#209intrepiddays

Stop 18: South Africa (part 2: The Garden Route, 7-27 Dec) Cape Town * Great accommodation at Villa Bianca at the base of table mountain * Lovely trail run * Super dinner at the black sheep on kloof street * Amazing table mountain walk with dad * Fun evening out with Pete and Lottie * Nice stroll around the waterfront and an open bus tour with cocktails on camps bay beach * Fun lunch with Alex, Gemma and Laila Somerset West / Stellenboch * Chill time at mum and dads place * Delicious wine tasting and views at Demorganzon * Incredible meal and views at Jordan's with Nix * Cheater sanctuary - encounter with Sebastian the Meerkat who loved a snuggle Hermanus * Penguins at Betty's Baai * Crayfish mania with uncle Michael * Beach walk with Auntie Andrea Plett * Incredible strawberry farm on route to plett * Fun hotel at the grand cafe and rooms * Emily Moons dinner with a full moon * Knysner quay and heads with stunning views on route to Plett On route to Port Elizabeth stopped at monkeyland and birds of Eden Addo * Stayed at and enjoyed a Christmas concert at Homefield country house * Sunset drive in the national park spotting jackets, tortoise, zebra, buffalo and 3 herds of elephants drinking at a waterhole * Canoeing down the Sunday's river * Extreme Quad biking through citrus groves Outshorn * Karoo Cooking class * Amazing mountain drives * Baby ostriches Hermanus for Christmas with the family staying at the lovely Abalone Lodge!

Stop 18: South Africa (part 1: Kruger 3-7 Dec) * Gomo Gomo lodge with morning and afternoon safaris spotting the big 5 (no leopard though) plus tons of different Buck, birds, hippos, giraffes, zebras and warthogs * Gorgeous evening dinners around a pit fire

Stop 17: Madagascar (23 Nov - 3 Dec) Antsirabe * Scenery that merges colourful Africa with Asia and French rolling countryside * Wooden villages * First stop at a small garden with chameleons, geckos, lizards, frogs, snakes, bats and butterflies * Malagasy / French cuisine - our first taste of zebu * Walking the Antsirabe Reserve and seeing lemurs - the indri indri, golden sefaka, grey bamboo, * Night Walk in the hotel grounds to see mouse and dwarf lemurs Andasibe city * 3rd largest in Madagascar - insight into Malagasy handicrafts made from raffia and Zebu horn * Amazing foire grais restaurant * Houses turn to red stone with thatch roofs all doors face to the west - learnt about Malagasy beliefs * Saw an Aluminium factory in action Ranomafana * Two daytime treks in the rainforest - spotted the 6 species of lemur (Edward sefaka, red bellied, brown bamboo, greater bamboo, golden bamboo, spotted) also saw tons of chameleons and held a satanic leaf gecko * On the night walk we spotted the mouse lemur and lots of chameleons * Went swimming in a hot springs pool * 12 hours of torrential rain * Saw traditional Malagasy dancing * Saw how the paper and cotton products are made Isalo * On route to isalo we visited a private park and saw our first ringtale lemurs, chameleons, snake and Malagasy cricket * Two day walks first on the top of the rocks and then in the canyon - we saw loads of interesting birds including the Malagasy paradise flycatcher and the Hupu, we saw ringtail lemurs, red bellied bamboo lemurs and the varoxy sefaka * Walked across many waterfalls and learnt about the different plant life in the dry part of Madagascar with spiny plants and the elephant plant * Learnt about the way the tribes bury their dead in the mountains

Stop 16: Seychelles (20-23 Nov) * Pristine white sand beaches and turquoise sea * Chill out time * Home cooking * Yummy curry at le relax hotel * Exploring Mahe island by foot and bus * Big fruit bats!

Stop 15: Sri Lanka (11-19 Nov) * Running the dirt tracks in sigiriya * Sigiriya Rock * Procession at the sacred tooth in kandy * Fun times with Kirsty and Andy * Worlds end walk * Tea plantations and tasting * Boozy colonial dinner * Gorgeous elephants at udawalawe national park adventuring with Alice and Andrew - getting to see chameleons, peacocks, an array of birds, buffalo and crocs

MEGAMOON Part 2 begins... Stop 9: China (5-15 September) Beijing * Busy streets with chaotic traffic * People spitting * Yummy dumplings * Decadent Peking Duck * The Great Wall - pretty great!! * Llama temple with big Buddhas!! * Great breakfasts at the Radisson Xi'an * Water fountain display * The terracotta warriors - wow! They were a lot bigger than we expected - human size!!!!! Chengdu * Panda themed bedroom at the Crowne Plaza * Pandas, pandas and more Pandas at the Research Centre!!! Including teeny tiny baby ones!!!! The HIGHLIGHT of China! Shanghai * Special treatment at the Radisson! Wine, fruit, flowers and cake! * The high pearl tower - looks like a space ship * Delicious beer at the top of the Ritz Carlton - beautiful views of the city * Strolling the markets and the Yuyuan Gardens - bought a traditional Chinese painting * Yummy fusion food at lost heaven * Awesome Chinese Circus World Show Hong Kong * Trip on the ferry to the main island with incredible views of the metropolis on the way * Exciting ride on the peak tram up Victoria peak for even more incredible views of Hong Kong * The trick eye museum providing some photographic fun * Big walk down the peak * Tea tastings and electronics shopping * Yummy dinner at Crystal Jade * Stunning night skyline views of the city