Going where the Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet

Do you know the world is going to end on May 21? That's what this preacher says," said Joel who was taking us from the OR Tambo international airport, Johannesburg, to Sun City. "That's the day we will be on the return flight! So will we be saved because we are in the air or the first ones to be raptured being closer to the heavens?" the others joked, killing time on the two-hour drive to Sun City.
Being my first international trip, I had arrived with many do's and don'ts from different people.
"Stick to your group, don't wander off on your own."
"Don't go out after dark."
"If someone tries to mug you, just give them what they want!" etc etc.
Scared to no small degree, an idea had formed in my mind about where I was going. But after we hit the road, the first thing that struck me was "Man! Look at the size of those oranges!"
Having pinched myself to be able to believe that I really was on a different continent, I started clicking pictures from the first car ride itself — road-signs, churches with black roofs (which seemed like large fur coats draped over cement structures), sunflower fields, windmills — everything that I could find.
High on the (winter) sun
Sun City was teeming with tourists. Tree-lined wide, smooth roads, round-the-clock transport for residents to go anywhere within the massive resort, the colours, the pleasant temperature, the greenery, the cleanliness — it was soothing. Our stay at the Palace of the Lost City hotel was like a Hogwarts trip for me — arched entrances, life-size animal sculptures, stone-walled corridors with orange lamps burning, domed ceiling etc.

It was a packed couple of days at the resort. We began with the safari at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The area is fringed by three concentric ridges or rings of hills, of which the formation rises from the surrounding plains, this is the park's primary geological feature, the Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex. Our guide Gift took us around the reserve in a closed-top jeep. The zebras seemed camera shy because, at first, all I managed to click was their behind. We had to steal up on a bunch to get pictures from the front. Gift said leopards can be spotted if one has the nerve to stay after dusk, but we called it a day.
The next day, a 22-year-old Zulu, Shadow, taught us about African tribes, and told us about his marriage plans when he turns 27. "Are you dating anyone?" we asked. Scandalised, he replied, "No dating! Only proposing when ready."

The Cape of good times
"Jaldi chalo," shouted our guide in Cape Town as we trudged with our luggage to the car. Grinning, he said, "That's the only Hindi I know. My name is Brahm, Brahma to my Indian customers. But I would prefer Brahm. It's taken from Abraham."
Our itinerary had called Cape Point the union of the two oceans, Atlantic and Indian. When we asked Brahm about it, he got a little charged up. He said many people believed it to be so but it was not true. "If you stay under water for 30 minutes and are alive, it is the Indian ocean. The water is warmer. But if you stay under water for 30 minutes and die, then it's the Atlantic. And if anyone tried this experiment at Cape Point, I don't think they are going to live to tell the tale! It's all Atlantic! There is no union!" he said vehemently.
Our second day was dedicated to the colonies of seals and African penguins. From Hout Bay harbour we took a 15-minute ferry ride to a mini rock island called Seal Island. Some were having a lazy swim in the water, while others sprawled lazily on the rocks — they exemplified the I-give-a-damn attitude. They didn't even look up as our boat neared their habitat or at the collective noise of about 50 cameras clicking.
The penguins at the Boulders beach were the same — in their own world, enjoying their own time, least concerned about the people flocking to see them.
The three days in Cape Town were over before I knew it. As a parting gift to Brahm, we enhanced his knowledge of Hindi. We taught him "Kamino, jaldi chalo!" along with the meaning, of course! He seemed thrilled and said he couldn't wait to use it with his next Indian group.