The Ampitheater Gorge and Tugela Falls

So for Easter we went to Mass at a Catholic church in Durban. It was in a regular church rather than a giant barn. It we still very full. There was still dancing but it was toned down a little. It was a really good time and was cool to see. The people were extremely excited to worship. 

From there we rented a car. It's a VW polo but it's a hatchback. It's been my favorite car so far. 

Dinner in Durban

Views from the beginning of the hike

The amphitheater near Tugela Falls

View from the top. Two days later we hiked through the valleys. 

The roaring Tugela falls

Amy on the chain ladders

We are staying at amphitheater backpackers. It's the same place I stayed last time I was in South Africa and met up with Brandt and Toto and Pablo. This time we have been able to do some hikes. We did Tugela Falls on Tuesday and it was a really nice hike. Tugela Falls is the second tallest in the world but wasn't much more than a trickle. It's fall here so the river isn't exactly moving quick. It was a nice hike. I think only 12 km return trip. The roads were something awful to it though. It was a 2 hour drive just to get to to the sentinel peak parking area where the hike started. It went well. The hike was nice and ends with you standing on the top of the amphitheater walls looking down into the valley below. 

Wednesday was a rainy day so we spent it at the backpackers just hanging out. It was fun. Not anything but got to hang out with Amy which is always nice. She's a huge part of why I came back to South Africa and I am really glad she is able to take some time away from the village to travel. 

Sunset on the Maluti Mountains

Our next hike was the gorge hike it was a bit longer 23km round trip and had views more from the bottom up. It really was pretty and a really nice hike. 

The Ampitheater on the left to the point. Tugela falls is in the back corner but was just a trickle. 

Heading into the tunnel. Very similar to slot canyons. 

Steep trail down. They used bailing wire as a hand hold. 

A huge part of our hike was hopping boulders up the creek. 

Village life

So we headed back from the coast towards the village. It really is nice to be back. It's a different pace of life and I enjoy it quite a bit. It was Aly's first time so Amy gave us the run down. 

Amy explaining the intricacies of bucket bathing. 

We are here to help Amy in her librabry and what she has done is really impressive. I graded papers last time I was there in the same room and it looked like a storage room. It now is looking like a proper librabry. While we where there we catalogued sorted and labeled thousands of books. It's really cool to be a part of a change. It's cool to see the legacy Amy is leaving her school as well. 

Showing how to floss. 

Grade 6

Amy and Aly demoing 

A boy showing us how to brush so carefully. 

Brushing her tongue to get rid of bad breathe. 

We also had a chance to do a clean teeth presentation as well. Amy received a bunch of tooth brushes from a local dentist in her area. So we went to grade 1,3, and 6 and showed them how to brush and floss their teeth. It was interesting. In the 3 classes we went to not a single kid knew what floss was. Oh and they call tooth paste Colgate. It was really fun. Amy has gotten really good communicating with the students but the kids have a really hard time understanding me and Aly. At one point Amy got called away and Aly and I were left to present. The kids couldn't understand anything we were trying to say. After giving them the run down on brushin we took them out into the yard to brush their teeth. The class would get in a giant circle and Amy would go around and put toothpaste on each students brush. Then the would all brush their teeth. Followed by all of them spitting repeatedly. It was really funny to watch them brush. 

I also got another tour of the village. It was the same group as last time and as always they didn't disappoint. 

Headed to the watering hole to see where they fetch water. 

Walking the tracks

The one handed push up. 

Andile teaching me to dance. 

After another stint in the village we would return to Durban to take Aly back to catch her flight. While in Durban we went to the stadium and rode an elevator that took is to the top which has awesome views of the city. 

The elevator

View from the elevator 

Up top 

Aly and Amy 

Group photo

After the trip to Durban I would go back with Amy using the local taxis. We spent that week working in the library to get things in order before she left for vacation. 

Good Friday

It's Good Friday, we are in the village  and we went to a Catholic mission for service. It's been a pretty long day but the services are nice. They are really lively with singing and dancing. The mass part is more laid back. The priest asked me if I wanted to sit in front so it was me and a bunch of older Zulu men. I would get up and dance a little during the hymns as everyone would stand for the hymns. It was interesting. It was really nice of the guy to invite me and it was a bit awkward for a few minutes. Then it was actually pretty fun.  People here are really nice. There are supposedly almost 7000 people here. Amy and I are the only white people unless you count a little albino boy who actually came and stood by us for a while. I think it was an act of solidarity. 

View from the front

Nokuthula and me

Getting back from a long day of worship. 

Zulu people can really sing and dance.  Before school everyday the teachers at Amy's school have a prayer meeting where they sing and share a bible verse and sing and then pray out loud together at the same time and then sing again. The singing is really good. They are really talented. It's a cool experience. The prayers can get a little theatrical. I think it really is a good experience for the teachers though. I enjoyed being a part of it while I was here. 

We brought gifts for Amy's host family and were able to give them to them last night. 

Mla with his gifts

Khanyisile and Nokuthula 

Mama