Touchdown

Well…I landed this afternoon after almost 24 hours of sleepless travel.

It was a lot colder than I was expecting. I remember when I touched down in Calcutta, I walked through the door of the plane and was knocked back by the change in temperature. Though that was never really going to happen. It is only Spring here, after all. Actually, it was warmer back in Old Blighty the week before I left.

I was introduced to my new apartment and couldn’t have been more pleased. Situated in a marina style complex it holds the top floor of its block. Inside it consists of a spacious open plan design between kitchen, lounge and balcony that is very agreeable. My bedroom hosts a large double bed and ensuite bathroom – a particular luxury considering I have been cramped into a small single for the last six months. All things considered, it seems I’ve done quite well. However, best of all is the view from my balcony. Northwest facing, it allows me to watch the sun set behind Table Mountain from across the sea.

Happy days so far!

Difficult and dangerous

The reputation of Africa for being a place unlike any other instils a certain amount of trepidation prior to my move there.

I have challenged and I have pushed myself to travel to some fairly difficult and dangerous places before – Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia sitting near the top – but Africa is supposed to take the biscuit. Except is it really as difficult and dangerous as some people make out? Opinion is relative to experience. Perhaps that is what they think, because it is the common opinion. Is it actually the case?

TIA...’This is Africa’... is a phrase I have recently become acquainted with. As far as my understanding of it goes, it is supposed to sum up the idea that anything can happen in Africa, nothing goes to plan, and expect the unexpected. Well on that basis, it’s certainly not going to be a dull place! In fact, from my experience of literature, film and other sources of discussion about Africa, it is full of so many extremes of the good and the bad things in this world, that it is…as I said before…a place unlike any other.

And this is why I’m going. I won’t shy away from the difficult and the dangerous. It has always been in my nature to go out and explore and experience as much of this world as I can. When I’m old and tired, if I have achieved that, or at least given it a bloody good go, then I will be a satisfied man.

Ready to go

The last four weeks has comprised a long series of goodbyes on my run up to moving to South Africa…

From those in the office, to those in the pub. From old friends in London, to new friends in St Albans. From visiting my father, to visiting my mother. It seems to be a never-ending process. Not one that I make begrudgingly, don’t get me wrong. I have enjoyed my mini-tour to see family and friends. But I am now ready to go.

The recurring questions generally revolve around,

“Are you excited?”

“Are you nervous?”

To which I always answer “Yes, a bit of both.” The relative proportion of each varies from one moment to the next. And as much as I am happy to answer the questions, it seems I have answered the same questions hundreds of times now. My response has been mastered and refined over and over again, like the reworking of a speech. I suppose it could be likened to a boxer or an athlete being asked a continual stream of repetitive questions running up to the big event. So now I am at that stage that they must reach, when they are tired of the talk and the chat. They, as I, just want to get on with it. To start the fight. To start the race.

I am ready to go.