South Africa Travel Plans...

By Frank

To keep it short and straight to the point, I'm just glad that my travel itinerary for South Africa is finally finalised by Chee Kong. Though I do not know of any places of interest to visit, but at least I do know where am I heading to. As mentioned previously, I will be leaving for South Africa on 29 May 2012 and will be back home on 11 June 2012. That's close to 2 weeks, a well deserve holiday after working since 15 July 2011.

A South Africa map...

I won't be bringing a lot of money there as I will be relying on credit card. Reason behind this is because the currency used there which is known as Rand (ZAR) can't be exchange here locally. For your info, RM1.00 is almost equivalent to ZAR2.69. Hence therefore, Chee Kong will probably be my "banker" over there.

South African currency, the Rand...

Anyhow, here's what Chee Kong has planned out for our trip:

29 May 2012, Tuesday - Flying on board Singapore Airline SQ5329 at 9.45pm to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2. And after laying off there for about 3.5 hours, to resume flight on board Singapore Airline SQ478 at 2.10am to Johannesburg for a close to 11 hours flight. *gulps*

30 May 2012, Wednesday - Arrival at Johannesburg and expecting a pick-up from Chee Kong to his place. Upon settling down at his place, a planned visit to the museum.

31 May 2012, Thursday - Still at Johannesburg, a visit to Lion Park in the morning while noon to night is free for all.

01 June 2012, Friday - An early morning 600KM drive to Durban. A planned breakfast at Harrismith before checking into our accommodation at Belaire Suites. From there, a planned visit to Pietermaritzburg for the Comrades Expo.

Belaire Suites at Durban...

02 June 2012, Saturday - Comrades route tour and exhibition with the organisers.

03 June 2012, Sunday - Comrades Marathon 2012 race day!!!

04 June 2012, Monday - A 600KM drive back to Johannesburg and checking in back at Chee Kong's place.

05 June 2012, Tuesday - 1500KM morning flight on board Kulula Air to George. Putting up at Mossel Bay at Santos Train, a train theme hotel that looks really interesting. Will be renting a cross-over vehicle from here and the planned vehicle is a Nissan Livina X-Gear simply known as the Nissan Livina Range at South Africa! A planned visit to an ostrich farm at Oudtshoorn, some 77KM away is on the list for the first day here.

South Africa domestic airlines, the Kulula Air. So green...

Santos Train Backpackers...

Ostrich racing at Oudtshoorn...

06 June 2012, Wednesday - A drive to Cape Agulhas some 280KM away. Putting up at Cape Agulhas Bakcpackers for a night here.

View of Cape Agulhas Lighthouse...

07 June 2012,  Thursday -Drive to Hermanus and finally Cape Town with a total of 240KM. Putting up at Green Elelphant Backpackers. Hopefully Phil who is now working there will be able to join us. A planned visit to Table Mountain follows.

Cape Town...

08 June 2012, Friday - Planned visit to Cape Peninsula, Kalk Bay, Simon's Town, Cape of Good Hope and Hout Bay.

Cape Peninsula...

09 June 2012, Saturday - The Old Fisherman Trail Challenge from Fish Hoek to Hout Bay at Cape Town. Another 21KM of running on trail. Chee Kong will be leaving for the United State of America after the run and I will be left with Mei Ee and Phil here.

10 June 2012, Sunday - Goodbye South Africa! Flying back home on board SQ479 at 11.35am to Johannesburg first before to Singapore. And finally on board SQ106 at 8.35am the next morning, it's back to Kuala Lumpur.

As above, most of the important travel plans has been pin pointed out by Chee Kong. Of course there will still be other places to visit and things to do, but we will see how it goes on the actual day. It won't be easy after running the Comrades Marathon and hopefully, we won't be limping around too much. But still, with 18 days to go, I'm so looking forward to this trip! :D