After filling our stomachs and packing our bags, we began to leisurely visit the area. We walked down the stairs next to the cabin to the lawn, and in front of us was the so-called river; we turned around and looked up, and we could see the cabin that looked like a stilt house.
Returning from the original route, there is a spacious and beautiful "chicken coop" next to the wooden plank road leading to the restaurant. It is very clean and there is no odor when walking on the side. Passing by the "chicken coop" is the restaurant, bar and lounge. The restaurant is divided into indoor and outdoor areas. The restaurant is unattended, and drinks and food are ready on the table.
When checking in yesterday, Yunluo forgot that Nalan Shiqi and Yunluo's room did not include breakfast. The boss enthusiastically said that if Nalan Shiqi and Yunluo wanted to have breakfast, they could enjoy drinks, coffee and food here, and just leave the key on the refrigerator when they leave. He was another lovely European.
Although the owner is not particular about details, the hotel exudes meticulousness everywhere, from the napkin holder on the dining table to the wine bottles in the room, and even the message pens and key chains decorated with ostrich feathers, each of which is irresistible.
When they returned to the door of the room, Xiao Zhou's car had just driven into the yard. Annie, who lived in the wooden house next door, invited Yunluo to eat freshly fried ostrich eggs. While Xiao Zhou and Nalan Shiqi were busy moving the luggage, she ran to the stove in the next room.
There was a plate full of golden fried eggs. It is said that one ostrich egg can feed two people for a week. Yunluo stuffed two bites into his mouth. It was so tender! With a mouthful of ostrich eggs in his mouth, he got into the car and set off for the "Ostrich Farm" (listen, why is it so sinful?!).
Ostrich eggs are the largest eggs in the world. Naturally, ostriches are the largest birds, but the ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn is not as big as Yunluo imagined. Tickets are purchased at the entrance, R70/person. There is also a special tour guide, but I didn't take it. There was also a Chinese tour group that went in with Nalan Shiqi and Yunluo.
There was only one visiting route, so I slowed down, stayed for 5 more minutes, and took a few more photos to distance myself from the tour group.
Last year in Kenya, I was completely conquered by the giraffes. This time, I was fascinated by the ostriches, which had long eyelashes, big eyes, and a high posture. They were also cute from time to time. This thing looked noble and silly at times. If there were no protective fences, it was best not to get too close to it. If you get kicked, you would have to stay in the hospital for a while even if you didn't die.
There is a special area in the ostrich park for tourists to ride ostriches. Two staff members first blindfold the ostrich and fix it in the fence. After the tourists are riding steadily, they open the fence door and lift the cloth on the ostrich's head. When the ostrich flies out, the staff members run closely on both sides to prevent tourists from falling off.
Riding an ostrich is not as stable as riding a horse. Seeing this posture, I couldn't help but feel pity. Ever since I went to the animal sanctuary, I couldn't stand watching programs that forced animals to please humans. Although I had wanted to try it before coming here, but when the staff asked Yunluo if he wanted to try it, Yunluo still refused.
After walking around, we came to the shopping area. The Chinese tour group had long disappeared. There were only a few people in the shopping area. The goods for sale were very rich, but I already had an ostrich egg handicraft at home; I had no place to put the ostrich feathers I bought back home; the ostrich toys were very cute, but they were not cheap and a bit big.
Besides, there were already more than 50 stuffed animals at home. If she added more, my friend would throw them all away, possibly along with her daughter. In the end, she only chose a few postcards to comfort herself.
Until we got in the car, we were still complaining that the ostrich park was too small, but when the car drove onto the road, we discovered a large group of ostriches on the side. The small ones were only the part open to guests, but the park was actually much larger.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan have more wild ostriches than South Africa, but when it comes to the history of ostrich farming and the ability to make money from ostriches, South Africans are the best. South Africans started raising ostriches in 1826. Initially, there were only a few ostriches, but later, it became popular for Western royal families to wear clothes made of ostrich feathers.
The value of ostriches suddenly increased by a hundred times. An adult ostrich can only produce 1 kilogram of feathers a year, and a simple ostrich cape must have at least 15 kilograms of feathers. South African farmers began to raise ostriches. By 1913, the number of ostriches in stock exceeded 1 million. However, after World War I, the European royal family gradually declined.
The demand for ostrich feathers dropped significantly, and ostrich farmers changed their business. Some smart farmers kept the best ostriches and waited for new opportunities. After World War II, the ostrich market began to pick up. South Africans learned from their mistakes and began to operate the ostrich business in various ways. They made ostrich eggshell handicrafts.
Ostrich farms were opened to the public to attract tourists. Many ostrich farmers also united to form an agricultural union, which was responsible for the marketing of ostrich products. Oudtshoorn was also named the "Ostrich Capital".
Leslie Richfield, author of the African Food Column, said that he is also a supporter of wildlife protection, but he eats ostrich eggs and tastes ostrich meat in the ostrich farm in Africa.
It shouldn't be considered a sin. So Xiao Zhou took Nalan Shiqi and Yunluo to the supermarket in town to see if there were any ostrich eggs and ostrich meat for sale. However, after visiting three large supermarkets, they couldn't find any eggs. Fortunately, they bought ostrich meat in the second supermarket, and it was at a discount price.
The car drove back onto the scenic mountain road. It was foggy yesterday, but sunny today. The feeling was completely different. The road designers knew that this place would fascinate many people, so there were many viewing platforms along the way for passers-by to take photos and rest. Xiao Zhou stopped the car in a wide valley.
Looking at the blue sky and green mountains in front of me, breathing in the fresh air, stretching my muscles, and taking a few photos, I feel more satisfied.
Oudtshoorn is a confusing place. If you just want to see the ostriches, you might as well not come. Cape Town also has an ostrich farm, but these two mountain roads up and down are definitely worth a walk.
The price you pay is that you have to walk an extra 120 kilometers, and you also have to give up the amazing scenery of Mosselbay-Geetown on the Garden Route. Whether it is worth it is a matter of opinion.
It was past 2 p.m. when we arrived at Knysna. When we checked in at Therex, the front desk confused Yunluo's room with Annie's, which delayed us a bit. But once we walked into the room, we felt much better. There were 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, and 2 bathrooms, which were very spacious for a serviced apartment.
Except for the lack of a washing machine, everything else is impeccable, and it is very close to the waterfront. R1850/night, free wifi, no breakfast, this room can accommodate 4 people. Overall, therex is the most recommended hotel in this trip, and it lives up to its name of geerex.
It is said that Geerex was the illegitimate son of King George III of England. He came here in 1796 and bought the small village, which was then called Melville, in 1804.
In 1846 it was renamed Newhaven, and until 1882 it was formed into "Knysnatown" together with some surrounding villages. At that time, Geerex's family and entourage stayed here, and he became the founder of this famous resort.
After the luggage was delivered to the room, Nalan Shiqi and Yunluo took out the food they bought in the Oudtshoorn supermarket in the morning and took what they needed. The watermelons in South Africa are very big, sweet but not greasy, and full of water. If you eat too much watermelon, you will know that this "big" is the real thing, and the price is calculated by "piece".
There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!
They don't weigh them, and they sell them in half portions. Xiao Zhou ate half a chicken, and that was enough for his lunch. Yun Luo was full after eating only 1/4 of a chicken, and at Nalan Shiqi's strong request, he ate a poached egg, and that was enough for his lunch.
Walk out of the hotel and turn right to the corner to get to Waterfront, which is super close. I originally wanted to experience the steam train running between Gee and Knysna, but this railway line was suspended due to lack of maintenance funds. On the tracks outside the Waterfront door, a locomotive was quietly parked.
Silently raising funds for repairs. Walk past the railway and buy a ticket for a lagoon cruise on the right hand side of the waterfront entrance. There are five types of Knysna Lake cruises operated by the "Featherbed" company. The most economical and common one is the ferrytrip, which sails along the Knysna Lake to the mouth of the Indian Ocean and then returns.
The whole journey takes 75 minutes and costs R95 per person. The earliest bus is at 17:15, so there is still more than an hour to go for a stroll. Enter from the entrance.
There are small shops selling tourist souvenirs on both sides. I became interested in one of the shops selling porcelain handicrafts, especially the colorful washbasins hanging on the wall. If you want to have an extraordinary bathroom, this is definitely a good tool.
Compared to the waterfront in Cape Town, this place is less prosperous and more cozy. The shops are not very attractive, but the numerous restaurants and cafes are worth a visit, not for the food, but just for the blue in front of you. The blue sky and the blue lake are even more intense when you take a cruise ship to the estuary.
The sun gradually sets in the west, the lake is sparkling, and along the way there are both slowly drifting sailboats and speedboats passing by. You can't help but envy the free and easy lifestyle of Westerners. (To be continued...)