Storm brewing at Sunset - townships and trees - Love the clouds 112

my entry

This was an easy choice. Sometimes nature just gives you pure perfection and the combination of a cold front coming in at sunset just sets the tone for a beautiful outcome.

I took these a few weeks ago on our road trip up to visit Grants aunt in Port Owen. It’s a rugged and beautiful part of the coastline.

On the way we took a side road between two major highways and happened to catch the timing just right.

The decades old trees and the sunset just added to a wonderfully crazy drama taking place in the sky.

Shortly prior to these gorgeous beauties we had driven passed a township in Cape Town called Dunoon. It’s a shanty town with double story shacks all over the place.

It always fascinates me that almost every little shack has a satellite dish for TV! Everywhere you look there are dishes! I guess they’re all hooked on our South African soapies that you can only get on DSTV. Such a rip off.

This is how millions of people in our country live. The township culture is an interesting phenomenon. It is a law unto itself. The law has little impact in these areas where riots are common, crime is rampant but if you go in (as an outsider) with a local then you are invited then you are taken care of of.

For 3 years I would drive into Guguletu, a similar but older township and I knew the rules of entering and leaving safely.

Close your windows.
Lock your doors.
Don’t get stuck in any traffic that you can’t pull out of.
Don’t stop at stop streets or lights (yield and go!)
Be prepared to drive on the sidewalk if necessary.
Keep vigilant at all times.
Pray!!!

I never encountered any problems but would here of others having phones taken through open car windows when folk stopped at a stop street. Opportunistic crimes are the norm. Folk are desperate.

The raw beauty of this township culture is quite something. It’s rough, broken, bright, lively, loud and beautiful all at once.

I hope you enjoyed the ride.