A weekend off. Something that I am soon to appreciate as pretty precious I think. So we made the most of it. Saturday we unfortunately went to an amazing, beautiful, empty beach, lolled around in the sun (25 degrees, and it's winter!), braii'd and body boarded to our hearts content.
I say unfortunately as it was also the Zulu King's daughter's wedding in Ingwavuma this weekend (there's long been dispute over the border with Swazi so the king built a palace up here and installed his 6th wife). And there were rumours that Jacob Zuma would be attending. And maybe visiting the hospital. I was desperate to attend the royal wedding (it is a free invite system) but the more experienced hands out here advised that they can be rather painfully long experiences where you want to sit at the back but that if invited to sit at the front by the king, it would be rude to refuse. So the beach won. And it was a great day.
Today (Sunday) we checked out the alleged border with Swaziland. According to Google Earth, it's at the top of the dirt road leading to the mountain edge but locally it's thought to be the bottom of the mountain. So sandwiches in backpacks, we hiked all the way down, taking the 'coffin route' (lots of our patients come from Swazi but, if they die, it's very expensive to repatriate the bodies so they carry the coffins down the very steep path). There we picniced and then hiked back up again. So I've officially and illegally been to Swazi.
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Goeie middag! (good afternoon)
ReplyDeleteJust sat down with a cup of tea to catch up on your adventures and what a cup of tea and catch up it was!! Sounds incredible so far and it seems at least that you are enjoying it. Pity you did not get to Mozambique - but sure you'll go round there sooner or later. If you can - try and visit Kosi Bay. It's one of my favourite places on earth and I'm sure you'll like it.
Congrats on all your c-sections and other things of more complicated name. You'll hit the ground running once you get back to propper equipment and adequate staff. Initially I suppose you will find these things challenging and exciting, but I have heard that it turns into frustration pretty soon. Hoping that does not happen and it keeps challenging you.
As news here go; the weekend past was a scorcher! Went to VFestival and am now a crabby pink allover. Sure you've got similar temperatures over there actually and it will now start getting warmer.
Looking forward to your next adventure!
Take care of yourself.
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