Indian Market and Valley of 1000 Hills

Sun setting over water in Durban. This was literally right outside of our hotel

Festival of Chariots - they were chucking apples

View from my hotel room

The next morning walking along the beach

Valley of 1000 Hills

Since I am home sick from work today, I figured I would continue to post updates concerning my trip!





3/25/08





I forgot to mention last night, when we were about to go to eat at Castros, I saw this big commotion on the street from my hotel window. I went down, to wait for everybody else and to see what it was. For everybody that does not know, Durban is an Indian city - a very Indian city. Sabrina, who is Indian, said that while she was in Durban, she kept thinking she was actually in India - yes there are that many Indians in Durban. Anyways, the commotion was an Indian parade celebrating the Festival of Chariots. All of these Indians were walking ahead of this float thing and pulling it. On the float was some creepy old looking guys but they were throwing things. Now I was thinking of American parades where they throw candy for the kids but no, that was not the case here. Instead of throwing candy, they threw apples. Yes apples, I think Granny Smith if you want to be exact. I cannot tell you how many times I almost got pelted with bloody apples. I think it was good luck or something or would give you good health because all of the Indians were trying to catch them. The apples that weren't caught (all of them being thrown with such force) exploded upon hitting the ground. I was afraid I was going to get a concussion if I got hit in the head with apples! It was a very violent yet beautiful and strange parade. I got offered an apple by many Indians that had the good fortune of catching many (and hopefully avoiding those that were heading for their head). Upon giving me an apple they would say "god bless" or something along those lines in their Hindu I think...not sure what language but I knew what it meant thanks to Dimpi, Roh and Bend it like Beckham! :) I was proud of myself for that and said it back to them. It was just an amazing experience. You go to South Africa and get caught up in the middle of an Indian parade raining apples.





So today was the explore Durban day but we didn't really explore Durban like we would Cape Town. All of us started off the day going to the Indian Market where I bought many things. I bought two more paintings, many necklaces, many baskets, many masks and other presents for people. Almost everything was a present and I have most people figured out and done! :) So proud of myself for that. Oh and I was absolutely astonished by how cheap everything was in Durban! A wire bowl (yes the coveted telephone wire bowls) were R30 which is less than $4. You pay $70 in the States. My banana leaf pictures were R10 which is a little over $1. Ridiculous huh? I had so much fun and spent so much money, but got a lot of things for my money so I was happy with that.





After the Indian Market several people went to the beach for the day but I decided that I could go to the beach whenever. Yes it is the Indian ocean but I had swam in it before and realized how warm + salty it was. Instead, I went with a group of people to the continents largest mosque and learned about Islam, which was interesting. It was really sad that upon learning that we were Americans, our guide had to say that Islam in no way supports terrorists. Also, it was interesting to see that the women are not allowed to pray in the same vicinity as the men. Instead, they have a separate prayer room upstairs and the reason for this is that Islam does not want men and women touching shoulders while praying because it may distract them from their sole purpose in being there: to pray. Somebody asked something about women and our guide in turn says that under Islam, women are treated very well and then went on to give examples about how in the Koran, it tells a man how to treat his wife, what to do to discipline her etc. I was wondering how on earth Islam treats women well when they are still treated as property but I did not dare ask that question.





After the mosque, we journeyed to the Valley of 1000 Hills, a region outside of Durban that is supposed to literally be 1000 hills. Marita (our professor) was under the impression that it was a tourist Zulu village but for the life of us we could not get her to understand that the entire region was called the Valley of 1000 Hills and it contained Zulu villages, that it was not, as she believed, a single village. Anyways, we went there and the view was gorgeous. I was a little cranky because I was tired and had not eaten lunch but I did enjoy the view. There was also a couple shops that we went into and I found myself some beaded sandles (like the ones that Chesney got - I tried to find some in your size Mom but they did not have any). Overall, it was a pretty good day.





We ate dinner that night at the Rotating Roma Restaurant, one of 37 or 31 (there were conflicting signs) revolving restaurants in the world. It was kind of strange going into an Indian city and having Italian but it was good, nonetheless. Obviously I got ravioli because I have not had good ravioli since I have gotten here. Mia and I once again shared a bottle of J.C. Le Roux Le Domaine since I am in love with it and have our pictures sipping our "champagne". The food was good - unfortunately it took forever and a half to eat dinner which is something to be expected when you go out to eat in South Africa. Eating is an event in itself - there is no such thing as a quick stop.





After the restaurant, I decided to go for a late night and go to the casino with a couple of people. I had never gambled before and only put in R20 into the slots, just for fun. Lets just say that I came out with an extra R96. I was proud of myself! :)