haar vergeten het nie - moet darrem laat weet dat hy weer proebeer het met die Malfa poeding by Shumba’s en dit toe fantasties regekry het.

Dan die “Activities Chart” – Ja! Daar was baie “activities” – nogal lekker duur, maar die “activities” soes skottelgoed was en beddens opmaak, wat verniet was, soes in kos niks, absoloetlie free, mahala! was nie op die lys nie en was toe ook nie ‘n algemene “activity” nie – snaaks hoe ons, as mins iets verniet kry dit nie eigentlik wil doen nie.





“Ammunity neckless” – eigentlik ‘n baie slim plan (dankie Dirk) – maar het toe soe ‘n bietjie geboemerang! volgens my gevoele – moes eigentlik die naam gekry het van “Community neckless” – sien ons moes eigentlik mooi en goeie dinge en goete doen vir die minse op die toer, maar het dit toe gekry vir aller ander goete – mar maskien het ekke dit nie soe mooi verstaan nie.

In alle gevalle, het die “Community neckless” nogal nice goetertjies met karakter en baie stories om te vertelle.



Daar was ook ‘n paar uitsonderlike minse en families (moenie komkommer nie – julle was almal nice) – ekke moet net dit vertelle sien want dit was iets om te ervaar.

Eerstens, Chris “Pastoor” en die Potjiekos pot (ek wete nie tot hoe groot die potte gaan nie, maar daardie ene kon soe dertig volgroeide mielies vat op een kookslag) – ek is soe seker dit was ‘n nommer honderd Pot of iets in der voege.

Nou Ja! - Die eerste paar dae laai Chris eers die nommer honderd Potjiekos pot in sy bakkie en dan drink hy n’ bier – later in die toer (sommier die tweede dag) drink hy eers die bier en dan laai hy die pot. Verbaas my oek nie dat hy elke aand eerste bed toe was nie – hy seg dat hy vroeg moet gaan slaap soedat hy vroeg kan opstaan om te draf – Ja! Raaight - ons het ‘n bietjie later gaan stap en toe sy tekkie merke in die sand gesien – Ja! Hy was altyd laat en haastag want die tekkie merke is ommetrent soe ses en ‘n half foete (twee meter in julle taal) uitmekaar uit.

Die Myburghs – hulle het my nou rerig verbaas – hoekom?

Laat ek julle soe ‘n bietjie vertel – hulle was die grootste familie, hulle hette die grootste tent, hulle toer met twee ossewaens plus ‘n kalfie - Ja! En ekke moet ook nie vergete nie, toe die donkiekarse Vlakvark hulle koskas rondsleep toe sal ekke sommer sien hulle hette ook die lekkerste eet goete gehad.

Maar laat ekke julle vertel as dit by opslaan en afslaan kom was hulle altyd eerste klaar – om die regte waarheid te seg hulle was met alles eerste. By Sabie River Camp was hulle soe vinnig dat hulle ons Eskom krag kontrepsie uitgetrek en ingepak het – Ja! Met soe ‘n spoed, ons kry ons plug dinges amper twee slapies later.

Watter familie kan nog tyd kry om ‘n verlowing op die strand te reel, Ja! – daar jaag ons alweer een en dertig myle.

Nee wat! Hulle wen almal loshande en ons kan iets van kampsake by hulle leer en ekke sal nie sonder hulle oorlog toe gaan nie.

Dan my gunsteling – Gillian se Krismis Koek – die een wat sy seg haar baas gebak het (Genis het soe ‘n ding vir Terte en Koeke sien!). Dit was nou sommer jam! Jam! - En nee! Ek hette nie omgegee om dit vir vier aanmekaar se dae te eet nie – Kom nou! Dit was tog allermins Krismis.



Dan die Erasmusse – “what a Car!!!” – ek kyk soe na die kleine Daihatshhund Terrier dinges – Wow!

Wat nie alles uit en in die bussie gaan nie het my spreggeloos gelaat. Daai Daihatshhund Terrier pak jy nie sonder ‘n plan nie en jy moet oek nie sommer interfere nie, anders raak goete deurmekruis – daar was nie eers plek vir ‘n nommer honderd pot nie.

Julle wiet van as mins in ‘n Hotel of iets in der voege bly, dan kry jy ‘n “room en suite” – wel daai Daihatshhund Terrier het tot ‘n “moessaach en route” gehad. Wat ekke nou meen is sien! – as jy die maarseerder kon kry om aan die Daihatshhund Terrier se dak te kon vashou en jy naturelik kon stil leg tussen die dak en die “moessaach bed” dan kon jy soe ‘n bietjie gespa het terwyle hulle ry.

Ja nee! “what a Car!!!”

Dan is daar Shaun! - (Sir, Masterchef, koek extraordinaair, ek kan nie aan nog name dink nie)

Dan was daar die du Plessis’s – Ja! - Hulle was oek maar stadig, maar darem betroubaar.

Dan was daar al die kenders (groot en klein) – Ja! – moenie komkommer nie ons is nog lief vir julle.

Genis het oek altyd proebeer om te tel hoeveel kenders daar was, maar hy het hulle net gasien by etenstyd en woerts is hulle weer weg, soes in ver weg, gone, nowhere to be seen – Ja! – missing en Ja! Ekke was nog biesig om hulle te tel, julle weet en Ja! – hulle het toe nie na die activities chaaart geloer nie.

Het darem by die “Ugly Inn” halfpad gekom met die getellery want niemand kon moove nie, daar was nie ‘n swembad nie en as jy by die hek uitloop (wat soe terloops altyd gesluit was) het die karre in die pad jou plat gery sien!

Dirk! – Ja! Dirk, die kiekieman – nou wil ekke eigentlik vra, hoeveel kiekies het hy geneem?

As iemand roer, skiet hy hom al is jy ‘n blom – wonner oek of hy ooit ‘n skietlisensie het?

O ja! Van skiet gepraat, ons skiet nog verfbolle allie pad – dit was nou vir jou lekker sports gewees – “dankie broer Riaan”. Hy het sommer die hele plek misgaskiet – die plekke het kammastag dieselfde name gehad.

Dan was daar oek by ons terugkoms die brekvis uitnodiging van Ria en Rassie, om nou die toer helemal af te sluit – Mapstieks!

Dit was nou vir jou ‘n “grend affair” gawees (het soe skelmpies rond galoer waar die nommer honderd pot was vir ingevalle Chris sou deurkom – maar hy was bang – het toe nie gekom nie – nie die POT nie man!, Chris! het nie gakom nie).

Ekke het oek die kleine kenders se Choco goete en melkies soe bekyk – wil oek volgende keer daarvan kry!

Die brekvis het my laat terug denk aan die lekker mielies, die lekker brood, die lekker vis (Ja! Julle het reg geraai, moes ook weer een en dertig myle ry see toe) en dan ook natuurlik daardie POT!


Nee wat! - julle sal nie wiet hoe lekker dit was nie (die hele toer nou, nie die brekvis nie – het klaar oor die lekker brekvis geskrywe).

Haai julle!, ekke moet nou gaan – sal nie makkelik die toer en die minse vergeet nie en as ekke nou iets vergete het stuur my ‘n faksimilie met bewyse en ekke sal kyk of daar nog tyd is om dit by te las.


Nageskrif: as julle nie gelaaik het wat ekke geskryf het nie - shoot me!!! – vra net groot samblief vir broer Riaan om dit te reel.



Groetnis enne koebaai,

Genis (van die plaas Skoorsoekfontein).







Day 19 & 20 Shumba's Rest

The Last Leg
(By Mandy, Kamp Boelie)
Yes, Sadly, as the saying goes, all good things come to an end.
Here we are heading to our last destination, Shumba's Rest, in Naboomspruit,
 before heading home, after spending three weeks on the road travelling
from JHB to Piet Retief to St Lucia to Pongola to Swaziland to BadPlaas to Sabie,
to Hoedspruit Pezulu Tree Houses to Polokwane (the only dissappointment) to Naboomspruit.

After two very dissappointing days at Igloo Inn, I think everyone is exicted to
be moving on.  Well, I know for sure everyone is exicted to get there, after
we revealed our final surprise to the group last night.
Which was that each couple would have their own chalet,
NO MORE PITCHING TENTS, WHOOP WHOOP.

Well what can one say, the chalets were awesome for a change from Tents.
The tent houses were great, actually in my opinion the tent houses were actually
nicer than the chalets and I was actually sorry that we didnt take a tent house.
Nevertheless, our last two days were relaxing and tranquil.
Just chilling, sitting around enjoying the bushveld, going on a game drive,
and off course chilling in the outdoor Jacuzzi was wonderful.
And the food and hospitality at Shumba's was Awesome.
So was the frequent visiting of the resident peacock.

The second last night Melanie was the lucky recipient
of the immunity Necklace.

And then all to soon, it was time to pack up and head on Home,
back to reality, very very Sad I might tell you.
I, Personally could spend the rest of my life on the road travelling
from one place to the next :).

UNTIL NEXT TIME......




Shumba's Reception

 Melanie and Shaun's Chalet


 Justin and Sam's Chalet


 Fiona Steve Chris and Dirk wandering around the Bush


 Mandy and Percy off to do a Game Drive


 The Myburghs on a Game drive


 Wouter Wikus Natasha Irene Chanelle and Piet


 Mandy Percy Chris Norman and Dirk



Cheyna Richard Ria Rassie Tammy and Donovan 

Our Last Dinner of the Trip Together with the Group
Percy saying our Thank You's to all and Bidding everyone
farewell










 Richard feeding the resident and very Tame peacock


 The Peacock posing Proudly


 Feeding the peacock right at my front door


 Donovan Tammy and Melanie relaxing


 Chilling in the Jacuzzi ...Lekkkerrrrr


 Dirk Norman Mandy Percy and Chris, yes we all squeezed in


 Dinner time


 Ria and Rassie Tucking in


 All my Childrens


 Richard handing the Immunity necklace over to tonights winner
Melanie


 Melanie wearing the Immunity necklace



 The Du Plessis's Chalet


 The Dining area


 Tammy and Donovan


 Our two Matriculants who Passed
Cheyna and Natasha
Well done Girls


 One of the Tent Houses which were stunning inside


 AND THEN, Sadly it was time to leave
Home here we come after three weeks on the road


Friday, January 14, 2011

Day 17 & 18 Igloo Inn

Baobab Tree and Igloo Inn
(written by Richard)

Day 17, the day swiftly arrived and it was time for us to head to our new home for the next two nights, Igloo Inn. The interesting name of our destination meant there was excitement among the group as nobody knew what to expect.

Just like all the days before it, todays drive to our next camp was a great experience on its own. I have thoroughly enjoyed every journey so far through our awesome country and today was no differant. With new horizons looking out the window, new faces along the road and just the idea of being somewhere else for a while. Refreshing.

Seeing new things and experiencing new adventures is what its all about I guess. You try do something new everyday, lock it in your memory and then do something else tomorrow. When I was younger we once went to a Baobab Tree which I can vaguely remember. We did that old 'lets all hold hands and make a circle around the trunk' story, you know. Offcourse we didn't make it around but we took photos and all that.

Being with new friends here, it was decided within the group that we would visit one of these 'peaceful giants' again on our way to the next camp.

...and what a site it was..




It was a lot bigger than i remember. Compared to the "big" trees that we're normally used to and that were sorrounding this big guy, it was just incredible. Standing proud, it was very impressive. It was almost like the sorrounding trees were bowing down before it.

After standing silently for a few moments in awe... we climbed in. Literally. Hidden in the base of the trunk there was like a hollowing, like a small room in the big tree's belly. We were like ants, in the tree, on the tree, around the tree, it was a good experience, was awesome!


Me (Richard) climbing inside the belly of the Tree 


 Inside the belly of the Tree - How Amazing





 The view looking up into the tree and that's Chris climbing the tree


 Huge spider webs


 The bird life






In the afternoon we arrived at igloo inn. It was a very small and unusual place. nothing we'd seen before so no one knew quite what to make of it or quite what to think, but... we've been to weird places before so it was all just another experience.

After investigating and exploring the new area, we all sorted out layouts and got to work on our tents... It was insanely hot here and the quicker we could pitch our tents the sooner we'd be in shade. The scorching temperatures meant we were all desperate for the pool, to which we soon found out that there wasn't one?! In serious need to cool down some decided to use the showering facilities for a quick... eh.. spray?

A view of Igloo Inn


 Another view of Igloo Inn and that is pretty much all of Igloo Inn


 Following the shade, hiding from the scorching sun


 Just chilling in the shade


Just Chilling


 Richard winning the immunity necklace


 Percy after  fixing our mattress once again after the valve just popped out

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Day 16 Pezulu Tree Houses


Pezulu Tree Houses Hoedspruit
Day 2
(Written by Tammy)

After one of the most peaceful sleeps we all met up for breakfast. Some of the group had decided to make our way to the wild life rehabilitation centre called MOHOLOHOLO. An educational experience for all who went.

The first animal we were introduced to was Juba. A 7 year old cheetah
He was born and raised in the rehabilitation centre to speak out on behalf of his species.
Our guide would not leave his side. Everyone had a chance to pet him and give him some love.

We then moved on to meet a cute little fellow. 11 months old and weighing in about 250KG.
Baby rhino.
He was found when he was a new born in the Kruger park, abandoned by the mother due to the fact that she could not get her little one out of the mud. He was stuck for 3 days until a group of people discovered him and called the guys from MOHOLOHOLO to help. He is growing strong and one day he will be back with his own kind.

Next was Shadow. A very big female Hyena and her little one, Luma(biter)
The amount of strength in this animals jaw can snap an elephant's rib with one bite. She wanted to eat me when she saw me.


The vultures were the most interesting for me.
Vultures were designed to eat the meat of diseased animals which have died to stop the spread of that disease. They are endangered because the sangoma's use their hearts and feathers and all that for muti. They poison live stoke and then the vultures in hundreds come eat them. Only 1/5 of the dead vultures are taken for their spiritual practice.
One full grown vultures weighs up to 25KG.
and what you see above is me holding one on my arm. They are super heavy.
 
There were many other animals, to many to tell a story about. But all I know is I am all for the work these people do.
 
 
After dinner that evening, we were surprised by the pezulu staff. They had all come together to bid us fare well in song. We had all enjoyed our stay and did not want to leave. Pezulu will definitely be expecting us back. Next time, longer than 2 days.