The Changing Of The Group

DAY 157: I always wondered about Eve, Ingmar, Joanne, Dave and Karen, the young twentysomething employees of The Backpack. They'd make good friends with travelers -- only to have them leave 2-3 days later. How tiring it must be for the regular employees to go through transient friends so rapidly I thought -- that is, until I became a regular myself (waiting for my bank card) and realized that it's just something you get used to.

The Argentines Eduardo and George left for the airport even before I woke up. Kate the Irish Long Islander left for Buenos Aires as well soon after. Later on that day, Danit left on a flight for Jo'burg, en route to Israel. For about the fourth time since I arrived in Cape Town, another group had been disbanded.

I WAS FEELING CONFIDENT to go it alone and walk the streets of Cape Town again. I strolled crosstown to the waterfront to stretch my legs and get my hair cut at an old-fashioned barber shop. I went price shopping for a new camera to replace the one that had been taken from me at knifepoint. In the end, I ended up getting a similar little Sony digital spy camera and memory stick for about $450 (USD) at Cameraland, the store that everyone seemed to recommend to me.

The rest of the day was another lazy one as I continued to wait for my replacement bank cards to arrive. Despite the fact that it was a bright sunny day clear enough to see the top of Table Mountain from the back courtyard (picture above), I had limited cash to spend and just spent the afternoon in and around the backpackers and the nearby strip mall, mailing stuff home, Blogging and sorting out my insurance claims. I bumped into Eve, San Diego Sean and Jed throughout the day -- they all seemed to be having way more productive days than I was having. I finished reading Dude, Where's My Country? by the pool and then made curried mushrooms over ramen noodles for dinner.

Exciting stuff, huh?

An elderly man named David from Manchester, U.K. noticed my Michael Moore book on the table -- it served as an ice breaker for conversation. From us two chatting in the living room, a new social group emerged to fill the void from earlier that day: Veevek, the British-Canadian who, at age 25, had been more places and done more things (i.e. married and divorced) than the average person; Irish Sean, who was still around for the week; and newcomer Lisa from Leeds, U.K. There was also some other girl who had just arrived, but she was more interested in watching Sex and the City on SABC3 than what we were saying. Irish Sean, Lisa and I moved onto the hostel bar where Sean was generous enough to buy drinks for us. That's where I ended the night, just one night after I had been there with different social circle.

My bank said my replacement card would arrive in about three days; that was just enough time for another group of friends to come and go.

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Posted by Erik on March 25, 2004 11:21 AM
TrackBack | Category: South Africa

ALL: THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT GUYS! Honestly, it is DEFINITELY putting me back on my feet. I'm glad you enjoyed the "Cute Baby Animals At Knifepoint" as much as I did!

It's been a CRAZY day trying to track down my bank card -- it's in DHL limbo -- but If I rush around tomorrow, everything will finally return to normalcy... just in time for me to be in the NIZ for possibly a week in Namibia.

I'll try and log on with an update, but you've been warned...

THANKS AGAIN FOR THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT! I'd give you all PBS tote bags or Ken Burns' videos if I had them!

Posted by: Erik on March 25, 2004 11:26 AM

COCKGOBBLERS! I've just been told that my insurance will NOT cover my theft. They only cover medical expenses and lost items IF IT'S AN AIRLINE'S FAULT (you need to prove you went through their channels first).

Posted by: Erik on March 25, 2004 02:38 AM

Markyt: secret ingredient list ? ..
- ostrich (wrangle your own)
- shark (bite first before they do)
- spam (closest thing to Saimin)
- & the punkass little boy who help aided the mugging

Posted by: sim on March 25, 2004 06:32 AM

Erik - that totally bites about the insurance.

Everyone - jump on over to Paypal and send Erik some dough. You pay for a movie and other entertainment. $450 for a new camera plus $250 stolen... man, that's like 2 months in India. Your donation will keep the blog going longer!

Yeah, like the other reader (sorry I forget who it was!) I too am doing the PBS drive thing.

Posted by: Liz on March 25, 2004 08:04 AM

ALICE: THANKS for the donation! If I see those guys (dogs) again, I'll definitely try and kick them in the nuts...

LIZ: Your PBS pledge drive tactics are working! Thanks!

Posted by: Erik on March 25, 2004 11:20 AM

UGH. I'm STILL here in Cape Town... long (and boring) story behind it all. I won't leave South Africa until Sunday morning now...

My flights moving out of Namibia on the other hand are another story -- it is still in process at the time of this writing...

I feel like I'm in the movie "Quick Change."

Posted by: Erik on March 26, 2004 06:32 AM

Dang dude, that sucks that you cannot get your money. Oh well. Keep on Keepin' on, pal...good times definitely lay ahead anyway!!

I most def know what you mean about seeing peeps come and go...such is the backpacker lifestyle, eh?

Word Life!!

Tally Ho,

Moman!!

Posted by: Moman on March 26, 2004 03:41 PM

Hi Erik I just posted and then couldn't find my post. Just came across your site. I love it! I'm leaving for my own RTW trip in June and my itinerary looks a LOT like your "plan" except i'm going the other way - africa first! I'll definately be reading your posts regularly! Happy travels! -Michelle

Posted by: Michelle on March 27, 2004 08:38 PM