Tee hails from Hoedspruit – about a 6 hours drive from Johannesburg.
They are situated in the Limpopo province – and are predominantly a farming town specialising in mango and citrus.
In 2009 we decided to take a break and visited her family for a long weekend.
I had been under a lot of stress at work (as usual) and the best part about the mini-break was that Tee brought me coffee in bed every morning!
I had no cell reception and got a few hours to myself every day just to read or relax. I needed the time-out and Hoedspruit is a perfect place to visit.
Tee took me around to see some of the sights and 1 of the best was the gigantic Glencoe Baobab tree. It is the 2nd largest tree in South Africa, but sadly seems to be dying.
The trunk diameter was 15.9m (with a circumference of 47 metres) before it split
Here is the tree taken from afar:
Glencoe baobab
This is closer with me in the shot to give you some perspective:
There I am!
Baobabs are found only in South Africa, Madagascar and Australia and are not the prettiest trees. Bushmen legend has it that God was angry with the Baobab tree and pulled it up and stuck it back into the ground upside down. It’s a clever story as the limbs do look like the roots of a tree in winter.
Walk at DuskView of the lake
We went on a hike through some beautiful forest (while I tried to ignore the fact that snakes were nearby) and came out at this waterfall. I have always had a thing for waterfalls – they make me insanely happy.
Waterfall
We visited the Silkworm factory where you can buy something pretty.
The wildlife rehabilitation centre was also a great outing. Sadly there was a sick little rhino there. He ran around amongst the people just like a tame dog. It was very sweet.
His tummy would not work and they had tried everything. They feared that he would not survive much longer.
Blog everyday in May – Day 5: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends. What makes them great? Why do you love them? If you don’t have blogger friends, talk about a real-life friend or even a family member
Well my best friend is also a Blogger – so this makes it easy.
Tee and I have the kind of friendship that is easy.
We get along because we understand each other. When we are busy and don’t speak to each other for a few days, I know that when we do speak, it will be to catch up on what we have been up to. Not to accuse each other of not caring.
Some days we speak on email and on Whatsapp. We can have 2 entirely different conversations and never run out of things to say.
We respect each others’ strengths and accept each others weaknesses. We compliment each other well.
I trust Tee to know me well enough that 1 day when {I get married / have a baby / any other important occasion} that she will plan to ensure my day / event is fun and suited for me. (aka, sexy young men, sparkles, pink, Princess crown – dependant on the occasion)
Day 6, Monday: If you couldn’t answer with your job, how would you answer the question, ‘what do you do’? Day 7, Tuesday: The thing(s) you’re most afraid of Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all. Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words) Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill. Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life…) Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be. Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day – this could be “a photo an hour” if you’d like) Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your “lot in life” and how you’re working to overcome it Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt. Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now. Day 21, Tuesday: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives Day 22, Wednesday: Rant about something. Get up on your soapbox and tell us how you really feel. (a pet peeve, a current event, a controversial topic, something your husband or roommate or neighbor or boss does that really ticks you off) Day 23, Thursday: Things you’ve learned that school won’t teach you Day 24, Friday: Your top 3 worst traits Day 25, Saturday: Something someone told you about yourself that you’ll never forget (good or bad) Day 26, Sunday: Something you read online. Leave a link and discuss, if you’d like. Day 27, Monday: A letter to your readers Day 28, Tuesday: Only pictures Day 29, Wednesday: Five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Use Grooveshark or YouTube to include them in the post Day 30, Thursday: React to this term: Letting Go Day 31, Friday: A vivid memory
There have been a few instances lately that have made me appreciate my friendship with Tee and how her and I met.
Can you believe that we met over the internet through THIS blog!? (Well, when it was still Windows Live)
We have travelled overseas together, we have had many fun local trips together without killing each other. We have yet to even have a fight – that in itself is impressive when I see the friendship dramas around me.
We can talk for hours about all sorts of rubbish… chocolate, hot men, food, sex.
We can be serious together and we can be silly together.
We respect each other and do not try to change each other.
We don’t insult each other and we trust each other.
We don’t have to speak every day (even though we probably do most of the time)
We know each so well. We instinctively know how to react when we know that the other is down, feeling fat/sad/happy.
We really do have alot in common:
We are both independant
We are both strong willed
We love the same movies & series (Music is another story, but 2/3 isn’t bad!)
We are both stubborn
We both love travelling
We love our Kitty Cat
We both have Guess Handbags & Guess purses.
We have matching sunglasses & when we wear them……
We will be funny like BarneyWe will be hot like JakeMy sunglasses – brownTee’s Sunglasses – grey
Her favourite colour is purple or red, mine is Pink or silver (Pink and purple and red and silver are very complimentary)
We both love Hello Kitty.
Although…
When Twilight came out she was an Edward fan – I was Jacob – even with his long hair. She converted when Jacob became hot, can you blame her?
Vampire Diaries: She liked Stefan and I liked Damon. I think as Damon’s character progressed, he became more appealing. Also Stefan became a bit weak and annoying – so now we are both Damon fans
Eden – She is a Jay fan, I was Johan.
Luckily we don’t have the same taste in men… things might become awkward!
Tee has an iPhone, I have Samsung.
This is why our friendship works so well – we have enough in common, but not enough to make us clones of each other.
Branching off onto another topic: Apple vs Android
This discussion can become as heated as a Canon vs Nikon or Catholic vs Protestant conversation.
The 1 common factor here, is that once you have picked your side, you never go back. You just don’t.
Is it because you become accustomed to the functionality that you experience with your chosen brand?
I was introduced to Apple a few years back upon receiving an iPod Touch. The touch screen was awesome and I preferred the Twitter and Facebook interfaces to the Blackberry’s.
I then received an iPad as a gift 2 years ago and that was alot of fun in the beginning. I played games, read books and took it to Scotland and Germany with me & loved it.
Then I bought a Samsung SIII and I am an Android convert.
I am now able to Bluetooth songs, images, anything so quickly and EASILY! Its a simple matter of Copy & Paste and I can choose what I want to add or remove. No converting, synching or inconvenience.
The Samsung SIII was the best phone on the market until Apple launched iPhone 5 – I am sure it will now take top place… until Samsung comes out with Samsung SIV ha ha ha!
As consumers we are lucky to be spoilt for choice. South Africa is still classed as a Third World country, yet we have our pick of the top commodity products as much as anyone in a First World country does.
Apple make their sales based on their brand reputation. They over-charge , but who cares?
People buy it. Supply & Demand.
Successful Marketing with genius brand creation is what it is all about.
If Apple dropped their prices it would be more affordable to the public, but would it still be coveted as much?
I cannot believe I have been back from our CT holiday for 2 weeks already – the time really does fly by.
Before going to Cape Town, I was so tightly wound I made a stretched Bungee rope look slack!
Tee as usual, read my mood correctly and without pressuring me to talk or entertain her, she made me laugh and listened to my dramas and drank lots of wine with me, and in the end I was just beginning to feel like myself again. What more could you ask from a friend?
The only problem is that I need these holidays on a regular basis!
We visit some of the most gorgeous wine farms & after my 1st wine & chocolate pairing, I am convinced that chocolate should always accompany wine!
These are the hotels that I will be staying in over our holiday!
With only 1 month to go I am becoming super excited. (Even if I have only shed 1 whole kilogram)
My gym routine has been constant and I have been so good.
1kg is very demotivationg and I have been at it for 2 months now.
I have 4 swimsuits and only 1 barely still fits. Dammit.
My brother has now forbidden me to drink as he says that the alcohol affects your metabolism negatively. I didn’t think it would be this hard to give it up. I do love me a glass of a good merlot.
I have been preparing for the trip in other ways too.
Pretty nails and bikini waxes forming part of it.
I better shed a whole bunch of weight this last month!
I must admit, I am feeling better and my muscle tone is improving.
I am really looking forward to the break away from work as well as sharing Tee’s birthday with her. She is my best friend & I just couldn’t think of any better person to share this trip with!
Tee & I have been friends for a couple of years now – having met through my original blog – before it was WordPress.
We share a common interest in Hot Men, cats, sparkles and Hot Men (oh wait did I repeat that? – Yes we love Hot Men that much!)
We have shared many adventures together – Thailand coming up is going to be another one.
We have perfected the art of self portraits and the other day having finally sorted out all my photos onto my pink external hardrive (birthday present from my brother) I was reminded again by just how much fun we really do have when we are together.
Tee understands me, she accepts me and she totally gets me. She is there for me when I need her without having to tell her that I need her. She has never let me down & has made me laugh on many occasions. We have some really happy memories & here are just some of the reasons why I love her dearly:
Wine in a sippy cup as we rush off to the movies
Playing damsels in distress by being rescued by a cutie who changed our flat tyre
Searching for Chipniks when that’s all I craved after my operation
Sharing my addiction to Hot nice Men
Sharing the fun of Eden concerts together
Moving house every year
Sharing my love of bubbles
Nights at Manhattans
Anticipating my needs by making me food / buying me cute gifts / bringing me delicious fruit from Hoedspruit
Pink Champagne
Tim Tams
Understands & shares my obsession for Vampire Diaries and Supernatural
Commiserates when a man is an idiot
Knows when I need a solution to a problem, or just a bitch session
Road trip to Hoedspruit
Share the same taste in movies and books – no matter how shallow they might be
Endless hours (and I do mean hours) of chitter chatter on our Blackberry
Knows what jewellery I will love
She knows how to cheer me up when I am grumpy
And she ALWAYS brings me coffee in bed (refer to previous point)
Cocktails & Memories 