The Malay district in Cape Town

Hi Dave. This is a pic of the malay district in the centre of Cape Town . On the right of the pic are a row of brightly coloured houses, orange, lime green, lilac, purple and green. Sitting proudly in the distance is 'Lion's Head', a large rock mass that dominates the skyline. It is a beautiful sunny day and I'm eating a chicken and mushroom pie while taking the pic !!

Today I met Warren, the best friend of Gilla, who went to college with me. We started the day at a farmer's style market, which wasn't too dissimilar to the ones found in Sydney and London, though the food seemed to look very fresh and colourful. Warren is a lovely fella and we both seemed to click, talking about the meaning of life etc !!!! The thing that I bore some of you with ! We drank coffee, tasted the stalls offerings, drank some more coffee and eventually parted company after lunch with the idea that we might meet in the evening to go somewhere different ?!!! I was intrigued. I headed into town to visit the Malay area, as pictured and the Slavery museum and District 6, an area of land that was inhabited in 1901, communities built and then declared in 1950 a White Group Area. 60,000 people were forced out of the area and rellocated in the cape flats which had none of the infrastructure to support such a large number of people. The museum is fascinating and like with most of Cape Town's history, very humbling. Some of the old inhabitant's were in the cafe playing music and singing. They are encouraged to come to the museum to talk to people like me, unfortunately by the time i got to the cafe, from upstairs they had packed up and gone. Really fancied a sing !

The slavery museum had a fascinating room dedicated to Steve Biko. Remembered seeing , 'Cry freedom' with the Welshes at Wycombe 6 and the music brings a tear every time I hear it. He was a courageous man. Big respect.

I walked home and then got ready for the evening. I was to be picked up at 8pm and taken to somewhere slightly un touristy. Warren picked up his friend Lelil a student from CT University, studying film. A very lively fella with such a passion for film. Warren who produces all sorts of media, is being his mentor, while he studies. We headed to the outskirts of town and found ourselves parking behind a large werehouse. Infront was a brightly orange coloured restaurant, open to the elements on one side. We went up to the counter, ordered our meat[ i had chicken, pork and sausage], pap and sauce, got some beers, a smoke and began to chat. We were maybe 6 people to start. By the end of the evening, the room was packed with about 150 black men and woman. The music was thumping and people would literally drive up in their cars, get out and immediately start to dance. Was just electric. Everyone was so friendly, i had no idea what people were saying to me but i just smiled and danced the english restrained dance moves, till 1 am. Think this has to be the highlite of the stay so far. So spirited. Was so refreshing to connect with this body of people without judgement. What a night and what a bloody hangover !!!

Today I am suffering but to lighten the mood I have just become qualified as an Open Water Diver !! Hurrah !!