PLETTENBERG

16th March 2007
Plettenberg
Day 15

Stayed at Amakaya Backpackers". Owner was a young Africaans guy called Fred. Fred from "George!" He looked about 20 or so but probably about 25. He met us there after we looked up our Backpackers guide to find this place and it just looked so gorgeous.

I was expecting some down and out digs but this was ok. Cept for the taxi stand nearby which just wasn't any old taxi stand. It was a black taxi stand where 'whites' pick up the 'blacks' for work. There were hundreds of poor blacks standing there and whites picking them up in utes to take them to work. This is the real South Africa i think.

And we've seen so much of it. These sort of areas where blacks stand waiting for work or wait to be picked up for work. That's what i meant in one of my last blogs where i thought Apartheid wasn't dead. I know it is because there's obviously no such tolerance for slaves anymore. But the social gap is still huge. There is still a social standing where the Africaans appear to be more well...dominant?

Or have an upper hand or whatever you want to call it. The blacks have the nouce and the work spirit but the whites are there driving them. Interesting because in the laundry where we did the washing we saw some articles in the local paper on the local attitude.

Very diverse, eclectic yet all sides are passionate. I'd like to get into this further but don't have time. I hope i do get time to be reflective in here because at the time i feel i only have time for facts and i'm finding it frustrating. Also find it emabarrasing that i can't edit either. So please accept my apologies for any mistakes. I keep thinking i must go back and edit. I know i need to do some and have taken scribbled notes on bits of paper when i've realised i've relayed wrong information.

About Pletts.

The scenery is amazing! Went from vast lands to forests. A bit like travelling to Gero to Margaret River really. So different.

Going to say more here....will update later!!!!!!

TBC