With Us

"Even if you're not a seeker,
still, follow us, keep searching with us.
Even if you don't know how
to play and sing,
you'll become like us;
with us you'll start singing and dancing.

Even if you are Qarun, the richest of kings,
when you fall in love,
you'll become a beggar.
Though you are a sultan, like us you'll become a slave.

One candle of this gathering
is worth a hundred candles; it's light is as great.
Either you are alive or dead.
You'll come back to life with us.

Unbind your feet.
Show the rose garden---
start laughing with your whole body,
like a rose, like us.

Put on the mantle for a moment
and see the ones whose hearts are alive.
Then, throw out your satin dress
and cover yourself with a cloak, like us.

When a seed falls into the ground,
it germinates, grows, and becomes a tree:
if you understand these symbols,
you'll follow us, and fall to the ground with us.

God's Shams of Tabriz says
to the heart's bud,
"If your eyes are opened,
you'll see the things worth seeing."

-Rumi

Monday, October 6, 2008

In Outshoorn... the karoo

We made it up Table Mountain on Saturday. Abby got to experience her first minibus on the way there... she only felt slightly nauseated afterward. The hike up the mountain was beautiful (I believe ecosystem is fynbos?) and very steep and very very windy. The veiw from the top was phenominal. The color of the ocean seems to morph into more beautiful shades of torqouise-blue the further up you get. We were lucky to avoid any fog that day... apparently people can get dangerously lost...I can understand why if the "table cloth" of thick fog comes in... the top is very flat and homogenous and their are a maze of trails to confuse you even on a clear day. The hike down was a little rough on the ol' knees but I survived and managed not to hurt anything.

That night Abby and I tried to cook ourselves dinner... I realize now how spoiled I was living in California with fresh produce. Our dinner was aweful. We did much better this evening though with a vegetable stir fry (thank you pre-packaged veggie bags). To be fair... the apples are delicious.

Yesterday we stayed in Mossel Bay and planned our trip up until the 30th. We were happy to be somewhere where it was safe to walk around at night and to be away from the city. Cape Town has a lot to offer but it wasn't really for us. I still haven't really felt like I'm in Africa... South Africa has so far paled in comparison to Kenya, but I'm sure that will change as we head up the coast and northward. Tomorrow we will go explore the Cango Caves and possibly stop at an ostrich farm... where you can ride the ostrich! I feel like it is horribly cruel, but the child in me REALLY wants to do it... I'm having some serious internal conflicts. The next day we might go searching for Meerkats if we can find a lift. Anywho... internet cost money at this hostel so thats all for now.

Love
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3 comments:

sweeetheartfever said...

baby, baby. this is nice. i like to picture you at night, looking up at the moon. i'll look at it, too.

October 7, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Caitlin said...

baby, its raining... i'll kiss it for you.

October 8, 2008 at 2:57 AM
sweeetheartfever said...

kt baby! it's raining here, too, now. the rain must have come for you!

October 9, 2008 at 7:02 AM

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