Sunday, December 23, 2012

Finally!


I finally finished editing my four long months spent in South Africa 
into a short twenty-three minute video! 
I hope you enjoy :)
Always, Allex

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

21.


This is Lauren, she is finally 21.
She is a gorgeous South African friend of ours.
She had a party...
with balloons. and cake. and champagne.


Happy Birthday from Gini, Tori, Erica, and Allex <3

Saturday, December 8, 2012

1.5 hours later


I had a love/hate relationship with Table Mountain. From the bottom looking up, it really did not seem that far but once you started hiking up, it was pretty much just a tease because you felt so close but you were still about an hour away from the top. They were not just simple trails that led you to the top either, but they were huge rock formations, or so they called it "steps". The first part of the hike was not too fun, considering it was mostly dirt and brown everywhere, but once you started to get closer to the top, you can see the clouds going by and you can hear the water dripping down the side of the mountain. It was probably one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, which makes sense why it is one of the new seven wonders of the world. 1.5 hours later, I finally make it to the top with some of the girls, and these are the gorgeous views we see (including a thousand other tourists who took the cable car up..).

Definitely felt accomplished hiking up Table Mountain, it was my workout for the week ;)


I hope this motivates you to try something you never thought you would have the opportunity to do.

Always, Allex

Friday, November 30, 2012

Robben Island


Okay, I know most of you have watched the movie Invictus, so therefore you should kind of have a faint memory of what Robben Island is. Robben Island is a small island off the coast of Cape Town and used to be maximum security prison that held most or all of the black political leaders during the apartheid era. It is mainly famous for once imprisoning Nelson Mandela for 18 years. You can imagine how excited I was to go see this place where the previous president of South Africa and a man of struggle was held. I studied about his life before he became president and the fight he gave towards the government during apartheid, and it was incredible to finally be able to visit the place where he was imprisoned.


This is Nelson Mandela's cell, where he slept and studied every book he could get his hands on. He was and still is a brilliant man who was on a mission to get his people freedom. When we got in front of his cell, we all lingered around just for a while to even try and get a glimpse into what it might have felt like to live here for 18 years day in and day out. They were not allowed to socialize with others and they were forced to eat foods that were often times not even edible. The only way Mandela could communicate with others was when they all were able to go to the bathroom, working in the limestone quarries, and by secret letters hidden within small objects. Nelson Mandela is a hero to his people, especially because he never gave up on them for more than 27 years.


It was a tad bit windy on the island, but nevertheless it was a interesting experience Hopefully next time we can get a guide where we could understand more of what he was saying, welp TIA.

Always, Allex

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

A Little Piece of Home

I am staying with a host family this week and living with my Aunty Des feels a little like home. It reminds me a lot of my grandma's house back in the States and it's really comforting considering we have been living in hotels and now we have home cooked meals. She even calls us her "babies", which makes Gini and I giggle every time she says it. She is a wife, a mother to two, and a grandma to three. well five including Gini and I.. She works at the Navy base and loves cooking. Which is both good and bad on my part because the food is delicious but I'm fairly sure I've gained about ten pounds just looking at her food. Every day we get to talk and she tells us a little bit about her life. We enjoy each others company very much. 

On Sunday we became VIP pass holders and had a private tour of the South Africa Navy base. This may or may not have been one of the coolest things we have ever done before! Not to mention, the tour guide was extremely good looking (in my defense, he was in uniform). Normally people are only allowed in the main area where the helicopters land, however, Gini and I were able to go up and down the decks and even see the operating room. It is definitely a once in a life time opportunity to do something like this, so I thank God for such a wonderful time with these Navy men and my family. I don't want this week to end! 

Always, Allex

Monday, November 26, 2012