Trip to South Africa - A trip of many `firsts`

       After an almost disastrous start to 2012 (read my previous post from December 31st 2011 for my 2011 report card), the best I could have asked for was some timeout from a monotonous schedule and get some respite, before I get back to the same routine, but just with a new frame of mind and new found energy. I got the same in the form of a week-long travel trip to Cape Town, South Africa. The trip was almost cancelled for me since I applied for my travel permit on 03.01.2012, just 4days before the scheduled start of the trip. The South African embassy told me that it would take 10days for me to get the tourist visa, but then, to my surprise, I received a mail from them the very next day saying that my visa was ready...! So the issue was eventually a `no-issue` :) 

        I booked my flights with British Airways (primary reason being that this was the cheapest option available). The onward journey was fine but the return journey was not all that good. The flight from Cape Town to London was delayed, due to which, I could not catch my flight from London to Oslo. The next available option was the day after. But it was not entirely bad either since BA then gave me a complimentary stay at Hotel Renaissance for that night. The trip started on 08.01.2012 and I reached Cape Town on 09.01.2012. The trip lasted for 8 days and I returned to Oslo on 16.01.2012 (Scheduled return was 15.01.2012 night). In the next two posts, I will tell you more about my experiences in Cape Town. I will also provide links to some of the pictures I took over the course of the trip. So, keep linked :)

Good vibes to you...