Return from South Africa

Me on Signal Hill, looking rather dashing with the sunlight and wind in my hair. Behind me is Lion's Head Mountain, and below to the left is Capetown overshadowed by Table Mountain.

Hey everybody!  I have returned from South Africa.   I’m in New York City right now visiting my parents; will return to Philly tonight.   The difference in weather is remarkable — from breezy, sunny Cape of Good Hope to rainy, dreary northeastern United States.

I’ll be posting photos and videos in this space and on Flickr.  Also, the fourth and final part of my blog series on veganism will run next week, so stay tuned!

Truly, my sojourn in South Africa was more than a vacation.  I spent the time reflecting upon my life, in particular love and faith.  Capetown and environs were truly inspiring, and Zita, the woman with whom I spent these last two two weeks, even more so.

I also did a lot of reading and reflecting upon the Bahai faith while I was in South Africa.  I discovered I’m very attracted to this tiny but growing religion, in particular their prophet, Baha’u'llah.  His writings, particularly the Hidden Words, deeply move me, make sense to me, and even refresh me.

Perhaps the time for some self re-invention is at hand.  I’m faced with new possibilities — indeed, new adventures — in the forms of commitments of heart and soul of the kind I have shied away from for years.  But serious reflection and consideration are needed first.

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Update, January 10th, 2009: I have successfully uploaded photos and videos to my Flickr and YouTube accounts, respectively.  Alas, most of the photos are sideways; I hope you don’t mind straining your neck until I find the time to fix them!  (They’re also not yet organized, and more photos are awaiting upload.)

What follows are some of the highlights: click on the thumbnails to see the full-sized photos, and the play button for a video.  Let’s begin with that landmark for which Capetown is perhaps most famous…

The Cape of Good Hope

Cape view #1

Cape view #2

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International weather station

Abandoned lighthouse plaque

Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles

Table Mountain viewed from Signal Hill

Signal Hill and Lion's Head viewed from Table Mountain

Skeleton Gorge

The Twelve Apostles viewed from Table Mountain

Downtown Capetown viewed from Table Mountain

The tourist cable car

There's a mysterious story behind this photo...

Cape Agulhas, southermost point in South Africa

Standing in the Indian Ocean for the first time!

A very unfriendly beach

Schwartzy victorious

Jaimie victorious

The Winelands and West Cape Province landscape

Big sky country #1

Big sky country #2

Big sky country #3

Big sky country #4

Kleinmond marsh and beach

The wooden footpath

Beautiful algae and seaweed

Sunset

The view from my tent

Bumming around Capetown

The Rhodes Memorial

Malaytown (Bo-Kaap)

The V and A Wharf

Downtown Capetown

Zita and I, Signal Hill, Christmas Day

Whiteface minstrels ("Caped Coons" -- their version of the Mummers!)

Saint George's Cathedral

The Company Gardens (their version of Central Park)