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MBC Surfing Video

Hello Everybody,

My time with MBC is almost over. I think it was the best time I could wish for my stay in Cape Town. It was awesome to meet the kids and get such a good relation to them. Even if it was sometimes hard to convince them to join your plans, in the end it was always much much fun. Shame that the bus was broken. I had many ideas we couldn’t implement. But at least their most favorite activity was and is SURFING. Because of that here some impressions of our kids on their boards.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who were involved for such a awesome time in Cape town.

Flying over the streets of the Western Cape

Bike tour:

Last weekend the old MBC kid, now professional racing bicycle rider, surf instructor and since last Saturday bicycle Tour guide Phila, took us (Thomas and me) on an awesome bike trip.

bikeHe joined MBC when the Project started, 5 years ago. Since about one year he is now working as a surf instructor at Learn 2 Surf. But his favorite activity is to ride the bike. He started it also 5 years ago and uses every free minute to train for his next big competition. The Cape Town Argus Cycle Tour on the 6th of March. Aim: cross the finish line first. But “that will probably will take two or three more years”. His big dream is of cause to cycle the Tour de France. But for that he have to train hard for the next years.

Our tour started on the bicycle rent store in Muizenberg. We followed the Main road and then drove up to the Constantia Nek. 2

That was pretty hard. But for the followed way down to Hout Bay it remunerated to fight with the Mountain.

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  Arrived in Hout Bay we drove up the Chapman’s Peak. One of the most beautiful roads in South Afrika. Also for Phila’s most favorite route. 5

Reached the top you have a wonderful view over Hout Bay.

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The other side down is as beautiful as the way up. Maybe better, because you can just let it go. No physical force needed. Nice!!!

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Afterwards we passed Fish Hoek and stopped in Kalkbay for an ice-cream.

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From here it was about a 5 min. ride back to our starting point. All in all 3 hours.

What a nice trip. Thank you very much Phila

Last week at MBC project…

Time runs so fast…

…unfortunately I have to realize that there are only 10 days left until I have to fly back home. Today my friends in Germany text me that it is still snowing over there. So I guess, I will miss the sun, the lovely Muizenberg Beach and of course the MBC project. But now I don’ t wanna think about leaving, I’ m still here.

Having a good time at Muizenberg Beach

 

The last days with the MBC kids were fully packed with exciting events. School holidays has just started! Last week the kids and me enjoyed some great days at the beach full of surfing, relaxing and just having fun. Waves were quite brilliant but as a consequence too many surfers outside ;)

On Tuesday we went to “Lifestyle Surfschool” to try on brand new, super cool wetsuits which will be sponsored to the MBC kids.

 

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Just taking a shower after a great surf

 

 

 

 

I should not forget to report about the big soccer match against the Surfshack kids last Thursday. We have been all quite excited. Both talented teams met at the soccer field in Muizenberg. After a 50 minutes head-to-head fair play filled with struggle, swaet and fun the winner was absolutely visible. The MBC kids made the match (5:1!!!) against Surfshack. Atmosphere on our way back was just excellent.

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“1, 2, 3 MBC!!!”

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head-to-head against the Surfshack kids

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We made the match!!!(:

The MBC soccer team

 

I still can’ t belive that I had the oppertunity to come to South Africa. The last 3 weeks I collect so many different impressions and made some important life experience which will definitely shape me and my life. I have an amazing time here in Cape Town and at MBC project!! One of my favorite activities here was climbing up on Table Mountain. After a 2 hour hiking tour it seemed like being at the end of my rope. But as soon as we reached top of Table Mountain all effort has blown away… The view was just incredible!!!

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On top of Table Mountain

 

Anna, Germany

Farewell for Udo

The kids know all the hikes in the region already, so  they  proposed to take the bodyboards and go to Smithwinkel Bay, a nice remote beach in the very south close to the Cape Point National Park.

The view from the road to the bay is magnificent:

Beautiful Vista

Beautiful Vista

The water was very clear but very cold. The kids absolutely enjoyed the play with the bodyboards in the waves.

This Friday was also the last day for me as volunteer, so I brought some muffins for the kids and the kids performed a song for me:

We took a last group picture:

Group Picture with Udo

Group Picture with Udo

Then it was time to drive back to Steenberg and say good-bye.

Surfing

Group Picture with the volunteers Anna and Anna and guest Ida

Group Picture with our volunteers Anna and Anna and guest Ida

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Let’s get ready

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… and into the water

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short break

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waiting for the next wave

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riding the white water

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if he’ll still get on the board?

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almost…

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yes, he’s on the board!!!

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done for today

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Whymth – our newest Muizenberg Beach Club member

Hike to the Waterfall in Simon’s Town

The waterfall in Simon’s Town was just the right destination for a short hike on a hot summer day:

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False Bay View

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Trail

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Trail

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Climbing up some Rocks

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Arrival :-)

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Second Cascade

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on the way

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Climbing

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Waterfall

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Smiling Faces

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Rain Dance

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Peak

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Simon’s Town Harbour

Surf day

Today the conditions were quite tough so only two of the kids decided to go for a surf…

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Let’s get to the water

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short briefing

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get ready

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paddle my friend

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sooooo many waves

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some kids prefer soccer under these conditions

Impressions of our Hike in the Table Mountain National Park

Hike from Silvermine Gate to a small waterfall to the hills above Muizenberg and descent to Muizenberg.

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five young hikers

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Beautiful Landscapes at the Cape

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Flowers

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Relax and play at the waterfall

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More flowers

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False Bay View

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Rock Agama

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Phila

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Waves at Muizenberg Beach

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Metro to Cape Town City Center

For more information about the project read the section ‘MBC Activities’ and for details about the kids read ‘Meet the Kids & Their Community”.

Hiking with Paul the „Rastaman“

Hiking with Paul was the order of the last two Fridays at Muizenberg Beach Club. Paul is a local Hiking guide and knows the mountains and the natural environment around Cape Town like the back of his hand. He is a good role model and the best person bringing the MBC kids in close contact with the nature, even if hiking isn’t their favourite activity. They gave him likeably the name “Rastaman”, because of his long dreadlocks and his black sunglasses he wears all the time.

At the first Friday the weather was almost perfect: really good conditions of visibility, unfortunately it was 30° and a bit too hot for hiking. But Paul knew a nice and shady walk through Tokai forest located between Muizenberg and the city centre of Cape Town. When we arrived there with the MBC bus, the kids found a tree bearing the so called “baboon fruits” in the near of our parking lot. They filled their pockets with the little red fruits as much as they can. And the volunteers tried the foreign and sweet fruits having a consistency like grapes or litchis with a big kernel inside. After ten minutes everybody was strengthened and we could start the walk through the forest leisurely.

We took a break at a rugby pitch with a well-groomed appearance. Because Paul gave the advice of taking a ball with us before we have started the walk, we could grasp at the chance to play some soccer or rather penalty. Paul applied voluntarily being the goal keeper and prepared himself professionally for his job.

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Paul as a goalkeeper

So both kids and volunteers tried to score a goal from a distance of nearly 10 metres and everyone had his own technique in doing so. Sometimes with only one shoe like Wayden chose it or even by choosing a corner casually like Siminkiwe did.

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Wayden

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Siminkiwe

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Mike’s taking photos from Paul and Friedl in action

In cooperation with our excellent photographer Mike it is possible to present you these snapshots of this soccer event.

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Paul and Samy in action

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Paul and Phila in action

Ultimately the final was composed of the volunteers Samy and me or rather France and Germany. Especially Samy fought passionately in French manner for his country and his hometown PESSAC in the near of Bordeaux. But in the end Germany won this penalty which is not surprising as the German national team won the soccer world championship this year as well. Therefore we refreshed the memory of the last game between France and Germany in which Mats Hummels scored decisively with a header.

But back to the hiking trip…

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Relaxed hiking and enjoying the nature

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Nice view in front of the group

After the thrilling soccer break the walk was continued in an unhurried kind, so that there was enough time to explore the environment like Simikiwe did or time to pose for some photographs like Asi did.

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Siminkiwe

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Asi

On the second Friday the MBC kids were represented by only three guys, but Phila, Yamkela and Wayden were ready for the next hiking. The weather was as good as on the first Friday and Paul chose the area of Constantia where the view was not obscured by clouds or fog. We hiked rapidly, so that there was no time for taking some photos. After almost 30 minutes we got to the top of the mountain Eagles’ Nest and first everyone enjoyed the nice view up to the sea.

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No words are needed … just enjoy!

Phila conquered the white pillar which symbolises the peak of the mountain and Wayden found a nice place for watching the environment closely.

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Phila

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Wayden

And Anna and me, we took some photographic proofs that we coped with the hike successfully.

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Anna ‘Banana’ and Anna ‘Montana’

Like you can see on the pictures the wind was blowing really strong, so that as a bad incident the sunglasses of Anna became damaged by losing a side of them. Wayden and her mourned together for it some minutes.

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Wayden and Anna aren’t really happy :(

We finished drinking in the beauty of the view and of the first impressions after 10 minutes. Subsequently Paul found via Internet and GPS the coordinates of the guestbook of the peak and a little box with odds and ends, which was hidden in a sheltered place. In contrast to Paul being as cool as a cucumber the whole time, Samy seemed to be really excited.

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Paul, Phila and Samy

Every little mountain climber should complete some tasks on the top of a mountain like leaving a note in the guestbook…

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Notes in the guestbook

…or exchanging little something from yourself for little something from the box. Yamkela presented some stuff which he found in the box and chose a little red handcrafted pocket with some Band-Aids in it.

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Yamkela

The way back to the bus was quite relaxing and there was some time for talking like Samy and Phila did.

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Phila and Samy

I am sure that the next hiking trips with Paul and the MBC kids will be as much fun as the last two ones I was allowed to experience and I am looking forward to them. Until then have a nice time.

Anna ‘Banana’ (from Germany)