After a harrowing 48 hour flight making our way to Africa, we saw the sweet and friendly face of Janco Scott, Our Guide, waving at us. I think his heart secretly drooped a little at first sight of our “load.” Then, when our 15 huge suit cases rolled around the corner, followed by 3 over sized night cases and 3 oversized bags passing as purses, the look of disbelief completed the incredulous picture. Miraculously Customs did not check any of our luggage. We quickly piled all 21 of those Monster bags, blankets and pillows on our already 1/2 full, groaning trailer.
As if this weren’t enough, we pulled up to Da Arden on 75 Fourth St. Street, our lodging for the night and couldn’t get past the locked gate. We were in a daze from lack of 💤 sleep 💤 and couldn’t rouse anyone to let us in. Janco did his normal thing about climbing over the fence until he almost touched the electrified wire on top. He gingerly climbed down while we contemplated our next move. I caught a guy milling around and asked for the manager. A barefooted, long haired vintage hippie appeared, and opened the gate. This was Steve, the owner.
What first appeared to be a disaster spinning toward a catastrophe, faded, when we turned the corner to a paradise of cool greenery encircling a pristine swimming pool glistening in the sun. It was a colonial style African Lodge from an earlier elegant time. Steve couldn’t let us in the room just yet because it wasn’t “ready.” He asked us to please be patient as it had flooded in the area and there were a “few” things in need of repair.
(Little did we know...) No staff was there to check us in, so we were asked to wait for Simba, the check-in clerk and Sonya, the brand new manager.
Finally settled in our rooms, we began to look around. What had once been a lovely, South African post Colonial Lodge, now sagged under the weight of unattended years.
The
flooding was obvious and we started to unpack. Then we realized about 1/3 of the
lights didn’t work. CJ started to shower, but no towels. She redressed, found a
maid outside and asked for towels. To which the maid responded, “towels don’t
come with the rooms.” CJ dressed and she and Janco went to the store and bought
towels. Red flags were popping up all over the place. The headboards were not
attached to the beds but simply leaned against the wall, threatening to fall
over on us if we moved too quickly. As CJ started to take a shower, we heard
her squeal! The towel racks were not attached , and crashed to the floor, while
she tried to control the hand spray. Since there was no step out bath mat, CJ
started to skid before she regained control. Having survived the shower, she
bravely went to the kitchen area to make a bite to eat but quickly discovered
that the stove did not work. Meanwhile, Wayne, Sidney and Janco tried to turn
on other lights but more were burned out than worked.
Finally, giving up, we
all headed to bed only to discover the promised WiFi did not work. Defeated, we
pulled back the duvet to find no top sheet under the questionably clean bed
covers. We decided we couldn’t stay the second night there and planned to leave
the next morning. After a restless night we prepared for our departure, when
Simba and Sonya appeared to collect the fees. CJ nicely let them know of a few
of the issues, that we were uncomfortable staying under those conditions and
paid for the one night.
New Manager Sonya softly said, “I will personally see to
these repairs. Would you please not write a bad review about us?” We assured
her we had no interest in doing such a thing. While we walked to our rig, Simba
kept saying we must pay them for the second night, which we kindly but firmly
refused.
After we got into our vehicle, Janco asked Simba to open the locked
gate but he clutched onto CJ’s window and refused. Sonya, a soft spoken woman,
and Simba’s superior asked him to let go of CJ’s window and open the gate, and
he refused again! This is too comical not to be true. Simba said, “If I let you
out, we cannot...” “Sidney joined the fray, “what do you mean, ‘if I let you
out,’ you can’t kidnap us! Please Open the gate immediately!” Sonya calmly told
Simba,”you must let our guests out.” Simba fought valiantly for control and spit
out, “you cannot leave, you have a problem!” CJ yanked the door open, “OK, NOW
I am getting excited!” Sonya interjected, “You must not excite our quest, she
is on medication!” She took the keys away from Simba who stomped off in defeat.
Sonya, ever the calm one, cajoled, “I am sorry for your unpleasant experience.
This is not right. I promise the issues will be corrected and you can write any
kind of review you want to!” Our “great expectation was just to get a clean
room, and get a little sleep for the night.
Oh
well, as Janco always says, T. I. A. “This Is Africa!” The delightful
Mountain Top Lodge, The Ultimate Guest House, awaits us....
CJ doing “Moon Dance” while becoming intoxicated on the
“Otherworld” aroma of the exotic “Moon” flower.
African kisses come in the shape of “ruby red hearts.”
Afternoon tea at the Ultimate Guest House Lodge.
This is where you get the REAL “skinny” about the news around the village.
Just another “lousy day in paradise.
CJ basks in the cool of a lovely African evening.
Those red “thingies” are
Just TOO pretty to be true.
Just TOO pretty to be true.
It seems “Takalash” (one of the African mischief makers) was “trailing” us to keep us on our toes.
A little screw made a BIG flat on the abandoned “Never Ending Road.”
Janco crawled in to get the spare. Always the optimist, declared:
“No problem guys. This is easy peasy.” That’s easy for him to say in the 🔥 fiery hot
sun. Our little tongues were hanging out, scorched to the bone.
Thankfully, God sent us the fisherman Ellias. He must have been “sand fishing”
because we didn’t see any water no where, no how! Ellias, a Madala (old man)
cheerfully helped us poor Americans by helping Janco quickly change the tire.
From the looks of Ellias’ torn pants and worn out shoes, it was obvious he was in need. CJ rewarded him with a loaf of bread and a little money. He was jubilant with gratitude, particularly for the bread.
What a lesson his little son, Tussu witnessed. He saw his Dad being proactive to help someone in obvious trouble. And by cheerfully helping someone, there was a good reward.
It is fulfilling to observe how Janco just “rides easy in the harness,” and graciously allows others to be involved. He is patient and respectful with them. We are actually witnessing a little bit of magic with each of these experiences with Janco and the native people here.
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