Day 9 - A Big Oops, The "zoo" at Alzu, Johannesburg
Packing for vacation equates to:
What exactly do I need?
How much do I bring?
Though you might have some anxiety in making sure you have all the right supplies, it's still exciting -- especially when it's some place you've never visited.
Packing to return is a completely different experience.
"Landon, let's go head out to the van to figure out how to reattach that plastic cover that's been rolling around on the floor all week long," says Grandpa D.
Landon skips out the door with Grandpa, eager to help him in the VW plastic reattachment process.
15 minutes later, they return.... successful and yet, highly unsuccessful.
Grandpa D throws his hands up in the air and says, "Well, I locked the keys in the trunk. I'm not quite sure how <sigh> but when I closed it, it locked automatically." (We later find out this auto-locking trunk thing is simple 'German VW engineering').
Grandma C looks nervous. Our checkout time is strictly 10am and we have no immediate way of putting our luggage in the van or getting started back towards Johannesburg. Grandpa D heads towards the Reception office for help. He calls Avis Rental car. The soonest someone could be here would be noon. Grandma C suggests a locksmith. Sounds like a good idea.
9:45am
The locksmith arrives and within 10 minutes, he picks the van lock open and the security alarm sounds. I quickly crawl in through the driver's seat past the second and third row and dangle myself back to hook the key ring with my finger. I hit the unlock button and the security alarm stops.
Crisis averted.
10:00am
We say goodbye to Hazyview, South Africa.
12:30pm
Many Johannesburgers (is that really a term? I don't know....) suggested this truck stop for a lunch option called ALZU when we were first on our way to Hazyview. We decide this is the perfect time to stop -- on our way back. There are supposed to be wild animals to view here as you eat lunch.
Alzu looks much like any toll road multi-food option public restroom multiplex you'd find in the U.S. The difference? Behind the complex is a vast expanse of grassland (fenced and double fenced for security) and there are several types of animals lounging about the surrounding area.
It is here, finally, that we see the elusive rhino that we weren't able to view either on safari or at the rehab center. Eve runs back to the van to grab her camera. I've packed mine in the middle of duffel bag hell, so I take awful photos with my iPhone, some of which I'll attempt to post here.
People from all over the world (as cliché as that sounds) gather here to take photos and observe the animals while they do what you usually do when you stop at a toll plaza rest area: fill your car, purchase souvenirs, eat food, and relax before getting back on the road. We do all of these things (except the souvenirs... we have plenty).
4:00pm
We drop off our trusty rental van back to the airport Avis return. A friendly driver from Outlook Lodge takes us back to our evening's accommodations.
6:00pm
We order our dinner at the Outlook Lodge from the reception desk. The lodge has an open "living room" area with little fireplaces for the guests to congregate. Our host, Francois, brings us an assortment of pink and white marshmallows to roast by the fire while we wait (and wait....and wait) for our dinner to arrive. Dinner is worth the wait. We take showers and pass out from long drive back to Johannesburg.
What exactly do I need?
How much do I bring?
Though you might have some anxiety in making sure you have all the right supplies, it's still exciting -- especially when it's some place you've never visited.
Packing to return is a completely different experience.
7:00am
With quite a few days in the sweltering heat, we've accrued an extensive amount of stinky clothing. David and Cathy suggested we bring a folded duffel bag to throw all of our soiled, stinky safari clothes. I fill the entire duffel bag until it overflows. Packing for our return flight turns into stuffing all of our dirty clothes into a large suitcase and a duffel bag...and then some. The good news is that, even with all of the excess dirt, our bags are actually lighter going home because we ate most of the snacks we brought with us.9:00am
Suitcases fill the front entry of our little chalet and what remains of our snacks and kitchen supplies sit on the counter to be donated to the maids."Landon, let's go head out to the van to figure out how to reattach that plastic cover that's been rolling around on the floor all week long," says Grandpa D.
Landon skips out the door with Grandpa, eager to help him in the VW plastic reattachment process.
15 minutes later, they return.... successful and yet, highly unsuccessful.
Grandpa D throws his hands up in the air and says, "Well, I locked the keys in the trunk. I'm not quite sure how <sigh> but when I closed it, it locked automatically." (We later find out this auto-locking trunk thing is simple 'German VW engineering').
Grandma C looks nervous. Our checkout time is strictly 10am and we have no immediate way of putting our luggage in the van or getting started back towards Johannesburg. Grandpa D heads towards the Reception office for help. He calls Avis Rental car. The soonest someone could be here would be noon. Grandma C suggests a locksmith. Sounds like a good idea.
9:45am
The locksmith arrives and within 10 minutes, he picks the van lock open and the security alarm sounds. I quickly crawl in through the driver's seat past the second and third row and dangle myself back to hook the key ring with my finger. I hit the unlock button and the security alarm stops.
Crisis averted.
10:00am
We say goodbye to Hazyview, South Africa.
12:30pm
Many Johannesburgers (is that really a term? I don't know....) suggested this truck stop for a lunch option called ALZU when we were first on our way to Hazyview. We decide this is the perfect time to stop -- on our way back. There are supposed to be wild animals to view here as you eat lunch.
Alzu looks much like any toll road multi-food option public restroom multiplex you'd find in the U.S. The difference? Behind the complex is a vast expanse of grassland (fenced and double fenced for security) and there are several types of animals lounging about the surrounding area.
It is here, finally, that we see the elusive rhino that we weren't able to view either on safari or at the rehab center. Eve runs back to the van to grab her camera. I've packed mine in the middle of duffel bag hell, so I take awful photos with my iPhone, some of which I'll attempt to post here.
 |
| We ate at the restaurant chain Nando's.... it's like a spicy/saucy version of Pollo Tropical |
People from all over the world (as cliché as that sounds) gather here to take photos and observe the animals while they do what you usually do when you stop at a toll plaza rest area: fill your car, purchase souvenirs, eat food, and relax before getting back on the road. We do all of these things (except the souvenirs... we have plenty).
4:00pm
We drop off our trusty rental van back to the airport Avis return. A friendly driver from Outlook Lodge takes us back to our evening's accommodations.
6:00pm
We order our dinner at the Outlook Lodge from the reception desk. The lodge has an open "living room" area with little fireplaces for the guests to congregate. Our host, Francois, brings us an assortment of pink and white marshmallows to roast by the fire while we wait (and wait....and wait) for our dinner to arrive. Dinner is worth the wait. We take showers and pass out from long drive back to Johannesburg.
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